Image combining

A method for inserting an image of a first object into an image of a second object, comprising:

• determining a location in the image of the second object into which to insert the image of the first object, the image of the second object yielded from second projection space data representative of the second object, the first object not comprised within the second object during a radiation examination of the second object from which the second projection space data is acquired;
• converting, based on the location, the image of the first object from image space to projection space to generate first projection space data representative of the first object;
• combining the first projection space data with the second projection space data to generate composite projection space data representative of the first object and the second object;
• converting the composite projection space data into a reconstructed image depicting the first object within the second object at the location such that the first object appears to be comprised within the second object during the radiation examination;
• and
• corrupting, prior to the converting, at least one of the first projection space data or the composite projection space data, based on an aspect of the second object spatially proximate the location, to introduce an artifact into the reconstructed image.

An imaging system, comprising:

• an ionizing radiation source configured to emit radiation;
• a detector array configured to generate a signal indicative of radiation traversing a second object and impinging the detector array;
• a data measurement system configured to generate second projection space data representative of the second object based on the signal;
• a first reconstructor configured to generate an image of the second object based on the second projection space data;
• an object locator configured to determine a location in the image of the second object into which to insert an image of a first object not comprised within the second object;
• a forward projector configured to convert, based on the location, the image of the first object from image space to projection space to generate first projection space data representative of the first object;
• a combiner configured to combine the first projection space data with the second projection space data to generate composite projection space data representative of the first object and the second object;
• a second reconstructor configured to convert the composite projection space data into a reconstructed image depicting the first object within the second object at the location such that the first object appears to be comprised within the second object;
• and
• a projection data uncorrector configured to corrupt at least one of the first projection space data or the composite projection space data, based on an aspect of the second object spatially proximate the location, to introduce an artifact into the reconstructed image.