Development of a 3D CT-scanner using a cone beam and video-fluoroscopic system.
We describe the design and implementation of a system that acquires three-dimensional (3D) data of high-contrast objects such as bone, lung, and blood vessels (enhanced by contrast agent). This 3D computed tomography (CT) system is based on a cone beam and video-fluoroscopic system and yields data that is amenable to 3D image processing. An X-ray tube and a large area two-dimensional detector were mounted on a single frame and rotated around objects in 12 seconds. The large area detector consisted of a fluorescent plate and a charge coupled device (CCD) video camera. While the X-ray tube was rotated around the object, a pulsed X-ray was generated (30 pulses per second) and 360 projected images were collected in a 12-second scan. A 256 x 256 x 256 matrix image was reconstructed using a high-speed parallel processor. Reconstruction required approximately 6 minutes. Two volunteers underwent scans of the head or chest. High-contrast objects such as bronchial, vascular, and mediastinal structures in the thorax, or bones and air cavities in the head were delineated in a "real" 3D format. Our 3D CT-scanner appears to produce data useful for clinical imaging and 3D image processing.
Endo
M
M
Research Center of Charged Particle Therapy, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Chiba, Japan.
Yoshida
K
K
Kamagata
N
N
Satoh
K
K
Okazaki
T
T
Hattori
Y
Y
Kobayashi
S
S
Jimbo
M
M
Kusakabe
M
M
Tateno
Y
Y
D004867:Equipment Design; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods