Motionless phase stepping in X-ray phase contrast imaging with a compact source

• Published in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS Vol. 110; no. 48; pp. 19268 - 19272
• Main Authors: Miao, Houxun, Chen, Lei, Bennett, Eric E., Adamo, Nick M., Gomella, Andrew A., DeLuca, Alexa M., Patel, Ajay, Morgan, Nicole Y., Wen, Han
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States National Academy of Sciences 26.11.2013; NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES; National Acad Sciences
• Subjects: Diffraction; Diffraction patterns; Electromagnetic Phenomena; Electromagnetics; Electromagnetism; Flexibility; Fringe; Image contrast; Imaging; Interferometers; Magnetic fields; Microscopy, Phase-Contrast - methods; Models, Theoretical; Phase contrast imaging; Phase shift; Physical Sciences; Radiography - methods; X ray tubes; X-Ray Diffraction; X-rays; X-ray diffraction; CT; radiography; retrospective phase stepping; tomosynthesis
• ISSN: 0027-8424; 1091-6490
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1311053110

X-ray phase contrast imaging offers a way to visualize the internal structures of an object without the need to deposit significant radiation, and thereby alleviate the main concern in X-ray diagnostic imaging procedures today. Grating-based differential phase contrast imaging techniques are compatible with compact X-ray sources, which is a key requirement for the majority of clinical X-ray modalities. However, these methods are substantially limited by the need for mechanical phase stepping. We describe an electromagnetic phase-stepping method that eliminates mechanical motion, thus removing the constraints in speed, accuracy, and flexibility. The method is broadly applicable to both projection and tomography imaging modes. The transition from mechanical to electromagnetic scanning should greatly facilitate the translation of X-ray phase contrast techniques into mainstream applications.