Method and apparatus for performing tomosynthesis

An apparatus for reconstructing an image of an object from a plurality of x-ray projection images of the object, the x-ray projection images being acquired by a tomosynthesis system, the tomosynthesis system comprising an x-ray source and a tomosynthesis detector, the x-ray source projecting x-rays through the object, the tomosynthesis detector detecting x-rays that pass through the object, the tomosynthesis detector comprising a plurality of pixels, each pixel having an intensity value associated therewith, the tomosynthesis detector generating projection data in response to the x-rays impinging thereon, the projection data corresponding to the intensity values, the tomosynthesis system producing rotational motion of the x-ray source with respect to the object over a particular angular range that is less than 360°, the apparatus comprising:

• logic configured to receive the projection data generated by the tomosynthesis detector, said logic being configured to project the projection data generated by the tomosynthesis detector onto a virtual computed tomography (CT) detector, the virtual CT detector comprising a plurality of virtual pixels, said logic determining intensity values for the virtual pixels based on the intensity values associated with the pixels of the tomosynthesis detector, and wherein said logic performs a CT reconstruction algorithm that processes the intensity values of the virtual pixels to thereby reconstruct an image of the object.

A tomosynthesis system for reconstructing an image of an object from a plurality of x-ray projection images of the object, the x-ray projection images being acquired by the tomosynthesis system, the tomosynthesis system comprising:

• an x-ray source, the x-ray source projecting x-rays through the object;
• a tomosynthesis detector, the tomosynthesis detector detecting x-rays that pass through the object, the tomosynthesis detector comprising a plurality of pixels, each pixel having an intensity value associated therewith, the tomosynthesis detector generating projection data in response to the x-rays impinging thereon, the projection data corresponding to the intensity values, the tomosynthesis system producing motion of the x-ray source with respect to the object;
• and
• a computer, the computer receiving the projection data generated by the tomosynthesis detector, the computer being configured to project the projection data generated by the tomosynthesis detector onto a virtual computed tomography (CT) detector, the virtual CT detector comprising a plurality of virtual pixels, the computer determining intensity values for the virtual pixels based on the intensity values associated with the pixels of the tomosynthesis detector, and wherein the computer performs a CT reconstruction algorithm that processes the intensity values of the virtual pixels to thereby reconstruct an image of the object.

A tomosynthesis system for reconstructing an image of an object from a plurality of x-ray projection images of the object, the x-ray projection images being acquired by the tomosynthesis system, the tomosynthesis system comprising:

• an x-ray source, the x-ray source projecting x-rays through the object;
• a tomosynthesis detector, the tomosynthesis detector detecting x-rays that pass through the object, the tomosynthesis detector comprising a plurality of pixels, each pixel having an intensity value associated therewith, the tomosynthesis detector generating projection data in response to the x-rays impinging thereon, the projection data corresponding to the intensity values, the tomosynthesis system producing rotational motion of the x-ray source with respect to the object over a particular angular range that is less than 360°;
• and
• a computer, the computer receiving the projection data generated by the tomosynthesis detector, the computer being configured to project the projection data generated by the tomosynthesis detector onto a virtual computed tomography (CT) detector, the virtual CT detector comprising a plurality of virtual pixels, the computer determining intensity values for the virtual pixels based on the intensity values associated with the pixels of the tomosynthesis detector, and wherein the computer performs a CT reconstruction algorithm that processes the intensity values of the virtual pixels to thereby reconstruct an image of the object.

A method for reconstructing an image of an object from x-ray projection data, the method comprising the steps of:

• acquiring the x-ray projection data with a tomosynthesis system, the tomosynthesis system comprising an x-ray source and a tomosynthesis detector, the tomosynthesis detector comprising a plurality of pixels, each pixel having an intensity value, the x-ray source projecting x-rays through an object being imaged, the tomosynthesis detector detecting x-rays that pass through the object, the detector generating the projection data in response to the x-rays impinging thereon, the tomosynthesis system producing motion of the x-ray source with respect to the object;
• projecting the projection data generated by the tomosynthesis detector onto a virtual computed tomography (CT) detector, the virtual CT detector comprising a plurality of virtual pixels;
• determining intensity values for the virtual pixels based on the intensity values associated with the pixels of the tomosynthesis detector;
• and
• processing the intensity values of the virtual pixels in accordance with a CT reconstruction algorithm to thereby reconstruct an image of the object.

A method for reconstructing an image of an object from x-ray projection data, the method comprising the steps of:

• acquiring the x-ray projection data with a tomosynthesis system, the tomosynthesis system comprising an x-ray source and a tomosynthesis detector, the tomosynthesis detector comprising a plurality of pixels, each pixel having an intensity value, the x-ray source projecting x-rays through an object being imaged, the tomosynthesis detector detecting x-rays that pass through the object, the detector generating the projection data in response to the x-rays impinging thereon, the tomosynthesis system producing rotational motion of the x-ray source with respect to the object over a particular angular range that is less than 360°;
• projecting the projection data generated by the tomosynthesis detector onto a virtual computed tomography (CT) detector, the virtual CT detector comprising a plurality of virtual pixels;
• determining intensity values for the virtual pixels based on the intensity values associated with the pixels of the tomosynthesis detector;
• and
• processing the intensity values of the virtual pixels in accordance with a CT reconstruction algorithm to thereby reconstruct an image of the object.

A computer program for reconstructing an image of an object from x-ray projection data, the projection data being acquired by a tomosynthesis system, the tomosynthesis system comprising an x-ray source and a tomosynthesis detector, the x-ray source projecting x-rays through the object, the tomosynthesis detector detecting x-rays that pass through the object, the tomosynthesis detector comprising a plurality of pixels, each pixel having an intensity value associated therewith, the tomosynthesis detector generating projection data in response to the x-rays impinging thereon, the projection data corresponding to the intensity values, wherein the tomosynthesis system produces motion of the x-ray source with respect to the object, the program being embodied on a computer-readable medium, the program comprising:

• a first routine, the first routine projecting the projection data generated by the tomosynthesis detector onto a virtual computed tomography (CT) detector, the virtual CT detector comprising a plurality of virtual pixels;
• a second routine, the second routine determining intensity values for the virtual pixels based on the intensity values associated with the pixels of the tomosynthesis detector;
• and
• a third routine, the third routine processing the intensity values of the virtual pixels in accordance with a CT reconstruction algorithm to thereby reconstruct an image of the object.

A computer program for reconstructing an image of an object from x-ray projection data, the projection data being acquired by a tomosynthesis system, the tomosynthesis system comprising an x-ray source and a tomosynthesis detector, the x-ray source projecting x-rays through the object, the tomosynthesis detector detecting x-rays that pass through the object, the tomosynthesis detector comprising a plurality of pixels, each pixel having an intensity value associated therewith, the tomosynthesis detector generating projection data in response to the x-rays impinging thereon, the projection data corresponding to the intensity values, wherein the tomosynthesis system produces rotational motion of the x-ray source with respect to the object over a particular angular range that is less than 360°, the program being embodied on a computer-readable medium, the program comprising:

• a first routine, the first routine projecting the projection data generated by the tomosynthesis detector onto a virtual computed tomography (CT) detector, the virtual CT detector comprising a plurality of virtual pixels;
• a second routine, the second routine determining intensity values for the virtual pixels based on the intensity values associated with the pixels of the tomosynthesis detector;
• and
• a third routine, the third routine processing the intensity values of the virtual pixels in accordance with a CT reconstruction algorithm to thereby reconstruct an image of the object.