title: Variable pitch reconstruction using John's equation.
abstract: We present an algorithm to reconstruct helical cone beam computed tomography (CT) data acquired at variable pitch. The algorithm extracts a halfscan segment of projections using an extended version of the advanced single slice rebinning (ASSR) algorithm. ASSR rebins constant pitch cone beam data to fan beam projections that approximately lie on a plane that is tilted to optimally fit the source helix. For variable pitch, the error between the tilted plane chosen by ASSR and the source helix increases, resulting in increased image artifacts. To reduce the artifacts, we choose a reconstruction plane, which is tilted and shifted relative to the source trajectory. We then correct rebinned fan beam data using John's equation to virtually move the source into the tilted and shifted reconstruction plane. Results obtained from simulated phantom images and scanner images demonstrate the applicability of the proposed algorithm.
authors.affiliation: Analogic Corporation, 8 Centennial Drive, Peabody, MA 01960, USA. bkarbeyaz@analogic.com
authors.forename: Başak Ulker
authors.initials: BU
authors.lastname: Karbeyaz
authors.forename: Ram C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Naidu
authors.forename: Zhengrong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ying
authors.forename: Sergey B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Simanovsky
authors.forename: Matthew W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Hirsch
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Schafer
authors.forename: Carl R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Crawford
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D016477:Artifacts; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D012984:Software; D018511:Systems Integration; D015898:Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction