Heel effect correction in computed tomography

A method of reconstructing a CT image, the method comprising:

• generating x-rays from a focal spot of the anode and through the opening;
• receiving the x-rays in a detector positioned on the gantry;
• acquiring CT data based on x-rays passing through the opening and to the pixelated detector;
• generating projection data from the acquired CT data, the projection data is corrected to account for heel effects by a correction factor that is determined based in part on:
• 1) an interaction depth of the x-rays within the anode;
• and
• 2) an angular direction from the interaction depth to particular pixels within the pixelated detector;
• and
• reconstructing an image based on the generated projection data.

A computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer comprising instructions, which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

• acquire CT data based on x-rays passing through an opening of a rotatable CT gantry and to a pixelated detector;
• generate projection data from the acquired CT data, the projection data is corrected to account for heel effects by a correction factor that is determined based in part on:
• 1) an interaction depth of the x-rays within an anode of an x-ray tube that is positioned on the rotatable CT gantry;
• and
• 2) an angular direction from the interaction depth to particular pixels within the pixelated detector that is positioned on the rotatable CT gantry;
• and
• reconstruct an image based on the generated projection data.