Correction of artefacts in optical projection tomography

Abstract

A new imaging technique called optical projection tomography (OPT), essentially an optical version of x-ray computed tomography (CT), provides molecular specificity, cellular resolution and larger specimen coverage (≈1 cubic centimetre) than was previously possible with other imaging techniques. It is ideally suited to gene expression studies in small animals. Reconstructed OPT images demonstrate several artefacts which reduce the overall image quality. In this paper, we describe methods to prevent smear artefacts due to illumination intensity fluctuation, ring artefacts due to CCD pixel sensitivity variation and a new ‘detector edge’ artefact caused by non-zero background signal. We also present an automated method to align the position of the rotational axis during image reconstruction. Finally, we propose a method to eliminate bowl artefacts due to projection truncation using a lower resolution OPT scan of the same specimen. This solution also provides OPT with the ability to obtain a high-resolution reconstruction from a region of interest of a specimen that is larger than the field of view. Implementation of these corrections and modifications increases the accuracy of the OPT imaging technique and extends its capabilities to obtain higher resolution data from within a whole specimen.