Abstract: An X-ray source for emitting an X-ray beam is proposed. The X-ray source comprises an anode and an emitter arrangement comprising a cathode for emitting an electron beam towards the anode and an electron optics for focusing the electron beam at a focal spot on the anode. The X-ray source further comprises a controller configured to determine a switching action of the emitter arrangement and to actuate the emitter arrangement to perform the switching action, the switching action being associated with a change of at least one of a position of the focal spot on the anode, a size of the focal spot, and a shape of the focal spot. The controller is further configured to predict before the switching action is performed, based on the determined switching action, the size and the shape of the focal spot expected after the switching action. Further, the controller is configured to actuate the electron optics to compensate for a change of the size and the shape of the focal spot induced by the switching action.

Abstract: A computed tomography (CT) detector array (120) includes a monolithic scintillator (124). The monolithic scintillator includes at least a first scintillator region (202), a second scintillator region (206), and an optically reflective barrier (210) therebetween. The detector array is configured to detect X-ray radiation traversing an examination region and impinging the monolithic scintillator and generate first projection data indicative of an energy of x-ray radiation absorbed by the first scintillator region and second projection data indicative of an energy of x-ray radiation traversing the first scintillator and absorbed by the second scintillator region.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a radiation detector (100) comprising: i) a substrate (110); ii) a sensor, which is coupled to the substrate, the sensor comprising a first array (120) of sensor pixels, a second array (130) of signal read-out elements, and an electronic circuitry which is configured to provide image data based on signals received from the signal read-out elements; iii) a transducer, which is coupled to the substrate and to the sensor, the transducer comprising a third array (140) of subpixels, wherein at least two subpixels are assigned to one sensor pixel; wherein the second array of signal read-out elements and the third array of subpixels correspond to each other; wherein each of the subpixels comprises a radiation conversion material.

Abstract: A signal processing system (SPS) and related method. The system comprises an input interface (IN) for receiving at least two data sets, comprising a first data set and second data set. The first data set is generated by an X-ray detector sub-system (XDS) at a first pixel size and the second data set generated at a second pixel size different from the first pixel size. An estimator (EST) is configured to compute, based on the two data sets, an estimate of a charge sharing impact.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a photon counting detector comprising a first direct conversion layer (10) comprising a low-absorption direct conversion material (11) for converting impinging high-energy electromagnetic radiation (100) into a first count signal and first electrical contacts (12), a second direct conversion layer (20) comprising a high-absorption direct conversion material (21) for converting impinging high-energy electromagnetic radiation (100) into a second count signal and second electrical contacts (22), said high-absorption direct conversion material having a higher absorption than said low-absorption direct conversion material, and a carrier layer (30, 30a, 30b) comprising first and second terminals (31, 32) in contact with the first and second electrical contacts and processing circuitry (35) configured to correct, based on the first count signal, the second count signal for errors, wherein said first direct conversion layer and the second direct conversion layer are arranged such that

Abstract: The invention relates to a radiation detector (1), an imaging system and a related method for radiation detection. The detector comprises a direct conversion material (2) for converting x-ray and/or gamma radiation into electron-hole pairs by direct photon-matter interaction. The detector comprises an anode (3) and a cathode (4) arranged on opposite sides of the direct conversion material (2) such that the electrons and holes can respectively be collected by the anode and cathode. The cathode is substantially transparent to infrared radiation. The detector comprises a light guide layer (5) on the cathode at a side of the cathode that is opposite of the direct conversion material, in which the light guide layer is adapted for distributing infrared radiation over the direct conversion material. The detector comprises a reflector layer (6) arranged on the light guide layer (5) at a side opposite of the cathode, in which the reflector layer is adapted for substantially reflecting infrared radiation.

Abstract: An X-ray source (10) for emitting an X-ray beam (101) is proposed. The X-ray source (10) comprises an anode (12) and an emitter arrangement (14) comprising a cathode (16) for emitting an electron beam (15) towards the anode (12) and an electron optics (18) for focusing the electron beam (15) at a focal spot (20) on the anode (12). The X-ray source (10) further comprises a controller (22) configured to determine a switching action of the emitter arrangement (14) and to actuate the emitter arrangement (14) to perform the switching action, the switching action being associated with a change of at least one of a position of the focal spot (20) on the anode (12), a size of the focal spot (20), and a shape of the focal spot (20). The controller (22) is further configured to predict before the switching action is performed, based on the determined switching action, the size and the shape of the focal spot (20) expected after the switching action.

Abstract: A detector signal is corrected by superimposing the detector signal with a correction signal. For providing a valid correction signal, a sampling pulse is periodically or randomly provided. The sampling pulse serves as the initiator for sampling a process signal. During the sampling, the process signal is observed. In case a pulse at the process signal is detected, the sampling is assumed as not being suitable to correct the detector signal, since the pulse affects the process signal. Otherwise, the process signal is further observed during a validation period to validate whether the sampled process value of the process signal has already been influenced by an upcoming pulse at the process signal. In case the sampling is assumed as valid, the sampled process value is used as a basis for providing the correction signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device (1) for determining positioning data for an X-ray image acquisition device (2) on a mobile patient support unit (3), the device comprising: a processing unit (10); and a status detector (11); wherein the status detector (11) is configured to acquire geometry data and type data of a mobile patient support unit (3) and of an X-ray image acquisition device (2) on the mobile patient support unit (3), and to transmit a status signal comprising the geometry data and the type data; wherein the processing unit (10) is configured to receive the status signal and data about region of interest position on the patient; and wherein, based on the status signal and the region of interest position, the processing unit (10) is configured to determine positioning and alignment data for an X-ray image acquisition device (2) on the mobile patient support unit (3), and to provide an image acquisition protocol for the X-ray image acquisition device (2).

Abstract: The invention relates to radiation detector for registering incident photons, comprising (i) detection circuitry (202, 206, 207) configured to provide an electric output signal in response to incident photons, the output signal comprising pulses having an amplitude indicative of energies deposited in the radiation detector by the incident photons, and (ii) an energy estimating circuit (2081, . . . , 208N; 2091, . . . , 209N) configured to detect that the output signal is larger than at least one threshold corresponding to an energy value in order to determine energies of incident photons. The radiation detector further comprises a registration circuit (211) configured to detect incident photons independent of a comparison of the output signal with the at least one threshold. Moreover, the invention relates to a method for detecting photons using the radiation detector.

Abstract: The invention relates to a detection values determination system, especially for photon-counting CT scanners, comprising a detection pulse providing unit for providing detection pulses for an array of detection pixels 17, which is provided with an anti-charge-sharing grid 15 for suppressing charge sharing between different clusters 14 of the detection pixels, wherein the detection pulses are indicative of the energy of photons incident on the detection pixels. Charge-sharing-corrected detection values are determined based on the provided detection pulses, wherein for determining a charge-sharing-corrected detection value for a detection pixel of a cluster only detection pixels of the same cluster are considered. This allows for a relatively high detective quantum efficiency, wherein the technical efforts for providing the charge sharing correction can be relatively low.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pulse shaper (18). The pulse shaper (18) comprises an integrator (19) for generating a pulse having a peak amplitude indicative of the energy of a detected photon, a feedback resistor (22), switchable discharge circuitry (23) for discharging the integrator (19), and a peak detector (24) for detecting the peak of the pulse. The pulse shaper is adapted to start the discharge of the integrator by the switchable discharge circuitry based on the detection of the peak and to connect the feedback resistor in parallel to the integrator during a period of the pulse generation and to disconnect the feedback resistor during another period of the pulse generation. The pulse shaper can be such that the generation of the pulse is substantially unhindered by any noticeable concurrent discharging mechanism while, at the same time, the occurrence of energy pedestals can be efficiently avoided.

Abstract: A computed tomography (CT) detector array (120) includes a monolithic scintillator (124). The monolithic scintillator includes at least a first scintillator region (202), a second scintillator region (206), and an optically reflective barrier (210) therebetween. The detector array is configured to detect X-ray radiation traversing an examination region and impinging the monolithic scintillator and generate first projection data indicative of an energy of x-ray radiation absorbed by the first scintillator region and second projection data indicative of an energy of x-ray radiation traversing the first scintillator and absorbed by the second scintillator region.

Abstract: A signal processing system (SPS) and related method. The system comprises an input interface (IN) for receiving at least two data sets, comprising a first data set and second data set. The first data set is generated by an X-ray detector sub-system (XDS) at a first pixel size and the second data set generated at a second pixel size different from the first pixel size. An estimator (EST) is configured to compute, based on the two data sets, an estimate of a charge sharing impact.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a detection device for X-rays, an imaging system and a method for detecting electro-magnetic radiation using a detection device for X-rays, wherein an estimate of an incomplete measurement is acquired prior to a discontinuity of the electromagnetic radiation, wherein the discontinuity is a change or interruption in a beam or in an intensity of the electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for generating dual energy X-ray imaging data. It is described to position (210) an X-ray detector relative to an X-ray source such that at least a part of a region between the X-ray source and the X-ray detector is an examination region for accommodating an object. A grid filter is positioned (220) between the examination region and the X-ray source. The X-ray source produces (230) a focal spot on a target to produce X-rays. The X-ray source moves (240) the focal spot in a first direction across a surface of the target. The grid filter has a structure in a first orientation such that the movement of the focal spot in the first direction results in an associated change in an intensity of X-rays transmitted by the grid filter. The X-ray source moves (250) the focal spot in a second direction across the surface of the target that is orthogonal to the first direction.

Abstract: An X-ray source (10) for emitting an X-ray beam (101) is proposed. The X- ray source (10) comprises an anode (12) and an emitter arrangement (14) comprising a cathode (16) for emitting an electron beam (15) towards the anode (12) and an electron optics (18) for focusing the electron beam (15) at a focal spot (20) on the anode (12). The X-ray source (10) further comprises a controller (22) configured to determine a switching action of the emitter arrangement (14) and to actuate the emitter arrangement (14) to perform the switching action, the switching action being associated with a change of at least one of a position of the focal spot (20) on the anode (12), a size of the focal spot (20), and a shape of the focal spot (20). The controller (22) is further configured to predict before the switching action is performed, based on the determined switching action, the size and the shape of the focal spot (20) expected after the switching action.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a detector module comprising a direct conversion crystal (10) for converting incident photons into electrical signals, said direct conversion crystal having a cathode metallization (100) deposited on a first surface and an anode metallization (101) deposited on a second surface, an integrated circuit (12) in electrical communication with said direct conversion crystal, said integrated circuit having a smaller width than said direct conversion crystal thus forming a recess (120) in width direction at a side surface of the integrated circuit, an interposer (11, 11a) arranged between said direct conversion crystal and said integrated circuit for providing electrical communication there between, wherein said interposer is made as separate element that is glued, soldered or bonded with the anode metallization (101) of said direct conversion crystal facing said integrated circuit, and a multi-lead flex cable (13, 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d) providing a plurality of output paths, said multi-

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for generating dual energy X-ray imaging data. It is described to position an X-ray detector relative to an X-ray source such that at least a part of a region between the X-ray source and the X-ray detector is an examination region for accommodating an object. A grid filter is positioned (220) between the examination region and the X-ray source. The X-ray source produces (230) a focal spot on a target to produce X-rays. The X-ray source moves (240) the focal spot in a first direction across a surface of the target. The grid filter has a structure in a first orientation such that the movement of the focal spot in the first direction results in an associated change in an intensity of X-rays transmitted by the grid filter. The X-ray source moves (250) the focal spot in a second direction across the surface of the target that is orthogonal to the first direction.

Abstract: An imaging system (100) includes a detector module (114). The detector module includes a block (300) of a plurality of direct conversion photon counting detector pixels (122) and corresponding electronics (124, 604, 606, 132, 134 or 124, 128, 130, 134, 802) with hardware for both high energy resolution imaging mode and high X-ray flux imaging mode connected with the block of the plurality of direct conversion photon counting detector pixels. A method includes identifying a scanning mode for a selected imaging protocol, wherein the scanning modes includes one of a higher energy resolution mode and a higher X-ray flux mode, configuring a detector module, which is configurable for both the higher energy resolution mode and the higher X-ray flux mode, based on the identified scanning mode, performing the scan with the detector module configured for the mode of the selected imaging protocol, and processing scan data from the scan, generating volumetric image data.