Gerhard Martens

Experimental feasibility of multi-energy photon-counting K-edge imaging in pre-clinical computed tomography

Theoretical considerations predicted the feasibility of K-edge x-ray computed tomography (CT) imaging using energy discriminating detectors with more than two energy bins. This technique enables material-specific imaging in CT, which in combination with high-Z element based contrast agents, opens up possibilities for new medical applications. In this paper, we present a CT system with energy detection capabilities, which was used to demonstrate the feasibility of quantitative K-edge CT imaging experimentally. A phantom was imaged containing PMMA, calcium-hydroxyapatite, water and two contrast agents based on iodine and gadolinium, respectively. Separate images of the attenuation by photoelectric absorption and Compton scattering were reconstructed from energy-resolved projection data using maximum-likelihood basis-component decomposition. The data analysis further enabled the display of images of the individual contrast agents and their concentrations, separated from the anatomical background. Measured concentrations of iodine and gadolinium were in good agreement with the actual concentrations. Prior to the tomographic measurements, the detector response functions for monochromatic illumination using synchrotron radiation were determined in the energy range 25 keV-60 keV. These data were used to calibrate the detector and derive a phenomenological model for the detector response and the energy bin sensitivities.

Multienergy Photon-counting K-edge Imaging: Potential for Improved Luminal Depiction in Vascular Imaging

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether spectral computed tomography (CT) has the potential to improve luminal depiction by differentiating among intravascular gadolinium-based contrast agent, calcified plaque, and stent material by using the characteristic k edge of gadolinium. A preclinical spectral CT scanner with a photon-counting detector and six energy threshold levels was used to scan a phantom vessel. A partially occluded stent was simulated by using a calcified plaque isoattenuated to a surrounding gadolinium chelate solution. The reconstructed images showed an effective isolation of the gadolinium with subsequent clear depiction of the perfused vessel lumen. The calcified plaque and the stent material are suppressed.

Focal cystic high-attenuation lesions: Characterization in renal phantom by using photon-counting spectral CT - Improved differentiation of lesion composition

PURPOSE To evaluate the capability of spectral computed tomography (CT) to improve the characterization of cystic high-attenuation lesions in a renal phantom and to test the hypothesis that spectral CT will improve the differentiation of cystic renal lesions with high protein content and those that have undergone hemorrhage or malignant contrast-enhancing transformation. MATERIALS AND METHODS A renal phantom that contained cystic lesions grouped in nonenhancing cyst and hemorrhage series and an iodine-enhancing series was developed. Spectral CT is based on new detector designs that may possess energy-sensitive photon-counting abilities, thereby facilitating the assessment of quantitative information about the elemental and molecular composition of tissue or contrast materials. Imaging of the renal phantom was performed with a prototype scanner at 20 mAs and 70 keV, allowing characterization of x-ray photons at 25-34, 34-39, 39-44, 44-49, 49-55, and more than 55 keV. Region of interest analysis was used to determine lesion attenuation values at various x-ray energies. Statistical analysis was performed to assess attenuation patterns and identify distinct levels of attenuation on the basis of curve regression analysis with analysis of variance tables. RESULTS Spectral CT depicted linear clusters for the cyst (P < .001, R(2) > 0.940) and hemorrhage (P < .001, R(2) > 0.962) series without spectral overlap. A distinct linear attenuation profile without spectral overlap was also detected for the iodine-enhancing series (P < .001, R(2) > 0.964), with attenuation values attained in the 34-39-keV energy bin statistically identified as outliers (mean slope variation, >37%), corresponding with iodine k-edge effects at 33.2 keV. CONCLUSION Spectral CT has the potential to enable distinct characterization of hyperattenuating fluids in a renal phantom by helping identify proteinaceous and hemorrhagic lesions through assessment of their distinct levels of attenuation as well as by revealing iodine-containing lesions through analysis of their specific k-edge discontinuities.

Detection of explosives in airport baggage using coherent x-ray scatter

Bulk objects can be investigated for their material constituents by applying high-energy (30 keV to 100 keV) coherent X-ray scattering. When aiming at the detection of explosives in airport baggage, the technique allows discrimination between explosives and other substances. Coherent X-ray scatter measurements are presented for a set of explosives and their constituents as well as for a variety of nonexplosive materials. They demonstrate the superior material discrimination power of this method. The measurements have provided a quantitative basis for the prototype design of an airport baggage scanner. Sensitivity (200 g) and inspection time requirements (a few seconds) demand a highly application-specific system design with parallel acquisition and analysis of scatter spectra from different volume elements.

Slit-scanning differential x-ray phase-contrast mammography: Proof-of-concept experimental studies

PURPOSE The purpose of this work is to investigate the feasibility of grating-based, differential phase-contrast, full-field digital mammography (FFDM) in terms of the requirements for field-of-view (FOV), mechanical stability, and scan time. METHODS A rigid, actuator-free Talbot interferometric unit was designed and integrated into a state-of-the-art x-ray slit-scanning mammography system, namely, the Philips MicroDose L30 FFDM system. A dedicated phase-acquisition and phase retrieval method was developed and implemented that exploits the redundancy of the data acquisition inherent to the slit-scanning approach to image generation of the system. No modifications to the scan arm motion control were implemented. RESULTS The authors achieve a FOV of 160 × 196 mm consisting of two disjoint areas measuring 77 × 196 mm with a gap of 6 mm between them. Typical scanning times vary between 10 and 15 s and dose levels are lower than typical FFDM doses for conventional scans with identical acquisition parameters due to the presence of the source-grating G0. Only minor to moderate artifacts are observed in the three reconstructed images, indicating that mechanical vibrations induced by other system components do not prevent the use of the platform for phase contrast imaging. CONCLUSIONS To the best of our knowledge, this is the first attempt to integrate x-ray gratings hardware into a clinical mammography unit. The results demonstrate that a scanning differential phase contrast FFDM system that meets the requirements of FOV, stability, scan time, and dose can be build.

Clinical boundary conditions for grating-based differential phase-contrast mammography

Research in grating-based differential phase-contrast imaging (DPCI) has gained increasing momentum in the past couple of years. The first results on the potential clinical benefits of the technique for X-ray mammography are becoming available and indicate improvements in terms of general image quality, the delineation of lesions versus the background tissue and the visibility of microcalcifications. In this paper, we investigate some aspects related to the technical feasibility of DPCI for human X-ray mammography. After a short introduction to state-of-the-art full-field digital mammography in terms of technical aspects as well as clinical aspects, we put together boundary conditions for DPCI. We then discuss the implications for system design in a comparative manner for systems with two-dimensional detectors versus slit-scanning systems, stating advantages and disadvantages of the two designs. Finally, focusing on a slit-scanning system, we outline a possible concept for phase acquisition.

Coherent x-ray scatter imaging for foodstuff contamination detection

Using the novel technique of energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction tomography, measurements were made of the coherent X-ray scatter from various types of foodstuff (chocolate, bacon, cherry jam, chicken breast) with their typical contaminants (macrolon, blue foil, cherry stones/wood and bone, respectively). In addition, it is shown how the use of a window technique in the diffraction spectrum allows cancellation of the foodstuff contribution in scatter images, leaving only that of the contaminant. The extension to multicomponent systems, allowing arbitrary elimination of unwanted materials in coherent scatter images, is possible. Taken together, these results indicate the great potential of coherent X-ray scatter analysis for contamination detection in the foodstuff industry. By development of more efficient X-ray scatter geometries, using e.g. fan beam irradiation with simultaneous acquisition of spectra from different voxels, the requirements of industrial mass production with respect to inspection time and resolution are likely to be met.

Image fusion algorithm for differential phase contrast imaging

Differential phase-contrast imaging in the x-ray domain provides three physically complementary signals:1, 2 the attenuation, the differential phase-contrast, related to the refractive index, and the dark-field signal, strongly influenced by the total amount of radiation scattered into very small angles. In medical applications, it is of the utmost importance to present to the radiologist all clinically relevant information in as compact a way as possible. Hence, the need arises for a method to combine two or more of the above mentioned signals into one image containing all information relevant for diagnosis. We present an image composition algorithm that fuses the attenuation image and the differential phase contrast image into a composite, final image based on the assumption that the real and imaginary part of the complex refractive index of the sample can be related by a constant scaling factor. The merging is performed in such a way that the composite image is characterized by minimal noise-power at each frequency component.

Testing an Energy-Dispersive Counting-Mode Detector With Hard X-Rays From a Synchrotron Source

A counting-mode line detector has been evaluated at a synchrotron radiation source in order to assess its performance for imaging applications. The x-ray detector is based on 3 mm thick CdZnTe arrays with 1 mm pixel pitch and multi-threshold counting electronics. Data readout has been performed in threshold scan mode to provide maximum energy dispersion. The acquired energy spectra are interpreted regarding the characteristics of a periodic source and pulse pile-up in the detector. In particular, energy response and rate behavior of single-photon and double-photon events are investigated. Count rate dynamics are studied up to incident rates of . A further subject of the investigation is the variance of the observed counting rate. Linearity in the energy domain is tested between 40 keV and 140 keV.

Sensitivity-based optimization for the design of a grating interferometer for clinical X-ray phase contrast mammography

An X-ray grating interferometer (GI) suitable for clinical mammography must comply with quite strict dose, scanning time and geometry limitations, while being able to detect tumors, microcalcifications and other abnormalities. Such a design task is not straightforward, since obtaining optimal phase-contrast and dark-field signals with clinically compatible doses and geometrical constraints is remarkably challenging. In this work, we present a wave propagation based optimization that uses the phase and dark-field sensitivities as figures of merit. This method was used to calculate the optimal interferometer designs for a commercial mammography setup. Its accuracy was validated by measuring the visibility of polycarbonate samples of different thicknesses on a Talbot-Lau interferometer installed on this device and considering some of the most common grating imperfections to be able to reproduce the experimental values. The optimization method outcomes indicate that small grating pitches are required to boost sensitivity in such a constrained setup and that there is a different optimal scenario for each signal type.