Monitored Reconstruction: Computed Tomography as an Anytime Algorithm

Konstantin Bulatov,Vladimir V Arlazarov,Dmitry Nikolaev,Marina Chukalina,Alexey Buzmakov

doi:10.1109/access.2020.3002019

Abstract

Computed tomography is an important technique for non-destructive analysis of an object's internal structure, relevant for scientific studies, medical applications, and industry. Pressing challenges emerging in the field of tomographic imaging include speeding up reconstruction, reducing the time required to obtain the X-ray projections, and reducing the radiation dose imparted to the object. In this paper, we introduce a model of a monitored reconstruction process, in which the acquiring of projections is interspersed with image reconstruction. This model allows to examine the tomographic reconstruction process as an anytime algorithm and consider a problem of finding the optimal stopping point, corresponding to the required number of X-ray projections for the currently scanned object. We outline the theoretical framework for the monitored reconstruction, propose ways of constructing stopping rules for various reconstruction quality metrics and provide their experimental evaluation. Due to stopping at different times for different objects, the proposed approach allows to achieve a higher mean reconstruction quality for a given mean number of X-ray projections. Conversely, fewer projections on average are used to achieve the same mean reconstruction quality.

Highlights

IntroductionA. COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY AND ITS APPLICATIONS Computed tomography (CT) is a powerful non-destructive technique for constructing detailed images of internal object areas [1]
EXPERIMENTAL EVALUATION we present the monitored reconstruction model evaluation on tomographic data obtained using laboratory microtomography setup in FSRC ‘‘Crystallography and photonics’’ of the Russian academy of sciences [55]
In this paper, we introduced a monitored reconstruction process, a novel approach to the tomographic reconstruction which allows to consider it as an anytime algorithm

Summary

Introduction

A. COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY AND ITS APPLICATIONS Computed tomography (CT) is a powerful non-destructive technique for constructing detailed images of internal object areas [1]. The target object is probed with X-rays at different angles. The tomographic projections are collected relying on the property of X-rays attenuation as they traverse the matter. Attenuation is the reduction of the intensity of an X-ray beam, which is used to create an image. The attenuation may be caused by absorption or by deflection (scattering) of photons from the beam and can be affected by beam energy and the atomic number of the absorber [2]

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Discussion

Conclusion