Modular high resolution X-ray computed tomography system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9791385-B2
Application number	US-201414556714-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 1, 2014
Priority date	Dec 10, 2013
Publication date	Oct 17, 2017
Grant date	Oct 17, 2017

Abstract

A modular X-ray computed tomography (XCT) system having a higher degree of modularity provides experimental versatility and in situ capabilities. The modular XCT system includes interchangeable X-ray sources and detectors that allow for the XCT system to be readily adapted to different imaging tasks, such as those that may require different trade-offs between spatial resolution, exposure time, power, and other scanning parameters.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A modular X-ray computed tomography system comprising:
a base;
an interchangeable X-ray source coupled to the base and configured to emit an X-ray beam towards a sample positioned in the modular X-ray computed tomography system, wherein the interchangeable X-ray source is one of a plurality of different X-ray sources configured to be interchangeably coupled to the base;
a sample rotation stage coupled to the base and configured to receive a sample and to position the sample within a field-of-view of the interchangeable X-ray source;
an X-ray detection system coupled to the base and comprising:
at least one interchangeable X-ray detector configured to acquire data as X-rays impinge on the at least one interchangeable X-ray detector, wherein the at least one interchangeable X-ray detector is one of a plurality of different X-ray detectors configured to be interchangeably coupled to the X-ray detection system;
a port configured to receive the at least one interchangeable X-ray detector; and

at least one computing system in communication with the X-ray detection system and configured to receive the data from the X-ray detection system and to reconstruct an image of the sample from the data.

2. The modular X-ray computed tomography system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one interchangeable X-ray detector comprises at least one of a scintillator and a photon counting detector.

3. The modular X-ray computed tomography system as recited in claim 2 , wherein the scintillator is characterized by a material or device capable of producing photons of a lower energy than the X-rays absorbed by the X-ray detector and independent of an absorption efficiency.

4. The modular X-ray computed tomography system as recited in claim 3 , wherein a quantity of the photons produced by the scintillator are dependent on an intensity of incident X-ray photons.

5. The modular X-ray computed tomography system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the X-ray detection system is a lens-coupled X-ray detection system and further comprises a lens that is optically coupled to the at least one interchangeable X-ray detector.

6. The modular X-ray computed tomography system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the X-ray detection system is a fiber optically-coupled X-ray detection system and further comprises a fiber optic assembly optically coupled to the at least one X-ray detector.

7. The modular X-ray computed tomography system as recited in claim 6 , wherein the fiber optic assembly is configured to couple at least one photo-electronic sensor elements to at least one scintillating X-ray detectors.

8. The modular X-ray computed tomography system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the interchangeable X-ray source includes a microfocus X-ray source capable of emitting X-rays from a micrometer-sized target area.

9. The modular X-ray computed tomography system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the sample rotation stage is configured to rotate without physical distortion and provides precise positioning of the sample being imaged.

10. The modular X-ray computed tomography system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the sample rotation stage includes X and Y centering stages to center the sample on the sample rotation stage to at least one of maximize a field of view and increase a resolution.

11. A method of image reconstruction using a modular X-ray computed tomography system, the method comprising:
receiving a sample on a sample rotation stage coupled to a base;
positioning the sample on the sample rotation stage within a field-of-view of an interchangeable X-ray source;
emitting, from the interchangeable X-ray source, an X-ray beam towards a sample positioned in the modular X-ray computed tomography system, wherein the interchangeable X-ray source is one of a plurality of different X-ray sources configured to be interchangeably coupled to the base;
acquiring data, using at least one interchangeable X-ray detector coupled to the base, as X-rays impinge on the at least one interchangeable X-ray detector, wherein the at least one interchangeable X-ray detector is one of a plurality of different X-ray detectors configured to be interchangeably coupled to a X-ray detection system; and
receiving the using at least one computing system in communication with the X-ray detection system, from the X-ray detection system to reconstruct an image of the sample from the data.

12. The method of image reconstruction as recited in claim 11 , wherein the at least one interchangeable X-ray detector comprises at least one of a scintillator and a photon counting detector.

13. The method of image reconstruction as recited in claim 12 , wherein the scintillator is characterized by a material or device capable of producing photons of a lower energy than the X-rays absorbed by the X-ray detector and independent of an absorption efficiency.

14. The method of image reconstruction as recited in claim 13 , wherein a quantity of the photons produced by the scintillator are dependent on an intensity of incident X-ray photons.

15. The method of image reconstruction as recited in claim 11 , wherein the X-ray detection system is a lens-coupled X-ray detection system and further comprises a lens that is optically coupled to the at least one interchangeable X-ray detector.

16. The method of image reconstruction as recited in claim 11 , wherein the X-ray detection system is a fiber optically-coupled X-ray detection system and further comprises a fiber optic assembly optically coupled to the at least one X-ray detector.

17. The method of image reconstruction as recited in claim 16 , wherein the fiber optic assembly is configured to couple at least one photo-electronic sensor elements to at least one scintillating X-ray detectors.

18. The method of image reconstruction as recited in claim 11 , wherein the interchangeable X-ray source includes a microfocus X-ray source capable of emitting X-rays from a micrometer-sized target area.

19. The method of image reconstruction as recited in claim 11 , wherein the sample rotation stage is configured to rotate without physical distortion and provides precise positioning of the sample being imaged.

20. The method of image reconstruction as recited in claim 11 , wherein the sample rotation stage includes X and Y centering stages to center the sample on the sample rotation stage to at least one of maximize a field of view and increase a resolution.

Assignees

• Mertens James C E
• Williams Jason J
• Chawla Nikhilesh
• Univ Arizona State

Inventors

• Mertens James C E
• Williams Jason J
• Chawla Nikhilesh

Classifications

• G01N23/046 Primary

  using tomography, e.g. computed tomography [CT] · CPC title