The invention concerns a method for processing energy spectra of radiation transmitted by an object irradiated by an ionising radiation source, in particular X-ray radiation, for medical imaging or non-destructive testing applications. The method uses a detector comprising a plurality of pixels, each pixel being capable of acquiring a spectrum of the radiation transmitted by the object. The method makes it possible, based on a plurality of detected spectra, to estimate a spectrum, referred to as the scattering spectrum, representative of radiation scattered by the object. The estimation involves taking into account a spatial model of the scattering spectrum. Each acquired spectrum is corrected taking into account the estimated scattering spectrum. The invention makes it possible to reduce the influence of the scattering, by the object, of the spectrum emitted by the source.

Aspects of the disclosure are directed to an analysis of a material of a component. A radiation source is activated to transmit radiation to the component. A beam pattern is obtained based on the component interfering with the radiation. The beam pattern is compared to a reference beam pattern. An anomaly is detected to exist in the material when the comparison indicates a deviation between the beam pattern and the reference beam pattern.

Aspects of the disclosure are directed to an analysis of a material of a component. A radiation source is activated to transmit radiation to the component. A beam pattern is obtained based on the component interfering with the radiation. The beam pattern is compared to a reference beam pattern. An anomaly is detected to exist in the material when the comparison indicates a deviation between the beam pattern and the reference beam pattern.

The invention provides a novel microfluidic platform for use in electro-crystallization and electro-crystallography experiments. The manufacturing and use of graphene as X-ray compatible electrodes allows the application of electric fields on-chip, during X-ray analysis. The presence of such electric fields can be used to modulate the structure of protein (or other) molecules in crystalline (for X-ray diffraction) or solution form (for X-ray scattering). Additionally, the presence of an electric field can be used to extend the lifetime of fragile samples by expediting the removal of reactive secondary radiation damage species.

The invention provides a novel microfluidic platform for use in electro-crystallization and electro-crystallography experiments. The manufacturing and use of graphene as X-ray compatible electrodes allows the application of electric fields on-chip, during X-ray analysis. The presence of such electric fields can be used to modulate the structure of protein (or other) molecules in crystalline (for X-ray diffraction) or solution form (for X-ray scattering). Additionally, the presence of an electric field can be used to extend the lifetime of fragile samples by expediting the removal of reactive secondary radiation damage species.

A multi-modality imaging system allows for selectable photoelectric effect and/or Compton effect detection. The camera or detector is a module with a catcher detector. Depending on the use or design, a scatter detector and/or a coded physical aperture are positioned in front of the catcher detector relative to the patient space. For low energies, emissions passing through the scatter detector continue through the coded aperture to be detected by the catcher detector using the photoelectric effect. Alternatively, the scatter detector is not provided. For higher energies, some emissions scatter at the scatter detector, and resulting emissions from the scattering pass by or through the coded aperture to be detected at the catcher detector for detection using the Compton effect. Alternatively, the coded aperture is not provided. The same module may be used to detect using both the photoelectric and Compton effects where both the scatter detector and coded aperture are provided with the catcher detector. Multiple modules may be positioned together to form a larger camera, or a module is used alone. By using modules, any number of modules may be used to fit with a multi-modality imaging system. One or more such modules may be added to another imaging system (e.g., CT or MR) for a multi-modality imaging system.

A multi-modality imaging system allows for selectable photoelectric effect and/or Compton effect detection. The camera or detector is a module with a catcher detector. Depending on the use or design, a scatter detector and/or a coded physical aperture are positioned in front of the catcher detector relative to the patient space. For low energies, emissions passing through the scatter detector continue through the coded aperture to be detected by the catcher detector using the photoelectric effect. Alternatively, the scatter detector is not provided. For higher energies, some emissions scatter at the scatter detector, and resulting emissions from the scattering pass by or through the coded aperture to be detected at the catcher detector for detection using the Compton effect. Alternatively, the coded aperture is not provided. The same module may be used to detect using both the photoelectric and Compton effects where both the scatter detector and coded aperture are provided with the catcher detector. Multiple modules may be positioned together to form a larger camera, or a module is used alone. By using modules, any number of modules may be used to fit with a multi-modality imaging system. One or more such modules may be added to another imaging system (e.g., CT or MR) for a multi-modality imaging system.

A method of determining an estimated intensity of radiation scattered by a target illuminated by a radiation source, has the following steps: obtaining and training (402) a library REFLIB of wavelength-dependent reflectivity as a function of the wavelength, target structural parameters and angle of incidence R(λ,θ,x,y); determining (408) a wide-band library (W-BLIB) of integrals of wavelength-dependent reflectivity R of the target in a Jones framework over a range of radiation source wavelengths λ; training (TRN) (410) the wide-band library; and determining (412), using the trained wide-band library, an estimated intensity (INT) of radiation scattered by the target illuminated by the radiation source.

A method of determining an estimated intensity of radiation scattered by a target illuminated by a radiation source, has the following steps: obtaining and training (402) a library REFLIB of wavelength-dependent reflectivity as a function of the wavelength, target structural parameters and angle of incidence R(λ,θ,x,y); determining (408) a wide-band library (W-BLIB) of integrals of wavelength-dependent reflectivity R of the target in a Jones framework over a range of radiation source wavelengths λ; training (TRN) (410) the wide-band library; and determining (412), using the trained wide-band library, an estimated intensity (INT) of radiation scattered by the target illuminated by the radiation source.

An X-ray imaging apparatus comprises a digital X-ray detector housed in a radiation shielded enclosure with multiple pinhole apertures in the front panel of the housing. An X-ray source illuminates a target and X-rays are backscattered towards the X-ray imaging apparatus. The multiple pinhole apertures arranged in a pattern so that each pinhole generates a respective pinhole image on the X-ray detector. The size of each image is controlled by the thickness of the front panel and the width of the pinhole aperture (acting as optical stops), and the distance to the X-ray detector, and these values are selected to prevent overlap between any pair of pinhole images on the X-ray detector. An image processor is used to generate a synthetic combined image of the object form the multiple pinhole images.