Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for determining an effective energy spectrum of an X-ray tube. It is described to provide (210) a temporally varying acceleration voltage of an X-ray tube for a time period. A temporally varying X-ray tube current is also provided (220) for the time period. At least one product of the temporally varying X-ray tube current and a time interval is determined (230). An effective energy spectrum of the X-ray tube processing the X-ray tube is determined (250) as a function of the at least one product of the temporally varying X-ray tube current and the time interval and as a function of the voltage of the X-ray tube.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a pulse processing circuit (100) for the processing of current pulses (CP) generated by incident photons (X) in a piece of converter material, for instance in a pixel (11) of a radiation detector. Deviations of the pulse shape from a reference are detected and used to identify pulse corruption due to pile-up effects at high count rates and/or charge sharing between neighboring pixels. The deviation detection may for instance be achieved by generating, with a pulse shaper (110), bipolar shaped pulses from the current pulse (CP) and/or two shaped pulses of different shapes which can be compared to each other.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a detector (22?) for detecting ionizing radiation, comprising: a directly converting semi-conductor layer (36) for producing charge carriers in response to incident ionizing radiation; and a plurality of electrodes (34) corresponding to pixels for registering the charge carriers and generate a signal corresponding to registered charge carriers; wherein an electrode of the plurality of electrodes (34) is structured to two-dimensionally intertwine with at least two adjacent electrodes to register the charge carriers by said electrode and by at least one adjacent electrode. The present invention further relates to a detection method and to an imaging apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a detector (22?) for detecting ionizing radiation, comprising: a directly converting semi-conductor layer (36) for producing charge carriers in response to incident ionizing radiation; and a plurality of electrodes (34) corresponding to pixels for registering the charge carriers and generate a signal corresponding to registered charge carriers; wherein an electrode of the plurality of electrodes (34) is structured to two-dimensionally intertwine with at least two adjacent electrodes to register the charge carriers by said electrode and by at least one adjacent electrode. The present invention further relates to a detection method and to an imaging apparatus.

Abstract: An X-ray imaging system for generating X-ray projections of an object, the X-ray imaging system including an X-ray device having a single X-ray source (110) for forming a plurality of X-ray beams (104), a filter (120) positioned within the plurality of X-ray beams, an object space where the object to be imaged is accommodated, and an X-ray detector (150) including an array of a plurality of pixels (151 . . . 155). The X-ray device, the filter, and the plurality of pixels are configured such that at least one pixel is exposed to the plurality of X-ray beams. X-ray radiation received by a particular pixel undergoes a same spectral filtration by the filter. Pixels receiving the X-ray radiation undergoing the same spectral filtration are summarized to a pixel subset.

Abstract: The invention relates to a detector (6) for detecting radiation, especially x-ray radiation used in a computed tomography system. The detector comprises a direct conversion material (9) for converting radiation into electrons and holes, which are used for generating an electrical detection signal. The direct conversion material is illuminated with illumination light being broadband visible and/or broadband infrared light for reducing, in particular, eliminating, a polarization of the direct conversion material, which may occur when being traversed by the radiation to be detected and which may reduce the detection performance. By reducing the polarization of the direct conversion material the detection performance can be improved.

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: A radiation detector (10) includes a semiconductor element (1) for generating positive holes and electrons, a cathode (2) formed on a first surface of the semiconductor element (1) and a plurality of segmented anodes (3) formed on a second surface of the semiconductor element (1), the second surface being in opposed relation to the first surface. Additionally, a plurality of segmented steering electrodes (5a) are positioned adjacent the plurality of segmented anodes (3). Moreover, a plurality of doping atoms are located above at least a portion of the plurality of segmented anodes (3) for reducing the voltage difference between the plurality of segmented anodes (3) and the plurality of segmented steering electrodes (5a).

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 present invention discloses a pixilated direct conversion photon counting detector with a direct conversion material layer and a pixilated electrode. Individual electrode pixels are segmented into three segments (510, 520, 530), wherein one of the segments (520) is operated at a more electrically repellant value than that of the other two (510, 530). Said other two segments are connected to electric circuitry (610, 611, 620, 630) that is arranged to generate signals which are indicative of a count of electrons or holes that approach each of the respective electrode pixel segments and to subtract the generated signals from each other.

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: 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 invention relates to a method and a pulse processing circuit (100) for the processing of current pulses (CP) generated by incident photons (X) in a piece of converter material, for instance in a pixel (11) of a radiation detector. Deviations of the pulse shape from a reference are detected and used to identify pulse corruption due to pile-up effects at high count rates and/or charge sharing between neighboring pixels. The deviation detection may for instance be achieved by generating, with a pulse shaper (110), bipolar shaped pulses from the current pulse (CP) and/or two shaped pulses of different shapes which can be compared to each other.

Abstract: The invention relates to a detector (6) for detecting radiation, especially x-ray radiation used in a computed tomography system. The detector comprises a direct conversion material (9) for converting radiation into electrons and holes, which are used for generating an electrical detection signal. The direct conversion material is illuminated with illumination light being broadband visible and/or broadband infrared light for reducing, in particular, eliminating, a polarization of the direct conversion material, which may occur when being traversed by the radiation to be detected and which may reduce the detection performance. By reducing the polarization of the direct conversion material the detection performance can be improved.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a pixilated direct conversion photon counting detector with a direct conversion material layer and a pixilated electrode. Individual electrode pixels are segmented into three segments (510, 520, 530), wherein one of the segments (520) is operated at a more electrically repellant value than that of the other two (510, 530). Said other two segments are connected to electric circuitry (610, 611, 620, 630) that is arranged to generate signals which are indicative of a count of electrons or holes that approach each of the respective electrode pixel segments and to subtract the generated signals from each other.

Abstract: A radiation detector (10) includes a semiconductor element (1) for generating positive holes and electrons, a cathode (2) formed on a first surface of the semiconductor element (1) and a plurality of segmented anodes (3) formed on a second surface of the semiconductor element (1), the second surface being in opposed relation to the first surface. Additionally, a plurality of segmented steering electrodes (5a) are positioned adjacent the plurality of segmented anodes (3). Moreover, a plurality of doping atoms are located above at least a portion of the plurality of segmented anodes (3) for reducing the voltage difference between the plurality of segmented anodes (3) and the plurality of segmented steering electrodes (5a).

Abstract: X-ray devices for Phase Contrast Imaging (PCI) are often built up with the help of gratings. For large field-of-views (FOV), production cost and complexity of these gratings could increase significantly as they need to have a focused geometry. Instead of a pure PCI with a large FOV, this invention suggests to combine a traditional absorption X-ray-imaging system with large-FOV with an insertable low-cost PCI system with small-FOV, The invention supports the user to direct the PCI system with reduced FOV to a region that he regards as most interesting for performing a PCI scan thus eliminating X-ray dose exposure for scanning regions not interesting for a radiologist. The PCI scan may be generated on the basis of local tomography.

Abstract: An X-ray image acquisition apparatus employing phase-contrast imaging with enlarged field of view includes an X-ray source, an X-ray detector element having a detector size, a beam splitter grating and an analyzer grating. An object is arrangeable between the X-ray source and detector. The beam splitter grating and the analyzer grating are arrangeable between the X-ray source and detector. The X-ray source, the beam splitter grating, the analyzer grating and the X-ray detector are operatively coupled such that a phase-contrast image of the object is obtainable. The apparatus is configure to acquire a phase-contrast image having a field of view larger than the detector size. The X-ray detector element is displaceable where, by the displacement of the X-ray detector, a phase-contrast image of the enlarged field of view is obtainable.

Abstract: In radiation-sensitive detector devices, such as direct conversion detectors, charges are drifting within an externally applied electric field towards collecting electrodes (4), which are segmented (e.g. representing a pixel array). At the gaps between segments, electrical field lines can leave the detector, and charges drifting along those field lines can be trapped within the gap. This can be avoided by external electrodes (8) which push electric field lines back into the direct conversion material.

Abstract: LHRH analogues and LHRH antagonists for use in the treatment or prophylaxis of hormone-dependent cancers, in particular prostate cancer, prostate carcinoma and/or advanced prostate carcinoma, by administering an initial dose of an LHRH analogue over a first period sufficient to effect hormonal castration, then administering a maintenance dose of an LHRH antagonist over a second period, the dose being insufficient to achieve and/or maintain hormonal castration.