Method and apparatus for object scan data correction in a photon counting x-ray imaging system with automatic exposure control

An apparatus for performing object scan data correction in an X-ray imaging system having a photon-counting detector, the X-ray imaging system including an X-ray tube for emitting X-rays, the apparatus comprising:

• processing circuitry configured to
• acquire calibration scan data from a calibration scan performed using a plurality of slabs,
• perform function fitting based on the acquired calibration scan data to generate a plurality of fitting functions corresponding to the plurality of slabs, each corresponding fitting function representing a relationship between a counting measurement detected with respect to one slab of the plurality of slabs and a tube current applied to the X-ray tube,
• establish a calibration table based on the acquired calibration scan data,
• acquire object scan data from an object scan performed on an imaging object,
• perform data correction for the acquired object scan data, based on the established calibration table and the generated plurality of fitting functions, and
• reconstruct an image of the imaging object based on the performed data correction.

A method for performing object scan data correction in an X-ray imaging system having a photon-counting detector, the X-ray imaging system including an X-ray tube for emitting X-rays, the method comprising:

• acquiring calibration scan data from a calibration scan performed using each slab of a plurality of slabs, with a first number (n1) of tube currents applied to the X-ray tube;
• establishing, based on the acquired calibration scan data, the first number (n1) of calibration tables to be used in data correction, each calibration table of the first number (n1) of calibration tables corresponding to one tube current of the first number (n1) of tube currents;
• calculating, for a second number (n2) of tube currents, the second number (n2) of calibration tables based on the first number (n1) of calibration tables, where the second number (n2) of tube currents are different from the first number (n1) of tube currents;
• acquiring object scan data from an object scan performed on an imaging object;
• performing the data correction for the acquired object scan data, based on the first number (n1) and second number (n2) of calibration tables;
• and
• reconstructing an image of the imaging object based on the performed data correction.