Rotate-rotate type X-ray computerized tomographic imaging apparatus

Claim 2

A rotate-rotate type x-ray computerized tomographic imaging apparatus comprising: a stationary body; a rotational body arranged to rotate in said stationary body about an axis of rotation and having an insertion section in which a subject is inserted; K x-ray sources arranged on said rotating body around said axis of rotation, where K is an integer greater than 1; K multi-channel x-ray detectors arranged on said rotating body around said axis of rotation with each detector located opposite a corresponding source to form K source/detector pairs, with K-1 of said pairs adjustable between a symmetric condition in which said K pairs are angularly oriented symmetrically about said axis of rotation such that a first sample pitch of data is obtainable and an asymmetric condition in which said K-1 pairs are angularly oriented asymmetrically with respect to said axis of rotation such that a second sample pitch of data 1K of said first sample pitch of data is obtainable; data processor means for collecting data from said K detectors and for processing image reconstruction from that data; and controller means for controlling rotation of said body, data collection, and image reconstruction.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said controller means includes a high resolution scan mode and a short time scan mode, said high resolution scan mode including control of said K-1 pairs to place said K-1 pairs in said asymmetric condition and control of said rotating body to rotate said rotating body at least by a single complete rotation to obtain a single image, and said short time scan mode including control of said K-1 pairs to place said K pairs in said symmetric condition and control of said rotating body to rotate said rotating body at least by 1/K of a single complete rotation to obtain a single image.

Claim 4

In a rotate-rotate type x-ray computerized tomographic imaging apparatus, comprising: a stationary body; a rotational body arranged to rotate in said stationary body about an axis of rotation and having an insertion section in which a subject is inserted; K x-ray sources arranged to said rotating body, where K is an integer greater than 1; K multichannel x-ray detectors arranged to said rotating body, with each of said sources arranged opposite a corresponding detector to provide K source/detector pairs and with said pairs arranged around said axis of rotation of said rotational body; data processor means for collecting data from said detectors and for processing image reconstruction from that data; the improvement comprising: means for shifting the relative angular positions of K-1 of said pairs; and control means for controlling rotation of said body, data collection, and image reconstruction, said control means having a short time scan mode and a high resolution scan mode, said short time scan mode including control of said means for shifting to angularly orient said K pairs symmetrically with respect to said axis of rotation such that a first sample pitch of data is obtainable and control of said rotational body to rotate said rotational body at least 1/K of a single complete rotation to obtain a single image, and said high resolution scan mode including control of said means for shifting to angularly orient said K-1 pairs asymmetrically with respect to said axis of rotation such that a second sample pitch of data 1K of said first sample pitch of data is obtainable and control of said rotational body to rotate said rotational body at least a single complete rotation to obtain a single image.

Claim 5

In a rotate-rotate type x-ray computerized tomographic imaging apparatus, comprising: a stationary body; a rotational body arranged to rotate in said stationary body about an axis of rotation and having an insertion section in which a subject is inserted; K x-ray sources arranged to said rotating body, where K is an integer greater than 1; K multichannel x-ray detectors arranged to said rotating body, with each of said sources arranged opposite a corresponding detector to provide K source/detector pairs and with said pairs arranged around said axis of rotation of said rotational body; data processor means for collecting data from said detectors and for processing image reconstruction from that data; the improvement comprising: means for shifting the relative angular positions of K-1 of said pairs; and control means for controlling rotation of said body, data collection, and image reconstruction, said control means having a short time scan mode and a high resolution scan mode, said short time scan mode including control of said means for shifting to angularly orient said K pairs symmetrically with respect to said axis of rotation such that a first sample pitch of data is obtainable and control of said rotational body to rotate said rotational body at least 1/K of a single complete rotation to obtain a single image, and said high resolution scan mode including control of said means for shifting to angularly orient said K-1 pairs asymmetrically with respect to said axis of rotation such that a second sample pitch of data 1K of said first sample pitch of data is obtainable and control of said rotational body to rotate said rotational body at least a single complete rotation to obtain a single image.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said means for shifting comprises means for selectively positioning the sources corresponding to said K-1 pairs to permit said control means to make focus points of said sources shift slightly on the corresponding detectors.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said means for shifting comprises means for selectively positioning the detectors corresponding to said K-1 pairs to permit said control means to make focus points of said sources shift slightly on the corresponding detectors.