Material identification using multi-energy ct image data

A system for selecting and presenting a material decomposition algorithm using image data generated using a multi-energy computer tomography (CT) imaging system using three or more energy bands, the system comprising:

• a) a receiver for receiving a reconstructed or non-reconstructed multi-energy CT image data set produced using three or more energy bands in relation to an object;
• b) a data storage medium for storing said data;
• c) a processor for processing the data using one or more reconstruction techniques to produce a data set of reconstructed voxels;
• d) a processor for comparing each voxel in the reconstructed data set to a reference set of material signal amplitude and noise properties stored on a data storage medium;
• e) a processor for classifying the voxels into air, low density or high density voxels;
• f) a processor for selecting a first material decomposition method to be applied to low density voxels and/or selecting a second material decomposition method to be applied to higher density voxels;
• and
• g) an interface for presenting the selected first and/or second decomposition method to a user.

A computer-implemented method for selecting a material decomposition algorithm using image data generated using image data generated using a multi-energy computer tomography (CT) imaging system using three or more energy bands, using a computer program product, the method including;

• a) scanning an object using a multi-energy CT system using three or more energy bands to produce an image data set;
• b) storing said data set on a data storage medium;
• c) processing the data using one or more reconstruction techniques to produce a data set of reconstructed voxels;
• d) comparing each voxel in the reconstructed data set to a reference set of material signal amplitude and noise properties stored on a data storage medium;
• e) classifying the voxels into air, low density or high density voxels;
• f) based on the determination of e) selecting a first material decomposition method to be applied to low density voxels and/or selecting a second material decomposition method to be applied to higher density voxels;
• and
• g) presenting the selected first and/or second decomposition method to an interface.