Stackable X-ray CT Calibration Artifact with Spherical Bodies
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current X-ray CT metrology systems lack a standardized, flexible, and efficient calibration method that minimizes beam hardening and structural distortion, limiting their accuracy and usability in various applications.
Innovation Solution
A kit comprising interconnectable and stackable support plates with spherical bodies, allowing for customizable configurations and easy assembly, which reduces material usage and structural complexity, thereby minimizing beam hardening and facilitating accurate calibration and verification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple styli with ruby spheres mounted onto a heavyweight block are used for calibration, then measurement accuracy is improved, but the calibration piece becomes large and fragile, making storage and transport difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The calibration piece is divided into multiple separate support plates instead of using a single heavyweight block. Each plate contains specific spherical bodies at defined positions, allowing the calibration artifact to be segmented into manageable, less fragile components that can be stored and transported more easily while maintaining measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The spherical calibration bodies are extracted from the heavyweight block structure and placed directly on thin support plates. This removes the unnecessary heavyweight block while retaining the essential spherical calibration features, reducing size and fragility without compromising measurement precision.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a two plate calibration artefact with vertical arrangement of balls is used, then calibration capability is provided, but beam hardening is inevitable and thickness limits useful parameters
Solution Approach 1:
The calibration artifact transitions from a vertical arrangement of spheres between plates to a horizontal arrangement on plate surfaces. This dimensional change allows the X-ray beam to traverse the plates horizontally rather than vertically through thick stacks, reducing beam hardening effects while maintaining calibration capability across multiple dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The support plates are designed with locally optimized properties - thin in the beam path direction to minimize beam hardening, yet sufficiently rigid to maintain precise spherical positions. The spherical bodies are strategically positioned on plate surfaces rather than embedded within thick material, reducing unnecessary X-ray absorption.
3Ease of operation
If a fixed set-up calibration artefact is used, then calibration procedure is simplified, but flexibility and adaptability to different X-ray CT instrument geometries are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The calibration artifact employs movable and reconfigurable support plates that can be positioned and oriented differently according to the specific X-ray CT instrument geometry being calibrated. This dynamic configurability allows the same artifact to adapt to various instrument designs while maintaining a relatively simple calibration procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The support plate design with spherical bodies creates a universal calibration artifact that can serve multiple calibration purposes across different X-ray CT instrument geometries. The same artifact can be configured for different measurement scenarios, eliminating the need for multiple specialized calibration pieces.
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
The solution enhances the accuracy and flexibility of X-ray CT system calibration by reducing beam hardening and structural distortions, enabling precise measurement and verification across different configurations without compromising storage and transportability.
Implementation Method 1
X-ray computed tomography (CT) systems
Implementation Method 2
beam hardening
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a kit for assembly of an artifact for evaluating performance purposes of an X-ray CT metrology system. The artifact comprises one or more interconnectable, stackable support plates, onto which a plurality of spherical bodies is mounted. The lightweight stacked support plate structure allows for a plurality of different configurations, and can be disassembled for enhanced storage, and safe and compact transportation.