X-ray imaging system

Claim 1

An X-ray imaging system comprising: an X-ray source for emitting X-rays to be radiated on an object; X-ray image detection means for detecting an X-ray image emitted from said X-ray source and transmitted through said object; X-ray mask means, having a plurality of X-ray shielding regions distributed in a predetermined pattern, for locally shielding X-rays with said plurality of X-ray shielding regions; drive means for moving said X-ray mask means so that said X-ray mask means is inserted or removed with respect to an X-ray radiation field between said X-ray image detection means and said X-ray source and is positionable at a plurality of predetermined positions in said X-ray radiation field; storage means for storing X-ray image data; first calculating means, associated with said storage means, for calculating scattered X-ray intensity distribution data associated with said object based on a plurality of transmission X-ray data obtained by irradiating said object with X-rays when said X-ray mask means is located at different positions in said X-ray radiation field, and on transmission X-ray data obtained by irradiating said object with X-rays when said X-ray mask means is located outside said X-ray radiation field; second calculating means, associated with said storage means, for calculating X-ray image data, from which the influence of scattered X-rays is eliminated, in accordance with the scattered X-ray intensity distribution data obtained by said first calculating means and transmission X-ray data obtained by irradiating said object with X-rays when said X-ray mask means is located outside said X-ray radiation field; and image output means for outputting the X-ray image data calculated by said second calculating means as a visible image.