X-ray diagnostic apparatus and tomosynthesis imaging method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12336850-B2
Application number	US-202217819344-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 12, 2022
Priority date	Aug 17, 2021
Publication date	Jun 24, 2025
Grant date	Jun 24, 2025

Abstract

According to one embodiment, an X-ray diagnostic apparatus includes an X-ray irradiator, a scatterer, a grid, and a detector. The X-ray irradiator irradiates X-rays. The scatterer is provided between the X-ray irradiator and an object, that scatters the irradiated X-rays. The grid is provided between the scatterer and the object, that transmits the scattered X-rays within a predetermined angular range. The detector detects X-rays transmitted through the object together with an incident angle of the X-rays.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An X-ray diagnostic apparatus, comprising:
an X-ray irradiator irradiating X-rays;
a scatterer, provided between the X-ray irradiator and an object, that scatters the irradiated X-rays;
a grid, provided between the scatterer and the object, that transmits the scattered X-rays within a predetermined angular range; and
a detector detecting X-rays transmitted through the object together with an incident angle of the X-rays.

2. The X-ray diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising processing circuitry configured to generate a tomosynthesis image of the object based on an image signal corresponding to an intensity and the incident angle of the X-rays detected by the detector.

3. The X-ray diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the grid is placed between the scatterer and the object and has a plurality of holes through which X-rays are transmitted, and
the holes limit the incident angle of the X-rays scattered by the scatterer with respect to the object within the predetermined angular range.

4. The X-ray diagnostic apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein an aperture shape of each of the plurality of holes in the grid is square.

5. The X-ray diagnostic apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein an aperture shape of each of the plurality of holes of the grid is rectangle where a length of sides along a body axis direction of the object and a length of sides perpendicular to the body axis direction are different.

6. The X-ray diagnostic apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein an aperture shape of each of the plurality of holes of the grid is circular or elliptical.

7. The X-ray diagnostic apparatus according to claim 3 ,
wherein the X-ray irradiator irradiates the X-rays toward the object without moving from a single position, and
the processing circuitry is further configured to:
classify X-ray detection data for each incident X-ray photon limited to the predetermined angular range by the plurality of holes in the grid, by a predetermined angle width of incidence within the predetermined angular range; and
generate the tomosynthesis image of the object based on the X-ray detection data classified by the predetermined angle width of incidence.

8. The X-ray diagnostic apparatus according to claim 3 ,
wherein the detector is a detector utilizing Compton scattering, and
the apparatus further comprises:
a chamber;
a scattering X-ray detector detecting a detection position and a detection time of scattered X-rays due to Compton scattering of the X-rays that are scattered by the scatterer, transmitted through the object, and enter the chamber; and
an electron detector detecting a detection position and a detection time of ionized electrons based on recoiling electrons due to the Compton scattering; and

the processing circuitry is further configured to determine the incident angle of the X-rays based on detection results of the scattering X-ray detector and the electron detector.

9. The X-ray diagnostic apparatus according to claim 3 ,
further comprising a memory storing a calibration image based on X-ray detection data according to X-rays that are transmitted through an ambient gas instead of the object and detected by the detector, and
the processing circuitry is further configured to calibrate the tomosynthesis image of the object with the stored calibration image to obtain a calibrated tomosynthesis image.

10. The X-ray diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2 ,
wherein the X-ray irradiator irradiates the X-rays toward the object without moving from a single position, and
the processing circuitry is further configured to:
classify X-ray detection data for each incident X-ray photon limited to the predetermined angular range by the plurality of holes in the grid, by a predetermined angle width of incidence within the predetermined angular range; and
generate the tomosynthesis image of the object based on the X-ray detection data classified by the predetermined angle width of incidence.

11. The X-ray diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2 ,
wherein the detector is a detector utilizing Compton scattering,
the apparatus further comprises:
a chamber;
a scattering X-ray detector detecting a detection position and a detection time of scattered X-rays due to Compton scattering of the X-rays that are scattered by the scatterer, transmitted through the object, and enter the chamber; and
an electron detector detecting a detection position and a detection time of ionized electrons based on recoiling electrons due to the Compton scattering; and

the processing circuitry is further configured to determine the incident angle of the X-rays based on detection results of the scattering X-ray detector and the electron detector.

12. The X-ray diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising a memory storing a calibration image based on X-ray detection data according to X-rays that are transmitted through an ambient gas instead of the object and detected by the detector, and
the processing circuitry is further configured to calibrate the tomosynthesis image of the object with the stored calibration image to obtain a calibrated tomosynthesis image.

13. The X-ray diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the X-ray irradiator irradiates the X-rays toward the object without moving from a single position, and
wherein the apparatus further comprises processing circuitry configured to:
classify X-ray detection data for each incident X-ray photon limited to the predetermined angular range by the plurality of holes in the grid, by a predetermined angle width of incidence within the predetermined angular range; and
generate a tomosynthesis image of the object based on the X-ray detection data classified by the predetermined angle width of incidence.

14. The X-ray diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the detector is a detector utilizing Compton scattering, and
the apparatus further comprises;
a chamber;
a scattering X-ray detector detecting a detection position and a detection time of scattered X-rays due to Compton scattering of the X-rays that are scattered by the scatterer, transmitted through the object, and enter the chamber;
an electron detector detecting a detection position and a detection time of ionized electrons based on recoiling electrons due to the Compton scattering; and
processing circuitry configured to determine the incident angle of the X-rays based on detection results of the scattering X-ray detector and the electron detector.

15. The X-ray diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the X-ray irradiator includes a plurality of X-ray irradiators irradiating X-rays; and
the X-ray irradiators are arranged on a plane perpendicular to the X-ray irradiation axis.

16. A tomosynthesis imaging method comprising:
irradiating X-rays using an X-ray irradiator;
scattering the irradiated X-rays using a scatterer provided between the X-ray irradiator and an object;
transmitting the scattered X-rays within a predetermined angular range through a grid provided between the scatterer and the object; and
detecting X-rays transmitted through the object together with an incident angle of the X-rays.

17. The tomosynthesis imaging method according to claim 16 , further comprising
generating a tomosynthesis image of the object based on an image signal corresponding to an intensity and the incident angle of the X-rays detected by the detector.

18. The tomosynthesis imaging method according to claim 17 , wherein the

Assignees

• Canon Medical Systems Corp

Inventors

• Kobayashi Yoshimasa
• Sugawara Yasuhiro
• Nishizuka Seiichi
• Fukuzaki Takehiro
• Sato Daisuke
• Kodaka Tatsuaki
• Sato Akitoshi
• Maehama Tomio

Classifications

• G01N23/04

  and forming images of the material · CPC title

• G01N23/20

  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 · CPC title

• A61B6/4405

  the apparatus being movable or portable, e.g. handheld or mounted on a trolley · CPC title

• A61B6/5258

  involving detection or reduction of artifacts or noise · CPC title

• A61B6/582

  Calibration · CPC title