Cone-beam computed tomography imaging devices, systems, and methods

Abstract

Cone-beam computer tomography systems, devices, and methods for image acquisition of large target volumes using partial scans.

1 . A method of increasing a scanning diameter of an imaging volume, comprising:
 exposing a scanning object to a plurality of scanning segments using an X-ray source by moving the X-rays source around the scanning object; and   moving the scanning object to a different location along a first and/or a second axis orthogonal to a rotation axis of the X-rays source for each scanning segment.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of scanning segments includes two 180 degree+fan angle scanning segments. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the scanning object is moved laterally to a first location for the first scanning segment, and the scanning object is moved laterally to a second location for the second scanning segment. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of scanning segments includes a first scanning segment, a second scanning segment, and a third scanning segment, each scanning segment encompassing substantially 120 degrees, wherein the scanning object is moved laterally to a first location for the first scanning segment, the scanning object is moved laterally to a second location for the second scanning segment, and the scanning object is moved vertically to a third location for the third scanning segment. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of scanning segments includes a first scanning segment, a second scanning segment, a third scanning segment, and a fourth scanning segment, each scanning segment partially overlapping another scanning segment, and each scanning segment encompassing 90 degrees+overlap, wherein the scanning object is moved laterally and vertically to a first location for the first scanning segment, the scanning object is moved vertically to a second location for the second scanning segment, the scanning object is moved laterally to a third location for the third scanning segment, and the scanning object is moved vertically for the fourth scanning segment. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the overlap is less or equal to the size of the fan angle. 
     
     
         7 - 81 . (canceled) 
     
     
         82 . A method of increasing a scanning diameter of an imaging volume, comprising:
 exposing a scanning object to a plurality of scanning segments using an X-ray source; and   moving the scanning object to a different location along a first and/or a second axis orthogonal to a rotation axis of the X-rays source for each scanning segment, wherein each of the plurality of scanning segments partially overlaps another scanning segment.   
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 82 , wherein the plurality of scanning segments includes more than two scanning segments. 
     
     
         84 - 94 . (canceled) 
     
     
         95 . The method of  claim 83 , wherein the plurality of scanning segments includes four segments, with each segment partially overlapping a preceding segment. 
     
     
         96 . The method of  claim 95 , wherein each of the segments spans 90 degrees plus the overlap. 
     
     
         97 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the first location is within a first distance from a starting position of the scanning object and the second location is within a second distance from the starting position of the scanning object in an opposite direction. 
     
     
         98 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising acquiring a plurality of projection image sets of the scanning object, each of the plurality of projection image sets being acquired by irradiating the scanning object at a respective scanning segment. 
     
     
         99 . The method of  claim 98 , wherein, within each scanning segment, the X-ray source moves to a plurality of locations within the scanning segment to acquire a plurality of images of the scanning object for that scanning segment. 
     
     
         100 . The method of  claim 99 , wherein the X-ray source moves continuously to different locations within each scanning segment. 
     
     
         101 . The method of  claim 99 , wherein the X-ray source moves to discrete locations within each scanning segment. 
     
     
         102 . The method of  claim 98 , further comprising generating a three-dimensional image of the scanning object based on the plurality of scanning image sets. 
     
     
         103 . A system, comprising:
 a gantry including a radiation source and an imaging device located opposite the radiation source so that the radiation source and the imaging device rotate together around a target volume;   a treatment couch positioned adjacent the gantry so as to hold the target volume, the treatment couch being configured to be translated in a horizontal, vertical, and lateral planes; and   a computer processing system configured to increase a scanning diameter of the target volume by providing instructions to the system to:   move the radiation source around the target volume in discrete scanning segments; and   for each scanning segment, move the target volume to a different location along a first and/or a second axis orthogonal to a rotation axis of the radiation source by moving the treatment couch,   wherein each scanning segment overlaps a preceding scanning segment.   
     
     
         104 . The system of  claim 103 , wherein the plurality of scanning segments includes a first scanning segment, a second scanning segment, and a third scanning segment, each scanning segment encompassing substantially 120 degrees, wherein the treatment couch is moved laterally to a first location for the first scanning segment, the treatment couch is moved laterally to a second location for the second scanning segment, and the treatment couch is moved vertically to a third location for the third scanning segment. 
     
     
         105 . The system of  claim 103 , wherein the plurality of scanning segments includes a first scanning segment, a second scanning segment, a third scanning segment, and a fourth scanning segment, each scanning segment partially overlapping another scanning segment, and each scanning segment encompassing 90 degrees+overlap, wherein the treatment couch is moved laterally and vertically to a first location for the first scanning segment, the treatment couch is moved vertically to a second location for the second scanning segment, the treatment couch is moved laterally to a third location for the third scanning segment, and the treatment couch is moved vertically for the fourth scanning segment. 
     
     
         106 . The system of  claim 103 , wherein the computer processing system is further configured to:
 receive a plurality of projection images of the target volume, each of the plurality of projection image sets having been acquired by irradiating the target volume at a respective scanning segment; and   generate a three-dimensional image of the target volume from the projection images.