Alignment of mixed-modality data sets for reduction and removal of imaging artifacts

A system for removing artifacts from an imaging model, the system comprising:

• an x-ray source;
• an x-ray detector that captures x-ray images;
• a surface scanner that captures a surface scan;
• and
• an image processor that constructs a first volumetric model and a second volumetric model, wherein the first volumetric model and the second volumetric model include a three-dimensional CT model of a structure from the x-ray images and a three-dimensional surface model of the structure from the surface scan, the image processor configured to
• repeatedly automatically adjust an orientation of the first volumetric model or the second volumetric model until an optimized orientation is determined that correlates the first volumetric model and the second volumetric model;
• overlay the second volumetric model onto the first volumetric model;
• detect data points in the first volumetric model that extend beyond a surface of the structure in the second volumetric model;
• and
• adjust the detected data point from the first volumetric model to create an artifact-reduced volumetric model,
• wherein the image processor is configured to repeatedly automatically adjust the orientation of the three-dimensional CT model or the surface model by applying a simulated annealing routine to adjust the orientation of the first volumetric model or the second volumetric model.

A method of automatically aligning a first volumetric model and a second volumetric model, the method comprising repeating the acts of:

• evaluating an alignment of the first volumetric model and the second volumetric model,
• adjusting a variable of the first volumetric model or the second volumetric model, the variable being randomly selected from a group consisting of a yaw, a pitch, a roll, and a scale,
• evaluating an alignment of the first volumetric model and the second volumetric model after adjusting the variable,
• accepting the adjustment of the variable if the alignment of the first volumetric model and the second volumetric model is improved after the adjustment of the variable,
• generating a random threshold number;
• accepting the adjustment of the variable if the alignment of the first volumetric model and the second volumetric model is not improved after the adjustment of the variable and a calculated acceptance probability exceeds the random threshold number,
• rejecting the adjustment of the variable if the alignment of the first volumetric model and the second volumetric model is not improved after the adjustment of the variable and the calculated acceptance probability does not exceed the threshold number;
• and
• adjusting a probability variable used to calculate the acceptance probability, wherein adjusting the probability variable reduces the likelihood that the calculated acceptance probability will exceed the random threshold number on each subsequent repeat iteration.

A system for removing artifacts caused by x-ray reflective materials from an x-ray image, the system comprising:

• an x-ray source;
• an x-ray detector that captures x-ray images including a structure;
• an imaging device that captures a surface scan of the structure;
• and
• an image processor that constructs a three-dimensional CT model including the structure from the x-ray images and a three-dimensional surface model including the structure from the surface scan, the image processor
• resizing and orienting at least one of the surface model and the CT model so that the surface model and the CT model are of a same scale and orientation,
• overlaying the surface model on the CT model,
• detecting data points in the combined data set that extend beyond a surface of the structure in the surface model, wherein the detected data points represent artifacts in the CT model,
• removing the detected data points from the CT model by interpolation of the detected data points to create an artifact-reduced CT model, and
• displaying the artifact-reduced CT model.