APPARATUS FOR PHASE-CONTRAST IMAGING COMPRISING A DISPLACEABLE X-RAY DETECTOR ELEMENT AND METHOD

摘要

The present invention relates to X-ray image acquisition technology in general. Employing phase-contrast imaging for X-ray image acquisition may significantly enhance the quality and information content of images acquired. However, phase-contrast information may only be obtainable in a small detector region, possibly being too small for a sufficient field of view for specialized X-ray imaging applications. Accordingly, an apparatus for phase-contrast imaging is provided that may allow the acquisition of an enlarged field of view. According to the present invention an apparatus (1) for phase-contrast imaging is provided, comprising an X-ray source (2), an X-ray detector (12) element having a detector size, a beam splitter grating (8) and an analyzer grating (10). An object (6) is arrangeable between the X-ray source (2) and the X-ray detector (12). The beam splitter grating (8) and the analyzer grating (10) are arrangeable between the X-ray source (2) and the X-ray detector (12). X-ray source (2), the beam splitter grating (8), the analyzer grating (10) and the X-ray detector (12) are operatively coupled such that a phase-contrast image of the object (6) is obtainable. The apparatus (1) is adapted for acquiring a phase-contrast image having a field of view larger than the detector size. The X-ray detector element (12) is displaceable and by the displacement of the X-ray detector (12) a phase-contrast image of the field of view is obtainable.