Geometric calibration marker detection in spectral tomosynthesis system

A method for radiographic imaging comprising:

• (a) disposing a calibration phantom in a radiation path that includes a subject positioned between an x-ray source and a detector, wherein the phantom has a plurality of radio-opaque phantom markers formed of a marker material;
• (b) acquiring 2D projection image data of the subject and the phantom, wherein the 2D projection image data distinguishes at least first and second x-ray energy distributions;
• (c) identifying relative spatial locations of the phantom markers in the 2D projection image data;
• (d) performing geometric calibration using the identified spatial locations of the phantom markers;
• and
• (e) forming and displaying a 2D projection image that shows anatomy of the subject and suppresses the phantom markers, wherein suppressing the phantom markers is based on the identified spatial locations of the phantom markers and the at least first and second x-ray energy distributions of the 2D projection image data.

A radiographic volume imaging apparatus comprising:

• (a) an x-ray source and detector that are disposed to define a radiation path through a subject and through a calibration phantom, wherein the x-ray source and detector are configured to generate 2D projection image data having at least first and second x-ray spectral energy distributions, and wherein the calibration phantom has a plurality of radio-opaque markers formed of a marker material;
• (b) a control logic processor that is configured to execute programmed instructions for:
• (i) obtaining the 2D projection image data from the detector;
• (ii) calculating source-to-detector geometry of the imaging apparatus corresponding to the acquired 2D projection image data of the calibration phantom for the first and second x-ray energy distributions;
• (iii) reconstructing a 3D volume image of the subject according to acquired anatomy image data from the subject and the calculated source-to-detector geometry;
• and
• (c) a display that is in signal communication with the control logic processor and is configured to display one or more portions of the reconstructed 3D volume image.