APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING DATA ACQUIRED BY A DARK-FIELD AND/OR PHASE CONTRAST X-RAY IMAGING SYSTEM

The present invention relates to an apparatus (10) for processing of data acquired by a dark-field and/or phase contrast X-ray imaging system, the apparatus comprising an input unit (20), and a processing unit (30). The input unit is configured to provide the processing unit with blank scan fringe data acquired by a dark-field and/or phase contrast X-ray imaging system comprising an interferometry arrangement and detector. The input unit is configured to provide the processing unit with sample scan fringe data acquired by the dark-field and/or phase contrast X-ray imaging system, with an object to be imaged is positioned within the dark-field and/or phase contrast X-ray imaging system. The processing unit is configured to pre-process the blank scan fringe data to determine pre-processed blank scan fringe data comprising utilization of an effective point spread function "PSF". The processing unit is configured to pre-process the sample scan fringe data to determine pre-processed sample scan fringe data, comprising utilization of the effective point spread function "PSF". The effective PSF has been determined for the dark-field and/or phase contrast X-ray imaging system.