US 8,942,341 B2 · Method of dose reduction for CT imaging and apparatus for implementing same

Abstract

A CT system includes an x-ray source configured to project an x-ray beam toward an object, a detector array, and a bowtie filter. The bowtie filter includes a first x-ray filtration region positioned to attenuate x-rays that pass through an isochannel of the detector array, a second x-ray filtration region positioned to attenuate x-rays that pass through channels of the detector array that are offcenter in a channel direction from the isochannel, and an x-ray attenuation material positionable to attenuate the x-rays that pass through the channels of the detector array that are offcenter in the channel direction from the isochannel. The CT system also includes a data acquisition system (DAS) connected to the detector array and configured to receive outputs from the detector array, and a computer programmed to acquire projections of imaging data of the object, and generate an image of the object using the imaging data.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A CT system comprising:

a rotatable gantry having an opening to receive an object to be scanned;
an x-ray source configured to project an x-ray beam toward the object;
a detector array having a width in a slice-direction and configured to detect x-rays passing through the object;
a first bowtie filter positioned between the x-ray source and the opening, the first bowtie filter comprising:
a first x-ray filtration region positioned to attenuate x-rays that pass through an isochannel of the detector array;
a second x-ray filtration region positioned to attenuate x-rays that pass through channels of the detector array that are offcenter in a channel direction from the isochannel;
and
an x-ray attenuation material positionable to attenuate the x-rays that pass through the channels of the detector array that are offcenter in the channel direction from the isochannel;
a data acquisition system (DAS) connected to the detector array and configured to receive outputs from the detector array;
and
a computer programmed to:
acquire projections of imaging data of the object from the DAS;
and
generate an image of the object using the imaging data.

11 more elements

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program comprising instruction which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

obtain x-ray imaging data that is generated in a detector from x-rays that pass through a central region of a first portion of a bowtie filter that defines a first region-of-interest (ROI) and includes an isochannel of the detector;
obtain x-ray imaging data that is generated in the detector from x-rays that pass through two regions of the first portion of the bowtie filter, wherein the two regions are offset in opposite channel directions from the isochannel, and wherein the x-ray imaging data from the two regions of the bowtie filter is generated from x-rays that pass through an x-ray attenuation material that is a material different from a material of the bowtie filter;
and
generate an image using the x-ray imaging data.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method of dose reduction for CT imaging and apparatus for implementing same

Life of this patent

Method of dose reduction for CT imaging and apparatus for implementing same

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24