Coherent x-ray scatter is material specific, and imaging systems utilizing information from coherently scattered x rays are promising for security and medical applications requiring material identification with high sensitivity. A persistent challenge for practical implementation of these systems has been slow image acquisition. Our approach to reducing acquisition time is to develop a multibeam projection imaging system rather than a volumetric (CT or otherwise) imaging system. Previously we implemented a synchrotron-based system with five coplanar pencil beams and continuous motion of the object. Now we present a tabletop x-ray scatter imaging system built using a rotating-anode x-ray tube and a scintillating, energy-integrating flat-panel detector. A conventional source is more challenging to use than a synchrotron beam due to polychromaticity, low intensity, beam divergence, and x-ray tube thermal considerations. Simulations were performed to determine the system layout that optimized the intensity and angular resolution of scatter signals. The tube is inclined 6.1° to reduce apparent focal spot size. The primary collimation allows for an array of up to three rows by five columns of pencil beams, 3mm diameter and 2 cm apart at the object midplane 35 cm from the source, to irradiate the object simultaneously. There is no scatter collimation and the multiplexed scatter signals are disentangled using a maximum-likelihood expectation maximization algorithm. Motorized translation stages scan the object through the beams. The system can image objects up to 10 × 10 × 10 cm3 and 1 kg. Post-object primary beam attenuators allow for the same detector to measure transmitted and scattered x rays simultaneously. Initial images acquired with the system are presented. Using 15 beams, a 6000-pixel scatter image of a 6 cm × 10 cm region was acquired in 4.6 min.
Respiratory gating is a common technique used to compensate for patient breathing motion and decrease the prevalence of image artifacts that can impact diagnoses. In this study a new data-driven respiratory gating method (PeTrack) was compared with a conventional optical tracking system. The performance of respiratory gating of the two systems was evaluated by comparing the number of respiratory triggers, patient breathing intervals and gross heart motion as measured in the respiratory-gated image reconstructions of rubidium-82 cardiac PET scans in test and control groups consisting of 15 and 8 scans, respectively. We found evidence suggesting that PeTrack is a robust patient motion tracking system that can be used to retrospectively assess patient motion in the event of failure of the conventional optical tracking system.
Experimental prototype of a photon counting scanning slit X-ray imaging system is being evaluated for potential application in digital mammography. This system is based on a recently developed and tested “edge-on” illuminated Microchannel Plate (MCP) detector. The MCP detectors are well known for providing a combination of capabilities such as direct conversion, physical charge amplification, pulse counting, high spatial and temporal resolution, and very low noise. However, their application for medical imaging was hampered by their low detection efficiency. This limitation was addressed using an “edge-on” illumination mode for MCP. The current experimental prototype was developed to investigate the imaging performance of this detector concept for digital mammography. The current prototype provides a 60 mm field of view, 200 kHz count rate with 20% non-paralysable dead time and >7 lp/mm limiting resolution. A 0.3 mm focal spot W target X-ray tube was used for image acquisition. The detector noise is 0.3 count/pixel for 50x50 micron pixels. The count rate of the current prototype is limited by the delay line readout electronics, which causes long scanning times (minutes) and high tube loading. This problem will be addressed using multichannel ASIC electronics for clinical implementation. However, the current readout architecture is adequate for evaluation of the performance parameters of the new detector concept. It is very simple and provides a maximum intrinsic resolution of 28 micron FWHM. The prototype was evaluated using resolution, contrast detail and breast Phantoms. The MTF and DQE of the system are being evaluated at different tube voltages. The design parameters of a scanning multiple slit mammography system are being evaluated. It is concluded that a photon counting, quantum limited and virtually scatter free digital mammography system can be developed based on the proposed detector.
Region-of-interest (ROI) fluoroscopy has previously been investigated as a method to reduce x-ray exposure to the patient and the operator. This ROI fluoroscopy technique allows the operator to arbitrarily determine the shape, size, and location of the ROI. A device was used to generate patient specific x-ray beam filters. The device is comprised of 18 step-motors that control a 16 X 16 matrix of pistons to form the filter from a deformable attenuating material. Patient exposure reductions were measured to be 84 percent for a 65 kVp beam. Operator exposure reduction was measured to be 69 percent. Due to the reduced x-ray scatter, image contrast was improved by 23 percent inside the ROI. The reduced gray level in the periphery was corrected using an experimentally determined compensation ratio. A running average interpolation technique was used to eliminate the artifacts from the ROI edge. As expected, the final corrected images show increased noise in the periphery. However, the anatomical structures in the periphery could still be visualized. This arbitrary shaped region of interest fluoroscopic technique was shown to be effective in terms of its ability to reduce patient and operator exposure without significant reduction in image quality. The ability to define an arbitrary shaped ROI should make the technique more clinically feasible.
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