Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system and method, which utilize primary beam modulation to enable single-scan dual-energy CT (DECT) on a conventional CT scanner. An attenuation sheet with a spatially-varying pattern is placed between the x-ray source and the imaged object. During the CT scan, the modulator selectively hardens the x-ray beam at specific detector locations. Thus, this method simultaneously acquires high and low energy data at each projection angle. High and low energy CT images can then reconstructed from the projections via an iterative CT reconstruction algorithm, which accounts for the spatial modulation of the projected x-rays.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system and method, which utilize primary beam modulation to enable single-scan dual-energy CT (DECT) on a conventional CT scanner. An attenuation sheet with a spatially-varying pattern is placed between the x-ray source and the imaged object. During the CT scan, the modulator selectively hardens the x-ray beam at specific detector locations. Thus, this method simultaneously acquires high and low energy data at each projection angle. High and low energy CT images can then reconstructed from the projections via an iterative CT reconstruction algorithm, which accounts for the spatial modulation of the projected x-rays.