A high brightness microstructured anode X-ray source for clinical phase contrast imaging

X射线相衬成像(Xpci)被广泛认为是出现的最令人兴奋的技术之一。 在X射线物理学中，并有可能显著改变生物医学成像的面貌。XPCI，它基于 对X射线的折射而不是对其的吸收，可以提供高达1000倍的对比度 在软组织中比吸收对比，这是目前X光设备所采用的方法。这个 这项技术为疾病的早期诊断和目前没有的特征可视化提供了巨大的潜力 通过传统技术可见，以及大幅减少剂量以实现更安全的筛查 治疗癌症。在xpci的几种方法中，Talbot干涉法被认为是最有潜力的。 用于临床，因为它不需要同步加速器源。然而，目前塔尔博特阶段的方法 对比度要求在常规实验室X射线源(额外的源)附近放置一个光栅 光栅被称为塔尔伯特-刘技术)。这导致了塔尔博特-刘使用的X射线能量受到限制 小于&lt；20keV的干涉仪，这限制了它的使用(35-80keV更适合临床 应用程序)，此外还降低了源效率。 我们建议开发一种经过优化的高亮度X射线源，使临床Talbot能够 与临床应用相关的较高能量的干涉仪。消息来源使用了一本小说 微结构阳极，由钨微米尺寸的X射线发射器阵列组成，嵌入在 具有良好导热性能和低密度的材料(钻石)。这些微发射器充当一组 较小的源，这将消除源光栅的需要，并且包含钻石提供 优异的热性能，提供高亮度。 拟议的为期9个月的第一阶段项目是一个原则证明，证明了新的微结构 阳极可以制造，并将提供所需的热效益和x射线输出，并且 拟议的第二阶段为期24个月的项目将产生源的两个工作原型。

X-ray phase contrast imaging (XPCI) is widely regarded as one of the most exciting techniques to have emerged in x-ray physics, and has potential to significantly change the face of biomedical imaging. XPCI, which is based on the refraction of X-rays rather than their absorption, can provide up to 1000 times greater contrast in soft tissues than absorption contrast, which is the current method employed by x-ray equipment. The technique offers enormous potential for earlier diagnosis of diseases and visualization of features currently not visible through conventional techniques, as well as dramatic reduction in dosage to enable safer screening for cancer. Of the several approaches to XPCI, Talbot interferometry is considered to have the most potential for clinical use, as it does not require a synchrotron source. However, the current approach to Talbot phase contrast requires a grating placed near a conventional laboratory X-ray source (the addition of the source grating is called the Talbot-Lau technique). This has led to limits on the X-ray energies used in Talbot-Lau interferometers of less than <20 keV, which has restricted its use (35-80 keV being more optimal for clinical applications), in addition to reduced source efficiency. We propose to develop a high brightness X-ray source that is optimized to enable clinical Talbot interferometers at the higher energies that are relevant to clinical applications. The source employs a novel microstructured anode, which is comprised of an array of tungsten micron-sized X-ray emitters embedded in a material of excellent thermal conductivity and low density (diamond). These micro-emitters act as an array of small sources, which would remove the need for the source grating, and the inclusion of diamond provides superior thermal properties for high brightness. The proposed Phase I 9-month project is a proof-of-principle demonstration that the novel microstructured anode can be manufactured and would provide the desired thermal benefits and x-ray output, and the proposed Phase II 24-month project would produce two working prototypes of the source.