Abstract: The present invention relates to handling misalignment in differential phase contrast imaging. In order to provide an improved handling of misalignment in X-ray imaging systems for differential phase contrast imaging, an X-ray imaging system (10) for differential phase contrast imaging is provided that comprises a differential phase contrast setup (12) with an X-ray source (14), an X-ray detector (16), and a grating arrangement comprising a source grating (18), a phase grating (20) and an analyzer grating (22). The source grating is arranged between the X-ray source and the phase grating, and the analyzer grating is arranged between the phase grating and the detector. Further, the system comprises a processing unit (24), and a measurement system (26) for determining a misalignment of at least one of the gratings. The X-ray source and the source grating are provided as a rigid X-ray source unit (28). The phase grating, the analyzer grating and the detector are provided as a rigid X-ray detection unit (30).

Abstract: The invention relates to a radiation detector (100) and to a method for manufacturing such a detector. In a preferred embodiment, the radiation detector (100) comprises an array of photosensitive pillars (110) that are embedded in a conversion material (120). The photosensitive pillars may particularly be diodes connected at their ends to external circuits (130, 140). The conversion material (120) may particularly comprise a powder of scintillator particles (121) embedded in a matrix of binder.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system (31) for generating spectral computed tomography projection data. A spectral projection data generation device (6) comprising an energy-resolving detector generates spectral computed tomography projection databased on polychromatic radiation (4), which has been provided by a radiation device (2), after having traversed an examination zone (5), and a reference values generation device generates energy-dependent reference values based on radiation, which has not traversed the examination zone. A spectral parameter providing unit (12) provides a spectral parameter being indicative of a spectral property of the radiation device based on the energy-dependent reference values.

Abstract: A multimodal imaging apparatus (1a, 1b) including scintillator elements (31) for capturing incident gamma quanta (25, 61) and for emitting scintillation photons (26) in response to said captured gamma quanta (25, 61). Photosensitive elements (33) capture the emitted scintillation photons (26) and determine a spatial distribution of the scintillation photons. The imaging apparatus (1a, 1b) is configured to be switched between a first operation mode for detecting low energy gamma quanta and a second operation mode for detecting high energy gamma quanta. The scintillator elements are arranged to capture incident gamma quanta (25, 61) from the same area of interest (65) in both operation modes. The scintillator elements (31) include a first region with high energy scintillator elements (27) for capturing high energy gamma quanta and a second region with low energy scintillator elements (29) for capturing low energy gamma quanta.

Abstract: A self-acting, sealed hydrodynamic bearing includes a bearing shaft; a bearing bushing arranged to seal a length of the bearing shaft; a lubricant provided in the sealed length of the hydrodynamic bearing; and a bearing arrangement between the shaft and bushing. The bearing shaft and/or the bearing bushing are configured to be rotatable. The bearing arrangement includes a primary bearing surface disposed on the bearing bushing, arranged to face a secondary bearing surface disposed on the bearing shaft. The primary and/or secondary bearing surfaces includes first regions having a first fluid slip characteristic, and second regions having a second fluid slip characteristic substantially different to that of the first fluid slip characteristic. The second and first regions are in a same plane of a cross-section of the primary and/or secondary bearing surfaces, and are disposed in an interleaved pattern over the primary and/or secondary bearing surfaces.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system (31) for generating spectral computed tomography projection data. A spectral projection data generation device (6) comprising an energy-resolving detector generates spectral computed tomography projection databased on polychromatic radiation (4), which has been provided by a radiation device (2), after having traversed an examination zone (5), and a reference values generation device generates energy-dependent reference values based on radiation, which has not traversed the examination zone. A spectral parameter providing unit (12) provides a spectral parameter being indicative of a spectral property of the radiation device based on the energy-dependent reference values.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of X-ray differential phase contrast imaging. For scanning large objects and for an improved contrast to noise ratio, an X-ray device (10) for imaging an object (18) is provided. The X-ray device (10) comprises an X-ray emitter arrangement (12) and an X-ray detector arrangement (14), wherein the X-ray emitter arrangement (14) is adapted to emit an X-ray beam (16) through the object (18) onto the X-ray detector arrangement (14). The X-ray beam (16) is at least partial spatial coherent and fan-shaped. The X-ray detector arrangement (14) comprises a phase grating (50) and an absorber grating (52). The X-ray detector arrangement (14) comprises an area detector (54) for detecting X-rays, wherein the X-ray device is adapted to generate image data from the detected X-rays and to extract phase information from the X-ray image data, the phase information relating to a phase shift of X-rays caused by the object (18).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rotating anode (100) comprising: an outer ring compound (6) comprising a first carbon material with a first material property and carbon fibres substantially aligned to a contour of the outer ring compound (6), wherein the outer ring compound (6) is configured to mechanically stabilize the rotating anode (100); an intermediate ring compound (5) comprising a second carbon material with a second material property differing from the first material property; a inner disc compound (2) comprising a layered fibre structure and a third carbon material with a third material property differing from the first and the second material property, wherein the inner disc compound (2) and the intermediate ring compound (5) are configured to provide a thermally conductive interface between the intermediate ring compound (5) and the inner disc compound (2); and an interface compound (3) comprising a metallic or a semi-metallic material, wherein the interface compound is coupled to the intermedi

Abstract: Hydrodynamic bearings exploit the properties of pumping action in a fluid to support a bearing load. Conventionally, the pumping action is provided by grooved surfaces in a bearing surface of the bearing. The provision of grooves leads to functional and practical problems, though. The action of grooves on a lubrication material leads inevitably to shear stress being exerted in the fluid. This has a detrimental effect on the load performance of a hydrodynamic bearing. In practical terms, the accurate manufacture of grooves is onerous. This application discusses a way of producing a hydrodynamic bearing using a portion of a bearing surface with an interleaved pattern of materials, wherein the materials have alternate high and low (or zero) fluid slip characteristics. The varying fluid slip characteristic of the surface induces a pumping effect analogous to that provided by a grooved surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to hydrodynamic bearings, X-ray tubes, X-ray systems, and a method of manufacturing a hydrodynamic bearing for an X-ray tube. The rotor of a hydrodynamic bearing is supported, in steady-state operation, by the pressure of lubricant which is pumped through grooves in the rotor. When the rotor is speeding up or slowing down, the pumping force will not be sufficient to lift the rotor clear of a stationary bushing, and damage, caused by direct contact of the metal surfaces of the bearing, can occur. Providing special coatings on the bearing surfaces can ameliorate this effect.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an imaging system (100) for generating X-ray images. The system (100) comprises at least one X-ray source, preferably an array of X-ray sources (101a-101d), and an X-ray detector (103) with an array of sensitive pixels (103a-103e). A collimator (102) is arranged between the X-ray source and the detector such that two openings (P) of the collimator (102) allow the passage of X-rays towards two neighboring pixels (103a-103e) while the region between said pixels is substantially shielded. This shielding of the usually insensitive regions between pixels reduces unnecessary X-ray exposure. A sufficiently large X-ray intensity can be achieved by using a plurality of small X-ray sources (101a-101d).

Abstract: The invention relates to a radiation detector (100) and to a method for manufacturing such a detector. In a preferred embodiment, the radiation detector (100) comprises an array of photosensitive pillars (110) that are embedded in a conversion material (120). The photosensitive pillars may particularly be diodes connected at their ends to external circuits (130, 140). The conversion material (120) may particularly comprise a powder of scintillator particles (121) embedded in a matrix of binder.

Abstract: An imaging detector module (112) of an imaging system includes at least one detector pixel (114) and self-diagnosing circuitry (116). The self-diagnosing circuitry includes a microprocessor (202) and at least measurement device (210). The micro processor controls the at least measurement device to measure at least one parameter of the at least one detector pixel, wherein a value of the at least one parameter is indicative of a health state of the imaging system. A method includes employing self-diagnosing circuitry embedded in an imaging detector module to measure at least one parameter of at least one detector pixel of the imaging detector module. A value of the at least one parameter is indicative of a health state of the imaging detector. The method further includes generating, with the self diagnosing circuitry, a signal indicating a health state of the imaging detector module based on the measured at least one parameter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a detection module (22) for the detection of ionizing radiation emitted by a radiation source (20) comprising a scintillator element (24) for emitting scintillation photons in response to incident ionizing radiation, a first photosensitive element (32a) optically coupled to the scintillator element (24) for capturing scintillation photons (30) and a flexible substrate (34) for supporting the first photosensitive element (32a). The present invention also relates to an imaging device (10) that comprises such a detection module (22).

Abstract: The present invention relates to providing X-ray image data of an object. In order to provide a medical X-ray imaging system with improved practicability, a medical X-ray imaging system (100) is provided, comprising at least one X-ray detector (110), an X-ray source arrangement (120), and a patient table (130). The patient table is configured to receive an object for imaging a region of interest (140) of the object. The at least one X-ray detector is movably mounted above the patient table; and the at least one X-ray detector and the X-ray source arrangement are movable independently. The X-ray source arrangement is configured to provide X-ray radiation to the region of interest from a number of positions (150) forming a concave open trajectory (160), wherein a middle portion (170) of the trajectory is located below the patient table; and wherein two end regions (180) of the trajectory are extending on the two lateral sides of the table and above the table.

Abstract: For the generation of multiple-energy X-ray radiation, an X-ray tube (10) for generating multiple-energy X-ray radiation includes an anode (12) and a filter (14). At least a first (16) and a second focal spot position (18) are offset from each other in an offset direction (20) transverse to an X-ray radiation projection direction. The filter includes a first plurality (22) of first portions (24) with first filtering characteristics for X-ray radiation and a second plurality (26) of second portions (28) with second filtering characteristics for X-ray radiation. The filter is a directional filter adapted in a such a way that at least a first X-ray beam (30) emanating from the first focal spot position at least partly passes through the filter unit via the first portions, and a second X-ray beam (32) emanating from the second focal spot position passes obliquely through the first and the second portions when passing through the filter unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a multimodal imaging apparatus (1a, 1b) for imaging a process (63) in a subject (23), said process (63) causing the emission of gamma quanta (25, 61), said apparatus (1a, 1b) comprising a scintillator (3) including scintillator elements (31) for capturing incident gamma quanta (25, 61) generated by the radiotracer and for emitting scintillation photons (26) in response to said captured gamma quanta (25, 61), a photodetector (5) including photosensitive elements (33) for capturing the emitted scintillation photons (26) and for determining a spatial distribution of the scintillation photons, and a readout electronics (7) for determining the impact position of an incident gamma quantum in the scintillator (3) and/or a parameter indicative of the emission point of the gamma quantum (25, 61) in the subject (23) based on the spatial distribution of the scintillation photons, wherein the imaging apparatus (1a, 1b) is configured to be switched between a first operation mode for detect

Abstract: The invention relates to a radiation detector (100) comprising a scintillator group with for example two scintillator elements (120a, 120b) for converting incident primary photons (X, X?) into secondary photons (?, ??) according to a characteristic emission spectrum. Moreover, the detector comprises at least two photodetectors (130a, 130b) for converting said secondary photons into electrical signals, wherein said photodetectors have different absorption spectra and can be read out separately. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the photodetectors are organic photodetectors (130a, 130b). The scintillator elements (120a, 120b) and the photodetectors are preferably arranged in a stack one behind the other. Due to the at least two photodetectors (130a, 130b), additional information about incident primary radiation (X, X?) can be collected.

Abstract: The present invention relates to phase-contrast imaging which visualizes the phase information of coherent radiation passing a scanned object. Focused gratings are used which reduce the creation of trapezoid profile in a projection with a particular angle to the optical axis. A laser supported method is used in combination with a dedicating etching process for creating such focused grating structures.

Abstract: The present invention relates to handling misalignment in differential phase contrast imaging. In order to provide an improved handling of misalignment in X-ray imaging systems for differential phase contrast imaging, an X-ray imaging system (10) for differential phase contrast imaging is provided that comprises a differential phase contrast setup (12) with an X-ray source (14), an X-ray detector (16), and a grating arrangement comprising a source grating (18), a phase grating (20) and an analyser grating (22). The source grating is arranged between the X-ray source and the phase grating, and the analyser grating is arranged between the phase grating and the detector. Further, the system comprises a processing unit (24), and a measurement system (26) for determining a misalignment of at least one of the gratings. The X-ray source and the source grating are provided as a rigid X-ray source unit (28). The phase grating, the analyser grating and the detector are provided as a rigid X-ray detection unit (30).