Digital radiographic imaging system with multiple-slit scanning x-ray beam: preliminary report.

A digital imaging system that employs a novel scanning x-ray tube, a multiple-slit assembly (MSA), and an image intensifier (II)-TV digital system is described. Use of the MSA can increase x-ray utilization by a factor of 100 over that obtained with single-slit systems. Scatter and veiling glare can be reduced substantially by synthesizing the final image from a number of multiple-slit images, resulting in improvement in contrast sensitivity. An experimental prototype system consisted of a conventional x-ray tube and an II-TV digital system used in conjunction with mechanical scanning of the MSA. Attenuation curves measured with an aluminum stepwedge showed that scatter and veiling glare were eliminated by this approach. Reconstructed images of phantoms were superior to images obtained with conventional wide-beam exposure. Physical parameters related to design of the scanning x-ray tube and a digital system for acquiring images of the chest are discussed.