Correction of spatial artifacts in radiographic images

A method for correcting spatial artifacts within a composite radiographic image of an object, said method comprising the steps of:

• generating the composite image by assembling a plurality of views of the object imaged by a radiographic scanner, wherein each view represents a different time, relative motion exists between the radiographic scanner and the object, and each view corresponds to a portion of data used to generate the composite image;
• estimating a correctional shift profile comprising tailored correctional shifts for at least two of the views;
• correcting the views using the corresponding correctional shifts;
• and
• re-generating the image by assembling the corrected views;
• wherein the step of estimating a correctional shift profile utilizes an optimization algorithm;
• and
• the optimization algorithm is applied to find the correctional shift profile that minimizes a sum of a set of penalty functions such that the optimization algorithm at least approximately satisfies a set of hard constraints, wherein each hard constraint uses a Fourier transform to constrain high frequency components of the shift profile to be within a preselected value.

At least one non-transitory computer-readable medium containing computer program instructions for correcting spatial artifacts within a composite radiographic image of an object, said instructions performing the steps of:

• generating the composite image by assembling a plurality of views of the object imaged by a radiographic scanner, wherein each view represents a different time, relative motion exists between the radiographic scanner and the object, and each view corresponds to a portion of data used to generate the composite image and where each view is no more than two pixels wide in a horizontal direction and many pixels tall in a vertical direction to cover entire height of the object;
• estimating a correctional shift profile comprising tailored correctional shifts to be applied to at least two of the views;
• correcting the views using the corresponding correctional shifts;
• and
• re-generating the image by assembling the corrected views.

Apparatus for correcting spatial artifacts within a composite radiographic image of an object, said apparatus comprising:

• a radiographic image scanner adapted to produce a plurality of views of the object, wherein each view represents a different time, relative motion exists between the radiographic scanner and the object, and each view corresponds to a portion of data used to generate the composite image and where each view is no more than two pixels wide in a horizontal direction and many pixels tall in a vertical direction to cover entire height of the object;
• coupled to the radiographic image scanner, means for estimating a correctional shift profile comprising tailored correctional shifts to be applied to at least two of the views;
• coupled to the estimating means, means for correcting the views using the corresponding correctional shifts;
• and
• coupled to the correcting means, means for assembling the corrected views to form a corrected image.