Patent ID: 7180979

Claim:
An X-ray imaging apparatus comprising: first and second diffraction gratings; and an X-ray image detector, wherein the first diffraction grating generates a Talbot effect in the X-rays diffracted by the first diffraction grating, the second diffraction grating diffracts the X-rays diffracted by the first diffraction grating, and the X-ray image detector detects X-rays diffracted by the second diffraction grating, wherein the first and second diffraction gratings comprise diffraction members for diffracting the X-rays, the diffraction members extend in at least one direction, and the first diffraction grating or the second diffraction grating are movable along a diffraction grating surface of the first diffraction grating or the second diffraction grating respectively and along a direction of intersection at the diffraction members of the first diffraction grating or the second diffraction grating respectively, and wherein the X-ray imaging apparatus further comprises a means for acquiring phase shift differential images using X-ray images acquired by the X-ray image detector, the X-ray images being recorded at appropriate relative displacement of the first diffraction grating against the second diffraction grating induced by the movement of the first diffraction grating or the second diffraction grating.