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US 10,119,923 B2Granted
Systems and methods for image reconstruction at high computed tomography pitch
AssigneeL3 Security & Detection Systems, Inc.
InventorsMichael Schmitt, Andrew D. Foland, Boris Oreper
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Abstract
Methodologies, systems, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media are described herein to facilitate acquisition of volumetric data and volumetric image reconstruction. An imaging system can be configured to transport an object at a speed relative to the scan path of an X-ray source such that insufficient measurement data is collected for classically complete geometrical coverage. Iterative image reconstruction techniques may be used to generate volumetric images based on measured volumetric data of at least a portion of the object.
Claims46
An imaging device comprising:
- a transport system to transport an object;
- an X-ray source to emit a conical beam of X-ray radiation at a plurality of points along a trajectory of at least 180° about a direction of transport of the object to irradiate at least a portion of the object;
- a detector array to detect measurement data indicative of an interaction of the X-ray radiation with at least the portion of the object, the detector array disposed relative to the X-ray source to detect the measurement data along a scan path about the object;
- and
- a processing unit having a central processing unit programmable to:
- operate the imaging device in one of a first mode or a second mode:
- the first mode controlling a first speed of the transport system relative to the scan path to cause the detector array to detect measurement data that is sufficient for complete pi-line coverage;
- the second mode controlling a second speed of the transport system relative to the scan path to cause the detector array to detect measurement data that is insufficient for complete pi-line coverage, the second speed greater than the first speed;
- and
- compute reconstructed volumetric data representative of a volume of the object in the first mode or the second mode by applying at least one iteration of an iterative reconstruction to the measurement data to derive the reconstructed volumetric data.
7 more elements
An imaging system comprising:
- a transport system comprising a conveyor, to transport an object into the imaging system;
- an X-ray source configured to emit a conical beam of X-ray radiation at a plurality of points along a trajectory of at least 180° around the conveyor on a helical scan path relative to a direction of transport of the object, to irradiate at least a portion of the object, the helical scan path having a pitch greater than one;
- a detector array to detect measurement data indicative of an interaction of the X-ray radiation with the portion of the object, the detector array disposed relative to the X-ray source to detect the measurement data along the helical scan path;
- and
- a processing unit having a central processing unit programmable to:
- instruct the transport system to transport the object at a speed relative to the helical scan path to cause the detector array to detect measurement data that is insufficient for complete pi-line coverage due to a speed of traversal of the object relative to the helical scan path of the conical beam;
- and
- compute reconstructed volumetric data representative of a volume of the object by applying at least one iteration of an iterative reconstruction to the measurement data to derive the reconstructed volumetric data.
5 more elements
A method for reconstructing an image of a volume of an object from a cone-beam radiation pattern, comprising:
- receiving measurement data indicative of an interaction of X-ray radiation from a conical beam with at least a portion of an object disposed in a scan path thereof, the measurement data being insufficient for complete pi-line coverage due to maintaining a speed of traversal of the object relative to the scan path of the conical beam that prevents complete pi-line coverage;
- computing, using at least one processing unit having a central processing unit, reconstructed volumetric data representative of a volume of the object by applying at least one iteration of an iterative reconstruction methodology to the measurement data to derive the reconstructed volumetric data;
- and
- computing, using the at least one processing unit, a volumetric image of the volume of the object based on the reconstructed volumetric data.
1 more element
An image reconstruction module for an imaging device, comprising:
- a communication interface;
- memory to store processor-executable instructions for an iterative reconstruction methodology for computing reconstructed volumetric data representative of a volume of an object;
- and
- a programmable processing unit having a central processing unit, communicatively coupled to the communication interface and the memory, wherein upon execution of the processor-executable instructions, the programmable processing unit operates to:
- receive measurement data indicative of an interaction of X-ray radiation from a cone-beam radiation pattern with at least a portion of an object disposed in a scan path thereof, the measurement data being insufficient for complete pi-line coverage due to maintaining a speed of traversal of the object relative to the scan path that prevents complete pi-line coverage;
- compute reconstructed volumetric data representative of a volume of the object by applying at least one iteration of an iterative reconstruction methodology to the measurement data to derive the reconstructed volumetric data;
- compute a volumetric image of the volume of the object based on the reconstructed volumetric data;
- and
- control the communication interface to transmit, or control the memory so as to store, the volumetric image or the reconstructed volumetric data.
6 more elements
A non-transitory machine readable medium storing instructions executable by a processing device having a central processing unit, wherein execution of the instructions causes the processing device to carry out a method for reconstructing a volume of an object from a cone-beam radiation pattern, the method comprising:
- receiving measurement data indicative of an interaction of X-ray radiation from a cone-beam radiation pattern with at least a portion of an object disposed in a scan path thereof, the measurement data being insufficient for complete pi-line coverage due to maintaining a speed of traversal of the object relative to the scan path that prevents complete pi-line coverage;
- computing reconstructed volumetric data representative of a volume of the object by applying at least one iteration of an iterative reconstruction methodology to the measurement data to derive the reconstructed volumetric data;
- and
- computing a volumetric image of the volume of the object based on the reconstructed volumetric data.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.