Patent ID: 8571172
Filing Date: 2013-10-29
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A CT scanner comprising: at least one cone beam x-ray source assembly mounted on a gantry frame, the gantry frame rotatable about a rotation axis, the x-ray source assembly operable to emit a cone beam at an orientation with respect to the rotation axis; a controller operable to translate the at least one source assembly relative to the gantry frame during a rotation cycle in a direction parallel to the rotation axis such that the combined rotation and translation motions form a non-circular continuous source trajectory and to adjust an orientation of the cone beam during a rotation cycle of the gantry while the source is translated relative to the frame, wherein the controller adjusts the orientation to radiate a substantially same volume of interest over the rotation cycle, wherein the controller is operable to alter the orientation of the cone beam in a cyclical manner as a function of an angle of rotation of the gantry, wherein the controller is operable to alter a position of a focal spot of the x-ray source assembly in synchronization with an adjustment to the orientation, wherein movement of the focal spot along the trajectory is cyclical and has a frequency equal to a frequency of rotation of the gantry or an integer multiple of a frequency of rotation of the gantry; and a detector array which receives x-rays generated by the at least one cone beam x-ray and produces data signal responsive thereto, said data signals being fed to the controller for the production of a CT image, wherein there is no relative motion in the direction of the axis between an object being scanned and the gantry during generation of said data signals.