Abstract: Various methods and systems for weighting material density images based on the material imaged are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for dual energy imaging of a material comprises generating an odd material density image, generating an even material density image, applying a first weight to the odd material density image and a second weight to the even material density image, and generating a material density image based on a combination of the weighted odd material density image and the weighted even material density image. In this way, the image quality may be improved without increasing a radiation dosage.

Abstract: A method is provided including acquiring imaging data of an object to be imaged from a computed tomography (CT) detector. The method also includes reconstructing the acquired imaging data into an initial reconstruction image, and performing material characterization of an image volume of the initial reconstruction image to provide a re-mapped image volume. Further, the method includes performing forward projection on the re-mapped image volume to provide forward projection data, and providing an error projection based on the forward projection data. Also, the method includes filtering at least one of the initial reconstruction image, the re-mapped image volume, the forward projection data, or the error projection. The method also includes using the error projection to update the initial reconstruction image to provide an updated reconstruction image.

Abstract: A system includes an energy-discriminating, photon-counting X-ray detector, comprising a plurality of detector cells adapted to produce projection data in response to X-ray photons and to produce an electrical signal having a recorded count for the energy bins and a total energy intensity. The system also includes data processing circuitry adapted to receive the electrical signal, to generate a simulated count rate for each of the energy bins by using the total energy intensity, to determine a set of energy intensity dependent material decomposition vectors, and, for the measured projection data, to perform material decomposition.

Abstract: A system includes an energy-discriminating, photon-counting X-ray detector, comprising a plurality of detector cells providing measurements corresponding to at least two energy bins and being adapted to produce projection data in response to X-ray photons that reach the X-ray detector and to produce an electrical signal having a recorded count for the energy bins and a total energy intensity.

Abstract: Systems and methods for iterative multi-material correction are provided. A system includes an imager that acquires projection data of an object. A reconstructor reconstructs the acquired projection data into a reconstructed image, utilizes the reconstructed image to perform a multi-material correction on the acquired projection data to generate a multi-material corrected reconstructed image, and utilizes the multi-material corrected reconstructed image to perform one or more iterations of the multi-material correction on the projection data to generate an iteratively corrected multi-material corrected image.

Abstract: A method is provided. The method includes acquiring projection data of an object from a plurality of pixels, reconstructing the acquired projection data from the plurality of pixels into a reconstructed image, performing material characterization and decomposition of an image volume of the reconstructed image to reduce a number of materials analyzed in the image volume to two basis materials. The method also includes generating a re-mapped image volume for at least one basis material of the two basis materials, and performing forward projection on at least the re-mapped image volume for the at least one basis material to produce a material-based projection. The method further includes generating multi-material corrected projections based on the material-based projection and a total projection attenuated by the object, which represents both of the two basis materials, wherein the multi-material corrected projections include linearized projections.

Abstract: A method is provided. The method includes acquiring projection data of an object from a plurality of pixels, reconstructing the acquired projection data from the plurality of pixels into a reconstructed image, performing material characterization and decomposition of an image volume of the reconstructed image to reduce a number of materials analyzed in the image volume to two basis materials. The method also includes generating a re-mapped image volume for at least one basis material of the two basis materials, and performing forward projection on at least the re-mapped image volume for the at least one basis material to produce a material-based projection. The method further includes generating multi-material corrected projections based on the material-based projection and a total projection attenuated by the object, which represents both of the two basis materials, wherein the multi-material corrected projections include linearized projections.

Abstract: A method is provided. The method includes acquiring projection data of an object from a plurality of pixels, reconstructing the acquired projection data from the plurality of pixels into a reconstructed image, performing material characterization and decomposition of an image volume of the reconstructed image to reduce a number of materials analyzed in the image volume to two basis materials. The method also includes generating a re-mapped image volume for at least one basis material of the two basis materials, and performing forward projection on at least the re-mapped image volume for the at least one basis material to produce a material-based projection. The method further includes generating multi-material corrected projections based on the material-based projection and a total projection attenuated by the object, which represents both of the two basis materials, wherein the multi-material corrected projections include linearized projections.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to a system and method for estimating and compensating for anode target filtration in an X-ray tube. Certain embodiments record changes in the photon flux over the life of the tube. By comparing the flux values, filtration resulting from a roughened target surface and target deposition on the tube window may be inferred. A plurality of systems and methods for comparing flux values are provided and the relative merits and complementary effects of each discussed.

Abstract: A method is provided. The method includes acquiring projection data of an object from a plurality of pixels, reconstructing the acquired projection data from the plurality of pixels into a reconstructed image, performing material characterization and decomposition of an image volume of the reconstructed image to reduce a number of materials analyzed in the image volume to two basis materials. The method also includes generating a re-mapped image volume for at least one basis material of the two basis materials, and performing forward projection on at least the re-mapped image volume for the at least one basis material to produce a material-based projection. The method further includes generating multi-material corrected projections based on the material-based projection and a total projection attenuated by the object, which represents both of the two basis materials, wherein the multi-material corrected projections include linearized projections.

Abstract: In a linear track scanning imaging system and method, the imaging system may include: a ray generating unit having a plurality of ray sources that emit beams alternately, only one ray source at a time; an actuating arrangement causing an object under examination to move with respect to the linear track scanning imaging system along a linear track, leading the object to pass through a scanning area of the linear track scanning imaging system; a data collecting unit that collects projection data of the object for each ray source; an imaging unit that reconstructs an image of the object under examination based on the projection data collected for each ray source; and a display unit for displaying the reconstructed image.

Abstract: It is disclosed an imaging system comprising: radiation generating means including at least one radiation source for generating radiations; data acquiring means including an detector matrix faced the radiation source for obtaining projection data by receiving radiations penetrated through an object to be inspected; transporting means for making the object to be inspected between the radiation source and the detector matrix linearly moving relative to the radiation source and the detector matrix; and controlling and image processing means for controlling the radiation generating means, the data acquiring means and the transporting means, and for reconstructing an image of the object to be inspected from the projection data. The imaging system according to the present invention achieves a real stereoscopic radiography by using straight-line trajectory scan and reconstructing a tomographic or stereoscopic image through a straight-line filtered back-projection algorithm.

Abstract: In a linear track scanning imaging system and method, the imaging system may include: a ray generating unit having a plurality of ray sources that emit beams alternately, only one ray source at a time; an actuating arrangement causing an object under examination to move with respect to the linear track scanning imaging system along a linear track, leading the object to pass through a scanning area of the linear track scanning imaging system; a data collecting unit that collects projection data of the object for each ray source; an imaging unit that reconstructs an image of the object under examination based on the projection data collected for each ray source; and a display unit for displaying the reconstructed image.

Abstract: A cargo security inspection system inspecting an object moving through the system, including: a mechanical conveyance unit carrying, conveying, and defining a travel path of the object in the system; a radiation-generating unit generating ray beams for transmitting through the object; and a data collecting unit collecting transmission data about the rays having already transmitted through the object and processing the transmission data; wherein the travel path includes at least two linear sub-paths at an angle relative to each other; the data collecting unit includes at least two detector arrays receiving ray beams, each detector array corresponding to one linear sub-path, a receiving plane of each of the detector arrays disposed parallel to its corresponding linear sub-path; and in use, the radiation-generating and data collecting units remain stationary, and the object travels along its travel path and only translates on the at least two linear sub-paths without any rotation.

Abstract: It is disclosed a system and a method for reconstructing an image by using a straight-line trajectory scan to avoid image spatial resolution reduction due to interpolations in angular direction and detector direction during data rebinning. This system comprises: a projection data conversion section for converting projection data from straight-line trajectory scan into projection data under quasi-parallel-beam scan; a filtration section for obtaining filtered projection data by convoluting the projection data under quasi-parallel-beam scan with a predetermined convolutional kernel; and a back-projection section for reconstructing an image by back-projecting the filtered projection data with a weighting factor. By using the inventive system and method, the spatial resolution in the reconstructed image is improved, and the influence of data truncation on the reconstructed image is reduced.

Abstract: A cargo security inspection system inspecting an object moving through the system, including: a mechanical conveyance unit carrying, conveying, and defining a travel path of the object in the system; a radiation-generating unit generating ray beams for transmitting through the object; and a data collecting unit collecting transmission data about the rays having already transmitted through the object and processing the transmission data; wherein the travel path includes at least two linear sub-paths at an angle relative to each other; the data collecting unit includes at least two detector arrays receiving ray beams, each detector array corresponding to one linear sub-path, a receiving plane of each of the detector arrays disposed parallel to its corresponding linear sub-path; and in use, the radiation-generating and data collecting units remain stationary, and the object travels along its travel path and only translates on the at least two linear sub-paths without any rotation.

Abstract: It is disclosed a system and a method for reconstructing an image by using a straight-line trajectory scan to avoid image spatial resolution reduction due to interpolations in angular direction and detector direction during data rebinning. This system comprises: a projection data conversion section for converting projection data from straight-line trajectory scan into projection data under quasi-parallel-beam scan; a filtration section for obtaining filtered projection data by convoluting the projection data under quasi-parallel-beam scan with a predetermined convolutional kernel; and a back-projection section for reconstructing an image by back-projecting the filtered projection data with a weighting factor. By using the inventive system and method, the spatial resolution in the reconstructed image is improved, and the influence of data truncation on the reconstructed image is reduced.

Abstract: It is disclosed an imaging system comprising: radiation generating means including at least one radiation source for generating radiations; data acquiring means including an detector matrix faced the radiation source for obtaining projection data by receiving radiations penetrated through an object to be inspected; transporting means for making the object to be inspected between the radiation source and the detector matrix linearly moving relative to the radiation source and the detector matrix; and controlling and image processing means for controlling the radiation generating means, the data acquiring means and the transporting means, and for reconstructing an image of the object to be inspected from the projection data. The imaging system according to the present invention achieves a real stereoscopic radiography by using straight-line trajectory scan and reconstructing a tomographic or stereoscopic image through a straight-line filtered back-projection algorithm.