Compact multi-focus x-ray source, x-ray diffraction imaging system, and method for fabricating compact multi-focus x-ray source
View Patent ↗A multi-focus x-ray source (MFXS) for a multiple inverse fan beam x-ray diffraction imaging (MIFB XDI) system. The MFXS includes a plurality of focus points (N) defined along a length of the MFXS collinear with the y-axis. The MFXS is configured to generate the plurality of primary beams, and at least M coherent x-ray scatter detectors are configured to detect coherent scatter rays from the primary beams as the primary beams propagate through a section of the object positioned within the examination area when a spacing P between adjacent coherent x-ray scatter detectors satisfies the equation: P = W s · V M · U , where W s is a lateral extent of the plurality of focus points, U is a distance from the y-axis to a top surface of the examination area, and V is a distance from the top surface to the line at the coordinate X=L.
1. A multi-focus x-ray source (MFXS) for a multiple inverse fan beam x-ray diffraction imaging (MIFB XDI) system including an examination area and a plurality of coherent x-ray scatter detectors positioned with respect to the examination area and configured to detect coherent scatter rays from a plurality of primary beams as the plurality of primary beams propagate through an object positioned within the examination area, the plurality of coherent x-ray scatter detectors positioned with respect to a plurality of convergence points positioned along a line parallel to a y-axis of the MIFB XDI system at a coordinate X=L, the MFXS comprising:
a plurality of focus points (N) defined along a length of the MFXS colinear with the y-axis, each focus point of the plurality of focus points configured to be sequentially activated to emit an x-ray fan beam including the plurality of primary beams each directed to a corresponding convergence point of the plurality of convergence points, the MFXS configured to generate the plurality of primary beams, and at least M coherent x-ray scatter detectors of the plurality of coherent x-ray scatter detectors configured to detect coherent scatter rays from the plurality of primary beams as the plurality of primary beams propagate through a section of the object positioned within the examination area when a spacing P between adjacent coherent x-ray scatter detectors of the plurality of coherent x-ray scatter detectors satisfies the equation:
P
=
W
s
·
V
M
·
U
,
where W s , is a lateral extent of the plurality of focus points, U is a distance from the y-axis to a top surface of the examination area, and V is a distance from the top surface to the line at the coordinate X=L.
2. An MFXS in accordance with claim 1 , wherein, with M=1, all points of the section are scanned by at least one of the plurality of primary beams emitted by the plurality of focus points onto one coherent x-ray scatter detector D j .
3. An MFXS in accordance with claim 1 , wherein W s , is approximately 400 mm, U is approximately 1400 mm and V is approximately 700 mm.
4. An MFXS in accordance with claim 1 , wherein for M=1 the spacing P is 200 mm.
5. An MFXS in accordance with claim 1 , wherein for M=2 the spacing P is 100 mm.
6. An MFXS in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the MFXS has a length along the y-axis less than 500 mm.
7. A multiple inverse fan beam x-ray diffraction imaging (MIFB XDI) system, comprising:
a multi-focus x-ray source (MFXS) comprising an anode and a plurality of focus points (N) arranged along a length of the anode colinear with a y-axis of the MFXS, each focus point of the plurality of focus points configured to be sequentially activated to emit an x-ray fan beam including a plurality of primary beams;
an examination area; and
a plurality of coherent x-ray scatter detectors positioned with respect to the examination area and configured to detect coherent scatter rays from the plurality of primary beams as the plurality of primary beams propagate through an object positioned within the examination area, each coherent x-ray scatter detector of the plurality of coherent x-ray scatter detectors positioned with respect to a corresponding convergence point of a plurality of convergence points positioned along a line parallel to the y-axis at a coordinate X=L, at least M coherent x-ray scatter detectors of the plurality of coherent x-ray scatter detectors configured to detect the coherent scatter rays as the plurality of primary beams propagate through a section of the object and a spacing P between adjacent coherent x-ray scatter detectors of the plurality of coherent x-ray scatter detectors satisfies the equation:
P
=
W
s
·
V
M
·
U
,
where W s , is a lateral extent of the plurality of focus points, U is a distance from the y-axis to a top surface of the examination area, and V is a distance from the top surface to the line at coordinate X=L.
8. An MIFB XDI system in accordance with claim 7 , wherein, with M=1, all points of the section are scanned by at least one of the plurality of primary beams emitted from the plurality of focus points onto one coherent x-ray scatter detector D j .
9. An MIFB XDI system in accordance with claim 7 , wherein W s , is approximately 400 mm, U is approximately 1400 mm and V is approximately 700 mm.
10. An MIFB XDI system in accordance with claim 7 , wherein for M=1 the spacing P is 200 mm.
11. An MIFB XDI system in accordance with claim 7 , wherein for M=2 the spacing P is 100 mm.
12. An MIFB XDI system in accordance with claim 7 , wherein the MFXS has a length along the y-axis less than 500 mm.
13. A method for fabricating a multi-focus x-ray source (MFXS) for a multiple inverse fan beam x-ray diffraction imaging (MIFB XDI) system including an examination area and a plurality of coherent x-ray scatter detectors positioned with respect to the examination area and configured to detect coherent scatter rays from a plurality of primary beams as the plurality of primary beams propagate through an object positioned within the examination area, the method comprising:
defining a plurality of focus points (N) along a length of the MFXS colinear with a y-axis of the MIFB XDI system, each focus point of the plurality of focus points configured to be sequentially activated to emit an x-ray fan beam including a plurality of primary beams each directed to a corresponding convergence point of a plurality of convergence points positioned along a line parallel to the y-axis at a coordinate X=L; and
positioning the MFXS with respect to the examination area of the MIFB XDI system, at least M coherent x-ray scatter detectors of the plurality of coherent x-ray scatter detectors configured to detect the coherent scatter rays as the plurality of primary beams propagate through a section of an object positioned within the examination area and a spacing P between adjacent coherent x-ray scatter detectors of the plurality of coherent x-ray scatter detectors positioned with respect to the corresponding convergence point along the line at the coordinate X=L, satisfies the equation:
P
=
W
s
·
V
M
·
U
,
where W s , is a lateral extent of the plurality of focus points, U is a distance from the y-axis to a top surface of the examination area, and V is a distance from the top surface to the line at the coordinate X=L.
14. A method in accordance with claim 13 , wherein W s , is approximately 400 mm, U is approximately 1400 mm and V is approximately 700 mm.
15. A method in accordance with claim 13 , wherein for M=1 the spacing P is 200 mm.
16. A method in accordance with claim 13 , wherein for M=2 the spacing P is 100 mm.
17. A method in accordance with claim 13 , wherein the MFXS is formed having a length along the y-axis less than 500 mm.