Development of novel statistical reconstruction algorithms for poly-energetic X-ray computed tomography.
A beam-hardening effect is a common problem affecting the quantitative aspects of X-ray computed tomography (CT). We have developed two statistical reconstruction algorithms for poly-energetic X-ray CT that can effectively reduce the beam-hardening effect. Phantom tests were used to evaluate our approach in comparison with traditional correction methods. Unlike previous methods, our algorithm utilizes multiple energy-corresponding blank scans to estimate the attenuation map for a particular energy spectrum. Therefore, our algorithm is an energy-selective reconstruction. In addition to benefits over other statistical algorithms for poly-energetic reconstruction, our algorithm has the advantage of not requiring prior knowledge of the object material, the energy spectrum of the source and the energy sensitivity of the detector. The results showed an improvement in coefficient of variation, uniformity and signal-to-noise ratio; overall, this novel approach produces a better beam-hardening correction.
Chueh
Ho-Shiang
HS
Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
Tsai
Wen-Kai
WK
Chang
Chih-Chieh
CC
Chang
Shu-Ming
SM
Su
Kuan-Hao
KH
Chen
Jyh-Cheng
JC
D000465:Algorithms; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*