Patent ID: 8804901
Filing Date: 2014-08-12
Classification: A61B,A61N,G06T

Abstract:
1. A method for x-ray tomosynthesis imaging of a target volume, comprising: providing an x-ray tomosynthesis imaging source comprising a plurality of x-ray source array units disposed at a respective plurality of tomosynthesis projection angles relative to the target volume, each x-ray source array unit comprising a first plurality of x-ray sources spatially distinct from each other; providing an x-ray tomosynthesis imaging detector comprising a plurality of digital detector units respectively disposed opposite said plurality of x-ray source array units relative to the target volume, each said digital detector unit being thereby paired with a corresponding one of said x-ray source array units, each digital detector unit comprising an array of detector pixels extending over a predefined imaging area; providing in association with each said x-ray source array unit an x-ray collimating unit disposed between that x-ray source array unit and the target volume, the x-ray collimating unit being positioned closer to that x-ray source array unit than to the target volume, the x-ray collimating unit being configured and dimensioned to individually collimate x-ray radiation from each of the first plurality of x-ray sources of that x-ray source unit onto a corresponding subgroup of detector pixels of the paired digital detector unit that cover an area substantially smaller than the predefined imaging area of the paired digital detector unit; during a first tomosynthesis imaging interval, operating the plurality of x-ray source array units such that each of the first plurality of x-ray sources of each said x-ray source array unit are activated for at least a portion of the first tomosynthesis imaging interval; and during the first tomosynthesis imaging interval, selectively operating each said digital detector unit to measure x-ray radiation at detector pixels corresponding to currently active ones of the first plurality of x-ray sources of the paired x-ray source array unit.