Device and method for aligning an x-ray grating to an x-ray radiation source, and x-ray image acquisition system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020297297-A1
Application number	US-201816500858-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 10, 2018
Priority date	Dec 12, 2017
Publication date	Sep 24, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for aligning an X-ray grating to an X-ray radiation source, the device ( 10 ) comprising at least two flat X-ray grating segments ( 11 - 19 ); at least one alignment unit ( 31 - 39 ) for aligning one of the at least two flat X-ray grating segments; wherein the at least two flat X-ray grating segments ( 11 - 19 ) are arranged in juxtaposition and are forming an X-ray grating ( 20 ); wherein the at least two flat X-ray grating segments ( 11 - 19 ) each comprise a grating surface ( 41 - 49 ) for X-ray radiation, each grating surface ( 41 - 49 ) comprising a geometrical center; wherein normals ( 21 - 29 ) to each of the grating surfaces ( 41 - 49 ) define a common plane ( 73 ), wherein the normals ( 21 - 29 ) intersect the geometrical center of the grating surface ( 41 - 49 ); wherein at least a first of the at least two flat X-ray grating segments ( 11 - 19 ) is rotatable around an axis ( 131 - 139 ) that is perpendicular to the common plane ( 73 ); and wherein the first of the at least two flat X-ray grating segments ( 11 - 19 ) that is rotatable around the axis ( 131 - 139 ) is connected to a first of the at least one alignment unit ( 31 - 39 ). The invention provides a device ( 10 ) and a method ( 100 ) which provide an improved X-ray grating ( 20 ).

First claim

1 . A device for aligning an X-ray grating to an X-ray radiation source, the device comprising:
at least two flat X-ray grating segments; at least one alignment unit for aligning one of the at least two flat X-ray grating segments; wherein the at least two flat X-ray grating segments are arranged in juxtaposition and are forming an X-ray grating; wherein the at least two flat X-ray grating segments each comprise a grating surface for X-ray radiation, each grating surface comprising a geometrical center; wherein normals to each of the grating surfaces define a common plane, wherein the normals intersect the geometrical center of the grating surface; wherein at least a first of the at least two flat X-ray grating segments is rotatable around an axis that is perpendicular to the common plane; and wherein the first of the at least two flat X-ray grating segments is connected to a first of the at least one alignment unit.

2 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first of the at least one alignment unit is configured to rotate the first of the at least two flat X-ray grating segments around the axis to change the angle between the normals within the common plane such that said normals intersect at a point of intersection, and to change a position of the intersection points to a single common intersection point defining a focal point of the X-ray grating.

3 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein each flat X-ray grating segment is rotatable around an axis, and each is connectable to individual of at least one alignment units.

4 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least two flat X-ray grating segments is rotatable around at least two axes and/or is translatable along the at least two axes.

5 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a number of flat X-ray grating segments in the range of two to hundred; wherein each is connectable to an individual of the at least one alignment unit.

6 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the X-ray grating is a G2 grating of an X-ray image acquisition device.

7 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the axes of the flat X-ray grating segments are arranged along a curve.

8 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the grating surface has a width and a length in the range of 1 cm to 100 cm, and a height of 43 cm.

9 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the device comprises further flat X-ray grating segments that are arranged in juxtaposition and which are arranged next to the at least two flat X-ray grating segments to form a two-dimensional matrix of flat X-ray grating segments.

10 . An X-ray image acquisition system comprising:
an X-ray radiation source; an X-ray grating assembly comprising a device comprising:
at least two flat X-ray grating segments;
at least one alignment unit for aligning one of the at least two flat X-ray grating segments;
wherein the at least two flat X-ray grating segments are arranged in juxtaposition and are forming an X-ray grating;
wherein the at least two flat X-ray grating segments each comprise a grating surface for X-ray radiation, each grating surface comprising a geometrical center;
wherein normals to each of the grating surfaces define a common plane, wherein the normals intersect the geometrical center of the grating surface;
wherein at least a first of the at least two flat X-ray grating segments is rotatable around an axis that is perpendicular to the common plane; and
wherein the first of the at least two flat X-ray grating segments is connected to a first of the at least one alignment unit;
an X-ray radiation detector; wherein the X-ray grating assembly is arranged between the X-ray radiation source and the X-ray radiation detector.

11 . The X-ray image acquisition system according to claim 10 , wherein the X-ray image acquisition system further comprises
a processor configured to control the at least one alignment unit to change the position of a focal point.

12 . The X-ray image acquisition system according to claim 10 , wherein each alignment unit is individually and/or dynamically controllable by the processor to dynamically adjust the position of a focal point.

13 . A method for aligning an X-ray grating to a X-ray radiation source the method comprising:
providing at least two flat X-ray grating segments; aligning one of the at least two flat X-ray grating segments with at least one alignment unit; wherein the at least two flat X-ray grating segments are arranged in juxtaposition and are forming an X-ray grating; wherein the at least two flat X-ray grating segments each comprise a grating surface for X-ray radiation, each grating surface comprising a geometrical center; wherein normals to each of the grating surfaces define a common plane, wherein the normals intersect the geometrical center of the grating surface; wherein at least a first of the at least two flat X-ray grating segments is rotatable around an axis that is perpendicular to the common plane; and wherein the first of the at least two flat X-ray grating segments is connected to a first of the at least one alignment unit.

14 . (canceled)

15 . (canceled)

16 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having one or more executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform a method for aligning an X-ray grating to a X-ray radiation source, the method comprising:
providing at least two flat X-ray grating segments; aligning one of the at least two flat X-ray grating segments with at least one alignment unit; wherein the at least two flat X-ray grating segments are arranged in juxtaposition and are forming an X-ray grating; wherein the at least two flat X-ray grating segments each comprise a grating surface for X-ray radiation, each grating surface comprising a geometrical center; wherein normals to each of the grating surfaces define a common plane, wherein the normals intersect the geometrical center of the grating surface; wherein at least a first of the at least two flat X-ray grating segments is rotatable around an axis that is perpendicular to the common plane; and wherein the first of the at least two flat X-ray grating segments is connected to a first of the at least one alignment unit.

Assignees

• Koninklijke Philips Nv
• TNO

Inventors

• Kok Christiaan
• Vogtmeier Gereon
• Koehler Thomas
• Jacobs Johannes Wilhelmus Maria
• Unnikrishnan Sandeep
• Hermes Dorothee
• Van Mol Antonius Maria Bernardus

Classifications

• A61B6/4291 Primary

  the detector being combined with a grid or grating · CPC title

• A61B6/484 Primary

  involving phase contrast X-ray imaging · CPC title

• G21K1/02

  using diaphragms, collimators · CPC title

• G21K1/06

  using diffraction, refraction or reflection, e.g. monochromators (G21K1/10, G21K7/00 take precedence) · CPC title

• G21K2207/005

  Methods and devices obtaining contrast from non-absorbing interaction of the radiation with matter, e.g. phase contrast · CPC title