An apparatus provides phase contrast X-ray image data of a region of interest of an object. Attenuation X-ray image data of the region of interest of the object is also provided. A first basis data set is generated from the phase contrast X-ray image data. A second basis data set is generated from the phase contrast X-ray image data and the attenuation X-ray image data.

An imaging capsule, including a radiation source; a collimator that blocks the emission of radiation from the radiation source except through two or more output columns; a detector paired to each output column configured to detect particles resulting from X-ray fluorescence and/or Compton backscattering in response to the particles emitted by the output columns; wherein the collimator is configured to rotate around an X axis to scan a partial or full inner circumference of a user's colon with radiation emitted from each output column; and wherein at least two of the two or more output columns are tilted by a distinct angle relative to a Y axis that is perpendicular to the X axis, to scan distinct positions along the user's colon and form images of a slice of the colon in parallel planes.

An X-ray imaging method includes acquiring a differential phase contrast imaging X-ray scan with an X-ray imaging system having an X-ray source, an X-ray detector, and a grating arrangement having a source grating, a phase grating and an analyzer grating. The source grating is misaligned in respect to an interferometer such that moiré fringes are detectable in the plane of the detector. A translation signal is computed for translating the source grating for achieving a predetermined moiré pattern. The positioning of the source grating is adjusted in an X-ray projection direction based on the translation signal such that at least 2 pi of phase changes are covered with the Moiré fringes over the width of the detector. And a further differential phase contrast imaging X-ray scan is acquired.

Methods and systems are provided for adaptive scan control. In one embodiment, a method includes, upon an injection of a contrast agent, initiating a contrast scan of a subject according to a fallback scan prescription, processing acquired projection data of an anatomical region of interest (ROI) of the subject to measure a contrast signal of the contrast agent, identifying a peak in the contrast signal within a predetermined time frame, if the peak in the contrast signal is not identified within the predetermined time frame, updating the fallback scan prescription to generate an adapted scan prescription for the contrast scan based on the contrast signal, and performing a remainder of the contrast scan according to the adapted scan prescription, and if the peak in the contrast signal is not identified within the predetermined time frame, continuing the remainder of the contrast scan according to the fallback scan prescription.

There is provided an X-ray Talbot capturing apparatus that emits X-rays in a cone beam shape from an X-ray generator, capable of producing gratings as easily as possible and of minimizing a production cost. An X-ray Talbot capturing apparatus 1 includes a G1 grating that is a phase grating, a G2 grating that is an absorption grating, a X-ray generator 11 that emits the X-rays, and an X-ray detector that includes a plurality of two-dimensionally arrayed conversion elements and captures a moire image Mo formed on the G2 grating. The G2 grating is located at a position where a self-image of the G1 grating 14 is formed, and both of the G1 grating and the G2 grating are in a plane shape. Slits of the G1 grating are formed to be perpendicular to a surface direction of a substrate on which the grating is formed, whereas slits of the G2 grating are formed to be parallel with the X-rays emitted in the cone beam shape from a focus F of the X-ray generator.

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 (β) 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.

An x-ray interferometric imaging system in which the x-ray source comprises a target having a plurality of structured coherent sub-sources of x-rays embedded in a thermally conducting substrate. The system additionally comprises a beam-splitting grating G.sub.1 that establishes a Talbot interference pattern, which may be a π phase-shifting grating, and an x-ray detector to convert two-dimensional x-ray intensities into electronic signals. The system may also comprise a second analyzer grating G.sub.2 that may be placed in front of the detector to form additional interference fringes, a means to translate the second grating G.sub.2 relative to the detector. The system may additionally comprise an antiscattering grid to reduce signals from scattered x-rays. Various configurations of dark-field and bright-field detectors are also disclosed.

A phase-contrast x-ray imaging device is particularly suited for the medical field. The device includes an x-ray source for generating an x-radiation field and an x-ray detector having a one-dimensional or two-dimensional arrangement of pixels. A phase-contrast differential amplifier is positioned between the x-ray source and the x-ray detector. The phase-contrast differential amplifier amplifies spatial phase differences in the x-radiation field during operation.

A method and an x-ray apparatus for interferometric 2D x-ray imaging, use a Talbot-Lau interferometer having at least one phase grating and an analysis grating for producing 2D images of an object to be examined using a phase stepping method. A stepwise readout of a detector is carried out continuously at a multiplicity of the phase positions of an interference pattern. Time sequences of readout interval data records which overlap in time are extracted from the readout data records, and at least one result image data record is calculated from an absorption image and/or a phase-contrast image and/or a dark-field image from each readout interval data record.

This disclosure presents systems for x-ray microscopy using an array of micro-beams having a micro- or nano-scale beam intensity profile to provide selective illumination of micro- or nano-scale regions of an object. An array detector is positioned such that each pixel of the detector only detects x-rays corresponding to a single micro- or nano-beam. This allows the signal arising from each x-ray detector pixel to be identified with the specific, limited micro- or nano-scale region illuminated, allowing sampled transmission image of the object at a micro- or nano-scale to be generated while using a detector with pixels having a larger size and scale. Detectors with higher quantum efficiency may therefore be used, since the lateral resolution is provided solely by the dimensions of the micro- or nano-beams. The micro- or nano-scale beams may be generated using an arrayed x-ray source or a set of Talbot interference fringes.