Patent ID: 8855385

Claim:
An x-ray imaging system comprising: an x-ray source configured to emit a beam of x-rays toward an object to be imaged; a detector configured to receive the x-rays attenuated by the object; a data acquisition system (DAS) operably coupled to the detector; and a computer operably connected to the x-ray source and the DAS, the computer being programmed to: cause the x-ray source to emit x-rays at each of a first kVp and a second kVp toward the detector; acquire x-ray data from x-rays emitted at the first and second kVp through a region of interest (ROI); perform a first multi-material decomposition based on the acquired x-ray data; quantify a volume fraction of a first material in the ROI based on the first multi-material decomposition; display the volume fraction of the first material to a user; and grade an object of interest within the ROI based on the volume fraction of the first material; wherein the computer, in being programmed to grade the object of interest, is programmed to: determine a percentage of fat within the object of interest; and apply a steatosis score to the object of interest based on the percentage of fat.