An algorithm to estimate the object support in truncated images.

Purpose: Truncation artifacts in CT occur if the object to be imaged extends past the scanner field of view (SFOV). These artifacts impede diagnosis and could possibly introduce errors in dose plans for radiation therapy. Several approaches exist for correcting truncation artifacts, but existing correction algorithms do not accurately recover the skin line (or support) of the patient, which is important in some dose planning methods.

Prior image constrained scatter correction in cone-beam computed tomography image-guided radiation therapy.

X-ray scatter is a significant problem in cone-beam computed tomography when thicker objects and larger cone angles are used, as scattered radiation can lead to reduced contrast and CT number inaccuracy. Advances have been made in x-ray computed tomography (CT) by incorporating a high quality prior image into the image reconstruction process. In this paper, we extend this idea to correct scatter-induced shading artifacts in cone-beam CT image-guided radiation therapy.

A simple technique for interventional tool placement combining fluoroscopy with interventional computed tomography on a C-arm system.

Background: Flat-panel cone-beam computed tomography (FP-CBCT) has recently been introduced as a clinical feature in neuroangiography radiographic C-arm systems.

Objective: To introduce a method of positioning a surgical tool such as a needle or ablation probe within a target specified by intraoperative FP-CBCT scanning.

Methods: Two human cadaver and 2 porcine cadaver heads were injected with a mixture of silicone and contrast agent to simulate a contrast-enhanced tumor.

Perfusion measurements by micro-CT using prior image constrained compressed sensing (PICCS): initial phantom results.

Micro-CT scanning has become an accepted standard for anatomical imaging in small animal disease and genome mutation models. Concurrently, perfusion imaging via tracking contrast dynamics after injection of an iodinated contrast agent is a well-established tool for clinical CT scanners. However, perfusion imaging is not yet commercially available on the micro-CT platform due to limitations in both radiation dose and temporal resolution.

Performance comparison between total variation (TV)-based compressed sensing and statistical iterative reconstruction algorithms.

Of all available reconstruction methods, statistical iterative reconstruction algorithms appear particularly promising since they enable accurate physical noise modeling. The newly developed compressive sampling/compressed sensing (CS) algorithm has shown the potential to accurately reconstruct images from highly undersampled data. The CS algorithm can be implemented in the statistical reconstruction framework as well.

C-arm based cone-beam CT using a two-concentric-arc source trajectory: system evaluation.

The current x-ray source trajectory for C-arm based cone-beam CT is a single arc. Reconstruction from data acquired with this trajectory yields cone-beam artifacts for regions other than the central slice. In this work we present the preliminary evaluation of reconstruction from a source trajectory of two concentric arcs using a flat-panel detector equipped C-arm gantry (GE Healthcare Innova 4100 system, Waukesha, Wisconsin).

Temporally targeted imaging method applied to ECG-gated computed tomography: preliminary phantom and in vivo experience.

Rationale And Objectives: Existing cardiac imaging methods do not allow for improved temporal resolution when considering a targeted region of interest (ROI). The imaging method presented here enables improved temporal resolution for ROI imaging (namely, a reconstruction volume smaller than the complete field of view). Clinically, temporally targeted reconstruction would not change the primary means of reconstructing and evaluating images, but rather would enable the adjunct technique of ROI imaging, with improved temporal resolution compared with standard reconstruction ( approximately 20% smaller temporal scan window).

A shift-invariant filtered backprojection (FBP) cone-beam reconstruction algorithm for the source trajectory of two concentric circles using an equal weighting scheme.

In this paper, a shift-invariant filtered backprojection cone-beam image reconstruction algorithm is derived, based upon Katsevich's general inversion scheme, and validated for the source trajectory of two concentric circles. The source trajectory is complete according to Tuy's data sufficiency condition and is used as the basis for an exact image reconstruction algorithm. The algorithm proceeds according to the following steps.

Development and evaluation of an exact fan-beam reconstruction algorithm using an equal weighting scheme via locally compensated filtered backprojection (LCFBP).

A novel exact fan-beam image reconstruction formula is presented and validated using both phantom data and clinical data. This algorithm takes the form of the standard ramp filtered backprojection (FBP) algorithm plus local compensation terms. This algorithm will be referred to as a locally compensated filtered backprojection (LCFBP).

Exact fan-beam image reconstruction algorithm for truncated projection data acquired from an asymmetric half-size detector.

In this paper, we present a new algorithm designed for a specific data truncation problem in fan-beam CT. We consider a scanning configuration in which the fan-beam projection data are acquired from an asymmetrically positioned half-sized detector. Namely, the asymmetric detector only covers one half of the scanning field of view.

Fan-beam and cone-beam image reconstruction via filtering the backprojection image of differentiated projection data.

In this paper, a new image reconstruction scheme is presented based on Tuy's cone-beam inversion scheme and its fan-beam counterpart. It is demonstrated that Tuy's inversion scheme may be used to derive a new framework for fanbeam and cone-beam image reconstruction. In this new framework, images are reconstructed via filtering the backprojection image of differentiated projection data.