Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B6/00—Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis; Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis combined with radiation therapy equipment
  • A61B6/48—Diagnostic techniques
  • A61B6/484—Diagnostic techniques involving phase contrast X-ray imaging
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B6/00—Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis; Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis combined with radiation therapy equipment
  • A61B6/40—Arrangements for generating radiation specially adapted for radiation diagnosis
  • A61B6/4035—Arrangements for generating radiation specially adapted for radiation diagnosis the source being combined with a filter or grating
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B6/00—Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis; Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis combined with radiation therapy equipment
  • A61B6/42—Arrangements for detecting radiation specially adapted for radiation diagnosis
  • A61B6/4291—Arrangements for detecting radiation specially adapted for radiation diagnosis the detector being combined with a grid or grating
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N23/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups G01N3/00 – G01N17/00, G01N21/00 or G01N22/00
  • G01N23/02—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups G01N3/00 – G01N17/00, G01N21/00 or G01N22/00 by transmitting the radiation through the material
  • G01N23/04—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups G01N3/00 – G01N17/00, G01N21/00 or G01N22/00 by transmitting the radiation through the material and forming images of the material
  • G01N23/046—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups G01N3/00 – G01N17/00, G01N21/00 or G01N22/00 by transmitting the radiation through the material and forming images of the material using tomography, e.g. computed tomography [CT]
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N23/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups G01N3/00 – G01N17/00, G01N21/00 or G01N22/00
  • G01N23/20—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups G01N3/00 – G01N17/00, G01N21/00 or G01N22/00 by using diffraction of the radiation by the materials, e.g. for investigating crystal structure; by using scattering of the radiation by the materials, e.g. for investigating non-crystalline materials; by using reflection of the radiation by the materials
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
  • G21K—TECHNIQUES FOR HANDLING PARTICLES OR IONISING RADIATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; IRRADIATION DEVICES; GAMMA RAY OR X-RAY MICROSCOPES
  • G21K1/00—Arrangements for handling particles or ionising radiation, e.g. focusing or moderating
  • G21K1/02—Arrangements for handling particles or ionising radiation, e.g. focusing or moderating using diaphragms, collimators
  • G21K1/04—Arrangements for handling particles or ionising radiation, e.g. focusing or moderating using diaphragms, collimators using variable diaphragms, shutters, choppers
  • G21K1/043—Arrangements for handling particles or ionising radiation, e.g. focusing or moderating using diaphragms, collimators using variable diaphragms, shutters, choppers changing time structure of beams by mechanical means, e.g. choppers, spinning filter wheels
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
  • G21K—TECHNIQUES FOR HANDLING PARTICLES OR IONISING RADIATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; IRRADIATION DEVICES; GAMMA RAY OR X-RAY MICROSCOPES
  • G21K1/00—Arrangements for handling particles or ionising radiation, e.g. focusing or moderating
  • G21K1/02—Arrangements for handling particles or ionising radiation, e.g. focusing or moderating using diaphragms, collimators
  • G21K1/04—Arrangements for handling particles or ionising radiation, e.g. focusing or moderating using diaphragms, collimators using variable diaphragms, shutters, choppers
  • G21K1/046—Arrangements for handling particles or ionising radiation, e.g. focusing or moderating using diaphragms, collimators using variable diaphragms, shutters, choppers varying the contour of the field, e.g. multileaf collimators
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N2223/00—Investigating materials by wave or particle radiation
  • G01N2223/40—Imaging
  • G01N2223/419—Imaging computed tomograph
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
  • G21K—TECHNIQUES FOR HANDLING PARTICLES OR IONISING RADIATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; IRRADIATION DEVICES; GAMMA RAY OR X-RAY MICROSCOPES
  • G21K2207/00—Particular details of imaging devices or methods using ionizing electromagnetic radiation such as X-rays or gamma rays
  • G21K2207/005—Methods and devices obtaining contrast from non-absorbing interaction of the radiation with matter, e.g. phase contrast

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an X-ray imaging apparatus and an imaging method.
• a non-destructive inspection method using X-ray is applied to various areas ranging from industrial use to medical use.
• An X-ray beam is an electromagnetic wave
• An X-ray beam having a shorter wavelength is referred to as a hard X-ray beam, and an X-ray having a longer wavelength is referred to as soft X-ray beam.
• the absorption image acquired in this method exhibits high penetrating power of the X-ray and is put to practical use in internal crack inspection on steel material etc., and security measures, such as baggage inspection.
• test object that consists of a material having a small density difference, which generates a small contrast due to X-ray absorption, it is effect to use X-ray phase contrast imaging in which a phase shift in the X-ray due to a test object is detected.
• Figs. 7A and 7B are enlarged views of the detector unit in PTL 1.
• Fig. 7A is a view of the detector unit in the incident direction of an X-ray beam.
• Fig. 7B is a view of the detector unit in a direction orthogonal to the incident direction of the X-ray beam.
• a shielding element 720 that blocks an X-ray beam is disposed on the edge region of a detection pixel 710 (at the boundary with the adjoin pixel) in the detector unit.
• An X-ray beam 730 is incident on each pixel such that part of the X-ray beam 730 is incident on the shielding element 720.
• PTL 1 has a problem in that when a test object sufficiently absorbs an X-ray beam, the effect of the absorption and information about phase shift due to the test object are mixed and cannot be acquired separately.
• the present invention provides an X- ray imaging apparatus and an imaging method capable of acquiring an image associated with phase shift, e.g., a differential phase contrast image or a phase contrast image, in consideration of the X-ray absorption of a test object.
• An X-ray imaging apparatus includes a splitting element configured to spatially split an X-ray into multiple X-ray beams; a shielding unit including a plurality of shielding elements configured to block part of an X-ray acquired by the splitting element; and a detecting unit including a
• each pixel group including a first detection pixel and a second detection pixel, the pixels being configured to detect the intensity of the X-ray beam transmitted through the shielding unit, wherein part of the X-ray beam detected at the first detection pixel is blocked by the shielding elements and the X-ray beam
• An imaging method for an X-ray imaging apparatus includes the steps of blocking part of spatially split X-ray beams by a shielding unit having a plurality of shielding elements; detecting the intensity of the X-ray beams transmitted through the
• the present invention provides an X- ray imaging apparatus and an imaging method capable of acquiring an image associated with phase shift, e.g., a differential phase contrast image or a phase contrast image, in consideration of the X-ray absorption of a test object.
• Fig. 1 illustrates the configuration of an X-ray imaging apparatus according to first, second, third, and fourth embodiments.
• FIGs. 2A and 2B illustrate a shielding unit according to the first embodiment.
• FIG. 3 illustrates a processing flow of a computing unit according to the first embodiment.
• FIGs. 4A and 4B illustrates the configuration of a shielding unit according to the second embodiment .
• Figs. 5 illustrate the configuration of a shielding unit according to the third embodiment .
• FIGs. 6A and 6B illustrates the configuration of the shielding unit according to the third embodiment .
• FIGs. 7A and 7B illustrate the configuration of an X-ray imaging apparatus according to PTL 1.
• An X-ray generated at an X-ray source 101 which is an X-ray generating unit, is split into, for example, line beams at a splitting element 103.
• the splitting element 103 is, for example, a slit array having lines and spaces.
• the splitting element 103 may be two-dimensional slits or a pinhole array in a
• the shape of the slits may be L- shaped or annular or may be a combination of these shapes.
• the slits in the splitting element 103 may be the same shape or may be different shapes.
• the slits or pinholes, which are regions transmitting the X- ray, are also referred to as transmitting parts.
• the slits in the splitting element 103 do not have to penetrate the substrate of the splitting element 103 so long as they transmit the X-ray.
• splitting element 103 may be selected from elements having a high X-ray absorption, such as Pt, Au, Pb, Ta, or W, or may be a compound of these elements.
• the X-ray beams acquired through spatial splitting at the splitting element 103 go through a phase shift and are refracted by a test object 104.
• the X-ray beams are absorbed by the test object 104.
• the refracted X-ray beams enter a shielding unit 105.
• the shielding unit 105 includes a plurality of shielding elements.
• the intensity of the X-ray beams transmitted through the shielding unit 105 is detected by a detecting unit 106.
• Information related to the X-ray beams acquired by the detecting unit 106 is numerically processed at a computing unit 107 and is output to a display unit 108, such as a monitor.
• the test object 104 may be a human body, an
• inorganic material or an organic/inorganic composite.
• Moving units 109, 110, 111, and 112 such as stepping motors, that move the splitting element 103, the test object 104, the shielding unit 105, and the detecting unit 106,
• test object 104 can be moved as desired, and an image of a specific site of the test object 104 can be acquired.
• the detecting unit 106 can be any type of indirect or direct X-ray detector.
• the detecting unit 106 may be selected from an X-ray CCD camera, an indirect- conversion-type flat panel detector, and a direct- conversion-type flat panel detector.
• the detecting unit 106 may be disposed close to the shielding unit 105 or may be disposed a certain distance apart from the shielding unit 105.
• the shielding unit 105 may be integrated in the detecting unit 106.
• monochromatizing unit 102 may be disposed between the X-ray source 101 and the splitting element 103.
• monochromatizing unit 102 may be a monochrometer or an X-ray multilayer mirror combined with slits.
• a grid which is used in diagnostic X-ray system, may be disposed between the test object 104 and the shielding unit 105.
• the shielding unit 105 includes
• shielding elements 220 and 221, having a width of W, are disposed on the detecting unit 106 at a pitch L.
• the detecting unit 106 includes a plurality of pixel groups, which each includes a detection pixel 210, which is a first detection pixel, and a detection pixel 211, which is a second detection pixel.
• the shielding elements 220 and 221 may be selected from elements having a high X-ray absorption, such as Pt , Au, Pb, Ta, or W. The shielding elements 220 and 221 do not have to complete absorb the incident X-ray beams but may transmit part of the X-ray beams.
• the shielding element 220 is disposed at the boundary (edge region) between the detection pixel 210 and the adjoining pixel on the left.
• the shielding element 221 is disposed at the edge region between the detection pixel 211 and the adjoining pixel on the right.
• the detecting unit 106 are integrated.
• the pitch L of the shielding elements 220 and 221 is 2P/M, where M represents the projection magnitude of the shielding unit 105 to the detecting unit 106, and the
• shielding unit 105 and the detecting unit 106 are arranged such that the shadows of the shielding elements are
• FIG. 2B illustrates the example configuration of the splitting element 103.
• a splitting element 240 includes slits 250 and 251, which are transmitting parts.
• An X-ray beam that transmits the slit 250 is the X-ray beam 230
• an X-ray beam that transmits the slit 251 is the X-ray beam 231.
• the width and pitch of the slits are set appropriately in consideration of the X-ray divergence angle, the X-ray width on a detection pixel, and so on.
• the intensity of the X-ray beam 231 detected by the detection pixel 211 changes due to the absorption of the test object 104.
• the intensity of the X-ray beam 230 detected by the detection pixel 210 changes due to the absorption of the test object 104 and the positional change caused by refraction.
• an image (absorption image) corresponding to the X-ray transmittance of the test object 104 and an image (phase contrast image) corresponding to the displacement of the X-ray beam due to a phase shift can be acquired on the basis of changes in the intensity of the X-ray beams 230 and 231 detected by the detection pixels 210 and 211, respectively.
• the detected intensity I of the X-ray beam 231 when the test object 104 is disposed and the detected intensity I 0 when the test object 104 is not disposed can be
• Transmittance can be determined from the intensity data acquired with and without the test object 104.
• the detected intensity of the X-ray beam 230 can be determined by Expression 2 if the detected intensity changes linearly with respect to the minute positional change ⁇ in the X direction.
• AX aI 0 +b (2)
• a and b are coefficients.
• the a and b can be
• the spatial resolution in the X direction is 1/2.
• the same measurement is performed by after moving the splitting element 103, the shielding unit 105, the detecting unit 106, or the test object 104 in the X direction by the moving unit 109, 111, 112, or 110, respectively. In this way, the spatial resolution can be improved.
• Fig. 3 is a flow chart illustrating the computation performed at the computing unit 107. First, intensity data for each X-ray beam is acquired (S110). Then, X-ray
• transmittance (T) is calculated from the detected intensity of X-ray beam not incident on a shielding element.
• the positional change ( ⁇ ) of the X-ray is determined on the basis of the X-ray transmittance (T) and the detected intensity (I) of the X-ray beam partially incident on the shielding element (S120).
• Z represents the distance between the test object 104 and the shielding unit 105.
• ⁇ represents the wavelength of the X-ray beam and represents an effective wavelength when a continuous X-ray beam is used.
• phase ( ⁇ ) is calculated by integrating the acquired differential phases (5 ⁇ / ⁇ ) in the X direction (S150) .
• the computing unit 107 outputs a transmittance image (distribution of T) , a positional change image
• the transmittance image, the phase contrast image, and so on may be displayed adjacent to each other or may be displayed individually on display unit 108.
• the effect of the X- ray being absorbed by the test object 104 and the effect of the phase shift can be separated. Therefore, an X-ray imaging apparatus and an imaging method capable of acquiring a differential phase contrast image, a phase contrast image, etc., in consideration of the X-ray absorption of the test object can be provided.
• the shielding elements are disposed between pixels.
• the shielding elements do not necessarily have to be disposed on the edge regions of the pixels .
• the first detection pixel and the second detection pixel may each be multiple pixels.
• detection pixels 410 and 411 and shielding elements 420 and 421 is the same as that in the first embodiment. However, the positional relationship of an incident X-ray beam 430 with respect to the detection pixels 410 and 411 differs from that in the first embodiment. That is, in this
• the X-ray beam 430 is incident on the area between the shielding element 420 and the shielding element 421.
• Fig. 4B illustrates a splitting element 440.
• the splitting element 440 includes a slit 450, which is a transmitting part.
• An X-ray beam that transmits through the slit 450 is emitted as the X-ray beam 430 illustrated in the drawing.
• Part of the X-ray beam 430 is blocked in the X direction by the shielding element 420 and is incident on the detection pixels 410 and 411.
• the intensity detected by the detection pixels 410 and 411 changes due to the positional change of the X-ray beam 430 caused by refraction by the test object 104.
• the change in the detected intensity due to absorption is the same in the detection pixels 410 and 411.
• the change in the detected intensity due to positional change differs in the detection pixels 410 and 411.
• the positional change corresponding to the changes of intensity detected by the detection pixels 410 and 411 can be represented by
• I 410 and I 4 n represent the intensities detected by the detection pixels 410 and 411 and T represents the X-ray transmittance of the test object 104.
• T represents the X-ray transmittance of the test object 104.
• the effect of the X-ray absorption of the test object and the effect of the phase shift can be separated. Therefore, an X-ray imaging apparatus and an imaging method capable of acquiring a differential phase contrast image, a phase contrast image, etc., in consideration of the X-ray absorption of the test object can be provided.
• Fig. 5A is a view from the incident direction of an X-ray beam.
• Shielding elements 520 are disposed on the edge regions of the detection pixels 510 and 511.
• the pitch of the shielding elements 520 is P, which is equal to the length of one side of a detection pixel .
• Fig. 5B illustrates the configuration of a
• the splitting element 540 has pinholes 550 and 551.
• the X-ray transmitted through the pinhole 550 is an X-ray beam 530
• the X-ray transmitted through the pinhole 551 is an X-ray beam 531.
• the incident position of the X-ray beam 530 is set such that part of the X-ray beam 530 is blocked by the shielding element 520.
• the intensity of the X-ray beam 530 detected at the detection pixel 510 changes. In this case, the intensity changes not only when the displacement of the incident position is in the X direction but also in the Y direction .
• the incident position of the X-ray beam 531 is set to the center part of the detection pixel 511 such that the X-ray beam 531 is not blocked by the shielding element 520. Therefore, the intensity detected by the detection pixel 511 changes only by the absorption of the test object 104.
• the transmittance T of the test object 104 can be determined by the detection pixel 511.
• the positional change of the X- ray beam 531 can be accurately determined from the intensity detected by the detection pixel 511.
• the center part of the detection pixel 511 does not have to be exactly at the center of the detection pixel 511 so long as the
• the splitting element is configured as
• the pinholes, which are transmitting parts, of the splitting element are linearly aligned in the first direction but arranged in a zigzag pattern in the second direction.
• Fig. 6A illustrates a variation of Fig. 5A.
• the size of the shielding element 620 is reduced, and space for the detection pixel 511 is increased.
• Fig. 6B illustrates the shielding element 630 set smaller than that illustrated in Fig. 6A and not disposed on the detection pixel 511. In this way, the shielding element 630 can be disposed on the edge regions of the pixels.
• the effect of the X- ray absorption of the test object and the effect of the phase shift can be separated. Therefore, an X-ray imaging apparatus and an imaging method capable of acquiring a differential phase contrast image, a phase contrast image, etc., in consideration of the X-ray absorption of the test object can be provided.

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• 2010
  • 2010-07-12 JP JP2010158133A patent/JP5610885B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2011
  • 2011-06-20 WO PCT/JP2011/064606 patent/WO2012008287A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2011-06-20 CN CN2011800337537A patent/CN102985010A/zh active Pending
  • 2011-06-20 US US13/376,576 patent/US9101322B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2011-06-20 EP EP11736466.1A patent/EP2593017A1/en not_active Withdrawn

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