Tetrahedron beam computed tomography
A method of imaging an object that includes directing a plurality of x-ray beams in a fan-shaped form towards an object, detecting x-rays that pass through the object due to the directing a plurality of x-ray beams and generating a plurality of imaging data regarding the object from the detected x-rays. The method further includes forming either a three-dimensional cone-beam computed tomography, digital tomosynthesis or Megavoltage image from the plurality of imaging data and displaying the image.
1. A cone-beam computed tomography system comprising:
an x-ray source that emits an x-ray beam;
a slot that intercepts said x-ray beam so that a plurality of fan-shaped x-ray beams emanate from said slot towards an object;
a detector receiving fan-shaped x-rays after said fan-shaped x-ray beams pass through said object, said detector generating an imaging signal for each of said received fan-shaped x-rays; and
a computer connected to said detector so as to receive said imaging signals for each of said received fan-shaped x-rays, wherein said x-ray source, said slot and said detector move relative to said object so that multiple imaging signals are reconstructed by said computer to generate a three-dimensional cone-beam computed tomography image therefrom; and
a display connected to said computer and displaying said three-dimensional cone-beam computed tomography image; and
wherein said slot moves relative to said x-ray source.
2. The cone-beam computed tomography system of claim 1 , wherein said x-ray source comprises a kV x-ray source.
3. The cone-beam computed tomography system of claim 1 , wherein said slot rotates about said x-ray source.
4. The cone-beam computed tomography system of claim 1 , wherein said slot is stationary with respect to a housing that contains said x-ray source.
5. The cone-beam computed tomography system of claim 4 , wherein said x-ray source comprises an anode and a cathode, wherein said cathode emits electrons which strike multiple, discrete areas of space occupied by said anode.
6. The cone-beam computed tomography system of claim 1 , wherein said detector is a flat panel imager.
7. The cone-beam computed tomography system of claim 6 , wherein said flat panel imager comprises an array of amorphous silicon detector elements.
8. The cone-beam computed tomography system of claim 7 , wherein said array is a two-dimensional array.
9. The cone-beam computed tomography system of claim 1 , wherein said x-ray source comprises an anode and a cathode, wherein said cathode emits electrons which strike a single area of space occupied by said anode.
10. The cone-beam computed tomography system of claim 1 , wherein said x-ray source comprises an anode and a cathode, wherein said cathode emits electrons which strike multiple, discrete areas of space occupied by said anode.
11. The cone-beam computed tomography system of claim 1 , wherein said computer causes said detector to read only certain areas of said detector for each fan-shaped x-ray beam received.
12. The cone-beam computed tomography system of claim 1 , wherein said x-ray source comprises a source of particles that strike a target, wherein an intensity of each of said plurality of fan-shaped x-ray beams is modulated by modulating a current of said particles striking said target.
13. A method of imaging an object, comprising:
i) emitting from an x-ray source an x-ray beam in a fan-shaped form towards an object;
ii) detecting x-rays that pass through said object due to said emitting an x-ray beam with a detector;
iii) generating image data regarding said object from said detected x-rays; and
iv) rotating said x-ray source and said detector relative to said object and continuously repeating steps i)-iv) until a sufficient number of imaging data regarding said object is generated so as to form a three-dimensional cone-beam computed tomography image therefrom;
forming a three-dimensional cone-beam computed tomography image from said sufficient number of imaging data; and
displaying said three-dimensional cone-beam computed tomography image; and
wherein said emitting comprises collimating a single x-ray beam with a collimator moving relative to said x-ray source.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein said three-dimensional cone-beam computed tomography image is formed from at most one full rotation of said x-ray source and detector about said object.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein said moving collimator rotates.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein said emitting comprises sequentially forming x-ray beams off of different areas of an anode of said x-ray source.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein said emitting comprises sequentially forming x-ray beams off of said different areas of said anode by sequentially directing electrons from a single cathode of said x-ray source towards said different areas.
18. The method of claim 13 , wherein said x-ray beam has an energy in a kilovolt range.
19. The method of claim 13 , further comprising modulating intensities of each of said plurality of fan-shaped x-ray beams by modulating a current of particles striking a target that generate said plurality of fan-shaped x-ray beams.