Scanning system for differential phase contrast imaging

An X-ray device for imaging an object, comprising:

• an X-ray emitter arrangement, and
• an X-ray detector arrangement,
• wherein the X-ray emitter arrangement is adapted to emit an X-ray beam through the object onto the X-ray detector arrangement,
• wherein the X-ray beam is spatially at least partially coherent,
• wherein the X-ray beam is fan-shaped,
• wherein the X-ray detector arrangement comprises a phase grating and an absorber grating,
• wherein the X-ray detector arrangement comprises a detector for detecting X-rays,
• wherein the X-ray detector is an area detector,
• wherein the X-ray device is adapted to generate image data from the detected X-rays and to extract phase information from the X-ray image data, the phase information relating to a phase shift of X-rays caused by the object,
• wherein the object has a region of interest which is larger than a detection area of the X-ray detector and the X-ray device is adapted to generate image data of the region of interest by moving the object and the X-ray detector arrangement relative to each other, wherein said device has a focal spot, and wherein the movement-based generating entails rotating said X-ray detector arrangement around an axis that goes through said focal spot while said focal spot remains stationary.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium embodying a computer program for controlling an X-ray device, said program having instructions executable by a processor for performing a plurality of acts, from among said plurality there being the acts of:

• generating a fan-shaped X-ray beam that is spatially at least partially coherent,
• transmitting the X-ray beam through an object, a phase grating and an absorber grating onto an X-ray area detector,
• generating image data from X-rays detected by the X-ray area detector,
• extracting phase information from the image data, the phase information relating to a phase shift of X-rays caused by the object;
• moving, relative to each other, the object and an X-ray detector arrangement comprising said X-ray area detector;
• and
• generating image data of a region of interest of the object, wherein the region of interest is larger than a detection area of the X-ray area detector, wherein said X-ray beam has a focal spot and among said plurality there further being the act of rotating said X-ray detector arrangement around an axis that goes through said focal spot while said focal spot remains stationary.

A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying a computer program for controlling an X-ray device, said program having instructions executable by a processor for performing a plurality of acts, from among said plurality there being the acts of:

• emitting, via an X-ray emitter arrangement, an X-ray beam through the object onto an X-ray detector arrangement, wherein the X-ray beam is spatially at least partially coherent, wherein the X-ray beam is fan-shaped, wherein the X-ray detector arrangement comprises a phase grating and an absorber grating, wherein the X-ray detector arrangement comprises a detector for detecting X-rays, wherein the X-ray detector is an area detector;
• generating, via said X-ray device, image data from the detected X-rays;
• extracting phase information from the X-ray image data, the phase information relating to a phase shift of X-rays caused by the object, wherein the object has a region of interest which is larger than a detection area of the X-ray detector;
• generating image data of the region of interest by moving the object and the X-ray detector arrangement relative to each other, wherein the X-ray emitter arrangement comprises an X-ray source with switchable emitter lines, wherein the X-ray emitter arrangement, in a direction of relative movement, of the X-ray detector arrangement with respect to the X-ray emitter arrangement, that is orthogonal to the beam, is larger than the X-ray detector arrangement;
• and
• switching the emitter lines such that solely the emitter lines opposite to the X-ray detector arrangement are switched on.