WO2002013517A1 - Portable x-ray imaging apparatus - Google Patents
Portable x-ray imaging apparatus Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2002013517A1 WO2002013517A1 PCT/GB2001/003490 GB0103490W WO0213517A1 WO 2002013517 A1 WO2002013517 A1 WO 2002013517A1 GB 0103490 W GB0103490 W GB 0103490W WO 0213517 A1 WO0213517 A1 WO 0213517A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- radiation
- detector
- pattern
- detector means
- ray
- Prior art date
Links
- 238000003384 imaging method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 12
- 230000005855 radiation Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 29
- 230000004888 barrier function Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 14
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000007476 Maximum Likelihood Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000007620 mathematical function Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000011159 matrix material Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000004907 flux Effects 0.000 description 19
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000012216 screening Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000002360 explosive Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000035945 sensitivity Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000005303 weighing Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229910021417 amorphous silicon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000005311 autocorrelation function Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003990 capacitor Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000008030 elimination Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000003379 elimination reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004880 explosion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000011065 in-situ storage Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003993 interaction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000059 patterning Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000001228 spectrum Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01V—GEOPHYSICS; GRAVITATIONAL MEASUREMENTS; DETECTING MASSES OR OBJECTS; TAGS
- G01V5/00—Prospecting or detecting by the use of ionising radiation, e.g. of natural or induced radioactivity
- G01V5/20—Detecting prohibited goods, e.g. weapons, explosives, hazardous substances, contraband or smuggled objects
- G01V5/22—Active interrogation, i.e. by irradiating objects or goods using external radiation sources, e.g. using gamma rays or cosmic rays
- G01V5/222—Active interrogation, i.e. by irradiating objects or goods using external radiation sources, e.g. using gamma rays or cosmic rays measuring scattered radiation
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N23/00—Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
- H04N23/30—Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof for generating image signals from X-rays
Definitions
- the invention relates to portable imaging apparatus and particularly to apparatus for imaging objects on the remote side of a barrier.
- Coded aperture x-ray cameras are well l ⁇ iown. These may conventionally have a suitable x-ray detector and a mask situated between the detector and an object under assessment.
- the mask has x-ray transparent areas arranged in a pre-determined, coded, pattern.
- X-ray flux from each point source on the object is masked so as to project on to the detector a pattern of flux corresponding to the pattern of the mask.
- the position of the projected flux pattern is determined by the originating direction of the flux.
- An image of the object may be reconstructed by decoding the accumulated flux patterns.
- the coded aperture camera has advantages over its forerunner, the single pinhole camera.
- a single pinhole needs to have as small a diameter as possible.
- the pinhole needs to be as large as possible.
- the choice of aperture diameter in a single pinhole camera involves a degree of compromise.
- the coded aperture camera because it in effect has a pattern of multiple pinholes, achieves both high resolution and sufficient sensitivity.
- Coded aperture imaging is used in astronomy.
- X-rays impinging upon an object may undergo Compton scattering. This is the result of interaction between the x-ray photons and the electrons of the object.
- the x-rays may be scattered at various angles and flux intensities, according to the composition of the object. Some will be back-scattered to the same side of the object as the source.
- the invention provides apparatus for imaging an object on the remote side of a barrier comprising source means for illuminating the object through the barrier with radiation, detector means for detecting radiation back-scattered from a plurality of points on the object, mask means having a plurality of radiation transparent areas arranged in a predetermined pattern wherein the back-scattered radiation from each point is masked thereby to project on to the detector means at a position determined by the position of the point a pattern of radiation corresponding to the pattern of the mask, image generation means for generating an image of the object from an analysis of the accumulated plurality of patterns of radiation.
- Using a mask having a plurality of radiation transparent areas enables the apparatus according to the invention to perform imaging with good angular resolution and maximises the radiation reaching the detector.
- the apparatus may be portable, that is to say, it may be of a size and weight which lends itself to portability. Individual elements of the apparatus may be portable or the apparatus may be portable as a whole. Portability enables the apparatus to be taken to the location of an object requiring assessment which, as aforementioned, is advantageous in the case of objects requiring elimination as security threats.
- the source means may illuminate the object with x-ray radiation, that is, radiation in the electromagnetic spectrum of wavelengths less than about lA.
- the source means may comprise a pulsed x-ray source.
- Pulsed x-ray sources because they require only sufficient components to produce a pulse of x-rays, tend to be compact and portable.
- the mask pattern is preferably selected, according to a mathematical function, so as to code the radiation projected on to the detector means in a manner which can be subsequently decoded.
- the mask may be used in a so-called pyramidal configuration, in which it occupies a smaller area than the detector means, a reverse pyramidal configuration, in which it occupies a larger area than the detector means, or may be substantially the same size as the detector means.
- the detector means preferably has sufficient spatial resolution in order to make use of a high resolution projected pattern. Also preferably, if an x-ray source is used, the detector means needs to be able to stop x-ray photons of energies up to 200 KeN.
- the detector means is further preferably capable of processing a high rate of incident radiation. For instance if a portable, pulsed, x-ray source is used, the detector needs to have the capability to process the maximum amount of projected radiation in a given time. An energy resolving capability is also preferable so that the detector means can be tuned to a particular energy window thereby contributing to the optimisation of image quality.
- the detector means may comprise a scintillation detector having an electron bombardment intensifier tube including a converter screen, a photocathode, an accelerator stage and a charge coupled device. Such detector means has an energy resolution capability.
- the detector means may comprise a solid state detector, for instance, amorphous silicon based, having a relatively large collection area, a high spatial resolution and may be coupled to a converter screen for the detection of higher energy x-rays .
- the image generation means may comprise a system driven by software to decode, by mathematical analysis, the accumulated patterns of radiation projected on to the detector means thereby to reconstruct an image of the object.
- the mathematical analysis may comprise filtered deconvolution, matrix inversion, maximum likelihood/maximum entropy reconstruction or cross-correlation.
- Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of apparatus according to the invention.
- Figure 2 is a diagram of a typical coded pattern for a mask used in the apparatus shown in figure 1 ;
- Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of an example of masked flux patterns of the type which may be seen in the apparatus according to the invention.
- Figures 4(a)-(c) are diagrams of an object for assessment, flux patterns projected on to detector means and an image generated in apparatus according to the invention respectively.
- an object 4 under assessment is situated to one side of a barrier 6.
- the object is represented schematically in the figure as a three dimensional body but could be a gun, a knife, an explosives detonator etc.
- the barrier 6 could be the skin of a brief case, suit case etc.
- Portable imaging apparatus indicated generally at 1A S located on the other side of the barrier 6, typically one metre away.
- the apparatus 1 comprises a source 2, a detector 8 and a mask 10.
- the source 2 is a hand held, in the sense of hand transportable, pulsed x-ray source, nominally 500 x 200 x 200 mm, weighing approximately 10 Kg.
- the source is self- powered by a 18N rechargeable battery pack and includes a spiral capacitor which creates the EMF required to accelerate electrons at a target and thereby produce x-rays.
- the source 2 emanates successive 60ns pulses of x-rays, typically of energies up to in the region of 300 KeN, which are collimated. X-ray pulses are produced every 50ms for up to in the region of 1000 cycles.
- the separately portable detector 8 is a known electron bombardment image intensifier tube, nominally 350 x 200 x 150 mm, weighing approximately 10 Kg.
- the detector 8 essentially comprises (none of the following shown) a converter screen (columnar grown Csl (TI) scintillator) which converts x-ray photons into visible light photons, a photocathode which emits photoelectrons in response to photon bombardments, a single accelerator stage for accelerating the photoelectrons and a high resolution charge coupled device on to which the photoelectrons are focused.
- TI columnar grown Csl
- Such a detector provides an energy resolution capability so that the energy of the x-ray photons may be determined.
- the mask 10 is a hexagonal coded aperture mask, approximately 200mm across, having x-ray transparent areas in a pre-determined pattern.
- the pattern is chosen according to an autocorrelation function of an appropriate form, that is, a delta function.
- the mask can be considered as an array of, typically 1000, elements, and selected elements, typically 500, are x-ray transparent.
- Figure 2 shows typical coded aperture mask patterning.
- Each pulse of x-rays is directed from the source 2 towards the barrier 6 with the intention of illuminating the object 4.
- Each back- scattering point source on the object 4 will produce an x-ray flux.
- the mask 10 interrupts any flux whose path is towards the detector 8 and a pattern of x-ray flux corresponding to the coded pattern of the mask is projected on to the detector 8. The position at which the pattern is projected is determined by the originating direction of the flux.
- Figure 3 shows how flux originating from two different, spaced apart, points on the object, producing fluxes 1 and 2 respectively, projects a flux pattern corresponding to the coded mask pattern at different positions on the detector.
- the position of the flux pattern on the detector is shown by the lines corresponding to the direction of the flux making the pattern, and in certain areas the two patterns overlap.
- the source 2 is run for between 100 and 1000 pulses, according to the distance to the object 4, thickness of the barrier 6, by which time a sufficient number of patterns have been projected on to the detector 8 to enable the analysis and reconstruction of an image.
- This is achieved using a PC (not shown) which mathematically decodes the accumulated patterns and using the decoded information generates a screen image of the object under assessment.
- Figure 4 sequentially shows (a) an object under assessment, (b) the accumulated patterns of back-scattered flux projected from the object on to the detector 8 and (c) an image of the object reconstructed from the accumulated patterns.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Multimedia (AREA)
- Signal Processing (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- High Energy & Nuclear Physics (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Geophysics (AREA)
- Analysing Materials By The Use Of Radiation (AREA)
- Apparatus For Radiation Diagnosis (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB0301800A GB2382760A (en) | 2000-08-09 | 2001-08-02 | Portable x-ray imaging apparatus |
AU2001276493A AU2001276493A1 (en) | 2000-08-09 | 2001-08-02 | Portable x-ray imaging apparatus |
CA002417708A CA2417708A1 (en) | 2000-08-09 | 2001-08-02 | Portable x-ray imaging apparatus |
EP01954145A EP1308033A1 (en) | 2000-08-09 | 2001-08-02 | Portable x-ray imaging apparatus |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GBGB0019452.2A GB0019452D0 (en) | 2000-08-09 | 2000-08-09 | Imaging apparatus |
GB0019452.2 | 2000-08-09 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2002013517A1 true WO2002013517A1 (en) | 2002-02-14 |
Family
ID=9897203
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/GB2001/003490 WO2002013517A1 (en) | 2000-08-09 | 2001-08-02 | Portable x-ray imaging apparatus |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1308033A1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU2001276493A1 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2417708A1 (en) |
GB (2) | GB0019452D0 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2002013517A1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2463448A (en) * | 2008-07-09 | 2010-03-17 | Univ Manchester | Particle beam sensor |
EP2581733A1 (en) * | 2011-10-14 | 2013-04-17 | Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives | Portable and versatile gamma or x-ray imaging device for non-destructive testing of suspicious packages incorporating the transmission and backscatter imaging techniques |
WO2014096705A1 (en) | 2012-12-20 | 2014-06-26 | Commissariat A L'energie Atomique Et Aux Energies Alternatives | Scanning illuminating device, imaging device comprising same and method of implementation |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4471378A (en) * | 1979-12-31 | 1984-09-11 | American Sterilizer Company | Light and particle image intensifier |
WO1997045755A1 (en) * | 1996-05-31 | 1997-12-04 | Massachusetts Institute Of Technology | Coded aperture imaging |
WO1998020366A1 (en) * | 1996-11-08 | 1998-05-14 | American Science And Engineering, Inc. | Coded aperture x-ray imaging system |
WO2000037928A2 (en) * | 1998-12-22 | 2000-06-29 | American Science And Engineering, Inc. | Unilateral hand-held x-ray inspection apparatus |
-
2000
- 2000-08-09 GB GBGB0019452.2A patent/GB0019452D0/en not_active Ceased
-
2001
- 2001-08-02 WO PCT/GB2001/003490 patent/WO2002013517A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2001-08-02 CA CA002417708A patent/CA2417708A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2001-08-02 AU AU2001276493A patent/AU2001276493A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2001-08-02 GB GB0301800A patent/GB2382760A/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2001-08-02 EP EP01954145A patent/EP1308033A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4471378A (en) * | 1979-12-31 | 1984-09-11 | American Sterilizer Company | Light and particle image intensifier |
WO1997045755A1 (en) * | 1996-05-31 | 1997-12-04 | Massachusetts Institute Of Technology | Coded aperture imaging |
WO1998020366A1 (en) * | 1996-11-08 | 1998-05-14 | American Science And Engineering, Inc. | Coded aperture x-ray imaging system |
WO2000037928A2 (en) * | 1998-12-22 | 2000-06-29 | American Science And Engineering, Inc. | Unilateral hand-held x-ray inspection apparatus |
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
MOY J-P: "Recent developments in X-ray imaging detectors", NUCLEAR INSTRUMENTS & METHODS IN PHYSICS RESEARCH, SECTION - A: ACCELERATORS, SPECTROMETERS, DETECTORS AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT, NORTH-HOLLAND PUBLISHING COMPANY. AMSTERDAM, NL, vol. 442, no. 1-3, March 2000 (2000-03-01), pages 26 - 37, XP004193464, ISSN: 0168-9002 * |
Cited By (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2463448A (en) * | 2008-07-09 | 2010-03-17 | Univ Manchester | Particle beam sensor |
GB2463448B (en) * | 2008-07-09 | 2012-08-22 | Univ Manchester | Beam sensing |
US9040930B2 (en) | 2008-07-09 | 2015-05-26 | The University Of Manchester | Beam sensing |
EP2581733A1 (en) * | 2011-10-14 | 2013-04-17 | Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives | Portable and versatile gamma or x-ray imaging device for non-destructive testing of suspicious packages incorporating the transmission and backscatter imaging techniques |
FR2981455A1 (en) * | 2011-10-14 | 2013-04-19 | Commissariat Energie Atomique | PORTABLE AND VERSATILE X OR GAMMA IMAGING DEVICE FOR THE NON-DESTRUCTIVE EXAMINATION OF SUSPECTED PACKAGES, INTEGRATING IMAGING TECHNIQUES IN TRANSMISSION AND RETROSPECTING |
US9110172B2 (en) | 2011-10-14 | 2015-08-18 | Commissariat A l'Energie Atomique et aux 'energies alternatives | Portable and versatile X-ray or gamma imaging device for non-destructive examination of suspicious packages, integrating transmission and backscattering imaging techniques |
WO2014096705A1 (en) | 2012-12-20 | 2014-06-26 | Commissariat A L'energie Atomique Et Aux Energies Alternatives | Scanning illuminating device, imaging device comprising same and method of implementation |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB2382760A (en) | 2003-06-04 |
AU2001276493A1 (en) | 2002-02-18 |
GB0019452D0 (en) | 2000-09-27 |
CA2417708A1 (en) | 2002-02-14 |
GB0301800D0 (en) | 2003-02-26 |
EP1308033A1 (en) | 2003-05-07 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
TW200715040A (en) | Lobster eye x-ray imaging system and method of fabrication thereof | |
US7623614B2 (en) | Apparatus for inspecting objects using coded beam | |
US5044002A (en) | Baggage inspection and the like | |
US5930314A (en) | Coded aperture imaging | |
US9110172B2 (en) | Portable and versatile X-ray or gamma imaging device for non-destructive examination of suspicious packages, integrating transmission and backscattering imaging techniques | |
US20040218714A1 (en) | Detection of explosive devices using X-ray backscatter radiation | |
MX2008013595A (en) | X-ray imaging of baggage and personnel using arrays of discrete sources and multiple collimated beams. | |
CA2452163A1 (en) | Method and apparatus for neutron microscopy with stoichiometric imaging | |
US6195412B1 (en) | Confocal coded aperture imaging | |
Faust et al. | Development of a coded aperture x-ray backscatter imager for explosive device detection | |
EP1307766B8 (en) | Apparatus for imaging objects on the remote side of a barrier using radiation | |
AU2001276490A1 (en) | Apparatus for imaging objects on the remote side of a barrier using radiation | |
US20070030955A1 (en) | Scatter imaging system | |
EP2340445A2 (en) | System and method for threat detection | |
Dinca et al. | X-ray backscatter imaging | |
WO2002013517A1 (en) | Portable x-ray imaging apparatus | |
Park et al. | Feasibility study of a prototype muon tomography system based on a plastic scintillator and WLS fibers | |
US7620148B2 (en) | X-ray diffraction (Xrd) means for identifying the content in a volume of interest and a method thereof | |
Beevor et al. | Non-invasive inspection of baggage using coherent X-ray scattering | |
Gupta | Multiwavelength Observations of Gamma Ray Bursts | |
Faust | Detection of explosive devices using x-ray backscatter radiation | |
Wells et al. | Lateral migration-measured image signatures in the detection and identification of buried land mines | |
Lehnert et al. | X‐ray imaging spectroscopy of an electron cyclotron resonance discharge | |
Annis et al. | Automatic detection of explosives using X-ray imaging | |
McFee et al. | Defence Research and Development Canada: Suffield research on nuclear methods for detection of buried bulk explosives |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AK | Designated states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AE AG AL AM AT AU AZ BA BB BG BR BY BZ CA CH CN CO CR CU CZ DE DK DM DZ EC EE ES FI GB GD GE GH GM HR HU ID IL IN IS JP KE KG KP KR KZ LC LK LR LS LT LU LV MA MD MG MK MN MW MX MZ NO NZ PL PT RO RU SD SE SG SI SK SL TJ TM TR TT TZ UA UG US UZ VN YU ZA ZW |
|
AL | Designated countries for regional patents |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): GH GM KE LS MW MZ SD SL SZ TZ UG ZW AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE TR BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN GQ GW ML MR NE SN TD TG |
|
ENP | Entry into the national phase |
Ref document number: 0301800 Country of ref document: GB Kind code of ref document: A Free format text: PCT FILING DATE = 20010802 Format of ref document f/p: F |
|
121 | Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application | ||
DFPE | Request for preliminary examination filed prior to expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed before 20040101) | ||
WWE | Wipo information: entry into national phase |
Ref document number: 2001954145 Country of ref document: EP |
|
WWE | Wipo information: entry into national phase |
Ref document number: 2417708 Country of ref document: CA |
|
WWE | Wipo information: entry into national phase |
Ref document number: 2001276493 Country of ref document: AU |
|
WWP | Wipo information: published in national office |
Ref document number: 2001954145 Country of ref document: EP |
|
REG | Reference to national code |
Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: 8642 |
|
WWW | Wipo information: withdrawn in national office |
Ref document number: 2001954145 Country of ref document: EP |
|
NENP | Non-entry into the national phase |
Ref country code: JP |