There is provided a method and corresponding system and apparatus for image reconstruction based on image data from a photon-counting multi-bin x-ray detector. The method includes determining (S1) parameter(s) of a given functional form of the relationship between comparator settings expressed in voltage in the read-out chain of the x-ray detector and the corresponding energy threshold values expressed in energy based on a fitting procedure between a first set of data representative of a measured pulse height spectrum and a second set of data representative of a reference pulse height spectrum. The method also includes performing (S2) image reconstruction based on the image data and the determined parameter(s). In this way, efficient high-quality image reconstruction can be achieved.

A spectrum measurement and estimation method for tomographic reconstruction, beam hardening correction, dual-energy CT and system diagnosis, etc., comprises determining the spectra for combinations of source acceleration voltage, pre-filters and/or detectors and after measuring the transmission values of several pre-filters, calculating corrected spectra for the combinations of the source acceleration voltage, pre-filters and/or detectors.

A spectrum measurement and estimation method for tomographic reconstruction, beam hardening correction, dual-energy CT and system diagnosis, etc., comprises determining the spectra for combinations of source acceleration voltage, pre-filters and/or detectors and after measuring the transmission values of several pre-filters, calculating corrected spectra for the combinations of the source acceleration voltage, pre-filters and/or detectors.

A system and corresponding method for detecting one or more high-atomic-number elements in a patient includes a Bremsstrahlung x-ray source that produces x-rays in an energy spectrum including an energy of at least 160 kiloelectron-volts (keV), a filter configured to absorb the x-rays in a region of the energy spectrum, and a collimator configured to receive the x-rays and output a collimated x-ray beam to be incident on a patient. The system and method can also include one or more collimated, energy-resolving x-ray detectors to detect fluorescent radiation emitted from the one or more high-atomic-number elements in the patient in response to the collimated x-ray beam incident on the patient. An alternative x-ray source can include a radioactive isotope. Scanning of the x-ray beam may also be performed. Embodiments enable practical clinical, in vivo measurements of lead in bone.

A method and a system are provided to prepare a plurality of cuttings or other rock fragments or other porous media, such as cuttings from a drilling interval or multiple intervals, for computer tomographic scanning at the same time. A method and system also are provided to allow organization of mass quantities of cuttings or other rock fragments obtained from intervals of a well to more accurately categorize the cuttings to assist selections thereof for more detailed digital rock analysis, such as using SEM and FIB-SEM systems, are provided. A method and system also are provided to allow characterization of facies occurrence frequency of a depth interval using drill cuttings or other rock fragments. Computerized systems, computer readable media, and programs for performing the methods are also provided.

A method and a system are provided to prepare a plurality of cuttings or other rock fragments or other porous media, such as cuttings from a drilling interval or multiple intervals, for computer tomographic scanning at the same time. A method and system also are provided to allow organization of mass quantities of cuttings or other rock fragments obtained from intervals of a well to more accurately categorize the cuttings to assist selections thereof for more detailed digital rock analysis, such as using SEM and FIB-SEM systems, are provided. A method and system also are provided to allow characterization of facies occurrence frequency of a depth interval using drill cuttings or other rock fragments. Computerized systems, computer readable media, and programs for performing the methods are also provided.

The invention provides a system and method for characterising at least part of a material comprising: a source of incident X-rays (4, 28) configured to irradiate at least part of the material; one or more detectors (300,302,312,1701,1704,1600,1607,1608,1604) adapted to detect radiation emanating from within or passing through the material as a result of the irradiation by the incident radiation (1700) and thereby produce a detection signal (313); and one or more digital processors (304-311,2000-2009) configured to process the detection signal (313) to characterise at least part of the material; wherein the one or more detectors (300,302,312,1701, 1704,1600,1607,1608,1604) and one or more digital processors (304-311,2000-2009) are configured to characterise at least part of the material by performing energy resolved photon counting X-ray transmission spectroscopy analysis.

The invention provides a system and method for characterising at least part of a material comprising: a source of incident X-rays (4, 28) configured to irradiate at least part of the material; one or more detectors (300,302,312,1701,1704,1600,1607,1608,1604) adapted to detect radiation emanating from within or passing through the material as a result of the irradiation by the incident radiation (1700) and thereby produce a detection signal (313); and one or more digital processors (304-311,2000-2009) configured to process the detection signal (313) to characterise at least part of the material; wherein the one or more detectors (300,302,312,1701, 1704,1600,1607,1608,1604) and one or more digital processors (304-311,2000-2009) are configured to characterise at least part of the material by performing energy resolved photon counting X-ray transmission spectroscopy analysis.

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.

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.