Computed tomography facilitation method and apparatus
View Patent ↗A first X-ray detector ( 203 ) is positioned to detect at least the X-rays that intersect the center of rotation ( 201 ) for an object ( 205 ) with respect to an X-ray source ( 202 ). A second X-ray detector ( 207 ) is then positioned to detect X-rays that do not overlap with the X-rays as are detected by the first X-ray detector as well as X-rays ( 210 ) that intersect a periphery of a circle ( 209 ) that circumscribes an outer extreme boundary ( 208 ) of the object to be scanned.
1. A method comprising:
providing an object scanning space having a center of rotation;
providing at least a first source of X-rays;
providing a first X-ray detector in a position to detect at least the X-rays that intersect the center of rotation;
providing at least a second X-ray detector in a position to detect the X-rays that:
do not overlap with the X-rays as are detected with the first X-ray detector; and
detect at least the X-rays that intersect a periphery of a circle that circumscribes an outer extreme boundary of an object to be scanned in the object scanning space;
wherein all of the X-ray detectors as are provided are insufficient to make a complete scan of the object scanning space without providing some relative motion as between the X-ray detectors and the object scanning space;
further comprising providing a second source of X-rays wherein the first source of X-rays and the second source of X-rays are substantially opposite one another and wherein providing a first X-ray detector comprising disposing the first X-ray detector in a position that is opposite the first source of X-rays and providing a second X-ray detector comprises disposing the second X-ray detector in a position that is opposite the second source of X-rays.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein providing a first X-ray detector comprises providing a flat plate detector.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein providing a first X-ray detector comprises providing an image intensifier.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein providing a first X-ray detector comprises providing a multi-channel detector of width inadequate to cover at least half of the object scanning space.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein:
providing a first X-ray detector comprises providing a flat plate detector;
providing a second X-ray detector comprises providing a flat plate detector.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein:
providing a first X-ray detector comprises providing an image intensifier;
providing a second X-ray detector comprises providing an image intensifier.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein:
providing a first X-ray detector comprises providing a multi-channel detector of width inadequate to cover at least half of the object scanning space;
providing a second X-ray detector comprises providing a multi-channel detector of width inadequate to cover at least half of the object scanning space.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein providing a first X-ray detector in a position to detect at least the X-rays that intersect the center of rotation comprises positioning the first X-ray detector in an offset position with respect to a line that intersects both the first source of X-rays and the center of rotation.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein positioning the first X-ray detector in an offset position with respect to a line that intersects both the first source of X-rays and the center of rotation comprises positioning the first X-ray detector such that one edge of the first X-ray detector extends only a relatively small distance beyond the line that intersects both the first source of X-rays and the center of rotation and towards the second X-ray detector.
10. A method comprising:
providing an object scanning space having a center of rotation;
providing at least a first source of X-rays;
providing a first X-ray detector in a position to detect at least the X-rays that intersect the center of rotation;
providing at least a second X-ray detector in a position to detect the X-rays that:
do not overlap with the X-rays as are detected with the first X-ray detector; and
detect at least the X-rays that intersect a periphery of a circle that circumscribes an outer extreme boundary of an object to be scanned in the object scanning space;
using an offset rebinning process with the first and second X-ray detector to develop a computed tomography image of an object in the object scanning space.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein providing a first X-ray detector and providing a second X-ray detector comprises providing both the first X-ray detector and the second X-ray detector on a same side of the object scanning space and opposite the first source of X-rays.
12. The method of claim 10 wherein using the offset rebinning process with the first and second X-ray detector to develop a computed tomography image of an object in the object scanning space further comprises capturing a complete set of image data for the object by capturing image data during 360 degrees of relative rotation as between the object and the first and second X-ray detectors.
13. An apparatus comprising:
an object scanning space having a center of rotation;
a first source of X-rays;
a first X-ray detector that is disposed in a position to detect at least the X-rays that intersect the center of rotation;
at least a second X-ray detector that is disposed in a position to detect the X-rays that:
do not overlap with a majority of the X-rays as are detected with the first X-ray detector; and
detect at least the X-rays that intersect a periphery of a circle that circumscribes an outer extreme boundary of an object to be scanned in the object scanning space;
wherein all of the X-ray detectors as are disposed in a position to detect the X-rays are insufficient to make a complete scan of the object scanning space without providing some relative motion as between the X-ray detectors and the object scanning space;
further comprising:
a second source of X-rays; and
wherein the first source of X-rays and the second source of X-rays are disposed substantially opposite one another and wherein the first X-ray detector is disposed in a position that is opposite the first source of X-rays and the second X-ray detector is disposed in a position that is opposite the second source of X-rays.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the first X-ray detector comprises a flat plate detector.
15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the first X-ray detector comprises an image intensifier.
16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the first X-ray detector comprises a multi-channel detector of width inadequate to cover at least half of the object scanning space.
17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein:
the first X-ray detector comprises a flat plate detector; and
the second X-ray detector comprises a flat plate detector.
18. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein:
the first X-ray detector comprises an image intensifier; and
the second X-ray detector comprises an image intensifier.
19. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein:
the first X-ray detector comprises a multi-channel detector of width inadequate to cover at least half of the object scanning space;
the second X-ray detector comprises a multi-channel detector of width inadequate to cover at least half of the object scanning space.
20. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the first X-ray detector is disposed in an offset position with respect to a line that intersects both the first source of X-rays and the center of rotation.
21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the first X-ray detector is disposed such that one edge of the first X-ray detector extends only a relatively small distance beyond the line that intersects both the first source of X-rays and the center of rotation and towards the second X-ray detector.
22. An apparatus comprising:
an object scanning space having a center of rotation;
a first source of X-rays;
a first X-ray detector that is disposed in a position to detect at least the X-rays that intersect the center of rotation;
at least a second X-ray detector that is disposed in a position to detect the X-rays that:
do not overlap with a majority of the X-rays as are detected with the first X-ray detector; and
detect at least the X-rays that intersect a periphery of a circle that circumscribes an outer extreme boundary of an object to be scanned in the object scanning space;
a process controller that is configured and arranged to use the apparatus to conduct an offset rebinning process with the first and second X-ray detectors to develop a computed tomography image of an object in the object scanning space.
23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein both the first X-ray detector and the second X-ray detector are disposed on a same side of the object scanning space and opposite the first source of X-rays.
24. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the process controller is further configured and arranged to use the apparatus to conduct an offset rebinning process with the first and second X-ray detector to develop a computed tomography image of an object in the object scanning space by capturing a complete set of image data for the object by capturing image data during 360 degrees of relative rotation as between the object and the first and second X-ray detectors.