Coded Aperture Imaging with X-rays (Flashing Tomosynthesis)

So far, three-dimensional X-ray imaging methods like tomography, etc. require exposure times of a few seconds or more. Hence, moving objects like the pulsating heart cannot be observed. This obstacle can be overcome by using an array of synchronously flashed X-ray sources. The source array acts as the coded aperture. The X-ray photograph is decoded optically, showing arbitrary layers of the object. We present four new versions of ‘flashing tomosynthesis’, as this approach is called. The obtainable image qualities and other practical features of these four new methods will be compared.