Four-dimensional computed tomography (4D CT)--concepts and preliminary development.
Four-dimensional computed tomography (4D CT) is a dynamic volume imaging system of moving organs with an image quality comparable to that of conventional CT. 4D CT will be realized by several technical breakthroughs for dynamic cone-beam CT: (1) a large-area two-dimensional (2D) detector; (2) high-speed data transfer system; (3) reconstruction algorithms; (4) ultra-high-speed reconstruction computer; and (5) high-speed, continuously rotating gantry. Among these, development of the 2D detector is one of the main tasks because it should have as wide a dynamic range and as high a data acquisition speed (view rate) as present CT detectors. We are now developing a 4D CT scanner together with the key components. It will take one volume image in 0.5 sec with a 3D matrix of 512 x 512 x 512. This paper describes the concepts and designs of the 4D CT system, as well as preliminary development of the 2D detector.
Endo
Masahiro
M
Research Center of Charged Particle Therapy, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Chiba, Japan.
Tsunoo
Takanori
T
Kandatsu
Susumu
S
Tanada
Shuji
S
Aradate
Hiroshi
H
Saito
Yasuo
Y
D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000295:instrumentation*