Apparatus and method for reconstruction of volumetric images in a divergent scanning computed tomography system

A system for imaging an object using radiation, comprising:

• a generally O-shaped gantry having a central opening into which an object being imaged placed;
• a source of radiation housed within the gantry;
• at least one real detector array that obtains projection data at two or more positions on the gantry, and has a geometry that is neither equilinear nor equiangular;
• and
• a data process for reprojecting the projection data onto a virtual detector array that has a geometry that is either equilinear or equiangular, and for reconstructing the reprojected data from the virtual detector array.

A system for imaging an object using radiation, comprising:

• means for obtaining projection data from at least one real detector array, the at least one real detector array obtaining projection data at two or more positions, and having a geometry that is neither equilinear nor equiangular;
• means for reprojecting the projection data onto a virtual detector array that has a geometry that is equiangular;
• and
• means for reconstructing the reprojected data from the virtual detector array.

A method of imaging an object using radiation, comprising:

• obtaining projection data from at least one real detector array, the at least one detector array obtaining projection data at two or more positions, and having a geometry that is neither equilinear nor equiangular;
• reprojector the projection data onto a virtual detector array having an ewuiangular geometry;
• and
• reconstructing the reprojected data from the virtual detector array.