Cone-beam Configurations Research Articles

Research and manufacture of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) system for industrial use

Computed tomography is a transmission tomography technique; this technique allows reconstructing the cross-section images or slices of the real object. The CT was developed in the 1970s for medical diagnostic purposes. Today, the CT technique has evolved to the 7th generation using cone-beam configuration (CBCT) and Flat Panel Detector (FPD) instead of fan-beam arrangement and one dimension detector array. CBCT has greater X-ray efficiency and higher spatial resolution than the previous generation; therefore, it can be used in industrial applications such as metrology of precision machined and None-Destructive Testing (NDT). In this research, the first CBCT system in Vietnam was manufactured; this system can acquire and reconstruct three dimensions of a real object with a maximum size of 200 × 300 mm within ten minutes. The resolution of the reconstructed image is around 49 µm.

Sparse-view neutron-photon computed tomography: Object reconstruction and material discrimination

Taking into account the advantages of both neutron- and photon-based systems, we propose combined neutron-photon computed tomography (CT) under a sparse-view setting and demonstrate its performance for 3D object visualization and material discrimination. We use a high-performance regularization method for CT reconstruction by combining regularization based on total variation (TV) and curvelet transform in cone beam geometry. It is coupled with proposed 2D material signatures which is pairs of photon to neutron transmission ratios and neutron transmission values per object space voxels. Classification of materials is performed by association of a voxel signature with library signatures; and per object - by majority of voxels in the object. Representation of object-material pairs, for the model in our experiment, a complex scene with group of high-Z and low-Z materials, attains the reconstruction accuracy of 92.1% and the overall high-Z discrimination accuracy of object representation is 85%, and by about 7.5% higher discrimination accuracy than that with 1D signatures which are ratios of photon to neutron transmissions. With a relative noise level of 10%, the method yields the reconstruction accuracies of 87.2%. The analyses are performed in cone beam configuration, with Monte Carlo modeling of neutron-photon transport for the model of object geometry and material contents.

Nanotomography endstation at the P05 beamline: Status and perspectives

The Imaging Beamline IBL/P05 at the DESY storage ring PETRA III, operated by the Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht, has two dedicated endstations optimized for micro- and nanotomography experiments [1-3]. Here we present the status of the nanotomography endstation, highlight the latest instrumentation upgrades and present first experimental results. In particular in materials science, where structures with ceramics or metallic materials are of interest, X-ray energies of 15 keV and above are required even for sample sizes of several 10 μm in diameter. The P05 imaging beamline is dedicated to materials science and is designed to allow for imaging applications with X-ray energies of 10 to 50 keV. In addition to the full field X-ray microscopy setup, the layout of the nanotomography endstation allows switching to cone-beam configuration. Kinematics for X-ray optics like compound refractive lenses (CRLs), Fresnel zone plates (FZP) or beam-shaping optics are implemented and the installation of a Kirkpatrick Baez-mirror (KB mirror) system is foreseen at a later stage of the beamline development. Altogether this leads to a high flexibility of the nanotomography setup such that the instrument can be tailored to the specific experimental requirements of a range of sample systems.

Combined photon–neutron radiography for nondestructive analysis of materials

Combined photon–neutron radiography was investigated as a nondestructive method to determine the shape and material composition of complex objects. A system consisting of photon and neutron sources in a cone-beam configuration and a 2D detector array was modeled using the MCNP5 code. Photon-to-neutron transmission ratios were determined for a car engine using 0.1, 0.5, 2.5 MeV neutrons and 0.2, 0.5, 1 MeV photons. Focusing on inherent difference between neutron and photon interactions with matter, it was possible to classify materials within the scanned object.

Fast Neutron Tomography of Low-Z Object in High-Z Material Shielding

The technique and first results of Fast Neutron Tomography (FNCT) experiments are presented which are performed at the accelerator facility of PTB, Germany. A high-intensity neutron beam of broad spectral distribution with an average energy of 5.5 MeV, was produced by 11.5 MeV deuterons impinging upon a thick beryllium target. The capability of FNCT for high contrast imaging of low-Z materials embedded in thick high-Z shielding materials is demonstrated, which is superior to more conventional high-energy X-ray imaging techniques. For demonstrating the method special test objects were prepared: One consisted of an assembled polyethylene cylinder with holes of various diameters and directions drilled in its surface and inner parts. The plastic phantom was inserted into lead cylinders of different thicknesses. The detector system consisted of a plastic scintillator along with a dedicated optics, image-intensifier and a CCD camera. Two scintillator screens were compared: a bulk plastic scintillator screen and a fibres optical scintillator screen. The tomographic scans were taken in two geometrical configurations: cone beam and semi-fan beam configuration. The image quality favours the semi-fan beam configuration which on the other hand is more time consuming The obtained tomographic images and a comparison of the imaging quality between the different experimental conditions will be presented.

Characterization of superconducting wires and cables by X-ray micro-tomography

Due to their mechanical strength and ability to withstand the large electromagnetic force applied to the superconductors in large magnets during excitation, the Cable-in-Conduit-Conductor (CICC) type superconductors will be employed in the next stage of fusion magnets. Here, we discuss the recent results on the application of a non-invasive method for the characterization of CCIC by X-ray micro-tomography (μXCT). The experiments have been carried out on a high resolution X-ray tomograph in INFLPR (http://tomography.inflpr.ro). An open type nanofocus X-ray source with maximum high voltage of 225kVp at 15–30W maximum power and multiple targets of W on different windows materials (Be, Al, Cu or diamond) is the main component. X-rays are detected by means of amorphous silicon flat panel sensor in the cone-beam configuration and high-energy efficient line sensor based on individual scintillators in the fan-beam scanning configuration. The quality of tomographic images (≈40μm space resolution) allowed the majority of strands of analyzed CICC samples to be fully reconstructed along the investigated segment (up to 300mm long). Our method provides: (i) local and global void fractions (over a 300mm length of the sample), (ii) void homogeneity factor as the ratio between void space surface and perimeter and (iii) twist pitch angle of individual strands and its distribution in 3D. It can be used to investigate superconducting CICC during their manufacture, installation or after service inspection, for purposes of QA, characterization or development.

Cone-beam reconstruction for the two-circles-plus-one-line trajectory

The Kodak Image Station In-Vivo FX has an x-ray module with cone-beam configuration for radiographic imaging but lacks the functionality of tomography. To introduce x-ray tomography into the system, we choose the two-circles-plus-one-line trajectory by mounting one translation motor and one rotation motor. We establish a reconstruction algorithm by applying the M-line reconstruction method. Numerical studies and preliminary physical phantom experiment demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed design and reconstruction algorithm.

Region of Interest Imaging for a General Trajectory with the Rebinned BPF Algorithm

The back-projection-filtration (BPF) algorithm has been applied to image reconstruction for cone-beam configurations with general source trajectories. The BPF algorithm can reconstruct 3-D region-of-interest (ROI) images from data containing truncations. However, like many other existing algorithms for cone-beam configurations, the BPF algorithm involves a back-projection with a spatially varying weighting factor, which can result in the non-uniform noise levels in reconstructed images and increased computation time. In this work, we propose a BPF algorithm to eliminate the spatially varying weighting factor by using a rebinned geometry for a general scanning trajectory. This proposed BPF algorithm has an improved noise property, while retaining the advantages of the original BPF algorithm such as minimum data requirement.

Chord-based image reconstruction in cone-beam CT with a curved detector

Modern computed tomography (CT) scanners use cone-beam configurations for increasing volume coverage, improving x-ray-tube utilization, and yielding isotropic spatial resolution. Recently, there have been significant developments in theory and algorithms for exact image reconstruction from cone-beam projections. In particular, algorithms have been proposed for image reconstruction on chords; and advantages over the existing algorithms offered by the chord-based algorithms include the high flexibility of exact image reconstruction for general scanning trajectories and the capability of exact reconstruction of images within a region of interest from truncated data. These chord-based algorithms have been developed only for flat-panel detectors. Many cone-beam CT scanners employ curved detectors for important practical considerations. Therefore, in this work, we have derived chord-based algorithms for a curved detector so that they can be applied to reconstructing images directly from data acquired by use of a CT scanner with a curved detector. We have also conducted preliminary numerical studies to demonstrate and evaluate the reconstruction properties of the derived chord-based algorithms for curved detectors.

A High Spatial Resolution CT Scanner for Small Animal Imaging

We have built a micro-CT system that will be integrated with a small animal PET scanner. The components are: an X-ray source with a peak voltage of up to 60 kV, a power of 10 W and a focal spot size of 30 μm; a CCD coupled to CsI(Tl) scintillator, subdivided into 128 × 3072 square pixels, each with a size of 48 μm; stepping motors for the sample roto-translation; a PCI acquisition board; electronic boards to control and read-out the CCD. A program in Lab VIEW controls the data acquisition. Reconstruction algorithms have been implemented for fan-beam and cone-beam configurations. Images of a bar pattern have been acquired to evaluate the detector performance: the CTF curve has been extracted from the data, obtaining a value of 10 % at 5 lp/mm and about 3 % at 10 lp/mm. Tomographic acquisitions have been performed with a test phantom consisting of a Plexiglas cylinder, 3 cm in diameter, with holes ranging from 3 mm down to 0.6 mm in diameter, filled with different materials. The contrast resolution has been extracted from the reconstructed images: a value of 6 % (in water) for a cubic voxel size of 80 μm has been obtained.

Image reconstruction with a shift‐variant filtration in circular cone‐beam CT

AbstractIt is well known that cone‐beam data acquired with a circular orbit are insufficient for exact image reconstruction. Despite this, because a cone‐beam scanning configuration with a circular orbit is easy to implement in practice, it has been widely employed for data acquisition in, e.g., micro‐CT and CT imaging in radiation therapy. The algorithm developed by Feldkamp, Davis, and Kress (FDK) and its modifications, such as the Tent–FDK (T‐FDK) algorithm, have been used for image reconstruction from circular cone‐beam data. In this work, we present an algorithm with spatially shift‐variant filtration for image reconstruction in circular cone‐beam CT. We performed computer‐simulation studies to compare the proposed and existing algorithms. Numerical results in these studies demonstrated that the proposed algorithm has resolution properties comparable to, and noise properties better than, the FDK algorithm. As compared to the T‐FDK algorithm, our proposed algorithm reconstructs images with an improved in‐plane spatial resolution. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 14, 213–221, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ima.20026

A Monte Carlo investigation of dual-planar circular-orbit cone-beam SPECT

We use Monte Carlo simulations to study the imaging properties of a design for a dual-planar cone-beam (DPCB) single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) system. A dual-planar system uses a dual-camera SPECT system and two cone-beam collimators with foci in different axial planes to increase the effective axial field of view (FOV). We simulated nearly noise-free projection data from a computerized brain phantom and a phantom consisting of a series of points. Four configurations were simulated: parallel-beam low-energy high-resolution (LEHR) as a standard for comparison and DPCB at three radii of rotation (ROR) corresponding to the smallest, average and largest ROR required to clear patients' shoulders based on ergonomic data. We compared global measures of average resolution and total acquired counts for the four configurations. We also estimated local spatial frequency response for reconstructions of point sources. Finally, we estimated a local noise power spectrum by simulating 1000 noise realizations of the brain phantom and estimating a local noise covariance at selected points. The noise power spectra were used to estimate spectral signal to noise ratio (SNR) for each configuration. The resolution in the reconstructed image space ranges from 7.2 mm full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) at the minimum ROR to 9.4 mm FWHM at the maximum ROR. The efficiency is inversely related, ranging from 1.5 times that of parallel LEHR at minimum ROR to 2.5 times that of LEHR at maximum ROR. Estimates of system frequency response roughly correspond to the global resolution estimates, but the cone-beam techniques exhibit an unusual secondary peak in the axial-direction response. Estimates of spectral SNR show that the cone-beam configurations almost always result in higher SNR at all spatial frequencies regardless of ROR. The very largest ROR may be an exception. A larger ROR results in significantly higher SNR for low spatial frequencies with small reductions in SNR for mid-range frequencies. We conclude that the DPCB design allows significant improvements in both resolution and noise as compared to conventional parallel designs and that optimizing the ROR for the cone-beam system may improve the performance of certain imaging tasks.

Cone beam collimation for single photon emission computed tomography: analysis, simulation, and image reconstruction using filtered backprojection.

This paper presents an analysis of two cone beam configurations (having focal lengths of 40 and 60 cm) for the acquisition of single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) projection data. A three-dimensional filtered backprojection algorithm is used to reconstruct SPECT images of cone beam projection data obtained using Monte Carlo simulations. The mathematical analysis resulted in on-axis point source sensitivities (calculated for a distance of 15 cm from the collimator surface) for cone beam configurations that were 1.4-3 times the sensitivities of parallel-hole and fan beam geometries having similar geometric resolutions. Cone beam collimation offers the potential for improved sensitivity for SPECT devices using large-field-of-view scintillation cameras.