Systems and methods for developing a primary collimator

1. A method for developing a primary collimator, said method comprising:

generating a plurality of virtual X-ray sources;

generating a plurality of virtual X-ray detectors;

generating a plurality of virtual X-ray beams, a first predetermined number of the plurality of virtual X-ray beams extending from each of the virtual X-ray sources to a respective virtual X-ray detector of the plurality of virtual X-ray detectors;

determining a plurality of intersection points at which a second predetermined number of the plurality of virtual X-ray beams intersect;

generating a virtual primary collimator element corresponding to the plurality of intersection points; and

outputting the generated virtual primary collimator element to facilitate forming a real primary collimator element based on the virtual primary collimator element.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising forming a real primary collimator element based on the virtual primary collimator element.

3. A method in accordance with claim 2 further comprising locating an aperture of the real primary collimator element at each intersection point of the plurality of intersection points.

4. A method in accordance with claim 3 further comprising avoiding a creation of the aperture at a point other than a point corresponding to one of the plurality of intersection points.

5. A method in accordance with claim 2 further comprising sliding the real primary collimator element along a plurality of slots of a plurality of holders affixed to a gantry.

6. A method in accordance with claim 2 further comprising affixing the real primary collimator element to a plurality of holders.

7. A method in accordance with claim 6 further comprising sliding the real primary collimator element between the plurality of holders.

8. A method in accordance with claim 2 , wherein the real primary collimator element is proportional to the virtual primary collimator element by a scale factor.

9. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising avoiding placement of the virtual primary collimator element at an axis parallel to an axis that extends along the plurality of intersection points.

10. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the first predetermined number of virtual X-ray beams is equal to a number of the virtual X-ray detectors.

11. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein a number of intersection points is greater than or equal to the first predetermined number of virtual X-ray beams.

12. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the second predetermined number of virtual X-ray beams at an intersection point is less than or equal to the first predetermined number of virtual X-ray beams.

13. A system comprising:

a computer configured to:

generate a plurality of virtual X-ray sources;

generate a plurality of virtual X-ray detectors;

generate a plurality of virtual X-ray beams, a first predetermined number of the plurality of virtual X-ray beams extending from each of the virtual X-ray sources to a respective virtual X-ray detector of the plurality of virtual X-ray detectors;

determine a plurality of intersection points at which a second predetermined number of the plurality of virtual X-ray beams intersect; and

generate a virtual primary collimator element corresponding to the plurality of intersection points; and

a fabricating device configured to form a real primary collimator element based on the generated virtual collimator element.

14. A system in accordance with claim 13 , wherein said fabricating device is configured to form an aperture at each intersection point of the plurality of determined intersection points.

15. A system in accordance with claim 13 , wherein said computer does not generate the virtual primary collimator element at an axis parallel to an axis that extends along the plurality of intersection points.

16. A system in accordance with claim 13 , further comprising a plurality of holders, wherein said real primary collimator element is configured to slide between the holders.

17. An imaging system comprising:

a plurality of X-ray sources each configured to generate a first predetermined number of X-ray beams forming a plurality of X-ray beams;

a detector configured to detect at least one X-ray beam of the first predetermined number of X-ray beams from each of said plurality of X-ray sources; and

a plurality of primary collimator elements spaced apart from each other by a gap and each primary collimator element of the plurality of primary collimator elements comprising a plurality of apertures, each aperture of said plurality of apertures located at an intersection point at which a second predetermined number of said plurality of X-ray beams intersects, wherein a first aperture of the plurality of apertures is located at a first intersection point at which a first X-ray beam of the second predetermined number of said plurality of X-ray beams intersects with a second X-ray beam of the second predetermined number of said plurality of X-ray beams when the plurality of X-ray beams are generated, each primary collimator element including a different number of apertures from any other primary collimator element.

18. An imaging system in accordance with claim 17 , wherein said imaging system does not include a primary collimator element at an axis parallel to an axis extending along said plurality of intersection points.

19. An imaging system in accordance with claim 17 , wherein said imaging system is configured to perform X-ray diffraction imaging.

20. An imaging system in accordance with claim 17 , wherein each primary collimator element of said plurality of primary collimator elements corresponds to a respective set of intersection points defining an axis, and each aperture of the plurality of apertures of each primary collimator element corresponding to a respective intersection point of the respective set of intersection points.