Method and apparatus for advanced X-ray imaging
The present invention pertains to an apparatus and method for X-ray imaging a human patient. A vacuum bell bonded to an X-ray radiation-permeable window that can emit X-ray radiation from a plurality of spots located 1 cm from its edge, a collimator, and a detector are used. A ring of stationary X-ray sources can also be used with a stationary collimator and a rotating slot collimator and detector. An X-ray beam can be aligned in an X-ray system by establishing a position of the beam with respect to a moving collimator at a number of points in time, monitoring the velocity of the collimator, navigating the beam to a calculated position of a hole in the collimator, and correcting the alignment of the beam based on the location of the beam on the detector.
1. An X-ray imaging system for imaging an object comprising:
a vacuum bell for creating a vacuum envelope in an X-ray source;
an X-ray radiation-permeable window configured to emit X-ray radiation from a plurality of spots;
a collimator located between said X-ray source and said object for projecting said X-ray radiation through said object;
an X-ray detector for measuring amount of said X-ray radiation passing through said object and striking said detector;
a second X-ray radiation-permeable window in contact with said window configured to emit X-ray radiation from a second plurality of spots; and
a second vacuum bell in contact with said second X-ray radiation-permeable window for creating a second vacuum envelope in a second X-ray source.
2. The X-ray imaging system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of spots is located less than 1 cm from an edge of said window.
3. The X-ray imaging system of claim 1 further comprising:
a bonded connection between said window and said vacuum bell.
4. The X-ray imaging system of claim 1 wherein said window is curved.
5. The X-ray imaging system of claim 1 further comprising:
a third vacuum bell configured to create a third vacuum envelope in a third X-ray source.
6. A computed X-ray imaging system for imaging an object comprising:
a plurality of stationary X-ray sources forming a ring for producing X-ray radiation;
a rotating X-ray detector positioned within said ring for measuring amount of said X-ray radiation passing through said object and striking said detector;
a stationary collimator located between said plurality of X-ray sources and said object;
a rotating collimator located between said plurality of X-ray sources and said object with a plurality of slots.
7. The computed X-ray imaging system of claim 6 wherein said stationary collimator further comprises at least ten slots.
8. The computed X-ray imaging system of claim 6 wherein said rotating slot collimator spans an arc between 60 and 160 degrees.
9. The computed X-ray imaging system of claim 6 further comprising:
cooling water coupled to an X-ray target for removing heat generated by said X-ray target.
10. The computed X-ray imaging system of claim 6 wherein said plurality of X-ray sources operate at full power for at least one hour.
11. The computed X-ray imaging system of claim 6 wherein said stationary collimator is curved.
12. The computed X-ray imaging system of claim 6 wherein said rotating collimator rotates at least three rotations per second.
13. The computed X-ray imaging system of claim 6 wherein said rotating collimator rotates at least 1.5 rotations per second.
14. The computed X-ray imaging system of claim 6 wherein said rotating collimator rotates at least 0.5 rotations per second.
15. The computed X-ray imaging system of claim 6 wherein said plurality of x-ray sources operate with a source spot on time duty cycle of at least 80 percent.
16. The computed X-ray imaging system of claim 6 wherein a complete dataset is generated after 60 superviews.
17. The computed X-ray imaging system of claim 6 wherein said plurality of x-ray sources are linear sources.
18. The computed X-ray imaging system of claim 6 wherein said x-ray radiation strikes said x-ray detector without passing through an anti-scatter grid.
19. The computed X-ray imaging system of claim 6 wherein a scan time is less than 300 milliseconds.
20. The computed X-ray imaging system of claim 6 wherein an image is generated without cone beam artifacts.