Abstract: A method and an X-ray CT system are disclosed for producing tomographic pictures with the aid of an X-ray CT system including at least two X-ray sources arranged on a gantry with an angular offset to scan an examination object. In at least one embodiment of the method, in order to determine the scattered radiation distribution, pre-scanning is carried out in which the X-ray sources rotate about the examination object and the dose rate is modulated as a function of the rotation angle, no radiation dose is output over the majority of the revolution, at specific pre-scan angles a dose rate is produced briefly and individually in each case by the X-ray sources of the focus/detector systems, and the received scattered radiation is measured simultaneously by the detectors of the at least one other focus/detector system.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for producing tomographic pictures with the aid of an X-ray CT system including at least two X-ray sources arranged on a gantry with an angular offset to scan an examination object. In at least one embodiment of the method, in order to determine the scattered radiation distribution, pre-scanning is carried out in which the X-ray sources rotate about the examination object and the dose rate is modulated as a function of the rotation angle, no radiation dose is output over the majority of the revolution, at specific pre-scan angles a dose rate is produced briefly and individually in each case by the X-ray sources of the focus/detector systems, and the received scattered radiation is measured simultaneously by the detectors of the at least one other focus/detector system.

Abstract: In method and module for calculation of an orthogonal x-ray attenuation of a subject using a measured reference x-ray attenuation in computed tomography, the reference x-ray attenuation and the orthogonal attenuation are provided as input quantities for an automatic dose control of the computed tomography apparatus. The positioning of the subject with regard to the rotation axis of the computed tomography apparatus is taken into account in the calculation of the orthogonal x-ray attenuation detection of the table height of the subject table.

Abstract: In a method for operating a computed tomography apparatus, having an x-ray source rotatable around a system axis and a radiation detector with a detector-proximate beam-gating diaphragm, and a patient support, a spiral scan of a patient on the patient support is conducted by rotating the x-ray source around the system axis while moving the subject on the patient support substantially parallel to the system axis. The diaphragm have movable absorber elements that are curved, and are moved independently of each other toward and away from each other in a direction substantially parallel to the system axis during the spiral scan. The absorber elements are dynamically adjusted in an asymmetrical manner during the spiral scan to reduce overexposure of the examination subject to x-rays.

Abstract: In a computed tomography apparatus and a method for automatic exposure control in computed tomography scanning, an exposure controller, during a first half of a revolution of an X-ray focus around a subject, calculates an actual attenuation profile of a slice of the subject from electrical signals generated by the radiation detector in the first half of the revolution, and calculates an extrapolated attenuation profile of the slice for a second half of the revolution from the actual attenuation profile, and adjusts an operating parameter of the X-ray source, such as the tube current, to modify the radiation dose emitted by the X-ray source during the second half of the revolution dependent on the extrapolated attenuation profile.

Abstract: In a computed tomography apparatus and a method for automatic exposure control in computed tomography scanning, an exposure controller, during a first half of a revolution of an X-ray focus around a subject, calculates an actual attenuation profile of a slice of the subject from electrical signals generated by the radiation detector in the first half of the revolution, and calculates an extrapolated attenuation profile of the slice for a second half of the revolution from the actual attenuation profile, and adjusts an operating parameter of the X-ray source, such as the tube current, to modify the radiation dose emitted by the X-ray source during the second half of the revolution dependent on the extrapolated attenuation profile. The extrapolated attenuation profile can be calculated to achieve a predetermined target pixel noise in the image for the slice currently being scanned.

Abstract: A phantom for measuring slice thicknesses, slice sensitivity profiles and the axial modulation transfer function in an X-ray computed tomography apparatus contains a foil of a material that highly attenuates X-radiation that is arranged parallel to the image plane of the X-ray computed tomography apparatus given employment of the phantom and which had an axial expanse that is small compared to the thinnest slice to be measured. The expanse of the foil in the direction of the image plane is on the order of magnitude of a few millimeters.

Abstract: A spiral scan computed tomography apparatus has multiple x-ray sources with their respective foci symmetrically arranged on a circle concentric with a measurement field around which the x-ray sources are rotated in order to spirally scan an examination subject while a relative motion between the x-ray sources and a patient support is produced along a longitudinal direction of the patient support. X-rays attenuated by the examination subject are detected by a stationary detector ring, or by a number of detector arrays which co-rotate with the x-ray sources on the gantry. The scan time can thereby be decreased in comparison to known systems or, within the same scan time a higher x-ray power can be achieved.

Abstract: Patient support elements, such as pillows, are disposed on opposite sides of an examination subject lying on a supporting bed in a tomographic apparatus. The patient support bodies include one or more reference elements having known composition and characteristics which are reproduced in the image at a display unit. Standardization of the measured values is thereby achieved in a manner which is independent of the apparatus itself.