Slotted x-ray filter
An X-ray machine including a detector bank with high resolution detectors for imaging and low resolution detectors for CT reconstruction, and at least one X-ray source configured to direct a beam of X-rays impinging on both the high resolution and the low resolution detectors. A flux filter is located between the detector bank and the X-ray source and the flux filter includes attenuating material for attenuating a portion of the beam impinging on the low resolution detectors.
1 . An X-ray machine comprising:
a detector bank with high resolution detectors for imaging and low resolution detectors for CT reconstruction;
at least one X-ray source configured to direct a beam of X-rays impinging on both the high resolution and the low resolution detectors; and
a flux filter between the detector bank and the X-ray source, the flux filter including attenuating material for attenuating a portion of the beam impinging on the low resolution detectors.
2 . The X-ray machine of claim 1 in which the flux filter includes a slot in the attenuating material for the portion of the beam impinging on the high resolution detectors.
3 . The X-ray machine of claim 1 in which the attenuating material is a low atomic number material for minimizing the distortion of the output X-ray spectrum.
4 . The X-ray machine of claim 1 in which the attenuating material is beryllium, carbon, or aluminum.
5 . The X-ray machine of claim 1 in which the attenuating material is a high atomic number material for emphasizing a particular portion of the output X-ray spectrum.
6 . The X-ray machine of claim 1 in which the attenuating material is steel.
7 . The X-ray machine of claim 1 in which the X-ray source includes a window and the flux filter is over the window.
8 . A flux filter for an X-ray machine with an X-ray source generating a beam impinging on at least first and second detector arrays, the flux filter comprising:
an attenuating portion for attenuating a component of the beam impinging on the first detector array; and
a non-attenuating portion for a component of the beam impinging on the second detector array.
9 . The flux filter of claim 8 in which the attenuating portion includes an attenuating material and the non-attenuating portion includes a slot in the attenuating material.
10 . A flux filter for an X-ray machine with an X-ray source generating a beam impinging on at least first and second detector arrays, the flux filter comprising:
a first attenuating portion for attenuating a component of the beam impinging on the first detector array; and
a second attenuating portion for a component of the beam impinging on the second detector array.
11 . The flux filter of claim 10 in which the first attenuating portion includes a highly attenuating material and the second attenuating portion includes a low attenuating material.
12 . A method of controlling the flux of an X-ray source in a system including imaging detectors and computed tomography reconstruction detectors, the method comprising positioning a filter between the X-ray source and the imaging detectors and the computed tomography detectors and attenuating the flux of X-rays from the source impinging on the tomography reconstruction detectors without substantial attenuation of the flux of X-rays from the source impinging on the imaging detectors.