A method for generating a combined contrast medium and blood vessel representation of contrast-enhanced image data of breast tissue to be examined includes capturing first and second contrast-medium-influenced x-ray projection measurement data of the breast tissue with respective differing first and second x-ray energies. First and second image data sets are reconstructed based respectively on the first and second measurement data. A dual-energy image data set is ascertained based on the first and the second image data sets. A blood vessel image is ascertained based on at least one image data set. A blood vessel image is represented together with the dual-energy image data set in a combined contrast medium and blood vessel representation. An image data generating system is also provided.

An X-ray imaging method is for generating contrast-enhanced image data relating to an examination region of an object to be examined. In an embodiment of the method, first contrast-agent influenced measured X-ray projection data with a first X-ray energy spectrum and at least one set of second contrast-agent influenced measured X-ray projection data with a second X-ray energy spectrum are acquired from the examination region. Subsequently, image data assigned to a third X-ray energy spectrum with a third mean energy, based on the first and at least second measured X-ray projection data is reconstructed based on the first and at least second measured X-ray projection data that has been acquired. A mean energy of the first X-ray energy spectrum and a mean energy of the second X-ray energy spectrum are selected as a function of a dimension parameter value of the object that is to be examined.

A method may include obtaining a feedback or a reference value of a tube voltage applied to a radiation source of a radiation device for generating radiation rays. The method may also include determining, based on the feedback or the reference value of the tube voltage, a specific value of a focusing parameter associated with a focusing device of the radiation device. The method may further include causing the focusing device to shape a focus of the radiation rays according to the determined value of the focusing parameter. The focus of the radiation rays may satisfy an operational constraint under the specific value of the focusing parameter.

High-contrast, subtraction, x-ray images of an object are produced via scanned illumination by a laser-Compton x-ray source. The spectral-angle correlation of the laser-Compton scattering process and a specially designed aperture and/or detector are utilized to produce/record a narrow beam of x-rays whose spectral content consists of an on-axis region of high-energy x-rays surrounded by a region of slightly lower-energy x-rays. The end point energy of the laser-Compton source is set so that the high-energy x-ray region contains photons that are above the k-shell absorption edge (k-edge) of a specific contrast agent or specific material within the object to be imaged while the outer region consists of photons whose energy is below the k-edge of the same contrast agent or specific material. Scanning the illumination and of the object by this beam will simultaneously record and map the above edge and below k-edge absorption response of the object.

An X-ray diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment includes an X-ray tube, a detector, an acquisition circuitry, and imaging control circuitry. The X-ray tube emits X-rays to a subject. The detector outputs a detection signal in response to incidence of the X-rays transmitted through the subject. The acquisition circuitry creates photon count data indicating the number of photons of the X-rays incident on the detector, for each of a plurality of energy bins for identifying a plurality of target substances, based on the detection signal output by the detector. The imaging control circuitry determines an imaging plan including at least one of a setting condition that is a condition concerning setting of a plurality of energy bins used when the acquisition circuitry creates photon count data in main imaging, and an X-ray radiation condition that is a condition concerning X-rays emitted by the X-ray tube in main imaging, based on the photon count data created by the acquisition circuitry or image data of the subject, and performs control such that main imaging is performed in accordance with the determined imaging plan.

A CT scanning system may include a multi-pixel x-ray source, and a detector array. The multi-pixel x-ray source may have a plurality of pixels that are disposed along a z-axis, and that are sequentially activated so as to controllably emit x-rays in response to incident electrons. The detector array may have one or more rows of x-ray detectors that detect the x-rays that are emitted from the pixels and have traversed an object, and generate data for CT image reconstruction system. In third generation CT scanning systems, the number of detector rows may be reduced. Multi-pixel x-ray source implementation of saddle curve geometry may render a single rotation single organ scan feasible. Using a multi-pixel x-ray source in stationary CT scanning systems may allow x-ray beam design with a minimal coverage to satisfy mathematical requirements for reconstruction.

A switchable grating for phase contrast imaging comprising a reservoir with a medium and x-ray absorbing particles acoustically connected to a first ultrasound generator and a second ultrasound generator arranged along a side of the reservoir orthogonal to the first side. The ultrasound generators are each, individually or together, configured to generate a soundwave with a frequency and phase such that a standing wave is formed within the medium causing the x-ray absorbing particles to organize along pressure nodes of the standing waves.

A method includes modulating a flux of emission radiation between a first lower flux level and a second higher flux level in coordination with a cardiac cycle signal so that the flux is at the first lower flux level during a first cardiac motion phase having a first higher cardiac motion and is at the second higher flux level during a second cardiac motion phase having a second lower cardiac motion. The method further includes reconstructing the projection data with a first reconstruction window, which applies a first higher weight to a first sub-set of the projection data that corresponds to the first cardiac motion phase and the lower first flux level and a second lower weight to a second sub-set of the projection data that corresponds to the second cardiac motion phase and the higher second flux level, to generate first volumetric image data.

A method includes obtaining first spectral image data, which includes at least a first component corresponding to a targeted first K-edge based contrast agent administered to a subject if a target of the targeted first K-edge based contrast agent is present in the subject, decomposing the first spectral image data into at least the first component, reconstructing the first component thereby generating a first image of the targeted first K-edge contrast agent, determining if the targeted first K-edge contrast agent is present in the first image, and generating a signal indicating the targeted first K-edge contrast agent is present in the first image in response to determining the targeted first K-edge contrast agent is present in the first image.

Provided are an X-ray imaging apparatus that is capable of tracking a position of an object of interest using a Kalman filter so as to reduce the amount of X-ray radiation exposure of a subject, calculating covariance indicative of accuracy of the tracing, and controlling a collimator so that the position of the object of interest and calculated covariance may be correlated with a position and an area of a region into which X-rays are radiated, and a method of controlling the X-ray imaging apparatus.