Statistical iterative reconstruction for multi-contrast x-ray micro-tomography

S. Allner, A. Velroyen, A. Fehringer, F. Pfeiffer, P. B. Noël

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Scanning times have always been an important issue in x-ray micro-tomography. To reach high-quality reconstructions the exposure times for each projection can be very long due to small detector pixel sizes and limited flux of x-ray sources. In addition, the required number of projections is a factor which limits a reduction of exposure beyond a certain level. This applies particularly to grating-based phase-contrast computed tomography (PCCT), as several images per projection have to be acquired in order to obtain absorption, phase and dark-field information. In this work we qualitatively compare statistical iterative reconstruction (SIR) and filtered back-projection (FBP) reconstruction from undersampled projection data based on a formalin-fixated mouse sample measured in a grating-based phase-contrast small-animal scanner. The results from our assessment illustrate that SIR offers not only significantly higher image quality, but also enables high-resolution imaging from severely undersampled data in comparison to the FBP algorithm. Therefore, the application of advanced iterative reconstruction methods in micro-tomography entails major advantages over state-of-the-art FBP reconstruction while offering the opportunity to shorten scan durations via a reduction of exposure time per projection and number of angular views.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationMedical Imaging 2015
Subtitle of host publicationPhysics of Medical Imaging
EditorsChristoph Hoeschen, Despina Kontos, Christoph Hoeschen
PublisherSPIE
ISBN (Electronic)9781628415025
DOIs
StatePublished - 2015
EventMedical Imaging 2015: Physics of Medical Imaging - Orlando, United States
Duration: 22 Feb 201525 Feb 2015

Publication series

NameProgress in Biomedical Optics and Imaging - Proceedings of SPIE
Volume9412
ISSN (Print)1605-7422

Conference

ConferenceMedical Imaging 2015: Physics of Medical Imaging
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityOrlando
Period22/02/1525/02/15

Keywords

  • Computed tomography
  • Grating-based phase-contrast CT
  • Micro-CT
  • Noise reduction
  • Statistical iterative reconstruction
  • Undersampling

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