Patent ID: 9460823
Filing Date: 2016-10-04
CPC Classification: A61B,F28F,G06F,G21K,H01L,H05K,Y10T

Claim Text:
1. A computed tomography (CT) apparatus to perform a CT scan with a reduced radiation dose, the apparatus comprising: an X-ray source configured to direct an X-ray fan beam toward a detector assembly with an object of interest situated between the X-ray source and the detector assembly, the X-ray source including a dynamic beam collimator fixed with respect to the X-ray source and configured to dynamically modulate the X-ray fan beam directed toward the object of interest, the dynamic beam collimator comprising a plurality of leaflets to block the X-ray fan beam impinging upon the dynamic beam collimator, wherein the beam steering assembly steers the electron beam onto different points around the target ring and a subset of the plurality of leaflets opens and closes to block or allow a portion of the X-ray fan beam to modulate the X-ray fan beam by reducing or increasing a solid angle of the X-ray fan beam as the beam steering assembly steers the electron beam onto different points around the target ring, wherein the modulated X-ray fan beam is directed toward a predetermined portion of the object of interest; and the detector assembly configured to detect the modulated X-ray fan beam on a side of the object of interest opposite to the X-ray source after the modulated X-ray fan beam passes through the object of interest.