Motion Compensated High Throughput Fast 3D Radiography System with Heavy Duty High Power Multiple Pulsed X-ray Sources

Abstract

An X-ray tomosynthesis imaging system using multiple pulsed X-ray source pairs in-motion to perform highly efficient and ultrafast 3D radiography is presented. Sources are mounted on a structure in motion to form pairs. The sources move simultaneously on a predefined arc trajectory at a constant speed as a group. In one pair, each individual source also moves rapidly around its static position in a small distance, but one moves in opposite direction to the other to cancel out momentum. When one source has a speed that is equal to group speed but with opposite direction, the source and X-ray detector are activated through an external exposure trigger. This allows the source to stay relatively standstill during activation. It results in much reduced travel distance for individual source. 3D data can be acquired with wider sweep angle in shorter time and image analysis is real-time. Heavy duty source can be used.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tomosynthesis imaging system to provide fast 3D X-ray radiography using multiple heavy-duty X-ray source pairs, comprising:
 a primary motor rotating arm stage with a predetermined radius;   a primary motor that engages with said primary motor rotating arm stage and controls a speed of the primary motor rotating arm stage;   one or more secondary motor stages coupled to said primary motor arm stage and move along a direction of the arc trajectory;   one or more secondary motors, each engaging a one or a pair of multiple secondary motor stage and controlling a speed of secondary motor stage;   one or more X-ray source pairs each moved by a secondary motor stage;   a supporting frame structure that provides housing for the primary motor arm stage, secondary motor stages and X-ray sources;   a supporting table for scan object; and   a rigid or flexible panel X-ray detector to receive X-ray imaging data.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein X-ray detector is the curved panel detector. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising two movable X-ray sources with mechanically synchronized motions to expose the detector. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , comprising a drive motor coupled through two gear drives to move two movable X-ray sources with mechanically synchronized source movements. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the X-ray sources are connected via two X-ray tube mounting brackets that are connected to the two gear drives via two drive gates. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 3 , comprising an oil tank and a high voltage generator mounted on a rigid frame opposite to the X-ray sources to balance the weight, wherein the detector is positioned on a separate frame. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the X-ray sources move simultaneously relative to an object on a pre-defined arc trajectory at a constant speed as a group. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein when an individual X-ray source has a speed that is equal to group speed but with opposite moving direction, the individual X-ray source and X-ray detector are activated through an external exposure control unit. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the X-ray sources are arranged on a rotating arm stage to form an array of sources and each individual X-ray source moves around a static position and allows the X-ray source to stay standstill during an X-ray pulse trigger exposure duration. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the primary motor arm stage and the secondary motor stages are moved by the motors to a predetermined initial location using a positioning system, wherein the primary motor arm stage is swept at a predetermined constant speed by a primary motor and secondary motor stages are oscillated by secondary motors with a predetermined sequence. 
     
     
         11 . A method of fast 3D X-ray tomosynthesis radiography with motion compensated multiple pulsed X-ray source pair comprising:
 positioning a primary motor arm stage and one or more secondary motor stages to a predetermined initial location;   sweeping the primary motor arm stage at a predetermined constant speed by a primary motor;   oscillating each of the secondary motor stages by a corresponding secondary motor so that one of X-ray source pair at secondary motor stages oscillates in opposite direction to the other;   electrically activating an X-ray source and a flexible curved panel detector when the X-ray source moves in an opposite direction to that of the primary motor rotating arm stage and at a selected speed of the primary motor rotating arm stage; and   acquiring object image data from the X-ray source with a rigid panel or flexible curved panel detector.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising capturing X-rays from motion compensated multiple pulsed X-ray source pair with the panel detector. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising moving two movable X-ray sources with mechanically synchronized motions to expose the detector. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , comprising moving two X-ray sources with mechanically synchronized tube movements using a drive motor coupled through two gear drives. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the X-ray sources are connected via two tube mounting brackets that are connected to the two gear drives via two drive gates. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , comprising an oil tank and a high voltage generator mounted on a rigid frame opposite to the X-ray sources to balance the weight, wherein the detector is positioned on a separate frame. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising moving the X-ray sources simultaneously relative to an object on a pre-defined arc trajectory at a constant speed as a group. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising moving an individual X-ray source with a speed that is equal to a group speed but with opposite moving direction, and activating the individual X-ray source and detector through an external exposure control unit. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the X-ray sources are arranged on a rotating arm stage to form an array of sources and each individual X-ray source moves around a static position and allows the X-ray source to stay standstill during an X-ray pulse trigger exposure duration. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising moving the primary motor arm stage and the secondary motor stages to a predetermined initial location using a positioning system, and sweeping the primary motor arm stage at a predetermined constant speed and oscillating the secondary motor stages with a predetermined sequence.