Phantom study based on a high-energy in-line phase contrast tomosynthesis prototype

Abstract

The objective of this research is to demonstrate an in-line phase contrast tomosynthesis prototype operated under high x-ray tube voltage, and a phantom study was conducted to characterize the potentials of this system. The prototype is based on an in-line phase contrast system accompanying with digital tomosynthesis imaging mechanism; and the tube voltage is operated at 120 kVp. A phantom study was conducted by using a custom-designed fish bone phantom to demonstrate the ability of this imaging system in edge enhancement and noise suppression. As the result, edge enhancement could be observed on the in-plane slices by plotting and comparing the intensity profiles with DTS images. As employing phase retrieval method onto the original angular projections could dramatically improve the image quality in edge enhancement, 3D imaging box was preliminarily constructed by using reconstructed in-plane slices acquired with PAD phase retrieval. As expected, high-energy in-line phase contrast tomosynthesis imaging system shows its potentials in edge enhancement and noise suppression by introducing phase retrieval method. Dose studies and perfecting photon energies and phantom designs will be our future interest.