Dual-contrast photon-counting micro-CT using iodine and a novel bismuth-based contrast agent.

To characterize for the first timea novel bismuth-based nanoparticular contrast agent developed for preclinical applications. Then, to design and testa multi-contrast protocol for functional cardiac imaging using the new bismuth nanoparticles and a well-established iodine-based contrast agent.A micro-computed tomography scanner was assembled and equipped with a photon-counting detector.

Empirical scatter correction: CBCT scatter artifact reduction without prior information.

Background: The image quality of cone beam CT (CBCT) scans severely suffers from scattered radiation if no countermeasures are taken. Scatter artifacts may induce cupping and streak artifacts and lead to a reduced image contrast and wrong CT values of the reconstructed volumes. Established software-based approaches for a correction of scattered radiation typically rely on prior knowledge of the CT system, scan parameters, the scanned object, or all of the aforementioned.