US 11,992,350 B2
System and method for compact laminography utilizing microfocus transmission x-ray source and variable magnification x-ray detector
Wenbing Yun, Walnut Creek, CA (US); David John Vine, Berkeley, CA (US); Sylvia Jia Yun Lewis, San Francisco, CA (US); Sheraz Gul, San Ramon, CA (US); and Janos Kirz, Berkeley, CA (US)
Assigned to Sigray, Inc., Concord, CA (US)
Filed by Sigray, Inc., Concord, CA (US)
Filed on Mar. 1, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/176,760.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/269,369, filed on Mar. 15, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0293128 A1, Sep. 21, 2023
Int. Cl. A61B 6/42 (2024.01)
CPC A61B 6/4266 (2013.01) [A61B 6/4241 (2013.01)] 23 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An x-ray computed laminography imaging system configured to generate a transmission image of a region of interest of an object, the system comprising:
a transmission x-ray source configured to generate x-rays at an x-ray source focal spot, at least some of the x-rays propagating along an x-ray propagation axis extending from the x-ray source focal spot through the region of interest of the object;
a stage assembly comprising at least one rotation stage configured to rotate the object about a rotation axis extending through the region of interest, the rotation axis at an angle relative to a normal to the x-ray propagation axis in a range of 10 degrees to 60 degrees;
at least one x-ray detector configured to intercept at least some of the x-rays propagating along the x-ray propagation axis, the at least one x-ray detector comprising at least one optical subsystem and a two-dimensional pixelated imaging circuitry comprising an imaging area configured to receive a two-dimensional image from the at least one optical subsystem, the at least one optical subsystem comprising:
a scintillator having a surface normal and a thickness that are parallel to the x-ray propagation axis within ±10 degrees, the scintillator configured to generate visible light in response to x-rays impinging the scintillator; and
at least one optical lens configured to receive the visible light from the scintillator and to focus the visible light into the two-dimensional image, the at least one optical lens having a depth of focus, the thickness of the scintillator in a range of 1 to 20 times the depth of focus.