Focus/detector system of an X-ray apparatus for generating phase contrast recordings

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This invention describes a specialized X-ray imaging system and method that enhances medical imaging by combining traditional absorption-based X-ray images with phase-contrast images. The system uses a unique arrangement of gratings and detectors to capture both the absorption and phase shift of X-rays passing through a subject, such as a patient. By overlaying these two types of images, it provides much more detailed and differentiated views of both hard and soft tissues, improving the diagnostic quality of X-ray and CT (computed tomography) scans.

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• Medical diagnostics, especially in radiology for detecting and analyzing both bone structures and soft tissue changes in patients.
• Advanced CT scans for improved identification of tumors, cartilage, tendons, and fine vascular structures.
• Research and development in biological imaging where differentiating materials with similar absorption is important.
• Cancer detection and tissue characterization in oncology.
• Non-destructive testing or imaging of composite materials and products in industrial settings, where internal structural details are critical.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Allows simultaneous generation and overlay of absorption and phase-contrast images, enhancing image detail and contrast for tissues with similar X-ray absorption.
• Improves the visualization of both hard tissues (like bones) and soft tissues (like muscles, ligaments, and tumors) in a single imaging session.
• Offers adjustable image weighting, enabling clinicians to highlight structures of interest according to clinical needs or preferences.
• Supports advanced post-processing, including segmentation and color mapping, which can deliver more informative and customized images for diagnostics.
• Enables multi-energy or dual-energy imaging using different X-ray source configurations for even deeper material differentiation and analysis.
• Can utilize conventional X-ray sources instead of expensive synchrotron facilities, making advanced phase-contrast imaging practical in standard clinical and research environments.

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Patent Abstract

The invention relates to a focus-detector arrangement of an X-ray apparatus and a method for generating projective or tomographic phase-contrast images, wherein the focus-detector arrangement includes a radiation source (2) with a focus (F1) and a focus-side source grating (G0), the source grating being arranged in a radiation path to generate a field of ray-wise coherent X-rays (Si); and a grating/detector arrangement having a phase grid (G1) and a detector (D1), the phase grid (G1) having grating lines parallel to the source grating (G0) to generate an interference pattern, the detector having a plurality of detector elements (Ei) arranged flat to measure the position-dependent radiation intensity behind the phase grating. The detector elements (Ei) is formed by a plurality of vertical blinking strips (SSi), and the blinking strips are parallel to the grating lines of the phase grid (G1) and have small period (ps). The integral times of the period is corresponding to an average large period (p2) of the interference pattern formed by the phase grid.