Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A diffraction enhanced imaging system comprising:an X-ray source configured to generate a first X-ray beam;a first monochromator crystal positioned to intercept the first X-ray beam for producing a second X-ray beam;a second monochromator crystal positioned to intercept the second X-ray beam to produce a third X-ray beam for transmission through an object, wherein the second monochromator crystal has a thickness selected such that a mechanical strain on a side of the first monochromator crystal is the same as a mechanical strain on a side of the second monochromator crystal;an analyzer crystal having a thickness selected such that a mechanical strain on a side of the first monochromator crystal is the same as a mechanical strain on a side of the analyzer crystal, wherein the analyzer crystal is positioned to intercept transmitted X-ray beams at angles of incidence of the analyzer crystal; andan image detector configured to detect an image of the object from one or more beams diffracted from the analyzer crystal,wherein the image detector is configured to:detect a first angle image of the object from first diffracted beams emitted from the analyzer crystal positioned at first angular positions; anddetect a second angle image of the object from second diffracted beams emitted from the analyzer crystal positioned at second angular positions; andwherein the system further comprises a computer configured to:combine the first and second angle images to derive a refraction and apparent absorption image; andderive a mass density image of the object from the refraction image. 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the thicknesses of the analyzer crystal and the second monochromator crystal extend in a first direction, and the first X-ray beam diverges in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. 3. The system of claim 1 wherein a thickness of the first monochromator crystal is about 0.5 centimeters, the thickness of the second monochromator crystal is about 1 centimeter, and the thickness of the analyzer crystal is about 2 centimeters. 4. The system of claim 1 wherein the thicknesses of the second monochromator crystal and the analyzer crystal are substantially uniform. 5. The system of claim 1 wherein the first and second monochromator crystals are silicon crystals. 6. The system of claim 5 wherein the silicon crystals have [333] reflection. 7. The system of claim 1 wherein the analyzer crystal is a Bragg type crystal. 8. The system of claim 1 wherein the object is a soft tissue object. 9. The system of claim 8 wherein the soft tissue object is breast tissue. 10. The system of claim 1 wherein the third X-ray beam applies a total radiation dosage of less than or equal to about 0.5 mrad to the object. 11. The system of claim 1 wherein the image detector is configured to receive the diffracted beams. 12. The system of claim 1 wherein the image detector is configured to produce a digitized image of the object. 13. The system of claim 1 wherein the image detector is one of a radiographic film and an image plate. 14. The system of claim 1 wherein the image detector is configured to detect the image of the object from the beam diffracted from the analyzer crystal one of at or near a peak of a rocking curve of the analyzer crystal. 15. The system of claim 14 further comprising a computer configured to derive at least one of a diffraction enhanced image, an absorption image, a refraction image, a scatter image, and a mass density image of the object from the detected image. 16. The system of claim 15 wherein the one of at and near the peaks occurs approximately one-half of a Darwin width of the rocking curve. 17. The system of claim 1 wherein the image detector is configured to detect the first angle image of the object from the analyzer crystals at a low rocking curve angle setting of the analyzer crystals, and wherein the image detector is configured to detect the second angle image comprises detecting the second angle image of the object from the analyzer crystals at a high rocking curve angle setting of the analyzer crystals. 18. The system of claim 1 wherein the monochromator crystal is one of germanium and silicon monochromator crystals. 19. The system of claim 1 wherein the monochromator crystal is one of germanium [333] and silicon [333] monochromator crystals. 20. The system of claim 1 comprising a computer configured for adjusting a radiation dose applied by the second X-ray beam to the object. 21. A method for detecting an image of an object, the method comprising:generating a first X-ray beam;positioning a first monochromator crystal to intercept the first X-ray beam to produce a second X-ray beam;positioning a second monochromator crystal to intercept the second X-ray beam to produce a third X-ray beam for transmission through an object, wherein the second monochromator crystal has a thickness selected such that a mechanical strain on a side of the first monochromator crystal is the same as a mechanical strain on a side of the second monochromator crystal;positioning an analyzer crystal to intercept transmitted X-ray beams at angles of incidence of the analyzer crystal, wherein the analyzer crystal has a thickness selected such that a mechanical strain on a side of the first monochromator crystal is the same as a mechanical strain on a side of the analyzer crystal;detecting an image of the object from one or more beams diffracted from the analyzer crystal;detecting a first angle image of the object from first diffracted beams emitted from the analyzer crystal positioned at first angular positions;detecting a second angle image of the object from second diffracted beams emitted from the analyzer crystal positioned at second angular positions;combining the first and second angle images to derive a refraction and apparent absorption image; andderiving a mass density image of the object from the refraction image. 22. The method of claim 21 wherein the thicknesses of the analyzer crystal and the second monochromator crystal extend in a first direction, and the first X-ray beam diverges in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. 23. The method of claim 21 wherein a thickness of the first monochromator crystal is about 0.5 centimeters, the thickness of the second monochromator crystal is about 1 centimeter, and the thickness of the analyzer crystal is about 2 centimeters. 24. The method of claim 21 wherein the thicknesses of the second monochromator crystal and the analyzer crystal are substantially uniform. 25. The method of claim 21 wherein the first and second monochromator crystals are silicon crystals. 26. The method of claim 25 wherein the silicon crystals have [333] reflection. 27. The method of claim 21 wherein the analyzer crystal is a Bragg type crystal. 28. The method of claim 21 wherein the object is a soft tissue object. 29. The method of claim 28 wherein the soft tissue object is breast tissue. 30. The method of claim 21 wherein the third X-ray beam applies a total radiation dosage of less than or equal to about 0.5 mrad to the object. 31. The method of claim 21 further comprising providing an image detector configured to receive the diffracted beams. 32. The method of claim 21 further comprising providing an image detector configured to produce a digitized image of the object. 33. The method of claim 21 wherein detecting an image of the object comprises providing radiographic film. 34. The method of claim 21 wherein detecting an image of the object comprises providing an image plate. 35. The method of claim 21 further comprising providing an image detector configured to detect the image of the object from the beam diffracted from the analyzer crystal one of at or near a peak of a rocking curve of the analyzer crystal. 36. The method of claim 35 further comprising providing a computer configured to derive at least one of a diffraction enhanced image, an absorption image, a refraction image, a scatter image, and a mass density image of the object from the detected image. 37. The method of claim 36 wherein the one of at and near the peaks occurs approximately one-half of a Darwin width of the rocking curve. 38. The method of claim 21 further comprising:detecting the first angle image of the object from the analyzer crystals at a low rocking curve angle setting of the analyzer crystals; anddetecting the second angle image comprises detecting the second angle image of the object from the analyzer crystals at a high rocking curve angle setting of the analyzer crystals. 39. The method of claim 21 wherein the monochromator crystal is one of germanium and silicon monochromator crystals. 40. The method of claim 21 wherein the monochromator crystal is one of germanium [333] and silicon [333] monochromator crystals. 41. The method of claim 21 comprising providing a computer configured for adjusting a radiation dose applied by the second X-ray beam to the object. 42. A diffraction enhanced imaging system comprising:an X-ray source configured to generate first and second X-ray beams;a plurality of first monochromator crystals being spaced apart substantially along a first direction, and the first monochromator crystals being positioned to intercept the first X-ray beam on surfaces of the first monochromator crystals for producing a third X-ray beam;a plurality of second monochromator crystals being spaced apart substantially along the first direction, the second monochromator crystals being positioned to intercept the second X-ray beam on surfaces of the second monochromator crystals for producing a fourth X-ray beam, wherein the surfaces of second monochromator crystals at least partially extend in the first direction within the spacings of the first monochromator crystals;a plurality of third monochromator crystals being spaced apart substantially along the first direction, and the third monochromator crystals being positioned to intercept the third X-ray beam on surfaces of the third monochromator crystals to produce a fifth X-ray beam for transmission through an object;a plurality of fourth monochromator crystals being spaced apart substantially along the first direction, and the fourth monochromator crystals being positioned to intercept the fourth X-ray beam on surfaces of the fourth monochromator crystals to produce a sixth X-ray beam for transmission through the object, wherein the surfaces of fourth monochromator crystals at least partially extend in the first direction within the spacings of the third monochromator crystals;a plurality of analyzer crystals positioned to intercept the fifth and sixth X-ray beams at angles of incidence of the analyzer crystals; andan image detector configured to detect an image of the object from beams diffracted from the analyzer crystals,wherein the image detector is configured to:detect a first angle image of the object from first diffracted beams emitted from the analyzer crystals positioned at first angular positions; anddetect a second angle image of the object from second diffracted beams emitted from the analyzer crystals positioned at second angular positions; andwherein the system further comprises a computer configured to:combine the first and second angle images to derive a refraction and apparent absorption image; andderive a mass density image of the object from the refraction image. 43. The system of claim 42 wherein the first and second monochromator crystals are spaced from one another along a second direction, wherein the first direction is substantially perpendicular to the second direction. 44. The system of claim 42 wherein the first X-ray beams have a characteristic X-ray energy ranging from about 10 keV to about 70 keV. 45. The system of claim 42 wherein each of the monochromator crystals are matched in orientation and lattice planes to a respective one of the analyzer crystals. 46. The system of claim 42 wherein the monochromator crystals are symmetric crystals. 47. The system of claim 46 wherein the monochromator crystals are silicon crystals. 48. The system of claim 47 wherein the silicon crystals have [333] reflection. 49. The system of claim 42 wherein the analyzer crystals are Bragg type crystals. 50. The system of claim 42 wherein the object is a soft tissue object. 51. The system of claim 50 wherein the soft tissue object is breast tissue. 52. The system of claim 42 wherein the fifth and sixth X-ray beams apply a total radiation dosage of less than or equal to about 0.5 mrad to the object. 53. The system of claim 42 wherein the image detector is configured to receive the diffracted beams. 54. The system of claim 53 wherein the image detector is configured to produce a digitized image of the object. 55. The system of claim 42 wherein the image detector is one of a radiographic film and an image plate. 56. The system of claim 42 wherein the image detector is configured to detect the image of the object from the beam diffracted from the analyzer crystals one of at or near a peak of a rocking curve of the analyzer crystals. 57. The system of claim 56 further comprising a computer configured to derive at least one of a diffraction enhanced image, an absorption image, a refraction image, a scatter image, and a mass density image of the object from the detected image. 58. The system of claim 56 wherein the one of at and near the peaks occurs approximately one-half of a Darwin width of the rocking curve. 59. The system of claim 42 wherein the image detector is configured to detect the first angle image of the object from the analyzer crystals at a low rocking curve angle setting of the analyzer crystals, and wherein the image detector is configured to detect the second angle image comprises detecting the second angle image of the object from the analyzer crystals at a high rocking curve angle setting of the analyzer crystals. 60. The system of claim 42 wherein the monochromator crystals are one of germanium and silicon monochromator crystals. 61. The system of claim 42 wherein the monochromator crystals are one of germanium [333] and silicon [333] monochromator crystals. 62. The system of claim 42 further comprising a computer configured for adjusting a radiation dose applied by the fifth and sixth X-ray beams to the object. 63. A method for detecting an image of an object, the method comprising:generating first and second X-ray beams;providing a plurality of first monochromator crystals being spaced apart substantially along a first direction;positioning the first monochromator crystals to intercept the first X-ray beam on surfaces of the first monochromator crystals for producing a third X-ray beam;providing a plurality of second monochromator crystals being spaced apart substantially along the first direction;positioning the second monochromator crystals to intercept the second X-ray beam on surfaces of the second monochromator crystals for producing a fourth X-ray beam, wherein the surfaces of second monochromator crystals at least partially extend in the first direction within the spacings of the first monochromator crystals;providing a plurality of third monochromator crystals being spaced apart substantially along the first direction;positioning the third monochromator crystals to intercept the third X-ray beam on surfaces of the third monochromator crystals to produce a fifth X-ray beam for transmission through an object;providing a plurality of fourth monochromator crystals being spaced apart substantially along the first direction;positioning the fourth monochromator crystals to intercept the fourth X-ray beam on surfaces of the fourth monochromator crystals to produce a sixth X-ray beam for transmission through the object, wherein the surfaces of fourth monochromator crystals at least partially extend in the first direction within the spacings of the third monochromator crystals;providing a plurality of analyzer crystals positioned to intercept the fifth and sixth X-ray beams at angles of incidence of the analyzer crystals;detecting an image of the object from beams diffracted from the analyzer crystals;detecting a first angle image of the object from first diffracted beams emitted from the analyzer crystals positioned at first angular positions;detecting a second angle image of the object from second diffracted beams emitted from the analyzer crystals positioned at second angular positions;combining the first and second angle images to derive a refraction and apparent absorption image; andderiving a mass density image of the object from the refraction image. 64. The method of claim 63 wherein the first and second monochromator crystals are spaced from one another along a second direction, wherein the first direction is substantially perpendicular to the second direction. 65. The method of claim 63 wherein the first X-ray beams have a characteristic X-ray energy ranging from about 10 keV to about 70 keV. 66. The method of claim 63 wherein each of the monochromator crystals are matched in orientation and lattice planes to a respective one of the analyzer crystals. 67. The method of claim 63 wherein the monochromator crystals are symmetric crystals. 68. The method of claim 63 wherein the monochromator crystals are silicon crystals. 69. The method of claim 68 wherein the silicon crystals have [333] reflection. 70. The method of claim 63 wherein the analyzer crystals are Bragg type crystals. 71. The method of claim 63 wherein the object is a soft tissue object. 72. The method of claim 71 wherein the soft tissue object is breast tissue. 73. The method of claim 63 wherein the fifth and sixth X-ray beams apply a total radiation dosage of less than or equal to about 0.5 mrad to the object. 74. The method of claim 63 further comprising providing an image detector configured to receive the diffracted beams. 75. The method of claim 74 wherein the image detector is configured to produce a digitized image of the object. 76. The method of claim 74 wherein the image detector is one of a radiographic film and an image plate. 77. The method of claim 74 wherein the image detector is configured to detect the image of the object from the beam diffracted from the analyzer crystals one of at or near a peak of a rocking curve of the analyzer crystals. 78. The method of claim 77 further comprising providing a computer configured to derive at least one of a diffraction enhanced image, an absorption image, a refraction image, a scatter image, and a mass density image of the object from the detected image. 79. The method of claim 77 wherein the one of at and near the peaks occurs approximately one-half of a Darwin width of the rocking curve. 80. The method of claim 63 further comprising:detecting the first angle image of the object from the analyzer crystals at a low rocking curve angle setting of the analyzer crystals; anddetecting the second angle image of the object from the analyzer crystals at a high rocking curve angle setting of the analyzer crystals. 81. The method of claim 63 wherein the monochromator crystals are one of germanium and silicon monochromator crystals. 82. The method of claim 63 wherein the monochromator crystals are one of germanium [333] and silicon [333] monochromator crystals. 83. The method of claim 63 further comprising a computer configured for adjusting a radiation dose applied by the fifth and sixth X-ray beams to the object. 84. A diffraction enhanced imaging system comprising:an X-ray source configured to generate at least first and second X-ray beams;a plurality of first monochromator crystals being spaced apart substantially along a first direction, and the first monochromator crystals being positioned to intercept the first X-ray beam on surfaces of the first monochromator crystals for producing a third X-ray beam;a plurality of second monochromator crystals being spaced apart substantially along the first direction, the second monochromator crystals being positioned to intercept the second X-ray beam on surfaces of the second monochromator crystals for producing a fourth X-ray beam, wherein the surfaces of second monochromator crystals at least partially extend in the first direction within the spacings of the first monochromator crystals;a plurality of third monochromator crystals being spaced apart substantially along the first direction, and the third monochromator crystals being positioned to intercept the third X-ray beam on surfaces of the third monochromator crystals to produce a fifth X-ray beam for transmission through an object;a plurality of fourth monochromator crystals being spaced apart substantially along the first direction, and the fourth monochromator crystals being positioned to intercept the fourth X-ray beam on surfaces of the fourth monochromator crystals to produce a sixth X-ray beam for transmission through an object, wherein the surfaces of fourth monochromator crystals at least partially extend in the first direction within the spacings of the third monochromator crystals;a plurality of first analyzer crystals being spaced apart substantially along the first direction, and the first analyzer crystals being positioned to intercept the fifth X-ray beams at angles of incidence of the first analyzer crystals;a plurality of second analyzer crystals being spaced apart substantially along the first direction, the second analyzer crystals being positioned to intercept the sixth X-ray beams at angles of incidence of the second analyzer crystals, and the surfaces of fourth monochromator crystals at least partially extend in the first direction within the spacings of the third monochromator crystals;an image detector configured to detect an image of the object from beams diffracted from the first and second analyzer crystals,wherein the image detector is configured to:detect a first angle image of the object from first diffracted beams emitted from the analyzer crystals positioned at first angular positions; anddetect a second angle image of the object from second diffracted beams emitted from the analyzer crystals positioned at second angular positions; andwherein the system further comprises a computer configured to:combine the first and second angle images to derive a refraction and apparent absorption image; andderive a mass density image of the object from the refraction image. 85. The system of claim 84 wherein the first and second monochromator crystals are spaced from one another along a second direction, wherein the first direction is substantially perpendicular to the second direction. 86. The system of claim 84 wherein the first and second monochromator crystals are spaced from one another along a second direction, wherein the first direction is substantially perpendicular to the second direction. 87. The system of claim 84 wherein the first X-ray beams have a characteristic X-ray energy ranging from about 10 keV to about 70 keV. 88. The system of claim 84 wherein each of the monochromator crystals are matched in orientation and lattice planes to a respective one of the analyzer crystals. 89. The system of claim 84 wherein the monochromator crystals are symmetric crystals. 90. The system of claim 84 wherein the monochromator crystals are silicon crystals. 91. The system of claim 90 wherein the silicon crystals have [333] reflection. 92. The system of claim 90 wherein the analyzer crystals are Bragg type crystals. 93. The system of claim 90 wherein the object is a soft tissue object. 94. The system of claim 93 wherein the soft tissue object is breast tissue. 95. The system of claim 90 wherein the fifth and sixth X-ray beams apply a total radiation dosage of less than or equal to about 0.5 mrad to the object. 96. The system of claim 84 wherein the image detector is configured to receive the diffracted beams. 97. The system of claim 96 wherein the image detector is configured to produce a digitized image of the object. 98. The system of claim 84 wherein the image detector is one of a radiographic film and an image plate. 99. The system of claim 84 wherein the image detector is configured to detect the image of the object from the beam diffracted from the analyzer crystals one of at or near a peak of a rocking curve of the analyzer crystals. 100. The system of claim 99 further comprising a computer configured to derive at least one of a diffraction enhanced image, an absorption image, a refraction image, a scatter image, and a mass density image of the object from the detected image. 101. The system of claim 99 wherein the one of at and near the peaks occurs approximately one-half of a Darwin width of the rocking curve. 102. The system of claim 84 wherein the image detector is configured to detect the first angle image of the object from the analyzer crystals at a low rocking curve angle setting of the analyzer crystals, and wherein the image detector is configured to detect the second angle image comprises detecting the second angle image of the object from the analyzer crystals at a high rocking curve angle setting of the analyzer crystals. 103. The system of claim 84 wherein the monochromator crystals are one of germanium and silicon monochromator crystals. 104. The system of claim 84 wherein the monochromator crystals are one of germanium [333] and silicon [333] monochromator crystals. 105. The system of claim 84 comprising a computer configured for adjusting a radiation dose applied by the third X-ray beams to the object.