Multi-Focal X-Ray Source for Tomosynthesis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current digital breast tomosynthesis systems suffer from image blurring due to the x-ray source or detector movement during exposure, which is exacerbated by the need for higher power sources and increased system costs, and mechanical complexity.
Innovation Solution
A multi-focal point x-ray source that moves relative to the object and detector, with coordinated x-ray emission cycles and detector readouts to acquire rapid succession of projections while switching the focal point in a direction opposite to the source's mechanical motion, allowing for continuous or pulsed x-ray emission with reduced blurring and simplified mechanical requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the x-ray source power is increased to reduce image blurring during continuous motion, then image quality is improved, but system cost and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements pulsed x-ray emission during continuous detector motion, where the x-ray source emits radiation in periodic pulses rather than continuously. This allows the detector to integrate signals only during brief exposure windows when x-rays are present, minimizing motion blur while maintaining image quality without requiring higher continuous power or heavier system components
Solution Approach 2:
The detector operates in continuous motion mode throughout the scanning process, maintaining constant movement rather than stopping at each position. This continuous motion combined with pulsed x-ray emission enables faster acquisition and reduces overall scan time, improving productivity without sacrificing measurement precision
2Measurement precision
If the x-ray source power is increased to reduce image blurring, then image quality is improved, but heat generation increases
Solution Approach 1:
By using pulsed x-ray emission instead of continuous high-power operation, the system generates heat only during brief pulse intervals rather than continuously. This periodic operation dramatically reduces average heat generation and thermal load on the x-ray source, eliminating the need for expensive high-power sources while maintaining image quality through synchronized detector integration
3Stability of the object's composition
If the x-ray source is stationary during exposure, then projection angle stability is improved, but scan time and productivity decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a static x-ray source configuration to a dynamic continuous motion detector configuration. The detector moves continuously through the scan range while x-rays are pulsed during specific integration windows, enabling the system to maintain effective projection angle stability during exposure while dramatically reducing total scan time through uninterrupted motion
Solution Approach 2:
The detector operates in continuous motion without stopping at intermediate positions, maintaining constant forward movement throughout the entire scan. This eliminates the time losses associated with repeated acceleration and deceleration cycles, reducing scan time while pulsed x-ray emission ensures stable angular sampling during each integration period
4Measurement precision
If the detector readout period is extended to transfer data, then data accuracy is improved, but time between cycles increases reducing duty cycle
Solution Approach 1:
The detector operates in a continuous mode where integration and readout occur in an overlapping cyclical pattern without idle periods. While one detector region is being read out, another region simultaneously accumulates x-ray signals, ensuring the detector is always actively acquiring data. This eliminates dead time between cycles and maximizes duty cycle while maintaining data accuracy through continuous integration
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces image blurring, lowers x-ray source current, minimizes thermal requirements, and results in lower-cost, higher-resolution volumetric images with better tissue separation, while maintaining a wider angular range and faster scan times.
Implementation Method 1
The source emits x-rays from a focal spot location in the source
Implementation Method 2
The moving x-ray source generates a sequence of x-ray emission cycles that are coordinated with the detector readout so as to acquire a rapid succession of x-ray image projections
Data Source
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AI summary
A tomography apparatus includes a multi-focal point x-ray source, a support to travel a trajectory path, a detector having a plurality of pixels, where one of the multi-focal point x-ray source, the detector, and an item-under-test move on the support. A control processor controls a change in the focal point of the x-ray source at discrete points, or continuously, within a measurement region, the focal point change in a direction retrograde to the support arm travel, a detector memory accumulates a digital value representative of a signal charge from at least a portion of the plurality of pixels, the control processor reconstructs a volumetric image of the item-under-test by processing the detector memory contents. A method for continuous tomosynthesis and a computer-readable medium are also disclosed.