A new method of obtaining an x-ray tomographic image of a slice is proposed. An x-ray fan beam and detector array are moved in a line across the patient, allowing single scans that are not necessarily transaxial. Projection data is formatted and scaled by micro-processor, and an encoding process is utilized in forming an intermediate record film. This record has a format which somewhat resembles that of synthetic aperture radar, but the coherent light reconstruction of the final image is more complex. All the fundamental limitations of CAT are inherent to the process, except for the slice orientation flexibility. A number of additional limitations are present, some of which are technological. Besides the slice orientation flexibility, there is the potential of achieving better resolution of high contrast objects than current CAT scanners at a much lower total dose than for conventional tomography under comparable contrast conditions.

Date Published: 15 November 1978
PDF: 8 pages
Proc. SPIE 0152, Recent and Future Developments in Medical Imaging I, (15 November 1978); doi: 10.1117/12.938166

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 0152:
Recent and Future Developments in Medical Imaging I
Norman A. Baily, Editor(s)