Adaptive scanning in an imaging system

1. An imaging system for adaptively scanning a region with a beam of radiation, the imaging system comprising:

a source of radiation configured to:

produce a beam of penetrating radiation, and

scan an object included in a region with the beam of penetrating radiation;

a sensor configured to:

sense radiation of the beam of penetrating radiation that passes through the object, and

produce a representation of the sensed radiation;

a controller coupled to the source of radiation; and

a scattered radiation detector coupled to the controller, the scattered radiation detector configured to sense scattered radiation from the region, wherein the controller is configured to:

receive the representation of the sensed radiation,

determine an attenuation of the beam of penetrating radiation caused by the object based on the representation;

compare the attenuation to a threshold,

if the attenuation meets or exceeds the threshold, adjust a parameter of the beam of penetrating radiation based on the attenuation,

receive a representation of the sensed scattered radiation,

determine an amount of scattered radiation based on the representation of the sensed scattered radiation,

compare the amount of scattered radiation to a threshold, and

cause the source to reduce an intensity of the beam if the amount of scattered radiation exceeds the threshold.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the beam of penetrating radiation is a pulsed beam of x-ray radiation.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein:

the source of radiation is configured to direct a first pulse of radiation toward the region, and

the controller is configured to adjust a parameter of the beam of radiation before a second pulse of x-ray radiation is directed toward the region.

4. The system of claim 2 , further comprising a rotatable filter wheel coupled to the controller and positioned between the source and the object, the filter wheel including a material configured to adjust an intensity or adjust a spectral energy of radiation passing through the material.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the rotatable filter wheel includes a first material and a second material, and, to adjust a parameter of the beam of penetrating radiation, the controller manipulates a timing of a pulse from the source such that the first material is placed in the beam during a first pulse and the second material is placed in the beam during a subsequent pulse.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the parameter of the beam is a collimation of the beam.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the source and the sensor move relative to the object.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the object moves relative to the source or the sensor.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the parameter of the beam is an intensity of the beam.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the parameter of the beam is an energy spectrum of the beam.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the parameter of the beam is a position of the beam.

12. A method of adaptive scanning, the method comprising:

exposing an object within a region to a first beam of penetrating radiation from a source;

sensing the first beam of penetrating radiation at a sensor positioned such that the object is between the source and the sensor;

determining an attenuation of the first beam caused by passing the first beam through the object;

comparing the attenuation to a threshold attenuation; and

if the attenuation exceeds the threshold attenuation, adjusting a parameter of the first beam of penetrating radiation based on the determined attenuation,

wherein adjusting a parameter of the first beam comprises adjusting a filter positioned between the source and the object to adjust an intensity or a spectral energy of the first beam.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first beam is an x-ray beam.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein adjusting a parameter of the first beam further comprises adjusting a collimator to adjust a collimation of the first beam.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein adjusting a parameter of the first beam further comprises adjusting a source of the first beam such that an intensity of the first beam is changed.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein adjusting a parameter of the first beam further comprises moving the first beam such that a position of the first beam changes.

17. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

scanning the region with the adjusted first beam;

sensing radiation caused by scanning the region with the adjusted first beam; and

generating an image of the region based on the sensed radiation.

18. The method of claim 12 , wherein the threshold represents an amount of change in attenuation.

19. The method of claim 12 , wherein the threshold is an adaptive threshold that varies based on an attenuation caused by portions of the region other than a portion that includes the object.

20. The method of claim 12 , wherein the object is located at a position relative to an initial scan location, and the threshold attenuation is an adaptive threshold attenuation that has a value that varies with distance from the initial scan location, and the value of the threshold at the position is based on the distance of the position of the object relative to the initial scan location.

21. The method of claim 12 , wherein:

the first beam of penetrating radiation is a pulsed beam of x-ray radiation,

directing the first beam of penetrating radiation towards the region comprises directing a first pulse of x-ray radiation towards the region, and

the parameter of the beam of penetrating radiation is adjusted before a second pulse of x-ray radiation towards the region.

22. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first beam of penetrating radiation is a pulsed beam of x-ray radiation, and further comprising:

directing a first pulse of x-ray radiation towards a rotating filter wheel comprising a first material and a second material such that the first pulse passes through the first material, and

adjusting a timing of a second source of x-ray radiation such that the second pulse passes through the second material.

23. An imaging system for adaptively scanning a region with a beam of radiation, the imaging system comprising:

a source system comprising:

a first source of radiation configured to direct a pre-screen beam toward a region, and

a second source of radiation configured to direct a pulsed x-ray main beam toward the region after the first source directs the pre-screen beam toward the region, the pre-screen beam and the main beam being spatially separated with respect to the region such that the pre-screen beam scans a portion of the region before the main beam scans the portion of the region;

a sensor configured to:

sense radiation from the pre-screen beam, and

produce a representation of the sensed radiation;

a controller coupled to the source system and configured to:

receive the representation of the sensed radiation,

determine, from the representation, an amount of attenuation of the pre-screen beam caused by the region, and

adjust a parameter of the main beam based on the determined attenuation prior to directing the main beam toward the region, and

a filter wheel coupled to the controller and positioned between the second source and the object, the filter wheel including a material configured to adjust an intensity or adjust a spectral energy of radiation passing through the material, wherein the rotatable filter wheel includes a first material and a second material, and, to adjust a parameter of the second beam of radiation, the controller manipulates a timing of a pulse from the source such that the first material is placed in the beam during a first pulse and the second material is placed in the beam during a subsequent pulse.

24. The system of claim 23 , wherein the pre-screen beam is a beam of x-ray radiation, and the main beam is a beam of x-ray radiation having a greater intensity of radiation than the pre-screen beam.

25. An imaging system for adaptively scanning a region with a beam of radiation, the imaging system comprising:

a source of radiation configured to:

produce a pulsed beam of x-ray radiation,

scan an object included in a region, and

direct a first pulse of radiation toward the region,

a sensor configured to:

sense radiation passing through the object, and

produce a representation of the sensed radiation; and

a controller coupled to the source of radiation, the controller configured to:

receive the representation of the sensed radiation,

determine an attenuation of the beam caused by the object based on the representation;

compare the attenuation to a threshold, and

if the attenuation meets or exceeds the threshold, adjust a parameter of the beam of radiation based on the attenuation before a second pulse of x-ray radiation is directed toward the region.

26. The system of claim 25 , wherein the parameter of the beam is an intensity of the beam.

27. The system of claim 25 , wherein the parameter of the beam is an energy spectrum of the beam.

28. Aft imaging system for adaptively scanning a region with a beam of radiation, the imaging system comprising:

a source of radiation configured to:

produce a beam of penetrating radiation, and

scan an object included in a region;

a sensor configured to:

sense radiation passing through the object, and

produce a representation of the sensed radiation;

a controller coupled to the source of radiation, the controller configured to:

receive the representation of the sensed radiation,

determine an attenuation of the beam caused by the object based on the representation;

compare the attenuation to a threshold, and

if the attenuation meets or exceeds the threshold, adjust a parameter of the beam of radiation based on the attenuation; and

a rotatable filter wheel coupled to the controller and positioned between the source and the object, the filter wheel including a material configured to adjust an intensity or adjust a spectral energy of radiation passing through the material, wherein the rotatable filter wheel includes a first material and a second material, and, to adjust a parameter of the beam of radiation, the controller manipulates a timing of a pulse from the source such that the first material is placed in the beam during a first pulse and the second material is placed in the beam during a subsequent pulse.

29. A method of adaptive scanning, the method comprising:

directing a first beam of penetrating radiation from a first source of radiation towards an object within a region;

sensing, on a side opposite the region from a source of the first beam, the first beam of penetrating radiation;

receiving, from a scattered radiation monitor, a representation of an amount of radiation scattered from the region;

determining a dosage rate of radiation at a location in the region based on the representation of the radiation scattered from the region;

compare the determined dosage rate to a known safe dosage rate; and

adjust the flux of the beam such that the dosage rate is below the known safe rate and the beam penetrates the object.

30. An imaging system for adaptively scanning a region with a beam of radiation, the imaging system comprising:

a source of radiation configured to:

produce a beam of penetrating radiation, the beam being associated with a flux, and

scan an object included in a region;

a sensor configured to:

sense radiation of the beam of penetrating radiation that passes through the object, and

produce a representation of the sensed radiation;

a scattered radiation monitor configured to:

receive radiation scattered from the region, and

produce a representation of an amount of radiation scattered from the region;

a controller coupled to the source of radiation, the controller configured to:

receive the representation of the radiation scattered from the region,

determine a dosage rate of radiation at a location in the region based on the representation of the radiation scattered from the region,

compare the dosage rate of radiation at the location to a known safe rate, and

adjust the flux of the beam such that the dosage rate is below the known safe rate and the beam penetrates through the object.

31. The system of claim 30 , wherein the source of radiation produces a pulsed beam of radiation.

32. The system of claim 30 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

receive the representation of the sensed radiation,

determine an amount of attenuation caused by the object based on the representation of the sensed radiation,

determine a density of the object based on the determined amount of attenuation,

compare the determined amount of attenuation to a threshold, and

to adjust the flux of the beam, the controller is configured to increase the flux when the attenuation is above the threshold and to decrease the flux of the beam when the attenuation is below the threshold.

33. The system of claim 30 , wherein the location in the region comprises the location of the scattered radiation monitor.

34. The system of claim 30 , wherein the location in the region comprises a location other than the location of the scatter radiation monitor.

35. A method of adaptive scanning, the method comprising:

exposing an object within a region to a first beam of penetrating radiation from a source;

sensing the first beam of penetrating radiation at a sensor positioned such that the object is between the source and the sensor;

determining an attenuation of the first beam caused by passing the first beam through the object;

comparing the attenuation to a threshold attenuation;

if the attenuation exceeds the threshold attenuation, adjusting a parameter of the first beam of penetrating radiation based on the determined attenuation, wherein

the first beam of penetrating radiation is a pulsed beam of x-ray radiation,

directing the first beam of penetrating radiation towards the region comprises directing a first pulse of x-ray radiation towards the region, and

the parameter of the beam of penetrating radiation is adjusted before a second pulse of x-ray radiation towards the region.

36. A method of adaptive scanning, the method comprising:

exposing an object within a region to a first beam of penetrating radiation from a source;

sensing the first beam of penetrating radiation at a sensor positioned such that the object is between the source and the sensor;

determining an attenuation of the first beam caused by passing the first beam through the object;

comparing the attenuation to a threshold attenuation;

if the attenuation exceeds the threshold attenuation, adjusting a parameter of the first beam of penetrating radiation based on the determined attenuation;

directing a first pulse of x-ray radiation towards a rotating filter wheel comprising a first material and a second material such that the first pulse passes through the first material, and

adjusting a timing of a second source of x-ray radiation such that the second pulse passes through the second material,

wherein the first beam of penetrating radiation is a pulsed beam of x-ray radiation.

37. An imaging system for adaptively scanning a region with a beam of radiation, the imaging system comprising:

a source of radiation configured to:

produce a beam of penetrating radiation, and

scan an object included in a region with the beam of penetrating radiation;

a sensor configured to:

sense radiation of the beam of penetrating radiation that passes through the object, and

produce a representation of the sensed radiation;

a filter positioned between the source of radiation and the object;

a controller coupled to the source of radiation, the controller configured to:

receive the representation of the sensed radiation,

determine an attenuation of the beam of penetrating radiation caused by the object based on the representation;

compare the attenuation to a threshold, and

if the attenuation meets or exceeds the threshold, adjust a parameter of the beam of penetrating radiation based on the attenuation by adjusting the filter to adjust an intensity or a spectral energy of the first beam.

38. An imaging system for adaptively scanning a region with a beam of radiation, the imaging system comprising:

a source of radiation configured to:

produce a beam of penetrating radiation, and

scan an object included in a region with the beam of penetrating radiation;

a sensor configured to:

sense radiation of the beam of penetrating radiation that passes through the object, and

produce a representation of the sensed radiation;

a controller coupled to the source of radiation; and

a rotatable filter wheel coupled to the controller and positioned between the source and the object, the filter wheel including a material configured to adjust an intensity or adjust a spectral energy of radiation passing through the material, wherein the beam of penetrating radiation is a pulsed beam of x-ray radiation, and the controller is configured to:

receive the representation of the sensed radiation,

determine an attenuation of the beam of penetrating radiation caused by the object based on the representation;

compare the attenuation to a threshold, and

if the attenuation meets or exceeds the threshold, adjust a parameter of the beam of penetrating radiation based on the attenuation.