Jed Douglas Pack

Monochromatic CT image representation via fast switching dual kVp

In a conventional X-ray CT system, where an object is scanned with a selected incident x-ray spectrum, or kVp, the reconstructed images only approximate the linear X-ray attenuation coefficients of the imaged object at an effective energy of the incident X-ray beam. The errors are primarily the result of beam hardening due to the polychromatic nature of the X-ray spectrum. Modem clinical CT scanners can reduce this error by a process commonly referred to as spectral calibration. Spectral calibration linearizes the measured projection value to the thickness of water. However, beam hardening from bone and contrast agents can still induce shading and streaking artifacts and cause CT number inaccuracies in the image. In this paper, we present a dual kVp scanning method, where during the scan, the kVp is alternately switching between target low and high preset values, typically 80kVp and 140 kVp, with a period less than 1ms. The measured projection pairs are decomposed into the density integrals of two basis materials in projection space. The reconstructed density images are further processed to obtain monochromatic attenuation coefficients of the object at any desired energy. Energy levels yielding optimized monochromatic images are explored, and their analytical representations are derived.

Dual energy CT via fast kVp switching spectrum estimation

Recently there has been significant interest in dual energy CT imaging with several acquisition methods being actively pursued. Here we investigate fast kVp switching where the kVp alternates between low and high kVp every view. Fast kVp switching enables fine temporal registration, helical and axial acquisitions, and full field of view. It also presents several processing challenges. The rise and fall of the kVp, which occurs during the view integration period, is not instantaneous and complicates the measurement of the effective spectrum for low and high kVp views. Further, if the detector digital acquisition system (DAS) and generator clocks are not fully synchronous, jitter is introduced in the kVp waveform relative to the view period. In this paper we develop a method for estimation of the resulting spectrum for low and high kVp views. The method utilizes static kVp acquisitions of air with a small bowtie filter as a basis set. A fast kVp acquisition of air with a small bowtie filter is performed and the effective kVp is estimated as a linear combination of the basis vectors. The effectiveness of this method is demonstrated through the reconstruction of a water phantom acquired with a fast kVp acquisition. The impact of jitter due to the generator and detector DAS clocks is explored via simulation. The error is measured relative to spectrum variation and material decomposition accuracy.

Image reconstruction from truncated data in single-photon emission computed tomography with uniform attenuation

We present a mathematical analysis of the problem of image reconstruction from truncated data in two-dimensional (2D) single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Recent results in classical tomography have shown that accurate reconstruction of some parts of the object is possible in the presence of truncation. We have investigated how these results extend to 2D parallel-beam SPECT, assuming that the attenuation map is known and constant in a convex region Ω that includes all activity sources. Our main result is a proof that, just like in classical tomography accurate SPECT reconstruction at a given location , does not require the data on all lines passing through Ω; some amount of truncation can be tolerated. Experimental reconstruction results based on computer-simulated data are given in support of the theory.

Enhancement of in-plane spatial resolution in volumetric computed tomography with focal spot wobbling - Overcoming the constraint on number of projection views per gantry rotation

The spatial resolution of diagnostic Computed Tomography (CT) has increased substantially, and 3D isotropic sub-millimeter spatial resolution in both axial and helical scan modes is routinely available in the clinic. However, driven by advanced clinical applications, the pursuit for higher spatial resolution and free of aliasing artifacts in diagnostic CT has never stopped. A method to accommodate focal spot wobbling at an arbitrary number of projection views per gantry rotation in CT is presented and evaluated here. The method employs a beta-correction scheme in the row-wise fan-to-parallel rebinning to transform the native cone beam geometry into the cone-parallel geometry under which existing 3D weighted cone beam filtered backprojection algorithms can be utilized for image reconstruction. The experimental evaluation shows that the row-wise fan-to-parallel rebinning with the beta-correction can increase the quantitative in-plane spatial resolution (Modulation Transfer Function) substantially, while the visual spatial resolution can be enhanced significantly. Consequently, the architectural designers of CT scanners are no longer constrained to choosing the number of projection views per rotation determined by gantry geometry. Instead, they can choose the number of projection views per rotation to optimize the trade-offs between in-plane spatial resolution and noise characteristics. Therefore, the presented method is of practical relevance in the architectural design of state-of-the-art diagnostic CT.

Quantization of liver tissue in dual kVp computed tomography using linear discriminant analysis

Linear discriminate analysis (LDA) is applied to dual kVp CT and used for tissue characterization. The potential to quantitatively model both malignant and benign, hypo-intense liver lesions is evaluated by analysis of portal-phase, intravenous CT scan data obtained on human patients. Masses with an a priori classification are mapped to a distribution of points in basis material space. The degree of localization of tissue types in the material basis space is related to both quantum noise and real compositional differences. The density maps are analyzed with LDA and studied with system simulations to differentiate these factors. The discriminant analysis is formulated so as to incorporate the known statistical properties of the data. Effective kVp separation and mAs relates to precision of tissue localization. Bias in the material position is related to the degree of X-ray scatter and partial-volume effect. Experimental data and simulations demonstrate that for single energy (HU) imaging or image-based decomposition pixel values of water-like tissues depend on proximity to other iodine-filled bodies. Beam-hardening errors cause a shift in image value on the scale of that difference sought between in cancerous and cystic lessons. In contrast, projection-based decomposition or its equivalent when implemented on a carefully calibrated system can provide accurate data. On such a system, LDA may provide novel quantitative capabilities for tissue characterization in dual energy CT.

Image reconstruction from truncated data in SPECT with uniform attenuation

We prove that accurate SPECT reconstruction of a region-of-interest (ROI) in the activity map is possible from truncated projections collected over 180 degrees, assuming that the attenuation map is constant in a convex region Omega that includes all activity sources. The amount of allowable truncation depends on the size and location of the ROI relative to the direction of the first and last projections and relative to the boundary of Omega. A sketch of the proof is given along with reconstructions from computer-simulated data in support of the theory. Our result may be seen as an extension to SPECT of recent results obtained in classical tomography.

Analytical cone-beam reconstruction using a multi-source inverse geometry CT system

In a 3rd generation CT system, a single source projects the entire field of view (FOV) onto a large detector opposite the source. In multi-source CT imaging, a multitude of sources sequentially project a part of the FOV on a much smaller detector. These sources may be distributed in both the trans-axial and axial directions in order to jointly cover the entire FOV. Scan data from multiple sources in the axial direction provide complementary information, which is not available in a conventional single-source CT system. In this work, an analytical 3D cone-beam reconstruction algorithm for multi-source CT is proposed. This approach has three distinctive features. First, multi-source data are re-binned transaxially to multiple offset third-generation datasets. Second, data points in sinograms from multiple source sets are either accepted or rejected for contribution to the backprojection of a given voxel. Third, instead of using a ramp filter, a Hilbert transform is combined with a parallel derivative to form the filtering mechanism. Phantom simulations are performed using a multi-source CT geometry and compared to conventional 3rd generation CT geometry. We show that multi-source CT can extend the axial scan coverage to 120mm without cone-beam artifacts, while a third-generation geometry results in compromised image quality at 60mm of axial coverage. Moreover, given that the cone-angle in the proposed geometry is limited to 7 degrees, there are no degrading effects such as the Heel effect and scattered radiation, unlike in a third-generation geometry with comparable coverage. An additional benefit is the uniform flux profile resulting in uniform image noise throughout the FOV and a uniform dose absorption profile.

Coronary artery motion estimation and compensation: A feasibility study

High temporal resolution and high spatial resolution are required to image the coronary arteries without motion artifacts. Several approaches have been pursued to achieve better temporal resolution including faster rotational speeds, and dual tube systems. In this paper, we present an alternative approach using motion estimation and compensation. The results demonstrate that the proposed methods can significantly reduce motion artifacts in coronary artery imaging.

3D analytic cone-beam reconstruction for multiaxial CT acquisitions

A conventional 3rd generation Computed Tomography (CT) system with a single circular source trajectory is limited in terms of longitudinal scan coverage since extending the scan coverage beyond 40 mm results in significant cone-beam artifacts. A multiaxial CT acquisition is achieved by combining multiple sequential 3rd generation axial scans or by performing a single axial multisource CT scan with multiple longitudinally offset sources. Data from multiple axial scans or multiple sources provide complementary information. For full-scan acquisitions, we present a window-based 3D analytic cone-beam reconstruction algorithm by tessellating data from neighboring axial datasets. We also show that multi-axial CT acquisition can extend the axial scan coverage while minimizing cone-beam artifacts. For half-scan acquisitions, one cannot take advantage of conjugate rays. We propose a cone-angle dependent weighting approach to combine multi-axial half-scan data. We compute the relative contribution from each axial dataset to each voxel based on the X-ray beam collimation, the respective cone-angles, and the spacing between the axial scans. We present numerical experiments to demonstrate that the proposed techniques successfully reduce cone-beam artifacts at very large volumetric coverage.

Fast kVp switching CT imaging of a dynamic cardiac phantom

Dual energy CT cardiac imaging is challenging due to cardiac motion and the resolution requirements of clinical applications. In this paper we investigate dual energy CT imaging via fast kVp switching acquisitions of a novel dynamic cardiac phantom. The described cardiac phantom is realistic in appearance with pneumatic motion control driven by an ECG waveform. In the reported experiments the phantom is driven off a 60 beats per minute simulated ECG waveform. The cardiac phantom is inserted into a phantom torso cavity. A fast kVp switching axial step and shoot acquisition is detailed. The axial scan time at each table position exceeds one heart cycle so as to enable retrospective gating. Gating is performed as a mechanism to mitigate the resolution impact of heart motion. Processing of fast kVp data is overviewed and the resulting kVp, material decomposed density, and monochromatic reconstructions are presented. Imaging results are described in the context of potential clinical cardiac applications.