Patent ID: 7756249

Claim:
A multi-focus x-ray source (MFXS) for a multiple inverse fan beam x-ray diffraction imaging (MIFB XDI) system including an examination area and a plurality of coherent x-ray scatter detectors positioned with respect to the examination area and configured to detect coherent scatter rays from a plurality of primary beams as the plurality of primary beams propagate through an object positioned within the examination area, the plurality of coherent x-ray scatter detectors positioned with respect to a plurality of convergence points positioned along a line parallel to a y-axis of the MIFB XDI system at a coordinate X=L, the MFXS comprising: a plurality of focus points (N) defined along a length of the MFXS colinear with the y-axis, each focus point of the plurality of focus points configured to be sequentially activated to emit an x-ray fan beam including the plurality of primary beams each directed to a corresponding convergence point of the plurality of convergence points, the MFXS configured to generate the plurality of primary beams, and at least M coherent x-ray scatter detectors of the plurality of coherent x-ray scatter detectors configured to detect coherent scatter rays from the plurality of primary beams as the plurality of primary beams propagate through a section of the object positioned within the examination area when a spacing P between adjacent coherent x-ray scatter detectors of the plurality of coherent x-ray scatter detectors satisfies the equation: P = W s · V M · U , where W s , is a lateral extent of the plurality of focus points, U is a distance from the y-axis to a top surface of the examination area, and V is a distance from the top surface to the line at the coordinate X=L.