Abstract: Approaches are described for generating an initial reconstruction of CT data acquired using a wide-cone system. The initial reconstruction may be processed (such as via a non-linear operation) to correct frequency omissions and/or errors in the reconstruction. Corrected frequency information may then be added to the reconstruction to improve the reconstructed image.

Abstract: A method of performing a computed tomographic image reconstruction is provided. The method provides for performing a short scan of an imaging object to acquire a short scan data, performing a plurality of image reconstructions based on the short scan data wherein the plurality of image reconstructions result in a corresponding plurality of image volumes wherein the image reconstructions use different view weighting functions, filtering the plurality of image volumes such that when the volumes are added together, the frequency domain data is substantially uniformly weighted. Further, the method provides for combining the plurality of image volumes together to produce a final image volume.

Abstract: A method and system for motion estimation and compensation are disclosed. Initially, a set of one or more initial images is reconstructed using acquired imaging data. Further, one or more regions of interest are identified in this set of reconstructed initial images. At least a set of filters is applied to the identified regions of interest to generate a sequence of filtered images. Particularly, each of the filtered images in the generated sequence of filtered images includes data acquired near a different reference point. Subsequently, a motion path corresponding to each region of interest is determined based on one or more correspondences in the sequence of filtered images.

Abstract: Methods and systems for correlated noise suppression are presented. The present correlated noise suppression technique estimates a correlation direction between noise values in a first and a second MD image corresponding to a first and a second basis material, respectively. The two MD images are diffused using the estimated correlation direction to generate a first and a second diffused image. Further, first and second noise masks are generated by subtracting the diffused image from the corresponding MD image. Edges in the first and the second MD images are processed with the first and second noise masks, respectively to generate a final first noise mask and a final second noise mask. The first MD image is then processed with the final second noise mask to generate a final first MD image and the second MD image is processed with the final first noise mask to generate a final second MD image.

Abstract: A system and method for material decomposition optimization in the image domain include a non-transitory computer readable medium has stored thereon a sequence of instructions which, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to access a reconstructed basis material image. For a first voxel of the reconstructed basis material image, the instructions also cause the computer to optimize a concentration of a pair of materials (a,b) in the first voxel exclusively in the image domain and based on a first probability based on random perturbations and a second probability based on random perturbations. The optimization is further based on a third probability based on known materials and a fourth probability based on concentrations of the pair of materials in a pair of voxels neighboring the first voxel.

Abstract: A computed tomography (CT) detector array includes a central region substantially symmetric about a central axis thereof and includes a first plurality of x-ray detector cells configured to acquire CT data from a first number of detector rows during a scan, wherein the central axis is in a channel direction of the CT detector array and transverse to a slice direction of the CT detector array. A first wing is coupled to a first side of the central region, and a second wing is coupled to a second side of the central region opposite the first side. The first and second wings include respective second and third pluralities of x-ray detector cells and are each configured to acquire CT data from a number of detector rows that is less than the first number of detector rows. The CT detector array is asymmetric about the central axis of the central region.

Abstract: A computed tomography (CT) detector array includes a central region substantially symmetric about a central axis thereof and includes a first plurality of x-ray detector cells configured to acquire CT data from a first number of detector rows during a scan, wherein the central axis is in a channel direction of the CT detector array and transverse to a slice direction of the CT detector array. A first wing is coupled to a first side of the central region, and a second wing is coupled to a second side of the central region opposite the first side. The first and second wings include respective second and third pluralities of x-ray detector cells and are each configured to acquire CT data from a number of detector rows that is less than the first number of detector rows. The CT detector array is asymmetric about the central axis of the central region.

Abstract: A method for analytically reconstructing a multi-axial computed tomography (CT) dataset, acquired using one or more longitudinally-offset x-ray beams emitted from multiple x-ray sources is provided. The method comprises acquiring one or more CT axial projection datasets, wherein the CT axial projection datasets are acquired using less than a full scan of data. The method further comprises reconstructing the CT axial projection datasets to generate a reconstructed image volume. The reconstruction comprises back projecting one or more voxels comprising the multi-axial CT dataset, along one or more projection views, based upon a cone-angle weight determined for the voxels, wherein the cone-angle weight for the voxels is determined along a longitudinal direction.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a first set of projection data is acquired using a first portion of a detector and a second set of projection data is acquired using a second portion of the detector. The second set of projection data is supplemented based upon the first set of projection data to generate a supplemented set of projection data. A volumetric image may be generated using the supplemented set of projection data.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus includes a computed tomography (CT) detector array having a central region with a plurality of central region detecting cells configured to acquire CT data of a first number of slices during a scan, a first wing along a first side of the central region, and a second wing along a second side of the central region opposite the first side. The first wing includes a plurality of first wing detecting cells configured to acquire CT data of a second number of slices during the scan. The second wing includes a plurality of second wing detecting cells configured to acquire CT data of a third number of slices during the scan. The second and third number of slices are less than the first number of slices. The first wing detecting cells are of a different type than the central region detecting cells.

Abstract: A method is provided that includes acquiring a first set of image data from X-rays produced at a first energy level and a second set of image data from X-rays produced at a second energy level. The method includes generating a first noise mask for a first basis material and a second noise mask for a second basis material and removing pixels corresponding to cross contaminating structural information from the first noise mask and the second noise mask. The method includes processing a first materially decomposed image generated from the first set of image data and the second set of digital data using the second noise mask after removal of the cross contaminating structural information and processing a second MD image generated from the first set of image data and the second set of digital data using the first noise mask after removal of the cross contaminating structural information.

Abstract: A method and system for motion estimation and compensation are disclosed. Initially, a set of one or more initial images is reconstructed using acquired imaging data. Further, one or more regions of interest are identified in this set of reconstructed initial images. At least a set of filters is applied to the identified regions of interest to generate a sequence of filtered images. Particularly, each of the filtered images in the generated sequence of filtered images includes data acquired near a different reference point. Subsequently, a motion path corresponding to each region of interest is determined based on one or more correspondences in the sequence of filtered images.

Abstract: A CT imaging system includes a computer that is programmed to rebin cone beam projection data into a series of two-dimensional sinograms based on an optimized ray consistency approach. The computer receives cone beam data from a detector array and is programmed to specify a plurality of view angles for the cone beam data. The computer selects a plurality of measured rays for each of the plurality of specified view angles, the plurality of measured rays having a view angle approximate to the specified view angle as determined by an optimized ray consistency. The computer also forms a two-dimensional sinogram for each of the plurality of specified view angles based on the selected plurality of measured rays. The computer then defines an image surface for each of the plurality of specified view angles based on the selected plurality of measured rays.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for acquiring and reconstructing projection data that is mathematically complete or sufficient using a computed tomography (CT) system having stationary distributed X-ray sources and detector arrays. In one embodiment, a distributed source is provided as arcuate segments offset in the X-Y plane and along the Z-axis.

Abstract: A CT system includes a gantry, an x-ray source, a generator configured to energize the x-ray source to a first kVp and to a second kVp, a detector, and a controller. The controller is configured energize the x-ray source to the first kVp for a first time period, subsequently energize the x-ray source to the second kVp for a second time period, integrate data for a first integration period that includes a portion of a steady-state period of the x-ray source at the first kVp, integrate data for a second integration period that includes a portion of a steady-state period of the x-ray source at the second kVp, compare a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) during the first integration period (SNRH) and the second integration period (SNRL), adjust an operating parameter of the CT system to optimize an SNRH with SNRL, and generate an image using the integrated data.

Abstract: A method for generating an image of an object is provided. The method comprises acquiring projection data at one or more projection views along a circular scan trajectory and generating a corrected projection dataset based upon a weighted derivative applied to a subset of the projection data. The method further comprises backprojecting the corrected projection dataset along one or more projection rays associated with one or more of the projection views, to generate a reconstructed image of the object.

Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of methods for reconstructing x-ray projection data (e.g., one or more sinograms) acquired using a multi-source, inverse-geometry computed tomography (“IGCT”) scanner. One embodiment of a first method processes an IGCT sinogram by rebinning first in “z” and then in “xy,” with feathering applied during the “xy” rebinning. This produces an equivalent of a multi-axial 3rd generation sinogram, which may be further processed using a parallel derivative and/or Hilbert transform. A TOM-window (with feathering) technique and a combines backprojection technique may also be applied to produce a reconstructed volume. An embodiment of a second method processes an IGCT sinogram using a parallel derivative and/or redundancy weighting. The second method may also use signum weighting, TOM-windowing (with feathering), backprojection, and a Hilbert Inversion to produce another reconstructed volume.

Abstract: A method of performing a computed tomographic image reconstruction is provided. The method provides for performing a short scan of an imaging object to acquire a short scan data, performing a plurality of image reconstructions based on the short scan data wherein the plurality of image reconstructions result in a corresponding plurality of image volumes wherein the image reconstructions use different view weighting functions, filtering the plurality of image volumes such that when the volumes are added together, the frequency domain data is substantially uniformly weighted. Further, the method provides for combining the plurality of image volumes together to produce a final image volume.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for acquiring and reconstructing projection data using a computed tomography (CT) system having stationary distributed X-ray sources and detector arrays. In one embodiment, a non-sequential activation of X-ray source locations on an annular source is employed to acquire projection data. In another embodiment, a distributed source is tilted relative to an axis of the scanner to acquire the projection data. In a further embodiment, a plurality of X-ray source locations on an annular source are activated such that the aggregated signals correspond to two or more sets of spatially interleaved helical scan data.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for acquiring and reconstructing projection data that is mathematically complete or sufficient using a computed tomography (CT) system having stationary distributed X-ray sources and detector arrays. In one embodiment, a non-sequential activation is employed to acquire mathematically complete or sufficient projection data. In another embodiment, a distributed source is provided as a generally semicircular segment. In such an embodiment, an alternating activation scheme may be employed to allow one or more helices of image data to be acquired.