Patent ID: 7639774
Filing Date: 2009-12-29
Classification: A61B,G21K

Abstract:
1. A CT imaging system, comprising: an X-ray source comprising a plurality of emission points, each emission point comprising a respective X-ray tube and configured to emit respective X-ray beams for traversing an imaging volume, wherein each of the emission points is located at the same angular position but axially offset relative to a z-axis of the CT imaging system such that if each of the plurality of emission points were to be activated concurrently, the respectively emitted X-ray beams would be directly adjacent when entering an imaging field of view, exiting the imaging field of view, or at the isocenter of the CT imaging system; a detector array comprising a plurality of detector elements, wherein each detector element is configured to generate one or more signals in response to the respective X-ray beams; a collimator configured to collimate the respective X-ray beams; and a controller configured to prevent overlap of the respective X-ray beams at the detector away by activating subsets of the emission points at different times.