Technology ID
TAB-4531

Electronic Fringe Scanning for the Improvement of Medical Imaging Technology

E-Numbers
E-213-2012-0
Lead Inventor
Wen, Han (NHLBI)
Applications
Medical Devices
Development Stages
Pre-clinical (in vivo)
Research Products
Research Equipment
Lead IC
NHLBI
ICs
NHLBI

This technology includes an electronic method for fringe scanning in grating-based phase-contrast imaging, which enhances x-ray phase-contrast imaging. Traditional methods use high-density gratings and require fine grating fringes, finer than the detector's resolution, necessitating fringe scanning to obtain phase-contrast information. This process typically involves complex and precise movements of a grating for each image, challenging in applications like medical computed tomography that demand rapid gantry rotation and acquisition of numerous projection images in less than a second. The innovation of this technology lies in its ability to perform electronic fringe scanning without any moving parts, offering a more efficient, cost-effective, and less complex solution to capturing high-quality phase-contrast images.

Commercial Applications
The method will be used to perform fringe scanning electronically in grating-based phase-contrast imaging. The products are modified x-ray tubes with the ability to move the focal spot of the x-ray beam, e.g., by cathode ray electronics, or suitable shaping of the anode target in rotation anode x-ray tubes.

Competitive Advantages
When compared to the current mechanical scanning of the grating(s), focal spot scanning has the advantages of:
  • Almost infinite scanning speed,
  • Electronically controlled scanning trajectory of high precision and accuracy,
  • Much lower cost and ease of implementation and maintenance,
  • Much greater stability.
Licensing Contact:
Shmilovich, Michael
shmilovm@nih.gov