Patent ID: 6823044
Filing Date: 2004-11-23
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
An imaging system for imaging a sample of interest comprising:an emitter enabled to project imaging radiation through said sample of interest, at least one of said emitter and said sample of interest being manipulable such that relative movement between said imaging radiation and said sample of interest is enabled; a plurality of detecting modules disposed in a sparsely distributed configuration, including a first detecting module that is spaced apart from a neighboring second detecting module, said first and second detecting modules each having an array of sensors that are responsive to said imaging radiation, said detecting modules being cooperatively aligned with said emitter such that multiple said detecting modules are simultaneously irradiated by a continuous pattern of said imaging radiation, said detecting modules being cooperative with said emitter and said sample of interest for detecting regions of said sample of interest to generate series of sub-images during said relative movement between said imaging radiation and said sample of interest, said detecting modules being controlled such that each said detecting module provides a succession of sub-images in which at least some of said sub-images in said succession overlap with respect to imaging common portions of said sample of interest; and an integrating unit coupled to said detecting modules for computationally combining said sub-images on a basis of data that includes (a) angular data indicative of projection angles of said imaging radiation during said imaging of said common portions of said sample of interest and (b) positional data indicative of relative positions of said imaging radiation and said sample of interest in acquiring individual said sub-images.