Abstract: The present invention relates to grating based Dark-Field and/or phase-contrast X-ray imaging. In order to improve the quality of an image, a radiography system (10) for grating based Dark-Field and/or phase-contrast X-ray imaging for imaging a patient by irradiating the patient is provided. The system comprises a source unit (12), a detection unit (14) and a patient support unit (16) with a patient abutting surface (18). The source unit (12) and the detection unit (14) are arranged along an optical axis (13) and the patient support unit (16) is arranged in between. Further, an abutting distance (dA) between the source unit (12) and the patient abutting surface (18) along the optical axis (13) is adaptable. The abutting distance (dA) and an actual sensitivity, based on the abutting distance (dA), are taken into account for imaging, such that a trade-off between sensitivity and field of view in a patient specific manner is achievable, e.g. the best trade-off.

Abstract: An imaging system (400) includes a radiation source (408) configured to emit X-ray radiation, a detector array (410) configured to detected X-ray radiation and generate projection data indicative thereof, and a first processing chain (418) configured to reconstruct the projection data and generate a noise only image. A method includes receiving projection data produced by an imaging system and processing the projection data with a first processing chain configured to reconstruct the projection data and generate a noise only image. A processor is configured to: scan an object or subject with an x-ray imaging system and generating projection data, process the projection data with a first processing chain configured to reconstruct the projection data and generate a noise only image, process the projection data with a second processing chain configured to reconstruct the projection data and generate a structure image, and de-noise the structure image based on the noise only image.

Abstract: The present invention relates to phantom device for a dark field imaging system. Although dark field imaging is known to be sensitive to changes in the micro-structure of the tissue of a human subject that may be caused during a disease progression, there may be a need to quantify information provided by an image of the human subject. A detector signal component representing the dark image may be altered by changes of the X-ray spectrum which passes tissue of the human subject comprising micro-structures. This may be caused due to an attenuation of the X-ray radiation previously provided by an X-ray source, wherein the attenuation may be caused by tissue of the human subject, which covers said micro-structure comprising tissue. In order to provide information in clinical practice regarding the influence of attenuation to the X-ray radiation before it passes the micro-structure issue of the human subject, the phantom device for dark field imaging is proposed.

Abstract: An imaging system includes radiation source (106) that emits radiation that traverses an examination region and a portion of a subject therein and a detector array (114) that detects radiation that traverses the examination region and the portion of the subject therein and generates a signal indicative thereof. A volume scan parameter recommender (120) recommends at least one spectral scan parameter value for a volume scan of the portion of the subject based on a spectral decomposition of first and second 2D projections acquired by the radiation source and detector array. The first and second 2D projections have different spectral characteristics. A console (122) employs the recommended at least one spectral scan parameter value to perform the volume scan of the portion of the subject.

Abstract: The present invention relates to computer tomography X-ray imaging. In order to provide further improved data for the reconstruction, a system (10) for computer tomography X-ray imaging is provided. The system comprises a data interface (12) and a processing unit (14). The data interface is configured to provide at least first and second CT X-ray radiation projection data for at least a first and second X-ray energy range, which ranges are different from each other. The processing unit is configured to determine a correction for slice normalization, and to apply an equal slice normalization for the first and the second CT X-ray projection data and thereby generating prepared first and second CT X-ray projection data. For the correction, the equal slice normalization is based on measured data of outer detector elements. Further, the data interface is configured to provide the prepared first and second CT X-ray projection data for further processing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a source-detector arrangement (11) of an X-ray apparatus (10) for grating based phase contrast computed tomography. The source-detector arrangement comprises an X-ray source (12) adapted for rotational movement around a rotation axis (R) relative to an object (140) and adapted for emittance of an X-ray beam of coherent or quasi-coherent radiation in a line pattern (21); and an X-ray detection system (16) including a first grating element (24) and a second grating element (26) and a detector element (6); wherein the line pattern of the radiation and a grating direction of the grating elements are arranged orthogonal to the rotation axis; and wherein the first grating element has a first grating pitch varied dependent on a cone angle (?) of the X-ray beam and/or the second grating element has a second grating pitch varied dependent on the cone angle of the X-ray beam.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a grating in X-ray imaging. In order to provide a grating with a facilitated stabilization, a grating (10) for X-ray imaging is provided that comprises a grating structure (12) with a first plurality of bar members (14) and a second plurality of gaps (16). A fixation structure (18) is arranged between the bar members to stabilize the grating bar members. The bar members are extending in a length direction (20) and in a height direction (22). The bar members are also spaced from each other by one of the gaps in a direction transverse to the height direction. The gaps are arranged in a gap direction parallel to the length direction. The fixation structure comprises a plurality of bridging web members (24) that are provided between adjacent bar members. Further, the web members are longitudinal web members that are extending in the gap direction and that are provided in an inclined manner in relation to the height direction. The inclination is provided in the gap direction.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a heat radiator, especially an infrared radiator, having at least one radiation source by means of which supplied electrical energy is convertible into heat radiation, as well as a control. This control comprises at least one frequency converter having a first, a second and a third output so that between the first and the third output a first alternating current is providable and between the second and the third output a second alternating current is providable by means of which the at least one radiation source is operable.

Abstract: The present invention relates to light guiding in an X-ray detector. In order to provide a focussing of a scintillator, an X-ray detector (30) is provided comprising a scintillator arrangement (32) in a first layer (34), an optical guide arrangement (36) in a second layer (38), and a light-sensitive sensor arrangement (40) in a third layer (42). The second layer is provided between the first and the third layer. The scintillator arrangement comprises a structured scintillator with a plurality of scintillator elements (44) arranged as trenches separated from each other by wall elements (46) in a grating structure; wherein the trenches are configured to receive X-ray radiation from one side and wherein the trenches are configured to emit visible light on a second side. The trenches are arranged focused on a common point in which an X-ray source is arrangeable. The light-sensitive sensor arrangement comprises a plurality of sensor elements (48) that detect light generated by the scintillator elements.

Abstract: An interferometer grating support (118) of an imaging system (100) configured for grating-based x-ray imaging includes at least two elongate supports (302) separated from each other by a non-zero distance, wherein the at least two elongate supports have a first end (312) and a second end (316). The grating support further includes a first arc shaped grating (202) affixed to the first end and a second arc shaped grating (204) affixed to a second end (316). A non-transitory computer readable medium is configured with computer executable instructions which when executed by a processor of a computer cause the processor to: move a grating support, which supports G0 and G1 gratings of an interferometer and a bowtie filter, into a region between a low energy photon filter and a beam collimator, which are between a radiation source and an examination region, for a grating-based x-ray imaging scan.

Abstract: A phantom body (PB) for use in a differential phase contrast imaging apparatus (IM) for calibration of same. The phantom body (PB) allows for simultaneous calibration of three different image signal channels, namely refraction, phase shift and small angle scattering.

Abstract: A calibration method and corresponding object for calibrating an X-ray imaging system with respect to dark field imaging is disclosed. The calibration object (1) generically comprises a plurality of sections (10, 20), wherein at least a part of the sections comprises two different materials, respectively. One material (101, 201) in a corresponding section leads to attenuation of passing X-ray beams and the other material (102, 202) is a dark field active material leading to small-angle scattering signals of incident X-rays. The ratio of the two materials in one section varies from section to section. The calibration object can be used to calibrate an X-ray imaging system with respect to a non-linear behavior of the dark field visibility.

Abstract: The present invention relates to phantom device for a dark field imaging system. Although dark field imaging is known to be sensitive to changes in the micro-structure of the tissue of a human subject that may be caused during a disease progression, there may be a need to quantify information provided by an image of the human subject. A detector signal component representing the dark field image may be altered by changes of the X-ray spectrum which passes tissue of the human subject comprising micro-structures. This may be caused due to an attenuation of the X-ray radiation previously provided by an X-ray source, wherein the attenuation may be caused by tissue of the human subject, which covers said micro-structure comprising tissue. In order to provide information in clinical practice regarding the influence of attenuation to the X-ray radiation before it passes the micro-structure issue of the human subject, the phantom device for dark field imaging is proposed.

Abstract: The invention relates to an analyzing grid for phase contrast imaging and/or dark-field imaging, a detector arrangement for phase contrast imaging and/or dark-field imaging comprising such analyzing grid, an X-ray imaging system comprising such detector arrangement, a method for manufacturing such analyzing grid, a computer program element for controlling such analyzing grid or detector arrangement for performing such method and a computer readable medium having stored such computer program element. The analyzing grid comprises a number of X-ray converting gratings. The X-ray converting gratings are configured to convert incident X-ray radiation into light or charge. The number of X-ray converting gratings comprises at least a first X-ray converting grating and a second X-ray converting grating.

Abstract: An imaging system (200) includes a radiation source (208) that emits radiation that traverses an examination region. The imaging system further includes a hybrid data acquisition system (212) that receives radiation that traverses the examination region. The hybrid data acquisition system includes a phase-contrast sub-portion (304) spanning a sub-portion of a full field of view. The hybrid data acquisition system further includes at least one of an integrating portion (302, 702, 804, 806, 902) or a spectral portion (402, 704, 706, 802, 1002) spanning the full field of view. The hybrid data acquisition system generates a phase-contrast signal and at least one of an integration signal or a spectral signal. The imaging system further includes a reconstructor (216) that reconstructs the phase-contrast signal and at least one of the integration single or the spectral signal to generate volumetric image data indicative of the examination region.

Abstract: Present invention relates to devices and methods for determining a calcium content by analyzing cardiac spectral CT data. CT projection data (9), obtainable by scanning a cardiac region of a subject using a spectral CT scanning unit, is modelled (12) by applying a material decomposition algorithm to the projection data to provide a calcium-specific component. Tomographic reconstructions (13) of the projection data, to provide a first 3D image (8), and of the calcium-specific component, to provide a second 3D image (6), are performed. The first 3D image (8) is segmented (14) to provide an image mask (5) corresponding to a cardiovascular structure of interest, a part of the second 3D image (6) is selected (15) based on the image mask (5), and a calcium content is calculated (16) in the cardiovascular structure of interest based on the selected part of the second 3D image (6).

Abstract: An X-ray detector (10) for a phase contrast imaging system (100) and a phase contrast imaging system (100) with such detector (10) are provided. The X-ray detector (10) comprises a scintillation device (12) and a photodetector (14) with a plurality of photosensitive pixels (15) optically coupled to the scintillation device (12), wherein the X-ray detector (10) comprises a primary axis (16) parallel to a surface normal vector of the scintillation device (12), and wherein the scintillation device (12) comprises a wafer substrate (18) having a plurality of grooves (20), which are spaced apart from each other. Each of the grooves (20) extends to a depth (22) along a first direction (21) from a first side (13) of the scintillation device (12) into the wafer substrate (18), wherein each of the grooves (20) is at least partially filled with a scintillation material.

Abstract: The grating device (1) for an X-ray imaging device comprises a grating arrangement (10) and an actuation arrangement (20). The grating arrangement (10) comprises a plurality of grating segments (11). The actuation arrangement (20) is configured to move the plurality of grating segments (11) with at least a rotational component between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the grating segments (11) are arranged in the path of an X-ray beam (30), so that the grating segments (11) influence portions of the X-ray beam (30). In the second position, the grating segments (11) are arranged outside the portions of the path of an X-ray beam (30), so that the portions of the X-ray beam (30) are unaffected by the grating segments (11).

Abstract: The invention relates to a computed tomography system (30). Several sets of spectral projections, which correspond to different positions of a radiation source (2) along a rotation axis (R), are decomposed into first projections being indicative of a contrast agent and second projections being not indicative of the contrast agent. An image is generated by a) determining for each first projection a contrast value being indicative of a total amount of contrast agent and scaling the first projections such that for different first projections of a same set the same contrast value is determined, and reconstructing an image based on the scaled first projections, and/or b) reconstructing for the different sets first images, scaling the first images such that they have a same intensity in overlap regions and combining the scaled first images. Thus, different contrast agent amounts can be balanced, thereby allowing for an improved image quality.

Abstract: A method for operating translation look-aside buffers, TLBs, in a multiprocessor system. A purge request is received for purging one or more entries in the TLB. When the thread doesn't require access to the entries to be purged the execution of the purge request at the TLB may start. When an address translation request is rejected due to the TLB purge, a suspension time window may be set. During the suspension time window, the execution of the purge is suspended and address translation requests of the thread are executed. After the suspension window is ended the purge execution may be resumed. When the thread requires access to the entries to be purged, it may be blocked for preventing the thread sending address translation requests to the TLB and upon ending the purge request execution, the thread may be unblocked and the address translation requests may be executed.