Tetrahedron beam computed tomography with multiple detectors and/or source arrays

A method of forming an image of an object, the method comprising:

• having an x-ray source array, first detector and second detector rotate about an axis of rotation relative to an object;
• sequentially emitting a plurality of x ray beams from said x-ray source array at different positions along a scanning direction;
• intercepting said plurality of x-ray beams so that a plurality of fan-shaped x-ray beams emanate towards said object;
• having a first set of fan-shaped x ray beams after they pass through said object received by said first detector, said first detector generating a first imaging signal for each of said received first set of fan-shaped x-ray beams;
• having a second set of fan-shaped x ray beams after they pass through said object received by said second detector, said second detector generating a second imaging signal for each of said received second set of fan-shaped x-ray beams;
• receiving 1) said first imaging signals for each of said first set of received fan-shaped x-ray beams and 2) said second imaging signals for each of said second set of received fan-shaped x-ray beams, wherein rotation of said x-ray source array, said first detector and said second detector about said axis of rotation results in multiple imaging signals being reconstructed to generate a three-dimensional tetrahedron beam computed tomography image therefrom;
• and
• displaying said three-dimensional tetrahedron beam computed tomography image.

A tetrahedron beam computed tomography system comprising:

• a first x-ray source array that sequentially emits a first plurality of x-ray beams at different positions along a first scanning direction;
• a first collimator that intercepts said first plurality of x-ray beams so that fan-shaped x-ray beams emanate from said first collimator towards an object;
• a second x-ray source array that sequentially emits a second plurality of x-ray beams at different positions along a second scanning direction;
• a second collimator that intercepts said second plurality of x-ray beams so that fan-shaped x-ray beams emanate from said second collimator towards said object;
• a first detector receiving one or both of 1) a first plurality of fan-shaped x-ray beams from said first x-ray source array and 2) a first plurality of fan-shaped x-ray beams from said second x-ray source array after they pass through said object, said first detector generating a first imaging signal for each of said received one or both of said first plurality of fan-shaped x-ray beams from said first x-ray source array and said first plurality of fan-shaped x-ray beams from said second x-ray source array;
• a second detector receiving one or both of 1) a second plurality of fan-shaped x-ray beams from said first x-ray source array and 2) a second plurality of fan-shaped x-ray beams from said second x-ray source array after they pass through said object, said second detector generating a second imaging signal for each of said received one or both of said second plurality of fan-shaped x-ray beams from said first x-ray source array and said second plurality of fan-shaped x-ray beams from said second x-ray source array;
• a computer connected to said first detector and said second detector so as to receive 1) said first imaging signals for each of said first plurality of fan-shaped x-ray beams received by said first detector and 2) said second imaging signals for each of said second plurality of fan-shaped x-ray beams received by said second detector, wherein said first x-ray source array, said second x-ray source array, said first detector and said second detector rotate about a rotation axis so as to rotate about said object so that multiple imaging signals are reconstructed by said computer to generate a three-dimensional tetrahedron beam computed tomography image therefrom;
• and
• a display connected to said computer and displaying said three-dimensional tetrahedron beam computed tomography image.

A method of forming an image of an object, the method comprising:

• having a first x-ray source array, a second x-ray source array, a first detector and a second detector rotate about an axis of rotation relative to an object;
• sequentially emitting a first plurality of x-ray beams from said first x-ray source array at different positions along a first scanning direction;
• intercepting said first plurality of x-ray beams so that fan-shaped x-ray beams emanate towards said object;
• sequentially emitting a second plurality of x-ray beams from said second x-ray source array at different positions along a second scanning direction;
• intercepting said second plurality of x-ray beams so that fan-shaped x-ray beams emanate towards said object;
• having one or both of 1) a first plurality of fan-shaped x-ray beams from said first x-ray source array and after they pass through said object and 2) a first plurality of fan-shaped x-ray beams from said second x-ray source array and after they pass through said object that are received by said first detector, wherein said first detector generates a first imaging signal for each of said received first plurality of fan-shaped x-ray beams from said first x-ray source array and said received first plurality of fan-shaped x-ray beams from said second x-ray source array;
• having one or both of 1) a second plurality of fan-shaped x-ray beams from said first x-ray source and after they pass through said object and 2) a second plurality of fan-shaped x-ray beams from said second x-ray source and after they pass through said object that are received by said second detector, wherein said second detector generates a second imaging signal for each of said received second plurality of fan-shaped x-ray beams from said first x-ray source and said received second plurality of fan-shaped x-ray beams from said second x-ray source;
• receiving 1) said first imaging signals for each of said first plurality of fan-shaped x-ray beams from said first x-ray source and for each of said first plurality of fan-shaped x-ray beams from said second x-ray source and 2) said second imaging signals for each of said second plurality of fan-shaped x-ray beams from said first x-ray source and for each of said second plurality of fan-shaped x-ray beams from said second x-ray source, wherein rotation of said first x-ray source array, said second x-ray source array, said first detector and said second detector about said axis of rotation results in multiple imaging signals being reconstructed to generate a three-dimensional tetrahedron beam computed tomography image therefrom;
• and
• displaying said three-dimensional tetrahedron beam computed tomography image.