Patent ID: 9448326
Filing Date: 2016-09-20
CPC Classification: G01N,G01V

Claim Text:
1. A method of processing an image dataset of x-ray radiation emergent from a test object after its irradiation by an x-ray radiation source, the method comprising: generating an image dataset comprising a spatially resolved map of items of x-ray radiation intensity data from the x-ray radiation emergent from the test object; further, resolving the x-ray radiation intensity data items spectroscopically between at least two energy bands across the spectrum of the x-ray radiation source; numerically processing the spectroscopically resolved x-ray radiation intensity data items by: considering a material attenuation coefficient as a plural set of energy dependent polynomial equations with a set of energy dependent coefficients across the said plural set of energy bands; determining a measured attenuation at each said energy band; calculating from the measured attenuation at each said energy band a Compound Proton Number Set comprising plural order powers of weighted atomic numbers, the Compound Proton Number Set comprising solutions to the plural set of energy dependent polynomial equations; and generating a segmented image dataset using the Compound Proton Number Set.