An x-ray tube source is disclosed that allows differential phase shift, attenuation, and x-ray scattering features of an object to be acquired in a single exposure. Such multiplexed x-ray tube source includes multiple x-ray spot origins controlled in such a way that each slightly separated spot is temporally modulated “ON and OFF” at differing frequencies. In an x-ray interferometer system, such x-ray tube source forms multiple illumination beams of a single angular view of an object's feature but each with different interference fringe locations. A composite image can be acquired with a high frame-rate digital detector as a component element in such x-ray interferometer system. Such composite image can be subsequently de-multipexed and separately presented according to each spot-source illumination beam. Such isolated images of an object's feature, each having different fringe locations, allows for post-acquisition “fringe-mapping” analysis of the feature's full interaction with x-rays, including refraction, scattering, and absorption.

The present invention relates to an apparatus (10) for processing of data acquired by a dark-field and/or phase contrast X-ray imaging system, the apparatus comprising an input unit (20), and a processing unit (30). The input unit is configured to provide the processing unit with blank scan fringe data acquired by a dark-field and/or phase contrast X-ray imaging system comprising an interferometry arrangement and detector. The input unit is configured to provide the processing unit with sample scan fringe data acquired by the dark-field and/or phase contrast X-ray imaging system, with an object to be imaged is positioned within the dark-field and/or phase contrast X-ray imaging system. The processing unit is configured to pre-process the blank scan fringe data to determine pre- processed blank scan fringe data comprising utilization of an effective point spread function “PSF”. The processing unit is configured to pre-process the sample scan fringe data to determine pre- processed sample scan fringe data, comprising utilization of the effective point spread function “PSF”. The effective PSF has been determined for the dark-field and/ or phase contrast X-ray imaging system.

In order to improve the mechanical stability of an X-ray grating with top bridges for X-ray dark field imaging and/or X-ray phase contrast imaging, it is proposed to reduce or prevent the undesired high stress on the top bridges by a change in the manufacturing process. Specifically, it is proposed to electroplate the top bridges after the bending. In other words, the electroplating of the top bridges is performed on the bent geometry.

Disclosed herein is an x-ray interferometer for x-ray phase contrast imaging including an x-ray source, an x-ray source grating, two x-ray phase gratings, an x-ray analyzer grating and an x-ray detector. An alternative interferometer includes a periodically structured x-ray source, two x-ray phase gratings, an x-ray analyzer grating and an x-ray detector. The phase gratings are placed much closer to the x-ray detector than to the x-ray source and the image object is positioned upstream and close to the phase gratings to achieve high sensitivity and large field-of-view simultaneously.

Method include emitting x-rays from an x-ray source, directing a first portion of the x-rays through an object grating situated adjacent to an object while the object is scanned relative to the object grating along a scan direction, directing a second portion of the x-rays through the object and subsequently through a detector grating without transmitting through the object grating, wherein the object grating and detector grating are adjacently arranged in a field of view of the x-rays sequentially with respect to each other in the scan direction, and receiving the first portion transmitted through the object and object grating with a first portion of a detector and receiving the second portion transmitted through the object and the detector grating with a second portion of the detector adjacent to the first portion of the detector. Systems are also disclosed, along with related techniques for beam hardening correction.

There is provided a method, comprising: accessing medical images of subjects, depicting contrast phases of contrast administered to the respective subject, accessing for a first subset of the medical images, metadata indicating a respective contrast phase, wherein a second subset of the medical images are unassociated with metadata, mapping each respective contrast phase of the contrast phases to a respective time interval indicating estimated amount of time from a start of contrast administration to time of capture of the respective medical image, creating a training dataset, by labelling images of the first subset with a label indicating the respective time interval, and including the second subset as non-labelled images, and training the ML model using the training dataset for generating an outcome of a target time interval indicating estimated amount of time from the start of contrast administration, in response to an input of a target medical image.

A high-sensitive phase imaging is achieved using a grating section without upsizing the imaging device or narrowing the period of the gratings. A radiation source generates radiation on a radiation path toward the grating section. The grating section comprises a G1 grating and a refraction-enhancing grating. The G1 grating has a G1 periodic structure that forms radiation converging points where an intensity of the radiation is increased between the G1 grating and a detector. The refraction-enhancing grating is located at the position of the radiation converging points and has enhancement planes and that increase the refraction angle of the radiation. The detector detects the radiation that has passed through the grating section.

A lifting device for lifting the bed of a truck comprises a bracket configured to be coupled to an undercarriage of the truck and a lifting mechanism coupled to the bracket. The lifting mechanism extends from the bracket to the underside of the bed and moves between a retracted position where the bed is supported by the undercarriage and an extended position where at least a portion of the bed is raised relative to the undercarriage.

Apparatus and methods are described including an endoluminal device configured to move along a portion of a lumen of a subject's body, an extraluminal imaging device, and at least one computer processor. While the endoluminal device moves along the portion of the lumen, a display displays an extraluminal image of the lumen in which a first indication of a location of the lumen is shown. The extraluminal imaging device acquires a sequence of extraluminal images of the endoluminal device moving along the portion of the lumen. The indication of the location of the lumen that is displayed is updated based upon the acquired sequence of extraluminal images, and the acquired sequence of images is displayed with the updated indication of the location of the lumen overlaid upon the images. Other applications are also described.

A medical image processing apparatus includes a retriever, a determiner and a calculator. The retriever retrieves a medical image of a bone and a soft tissue of a subject. The determiner determines a position of at least one of an end of the bone and an end of the soft tissue based on the medical image retrieved by the retriever. The calculator calculates a feature value relevant to a condition of the soft tissue based on the position of at least one of the end of the bone and the end of the soft tissue determined by the determiner.