Patent ID: 7020237
Filing Date: 2006-03-28
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A scanning-based apparatus for obtaining tomosynthesis data of an object comprising: a divergent radiation source emitting X-ray radiation centered around an axis of symmetry; a radiation detector comprising a stack of line detectors, each being directed towards the divergent radiation source to allow a ray bundle of said X-ray radiation that propagates in a respective one of a plurality of different angles to enter the line detector; an object area arranged in the radiation path between said divergent radiation source and said radiation detector for housing said object; and a first movement device that moves said divergent radiation source and said radiation detector relative to said object essentially linearly in a direction essentially orthogonal to said axis of symmetry, while each of said line detectors records a plurality of line images of X-ray radiation as transmitted through said object in a respective one of said plurality of different angles, wherein said divergent radiation source and said radiation detector are moved relative to said object a length which is sufficient for scanning each of said line detectors across the entire object to obtain, for each of said line detectors, a two-dimensional image of X-ray radiation as transmitted through said object in a respective one of said plurality of different angles, wherein said scanning-based apparatus further comprises a second movement device that rotates said divergent radiation source and said radiation detector relative to said object an angle around an axis of rotation orthogonal to said axis of symmetry, the line detectors being, after said rotation, each directed towards the divergent radiation source to allow a ray bundle of said X-ray radiation that propagates through said object in a respective one of a further plurality of different angles to enter the line detector, and said first movement device moves once more said divergent radiation source and said radiation detector relative to said object essentially linearly in a direction essentially orthogonal to said axis of symmetry, while each of said line detectors records a plurality of line images of X-ray radiation as transmitted through said object in a respective one of said further plurality of different angles, wherein said divergent radiation source and said radiation detector are moved relative to said object a length which is sufficient for scanning each of said line detectors across the entire object to obtain, for each of said line detectors, a two-dimensional image of X-ray radiation as transmitted through said object in a respective one of said further plurality of different angles to thereby obtain said tomosynthesis data.