Method and system for reconstructing an image from projection data acquired by a cone beam computed tomography system

A method for reconstructing a three-dimensional image of a region of interest of an object from cone beam projection data, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) acquiring the cone beam projection data, the cone beam projection data comprising a plurality of cone beam projection images;
• b) identifying a region of interest within a plurality of projection images;
• c) projecting each identified region of interest to a source position corresponding with the associated projection image to define a three-dimensional projected cone;
• d) sampling the intersection of the projected cones to determine a three-dimensional reconstruction region defined by a plurality of points;
• and
• e) reconstructing the region of interest at each of the plurality of points to form the three-dimensional image of the region of interest.

A method for reconstructing a three-dimensional image of a region of interest of an object disposed within an object region from cone beam projection data, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) acquiring the cone beam projection data. the cone beam projection data comprising a plurality of cone beam projection images;
• b) identifying a region of interest within one of the plurality of projection images;
• c) projecting the identified region of interest through at least a portion of the object region to define a three-dimensional reconstruction region defined by a plurality of points;
• and
• d) reconstructing the region of interest at each of the plurality of points to form the three-dimensional image of the region of interest.

A method for reconstructing a three-dimensional image of a region of interest of an object from cone beam projection data, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) acquiring the cone beam projection data, the cone beam projection data comprising a plurality of cone beam projection images;
• b) identifying a region of interest within a first one of the plurality of projection images;
• c) projecting the identified region of interest to a source position corresponding with the first one of the plurality of projection images to define a first three-dimensional projection cone;
• d) projecting a second one of the plurality of projection images to a source position corresponding with the second one of the plurality of projection images to define a second three-dimensional projection cone;
• e) using the first and second projected cones to determine a three-dimensional reconstruction region defined by a plurality of points;
• and
• f) reconstructing the region of interest at each of the plurality of points to form the three-dimensional image of the region of interest.

A system for reconstructing a three-dimensional image of a region of interest of an object disposed within an object region from cone beam projection data, comprising:

• a) means for acquiring the cone beam projection data, the cone beam projection data comprising a plurality of cone beam projection images;
• b) means for identifying a region of interest within each of two projection images;
• c) means for projecting each identified region of interest through at least a portion of the object region to identify a three-dimensional reconstruction region defined by a three-dimensional lattice of points;
• and
• d) means for reconstructing the image at each point in the three-dimensional lattice of points.

A system for reconstructing a three-dimensional image of a region of interest of an object from cone beam projection data, comprising:

• a) means for acquiring the cone beam projection data, the cone beam projection data comprising a plurality of cone beam projection images;
• b) means for identifying a region of interest within a plurality of projection images, respectively;
• c) means for projecting each identified region of interest to a source position corresponding with the associated projection image to define a three-dimensional projected cone;
• d) means for sampling the intersection of the projected cones to determine a three-dimensional reconstruction region defined by a plurality of points;
• and
• e) means for reconstructing the region of interest at each of the plurality of points to form the three-dimensional image of the region of interest.

A system for reconstructing a three-dimensional image of a region of interest of an object disposed within an object region from cone beam projection data, comprising:

• a) means for acquiring the cone beam projection data, the cone beam projection data comprising a plurality of cone beam projection images;
• b) means for identifying a region of interest within one of the plurality of projection images;
• c) means for projecting the identified region of interest through the object region to define a three-dimensional reconstruction region defined by a plurality of points;
• and
• d) means for reconstructing the region of interest at each of the plurality of points to form the three-dimensional image of the region of interest.

A system for reconstructing a three-dimensional image of a region of interest of an object from cone beam projection data, comprising:

• a) means for acquiring the cone beam projection data, the cone beam projection data comprising a plurality of cone beam projection images;
• b) means for identifying a region of interest within a first one of the plurality of projection images;
• c) means for projecting the identified region of interest to a source position corresponding with the first one of the plurality of projection images to define a first three-dimensional projection cone;
• d) means for projecting a second one of the plurality of projection images to a source position corresponding with the second one of the plurality of projection images to define a second three-dimensional projection cone;
• e) means for using the first and second projected cones to determine a three-dimensional reconstruction region defined by a plurality of points;
• and
• f) means for reconstructing the region of interest at each of the plurality of points to form the three-dimensional image of the region of interest.

A method for reconstructing a three-dimensional image of a region of interest of an object disposed within an object region from cone beam projection data, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) acquiring the cone beam projection data, the cone beam projection data comprising a plurality of cone beam projection images;
• b) identifying a region of interest within a first one of the plurality of projection images;
• c) projecting the region of interest identified within the first one of the plurality of projection images to a source position corresponding with the first one of the plurality of projection images to define a first three-dimensional projection cone;
• d) defining a second three-dimensional volume;
• e) using the first three-dimensional projection cone and the second three-dimensional volume to identify a three-dimensional reconstruction region defined by a plurality of points;
• and
• f) reconstructing the region of interest at each of the plurality of points to form the three-dimensional image of the region of interest.