Patent ID: 12004896

Abstract:
The present invention relates to a system (1010) for X-ray dark field, phase contrast and attenuation image acquisition, the system comprising: an X-ray source (1020); an interferometer arrangement (1030); an X-ray detector (1040); a control unit (1050); at least one vibration transducer (1080); a processing unit (1090); and an output unit (1060). An axis is defined extending from a centre of the X-ray source to a centre of the X-ray detector. An examination region is located between the X-ray source and the X-ray detector, wherein the axis extends through the examination region, and wherein the examination region is configured to enable location of an object to be examined. The interferometer arrangement is located between the X-ray source and the X-ray detector, and wherein the interferometer arrangement comprises a first grating (1032) and a second grating (1034). For a first mode of operation: The control unit is configured to control at least one lateral movement transducer (1070) to move the first grating or move the second grating in a lateral position direction perpendicular to the axis. The control unit is configured to control the X-ray detector to acquire image data whilst the first grating and/or second grating is moving. During an exposure time of the X-ray detector the first grating and/or second grating has moved a distance less than a period of the first grating and/or second grating. The control unit is configured to control movement of the first grating and/or second grating such that the image data is acquired whilst the first grating and/or second grating is moving. The output unit is configured to output one or more of: dark field image data, phase contrast image data, and attenuation image data; For a second mode of operation: The control unit is configured to control the X-ray detector to acquire each image data of a plurality of image data whilst the first grating and/or second grating is moving during an exposure time of the X-ray detector. The control unit is configured to control the at least one vibration transducer to vibrate the first grating and/or second grating. An amplitude of vibration is greater than or equal to the period of the first grating and/or second grating. The processing unit is configured to generate attenuation image data and/or calibration data comprising a determination of a temporal low-pass filtered version of at leas some of the plurality of image data. The output unit is configured to output the attenuation image data and/or the calibration data.