Method and apparatus for measuring properties of a compound
Inventors
Assignees
University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign • University of Illinois System
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Publication Number
US-8565376-B2
Publication Date
2013-10-22
Expiration Date
Abstract
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an apparatus having a collimator having at least one aperture and a fluorescence detector. The collimator can be positioned next to a compound. The compound can emit fluorescence X-rays when impacted by an X-ray beam generated by an X-ray source. The collimator can absorb at least a first portion of the fluorescence X-rays emitted by the compound and release at least a second portion of the fluorescence X-rays at the at least one aperture. The second portion of the fluorescence X-rays released by the at least one aperture have known directional information based on a position of the collimator. The fluorescence detector can detect the second portion of the fluorescence X-rays released by the at least one aperture. A three-dimensional (3-D) rendering of an elemental distribution of the compound can be determined from the fluorescence X-rays detected and the directional information. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
Core Innovation
The disclosed approach addresses fluorescence X-ray computed tomography (XFCT) by using an emission-tomography (ET)-based detector configuration to support three-dimensional (3-D) rendering of an elemental distribution. An X-ray source generates a plurality of modes of an X-ray beam, where each mode has a different geometry. A collimator positioned next to a compound absorbs at least a first portion of fluorescence X-rays emitted by the compound when impacted by the X-ray beam in a specific mode, and releases at least a second portion at an aperture.
The second portion of the fluorescence X-rays released by the aperture has known directional information based on a position of the collimator. A fluorescence detector detects the released fluorescence X-rays, and the known directional information is combined with detected fluorescence X-rays from different modes. A first mode provides a first instance of the fluorescence X-rays for defining regions-of-interest of the compound, while a second mode provides one or more additional instances for generating a 3-D rendering of an elemental distribution determined from the combination of the instances and the known directional information.
Energy is measured from the fluorescence X-rays, and the 3-D rendering is constructed according to the measured energy and corresponding directional information. The document further describes feasibility testing including modeling and an experimental prototype using multi-pinhole apertures and a CCD detector for reconstruction of phantom results. The disclosure characterizes resolution-variance tradeoffs and discusses reduced imaging time and potential regions-of-interest (ROI)-based synthetic imaging strategies to reduce dose.
Claims Coverage
The document includes three independent claims (apparatus, method, and computer-readable storage medium). Across these claims, the inventive coverage centers on multi-mode excitation of fluorescence X-rays, collimator-aperture-based known directional information, combining a first and second mode to define regions-of-interest and enable 3-D rendering, and constructing the 3-D rendering using measured energy with the corresponding directional information.
Multi-mode X-ray excitation with mode-dependent geometries
An X-ray source generates a plurality of modes of an X-ray beam, each mode having different geometries, wherein the compound emits fluorescence X-rays when impacted by the X-ray beam generated in a specific one of the plurality of modes.
Collimator with absorption and aperture release with known directional information
A collimator positioned next to a compound has at least one aperture, comprises a material that absorbs at least a first portion of the fluorescence X-rays emitted by the compound and releases at least a second portion at the at least one aperture, wherein the second portion has known directional information based on a position of the collimator.
Mode-dependent fluorescence instances for regions-of-interest and 3-D elemental rendering
A first mode provides a first instance of the second portion of the fluorescence X-rays for defining regions-of-interest of the compound, and a second mode provides one or more additional instances for generating a three-dimensional (3-D) rendering of an elemental distribution determined from a combination of the first instance and the one or more additional instances and the known directional information.
Energy-measured 3-D rendering from directional information
Measuring energy from the fluorescence X-rays and constructing the 3-D rendering of the elemental distribution according to the measured energy and their corresponding directional information.
First and second mode applications for fluorescence instance acquisition
Applying a first mode of a plurality of modes of an X-ray beam to an object and applying a second mode of the plurality of modes of the X-ray beam to the object, where fluorescence X-rays responsive to the first mode and the second mode have known directional information.
Computer-executable operations to construct 3-D elemental rendering
A computer-readable storage medium comprising computer instructions that, when executed, cause measuring energy from fluorescence X-rays emitted by a compound impacted by an X-ray beam responsive to first and second applications of first and second modes, and constructing the 3-D rendering according to the measured energy and corresponding directional information.
Across the independent claims, the coverage requires multi-mode X-ray excitation, a collimator that absorbs fluorescence X-rays and releases a portion at an aperture with known directional information, use of a first mode to define regions-of-interest and a second mode to provide additional instances for generating a 3-D rendering of an elemental distribution, and measuring energy to construct the 3-D rendering according to the corresponding directional information.
Stated Advantages
Reduced imaging time.
Potential regions-of-interest (ROI)-based synthetic imaging strategy to reduce dose.
Documented Applications
Fluorescence X-ray computed tomography (XFCT) using an emission-tomography (ET)-based detector to generate a three-dimensional (3-D) rendering of an elemental distribution, including reconstruction of phantom results.
ROI-based synthetic imaging as part of XFCT to reduce dose.
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