Beam-hardening and attenuation correction for coherent-scatter CT

A coherent scatter computed tomography apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

• a detector assembly with a source of radiation,
• a first detector;
• and
• a second detector;
• wherein the detector assembly is arranged for rotation around an object of interest;
• wherein the first detector and the second detector are arranged opposite to the source of radiation;
• wherein the first detector is arranged for acquiring attenuation data of the object of interest from primary radiation transmitted through the object of interest;
• wherein the second detector is arranged for acquiring scatter radiation data of the object of interest from scatter radiation scattered from the object of interest;
• wherein the apparatus performs a beam hardening compensation of the scatter radiation data based on the acquired attenuation data and based on an energy shift of an equivalent object equivalent to the object of interest;
• and
• wherein the apparatus performs a reconstruction of coherent scatter computed tomography data by using the compensated scatter radiation data.

A data processing device for reconstructing coherent scatter computed tomography data of an object of interest, wherein the device comprises:

• a memory for storing attenuation data and scatter radiation data;
• and
• a data processor adapted to perform the following acts:
• acquiring attenuation data of the object of interest from primary radiation transmitted through the object of interest;
• performing a beam hardening compensation of scatter radiation data based on the acquired attenuation data and based on an energy shift of an equivalent object equivalent to the object of interest;
• wherein the scatter radiation data is based on scatter radiation scattered from the object of interest;
• and
• reconstructing the coherent scatter computed tomography data by using the compensated scatter radiation data.

A computer readable medium embodying a computer program for reconstructing coherent scatter computed tomography data of an object of interest, wherein, when the computer program is executed on one of a data processor and a coherent scatter computed tomography apparatus, the following acts are executed:

• acquiring attenuation data of the object of interest from primary radiation transmitted through the object of interest;
• performing a beam hardening compensation of scatter radiation data based on the acquired attenuation data and based on an energy shift of an equivalent object equivalent to the object of interest;
• wherein the scatter radiation data is based on scatter radiation scattered from the object of interest;
• and
• reconstructing the coherent scatter computed tomography data by using the compensated scatter radiation data.