METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR X-RAY IMAGING WITH MULTIPLE SOURCE-DETECTOR PAIRS

1 . A method of x-ray imaging comprising:

rotating a first X-ray source-detector pair through a first set of angles around an axis of rotation;

rotating a second X-ray source-detector pair through a second set of angles around said axis of rotation, wherein said first set of angles and said second set of angles do not overlap;

acquiring image data from said first X-ray source-detector pair and said second X-ray source-detector pair during rotation; and

storing said image data to form a computed imaging dataset.

2 . The method of claim 1 wherein said first set of angles and said second set of angles each comprise at least 90 degrees.

3 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:

completing rotation of the first X-ray source-detector pair through the first set of angles and the second X-ray source-detector pair through the second set of angles in less than 3 seconds.

4 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:

fixing positions of said first X-ray source-detector pair and said second X-ray source-detector pair at a predetermined angle of separation; and

acquiring images from said first X-ray source-detector pairs and said second X-ray source-detector pair while stationary.

5 . The method of claim 4 wherein said predetermined angle of separation is a minimum angle.

6 . The method of claim 4 further comprising:

utilizing said computed imaging dataset for registration of said images.

7 . The method of claim 1 wherein source of said first X-ray source-detector pair is configured to emit radiation from a plurality of discrete locations on its face.

8 . The method of claim 1 wherein source of said first X-ray source-detector pair is a point source.

9 . The method of claim 8 wherein source of said second X-ray source-detector pair is configured to emit radiation from a plurality of discrete locations on its face.

10 . The method of claim 9 further comprising:

rotating said first X-ray source-detector pair and said second-source detector pair around a common axis of rotation through a shared isocenter.

11 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:

rotating said first X-ray source-detector pair and said second-source detector pair around a common axis of rotation through a shared isocenter.

12 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:

imaging with a computed tomography modality.

13 . The method of claim 12 further comprising:

imaging with an extended field of view fluoroscopy modality.

14 . The method of claim 13 further comprising:

imaging with a bi-planar modality.

15 . A method of x-ray imaging comprising:

rotating two X-ray source-detector pairs around an imaging volume, wherein at least one source of said X-ray source-detector pairs are configured to emit radiation from pluralities of discrete locations;

acquiring a computed tomography dataset during rotation of said two X-ray source-detector pairs;

fixing said two X-ray source-detector pairs at a predetermined angle relative to one another;

acquiring image data from said two X-ray source-detector pairs while stationary at said predetermined angle relative to one another;

reconstructing a three-dimensional image from said image data; and

utilizing said computed tomography dataset as a prior for reconstruction of said three-dimensional image.

16 . The method of claim 15 wherein said predetermined angle is between 80 and 100 degrees, inclusive.

17 . The method of claim 15 further comprising:

reconstructing said three-dimensional image using a maximum-likelihood expectation maximization in voxel space.

18 . The method of claim 15 further comprising:

reconstructing said three-dimensional image using an ordered-subset expectation maximization framework.

19 . The method of claim 15 further comprising:

reconstructing said three-dimensional image using a maximum likelihood algorithm for transmission tomography.

20 . The method of claim 15 further comprising:

correcting artifacts in said three-dimensional image using said computed tomography dataset.