Phase and dark field imaging with mesh-based structured illumination and polycapillary optics.

PURPOSE X-ray phase and dark field imaging have been shown to improve the diagnostic capabilities of x-ray systems. However, these methods have found limited clinical use due to the need for multiple precision gratings with limited field of view or requirements on x-ray coherence that may not be easily translated to clinical practice. This work aims to develop a practicable x-ray phase and dark field imaging system that could be translated and practiced in the clinic. METHODS This work employs a conventional source to create structured illumination with a simple wire mesh. A mesh-shifting algorithm is used to allow wider Fourier windowing to enhance resolution. Deconvolution of the source spot width and camera resolution improves accuracy. Polycapillary optics are employed to enhance coherence. The effects of incorporating optics with two different focal lengths are compared. Information apparent in enhanced absorption images, phase images and dark field images of fat embedded phantoms were compared and subjected to a limited ROC study. The dark field images of the moist and dry porous object (sponges) were compared. RESULTS The mesh-based phase and dark field imaging system constructs images with three different information types: scatter free absorption images, differential phase images and scatter magnitude/dark field images, simultaneously from the same original image. The polycapillary optic enhances the coherence of the beam. The deblurring technique corrects the phase signal error due to geometrical blur and the limitation of the camera MTF and removes image artifacts to improve the resolution in a single shot. The mesh-shifting method allows the use of a wider Fourier processing window, which gives even higher resolution, at the expense of increased dose. The limited ROC study confirms the efficacy of the system over the conventional system. Dark field images of moist and dry porous object show the significance of the system in the imaging of lung infections. CONCLUSION The mesh-based x-ray phase and dark field imaging system is an inexpensive and easy setup in terms of alignment and data acquisition and can produce phase and dark field images in a single shot with wide field of view. The system shows a significant potential use for diagnostic imaging in a clinical setting. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.