Phase-contrast X-ray imaging device

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. A phase-contrast x-ray imaging device, comprising: an x-ray source for generating an x-radiation field; an x-ray detector having a one-dimensional or two-dimensional arrangement of pixels; and a phase-contrast differential amplifier disposed between said x-ray source and said x-ray detector and configured to amplify spatial phase differences in the x-radiation field during operation; said phase-contrast differential amplifier having two diffraction gratings which, when viewed in a radiation incidence direction, are arranged one behind another; and wherein each said diffraction grating includes: a transverse surface to be aligned substantially at right angles to the radiation incidence direction and being spanned by an x-axis and a y-axis perpendicular thereto; and a plurality of diffraction ridges made of an optically comparatively thin base material arranged in alternation with optically denser interspaces; said diffraction ridges being formed to subdivide the transverse surface into elongate diffraction strips that extend in each case in a y-direction and that are arranged next to one another in parallel rows in an x-direction, wherein adjacent diffraction strips are different from one another in that they are always aligned to different focuses in terms of the diffraction properties of a grating material arranged in each case in a vicinity of said diffraction strip or diffract in different directions.

2. The phase-contrast x-ray imaging device according to claim 1, wherein said phase-contrast differential amplifier is configured such that unaffected x-radiation experiences a uniform phase shift due to said phase-contrast differential amplifier irrespective of an entry position of the unaffected x-radiation at said phase-contrast differential amplifier.

3. The phase-contrast x-ray imaging device according to claim 1, wherein said two diffraction gratings of said phase-contrast differential amplifier are two identical diffraction gratings.

4. The phase-contrast x-ray imaging device according to claim 1, wherein said diffraction ridges are formed to extend diagonally at least in sections within the transverse surface, wherein lateral faces of at least one said diffraction ridge which delimit said diffraction ridge in the x-direction in each case extend across a plurality of said diffraction strips.

5. The phase-contrast x-ray imaging device according to claim 1, wherein said diffraction ridges are formed as oblique prisms inclined in the y-direction, and having a base surface and a top surface that lie in the end faces of said diffraction grating that are parallel to the transverse surface.

6. The phase-contrast x-ray imaging device according to claim 5, wherein: said diffraction ridges are arranged such that in each diffraction strip there results a material structure repeating itself with a y-period length in the y-direction; and said diffraction ridges are inclined in the y-direction such that a top surface of each diffraction ridge opposite the base surface is offset with respect to the base surface by a whole number of period lengths.

7. The phase-contrast x-ray imaging device according to claim 6, wherein the top surface of each diffraction ridge opposite the base surface is offset with respect to the base surface by precisely one period length.

8. The phase-contrast x-ray imaging device according to claim 1, wherein each said diffraction ridge adjoins the interspaces arranged between said diffraction ridges with two lateral faces in each case, wherein said lateral faces are composed of active subareas having a comparatively strong diffraction effect in the x-direction alternating with passive subareas having a small or neglectable diffraction effect in the x-direction.

9. The phase-contrast x-ray imaging device according to claim 8, wherein each active or passive subarea extends across a whole number of diffraction strips in the x-direction.

10. The phase-contrast x-ray imaging device according to claim 1, which comprises an object support for accommodating an examination object disposed between said x-ray source and said phase-contrast differential amplifier.

11. The phase-contrast x-ray imaging device according to claim 1, which further comprises an analysis grating arranged between said phase-contrast differential amplifier and said x-ray detector.

12. The phase-contrast x-ray imaging device according to claim 1, which further comprises a coherence grating arranged between said x-ray source and said phase-contrast differential amplifier.

13. The phase-contrast x-ray imaging device according to claim 1, which further comprises an additional diffraction grating arranged between said phase-contrast differential amplifier and said x-ray detector.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

(1) Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to a schematic drawing, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a phase-contrast x-ray imaging device in a schematic view,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a conventional Talbot-Lau interferometer in a schematic view,

(4) FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the phase-contrast x-ray imaging device in a schematic view,

(5) FIG. 4 shows a second alternative embodiment of the phase-contrast x-ray imaging device in a schematic view,

(6) FIG. 5 shows a phase-contrast differential amplifier in a detail view,

(7) FIG. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of the phase-contrast differential amplifier in a schematic view,

(8) FIG. 7 shows a second alternative embodiment of the phase-contrast differential amplifier in a schematic view,

(9) FIG. 8 shows a third alternative embodiment of the phase-contrast differential amplifier in a schematic view,

(10) FIG. 9 shows a fourth alternative embodiment of the phase-contrast differential amplifier in a schematic view,

(11) FIG. 10 shows a layout for producing a phase-contrast differential amplifier in a schematic view,

(12) FIG. 11 shows an alternative layout for producing a phase-contrast differential amplifier in a schematic view, and

(13) FIG. 12 shows a second alternative layout for producing a phase-contrast differential amplifier in a schematic view.

(14) Mutually corresponding parts are in each case labeled with the same reference signs in all of the figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(15) A phase-contrast x-ray imaging device 2 described by way of example below and outlined in FIG. 1 comprises, exactly like a conventional Talbot-Lau interferometer 4 shown schematically in FIG. 2, an x-ray tube 6, a coherence grating G.sub.0, an analysis grating G.sub.2, and an x-ray detector 8 having a regular arrangement of detector pixels 10 which are arranged along a z-axis. Additionally positioned between the x-ray tube 6 serving as x-ray source and the x-ray detector 8 is a patient couch 12 which serves as a support for a patient that is to be examined by means of the phase-contrast x-ray imaging device 2 and consequently by means of phase-contrast imaging.

(16) As is evident from FIG. 1, the phase grating G.sub.1 of the conventional Talbot-Lau interferometer 4 is replaced in the phase-contrast x-ray imaging device 2 by two diffraction gratings G.sub.A and G.sub.B which together embody a phase-contrast differential amplifier 14.

(17) The layout of the phase-contrast x-ray imaging device 2 outlined in FIG. 1 can be varied in this case for different application purposes and two alternative layouts are indicated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. In both cases a synchrotron radiation source 16 serves as an x-ray source instead of the x-ray tube 6, wherein in the case of the embodiment variant according to FIG. 4 a synchrotron radiation source 16 is provided which to a very good approximation generates x-radiation having plane wavefronts, such that with this layout a coherence grating G.sub.0 can be dispensed with. Furthermore, the analysis grating G.sub.2 is replaced in this layout by a lens grating G.sub.L, as is known from WO 2013/160 153 A1.

(18) If, on the other hand, a coherence grating G.sub.0 having the period p.sub.0 is used, then in this case essentially only every 2N-th slit may be open, where N is the number of strips of width s.sub.B at the z position along the z-axis of G.sub.B, such that the electromagnetic radiation entering in strips of width s.sub.A at the z position of G.sub.A is shifted until it exits at G.sub.B. Compared with a conventional Talbot-Lau interferometer, the period p.sub.0 is in this case shortened by the same factor 2N. The reason for this is that the contrast or the intensity increases and decreases more quickly by this factor (if G.sub.0 is shifted or rotated in the direction of the incoming beam) compared with the conventional Talbot-Lau interferometer. If a plurality of adjacent slits are open, this makes itself increasingly noticeable as interference in respect of the sensitivity of the Talbot effect between G.sub.B and G.sub.2. This problem is already described in a somewhat different context in WO 2013/160 153 A1.

(19) According to a further embodiment variant, not described in greater detail, the two layouts from FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are realized in a common imaging device, i.e. a computed tomography system, for example, and in that case are utilized in turn. Accordingly, a measurement is then carried out using the layout with phase-contrast differential amplifier 14 in order to register small phase changes at low visibility but high sensitivity (in the case of greater phase changes, phase wrapping occurs and the measurement error may not be noticed) and in parallel or slightly offset in time with respect hereto an additional measurement is carried out with the layout without phase-contrast differential amplifier 14 in order to measure greater phase changes correctly at reduced sensitivity but higher visibility (in the case of smaller phase changes, this measurement method is subject to higher noise on account of the lower sensitivity and is therefore less suitable).

(20) To that end the two layouts are installed, for example offset by 90° relative to one another, e.g. in a computed tomography system (in this case the entire x-ray dose for each measurement can be distributed freely over both measurement methods). Alternatively, the two layouts can also be merged with one another, wherein for example the detector region of the computed tomography system is subdivided in a direction parallel to the spinal column of a patient into a band for one measurement and a band for the other measurement (if the table feed-forward rate of the patient tables is reduced accordingly and more revolutions per feed-forward increment are permitted). This variant is suitable in particular when measurements are carried out without phase stepping.

(21) The phase-contrast differential amplifier 14 employed in the phase-contrast x-ray imaging device 2 is built from two diffraction gratings G.sub.A and G.sub.B of similar type and serves to amplify local phase differences caused by an examination object, i.e. by a patient, and consequently for increasing the resolution capacity of the phase-contrast x-ray imaging device 2. The underlying functional principle can be illustrated in this case with reference to the schematic diagram shown in FIG. 5.

(22) In this case a type of basic unit of the phase-contrast differential amplifier 14 is shown onto which there is incident from the left an unaffected wavefront 18 in one instance and a wavefront 20 affected by the patient in another instance, the direction of which wavefront 20 can be described by means of a non-zero phase gradient. If different beam paths a to h through the phase-contrast differential amplifier 14 are now considered, it is evident that in the case of the unaffected wavefront 18 the sum of the two paths traveled through the diffracting material of the two diffraction gratings G.sub.A and G.sub.B is independent of the x position at which the beam is incident on the diffraction grating G.sub.A, with the result that a uniform phase shift takes place in this case.

(23) In this case the sum of the two partial paths through the diffracting material at G.sub.A on the one side and at G.sub.B on the other side is always to be considered. The path traveled through the diffracting material of a single diffraction grating, i.e. either G.sub.A or G.sub.B, on the other hand, varies without question as a function of the x position. However, these differences are evened out again through the combination of the two diffraction gratings G.sub.A and G.sub.B, i.e. if the path traveled through the diffracting material of a beam path turns out to be smaller at the diffraction grating G.sub.A, then the path traveled through the diffracting material at the diffraction grating G.sub.B is correspondingly greater, and vice versa, as is shown by the comparison of the beam paths a or h and d or e.

(24) If, on the other hand, the wavefront is incident on the diffraction grating G.sub.A at a specific angle, as in the case of the affected wavefront 20, then the path traveled through the diffracting material changes as a function of the x position. Thus, in the case of the beam path c the entire material height during the passage through the diffraction grating G.sub.A and through the grating G.sub.B is reduced, and in the case of the beam path g is increased, as a result of which the phase gradient given at the input of the phase-contrast differential amplifier 14 is amplified during the passage through the phase-contrast differential amplifier 14. There is therefore to all intents and purposes a phase shift due to different path lengths through the diffracting material.

(25) Based on this effect, a phase-contrast differential amplifier 14 can now be realized which is built from two diffraction gratings G.sub.A and G.sub.B that have a regular structure formed from diffracting material by means of which quasi-diffracting prisms are realized which diffract alternately in the direction of an x-axis and in the opposite direction to the x-axis when wavefronts are incident at a specific angle on the diffraction grating G.sub.A and G.sub.B, in other words when a beam does not enter perpendicularly to the surface.

(26) Corresponding regular structures are indicated in the schematic diagrams in FIG. 6 to FIG. 9. The figures in this case depict outlines compressed to different degrees of intensity in the direction of the x-axis, i.e. the x-axis ought actually to be stretched strongly with respect to the diagram. In this case different prism strengths, i.e. different gradients of the inclined rims, are shown in the diagrams, the prism strength of a diffraction grating preferably always being dimensioned such that the strip-shaped interference pattern is shifted by the phase-contrast differential amplifier 14 by an integral number N of strips or an integral multiple N of the strip width.

(27) The displacement in this case also causes a phase shift by the gradient along N strips, such that adjacent partial beams i, j exiting at the diffraction grating G.sub.B exhibit 2N times the phase shift compared to the phase shift of said partial beams at the input of the phase-contrast differential amplifier 14. This is a further effect in which a phase jump is given due to the displacement of the interference pattern.

(28) However, this additional effect is compensated by a further effect of approximately the same strength, which can be understood with the aid of the illustration shown in FIG. 5. Comparing the beam paths b and c as well as f and g, it is apparent that, depending on beam path, the electromagnetic radiation has to negotiate different travel paths along an x-axis perpendicular to the z-axis, which likewise influences the phase of the electromagnetic radiation. By means of corresponding calculations it can be demonstrated that all three effects have roughly the same strength, so that, as it were, two effects cancel one another out.

(29) The required structures for the diffraction gratings G.sub.A and G.sub.B can be implemented for example by means of off-axis illuminated photolithography and layouts suitable for this purpose are depicted in the schematic diagrams in FIG. 10 to FIG. 12. Shown here in each case is the end face or grating plane of a diffraction grating G.sub.A or G.sub.B at right angles to the z-axis which extends in the direction of the x-axis and in the direction of a y-axis perpendicular thereto.

(30) The layouts in this case show different embodiments of diffraction ridges 22 by means of which incident electromagnetic radiation experiences a phase shift, the diffraction ridges 22 being separated from one another by interspaces 24 through which electromagnetic radiation can pass substantially without a phase shift. A diffraction grating G.sub.A or G.sub.B is then realized with the aid of the diffraction ridges 22, in which diffraction grating G.sub.A or G.sub.B x-radiation is diffracted to the left and to the right in turn, i.e. alternately, in succeeding diffraction strips 26, i.e. in the direction of the x-axis and in the opposite direction to the x-axis, respectively.

(31) The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiment described hereinabove. Rather, other variants of the invention can also be derived herefrom by the person skilled in the art without departing from the subject matter of the invention. In particular it is furthermore possible also to combine all the individual features described in connection with the exemplary embodiment with one another in other ways without departing from the subject matter of the invention.

(32) TABLE-US-00001 List of reference signs 2 Phase-contrast x-ray imaging device 4 Talbot-Lau interferometer 6 X-ray tube 8 X-ray detector 10 Detector pixel 12 Patient couch 14 Phase-contrast differential amplifier 16 Synchrotron radiation source 18 Unaffected wavefront 20 Affected wavefront 22 Diffraction ridge 24 Interspace 26 Diffraction strip G.sub.0 Coherence grating G.sub.1 Phase grating G.sub.2 Analysis grating G.sub.A Diffraction grating G.sub.B Diffraction grating G.sub.L Lens grating P.sub.x Grating period of the grating G.sub.x P.sub.y Period length of a diffraction grating along the y-axis D.sub.xy Distance between the gratings G.sub.x and G.sub.y a . . . h Beam path i Partial ray j Partial ray x x-axis y y-axis z z-axis