Polychromic Digital Radiography Detector with Patterned Mask for Single-Exposure Energy-Sensitive X-Ray Imaging

Abstract

A digital radiography system, having: a pixelated optical detector; and a mask positioned adjacent to the pixelated optical detector, the mask comprising a repeating pattern of first and second portions configured to pass different wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation therethrough such that a polychromic X-ray image can be taken using only a single X-ray exposure with a single imaging detector.

1 . A radiography system, comprising:
 a radiography sensor pad; and   a mask disposed across the radiography sensor pad, wherein the mask comprises a repeating pattern of first and second portions, wherein the first portions are configured to pass first wavelengths of X-rays therethrough, and the second portions are configured to pass second wavelengths of X-rays therethrough.   
   
   
       2 . The radiography system of  claim 1 , wherein the mask is formed directly onto an image-receiving surface of the radiography sensor pad. 
   
   
       3 . The radiography system of  claim 2 , wherein the mask is formed by material deposition onto the image-receiving surface of the radiography sensor pad. 
   
   
       4 . The radiography system of  claim 3 , wherein the material is copper. 
   
   
       5 . The radiography system of  claim 2 , wherein the mask is formed as a grid on the image-receiving surface of the radiography sensor pad. 
   
   
       6 . The radiography system of  claim 1 , wherein the first portions are openings in the mask. 
   
   
       7 . The radiography system of  claim 6 , wherein the second portions are material disposed on an image-receiving surface of the radiography sensor pad. 
   
   
       8 . The radiography system of  claim 1 , wherein the mask further comprises:
 a plurality of third portions, wherein the mask comprises a repeating pattern of first, second and third portions, and wherein the third portions are configured to pass third wavelengths of X-rays therethrough.   
   
   
       9 . A method of taking a polychromic X-ray, comprising:
 passing an X-ray beam through a body part, and through a mask disposed across an optical detector, and onto the optical detector, wherein the mask comprises a repeating pattern of first and second portions, wherein the first portions are configured to pass first wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation therethrough, and the second portions are configured to pass second wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation therethrough,   generating a first image corresponding to the first wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation;   generating a second image corresponding to the second wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation; and   comparing the first and second images to generate a polychromic X-ray image.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein passing the X-ray beam through the mask comprises:
 passing the first wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation through openings in the mask, and   passing the second wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation through material deposited on an image-receiving surface of the radiography sensor pad.   
   
   
       11 . A digital radiography system, comprising:
 a pixelated optical detector; and   a mask positioned adjacent to the pixelated optical detector, the mask comprising a repeating pattern of first and second portions configured to pass different wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation therethrough.   
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second portions of the mask are configured to pass different wavelengths of X-rays therethrough. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second portions of the mask are configured to pass different wavelengths of visible light therethrough. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the repeating pattern of first and second portions configured to pass different wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation therethrough is a grid. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the mask further comprises a repeating pattern of third portions, the third portions being configured to pass wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation therethrough that are different from the wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation passing through the first and second portions of the mask. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a scintillator screen positioned adjacent to the mask.   
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the scintillator screen comprises a plurality of different scintillator materials, the different scintillator materials each configured to emit electromagnetic radiation at different wavelengths. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of different scintillator materials comprise first and second scintillator materials, and wherein the first scintillator material emits first wavelengths of visible light and the second scintillator material emits second wavelengths of visible light. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the first scintillator material emits first wavelengths of visible light when absorbing X-rays of a first energy level, and the second scintillator material emits second wavelengths of visible light when absorbing X-rays of a second energy level. 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the mask is a color filter grid.