Three dimensional electron beam computed tomography

Method of operating a computed tomography apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a source of radiation for generating a cone beam of radiation such that the cone beam is emitted from a first location and penetrates a volume of interest around an isocenter;
• providing a radiation detector which extends along a second trajectory;
• operating the source of radiation such that the first location is displaced along a first trajectory;
• wherein the first trajectory is complete with respect to a sizeable volume around the isocenter;
• wherein the first trajectory and the sizeable volume around the isocenter have finite boundaries that define three-dimensional volumes;
• wherein completeness occurs for the set of all planes that intersects both the first trajectory and the sizeable volume around the isocenter;
• wherein the first and second trajectories are such that a straight line that starts at a point on the first trajectory and passes through the volume of interest around the isocenter intersects the second trajectory;
• and wherein the cone beam that is emitted from the first location is not significantly blocked by a portion of the radiation detector between the first trajectory and the volume of interest around the isocenter.

An apparatus for operating a computed tomography apparatus comprising:

• wherein the computed tomography apparatus has a source of radiation for generating a cone beam of radiation such that the cone beam penetrating a volume of interest around an isocenter is emitted from a first location and a radiation detector which extends along a second trajectory;
• a processor;
• and
• a computer readable storage medium encoded with computer executable instructions which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to:
• operate the source of radiation such that the first location is displaced along a first trajectory;
• wherein the first trajectory is complete with respect to a sizeable volume around the isocenter;
• wherein completeness occurs for the set of all planes that intersects both the first trajectory and the sizeable volume around the isocenter;
• wherein the first trajectory and the sizeable volume around the isocenter have finite boundaries that define three-dimensional volumes;
• wherein the first and second trajectories are such that a straight line that starts at a point on the first trajectory and passes through the sizeable volume around the isocenter intersects the second trajectory;
• and wherein the cone beam that is emitted from the first location is not significantly blocked by a portion of the radiation detector between the first trajectory and the sizeable volume around the isocenter.