Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

Philips Intellectual Property & Standards Gmbh

Bernhard Johannes Brendel

Thomas Koehler

Frank Bergner

Roland Proksa

Rolf Dieter Bippus

Axel Thran

Michael Grass

Ewald Roessl

Heiner Daerr

Holger Schmitt

Artur Sossin

Cristian Lorenz

Tim Nielsen

Kevin Martin Brown

Klaus Erhard

Claas Bontus

Gilad Shechter

Christoph Herrmann

Levinus Pieter Bakker

Roger Steadman Booker

Liran Goshen

Martinus Bernardus Van Der Mark

Holger Eggers

Christian Haase

Sven Kabus

Franz Pfeiffer

Udo Van Stevendaal

Andy Ziegler

Dirk Schäfer

Peter Noel

Maximilian Von Teuffenbach

Ronny Ziegler

Adri J Duijndam

A spectral X-ray imaging system () includes an X-ray source () and an X-ray detector () that are mounted to a support structure (). The support structure () is configured to rotate the X-ray source () and the X-ray detector () around two or more orthogonal axes (A-A', B-B′). One or more processors () are configured to cause the system () to perform operations that include: generating a spectral image based on the spectral image data; and identifying, in the spectral image, a position of a first fiducial marker () comprising a first material, based on a first X-ray absorption k-edge energy value () of the first material.

X-ray position tracking

The invention relates to a system for reconstructing an image of an object. The system () comprises means () providing projection data acquired by an imaging unit, like a CT system, with an FOV, means () generating estimated image data indicative of a part of an object () located outside the FOV (), means () estimating virtual projection data based on virtual settings of a virtual imaging unit comprising a virtual FOV, means () generating fused projection data by fusing the provided projection data with the virtual projection data, and means () reconstructing a final image. This allows basing the reconstruction on a complete set of projection information for the object and thus providing an image with a high image quality.

System for reconstructing an image of an object

A radiation detector () adapted for detecting leakage currents is disclosed and comprises a direct conversion material () for converting incident radiation, at least one first electrode () and a plurality of second electrodes () connected to surfaces of the direct conversion material () for collecting each generated charges upon application of an electric field, at least one current measurement device (), and a plurality of signal processing chains (). Each signal processing chain comprises a readout unit () for discriminating between energy values with respect to the incident radiation, and a switching element () for sending signals on a first signal path () electrically connecting one of the plurality of second electrodes with the readout unit, or on a second signal path electrically connecting the one of the plurality of second electrodes with an input to one of the at least one current measurement devices. A plurality of switching elements is configured to send signals on the second signal path for measuring a leakage current received at a corresponding plurality of second electrodes of the detector in the absence of incident radiation.

Photon counting spectral CT

The invention relates to an image reconstruction apparatus comprising a detector value providing unit for providing detector values for each detector element of a plurality of detector elements forming a radiation detector and for each energy bin of a plurality of predefined energy bins, a correlation value providing unit for providing correlation values, wherein a correlation value is indicative of a correlation of a detector value detected by a detector element in an energy bin with at least one of a) a detector value detected by another detector element in the energy bin, b) a detector value detected by another detector element in another energy bin, and c) a detector value detected by the detector element in another energy bin, and a spectral image reconstruction unit for reconstructing a spectral image based on the detector values and the correlation values.

Apparatus, system, method and computer program for reconstructing a spectral image of a region of interest of an object

In a method and system for reconstructing computed tomography image data in which CT image data is de-noised. Then simulated noise is added, followed by another de-noising step to estimate the bias. Then, the estimated bias information is used to correct the original de-noised image data to arrive at second pass image data.

Image reconstruction

A system () includes input/output configured to receive line integrals from a contrast enhanced spectral scan by an imaging system. The system further includes () a processor () configured to: decompose () the line integrals into at least Compton scatter and a photo-electric effect line integrals; reconstruct the Compton scatter and a photo-electric effect line integrals to generate spectral image data, including at least Compton scatter and photo-electric effect images; de-noise () the Compton scatter and photo-electric effect images; identify () residual iodine voxels in the de-noised Compton scatter and the photo-electric effect images corresponding to residual iodine artifact; and produce a virtual non-contrast image using the identified residual iodine voxels.

Detection and/or correction of residual iodine artifacts in spectral computed tomography (CT) imaging

An imaging system () includes a radiation source () configured to emit X-ray radiation, a detector array () configured to detected X-ray radiation and generate projection data indicative thereof, and a first processing chain () configured to reconstruct the projection data and generate a noise only image. A method includes receiving projection data produced by an imaging system and processing the projection data with a first processing chain configured to reconstruct the projection data and generate a noise only image. A processor is configured to: scan an object or subject with an x-ray imaging system and generating projection data, process the projection data with a first processing chain configured to reconstruct the projection data and generate a noise only image, process the projection data with a second processing chain configured to reconstruct the projection data and generate a structure image, and de-noise the structure image based on the noise only image.

Image noise estimation using alternating negation

An imaging system includes a radiation source () configured to rotate about an examination region () and emit radiation that traverses the examination region. The imaging system further includes an array of radiation sensitive pixels () configured to detect radiation traversing the examination region and output a signal indicative of the detected radiation. The array of radiation sensitive pixels is disposed opposite the radiation source, across the examination region. The imaging system further includes a rigid flux filter device () disposed in the examination region between the radiation source and the radiation sensitive detector array of photon counting pixels. The rigid flux filter device is configured to filter the radiation traversing the examination region and incident thereon. The radiation leaving the rigid flux filter device has a predetermined flux.

X-ray flux reducer for a photon counting detector

A system and related method for signal processing. Interferometric projection data reconstructed into one or more images for a spatial distribution of a physical property of an imaged object. The interferometric projection data is derived from signals acquired by an X-ray detector (D), said signals caused by X-ray radiation after interaction of said X-ray radiation with an interferometer and with the object (OB) to be imaged, said interferometer (IF) having a reference phase. A reconstructor (RECON) reconstructs for the image(s) by fitting said data to a signal model by adapting fitting variables, said fitting variables including i) one or more imaging variables for the one or more images and ii), in addition to said one or more imaging variables, a dedicated phase variable for a fluctuation of said reference phase.

Robust reconstruction for dark-field and phase contrast CT

The present invention relates to a device () for denoising a vector-valued image, the device () comprising: a generator (), which is configured to generate an initial loss function (L_I) comprising at least one initial covariance matrix (ICM) defining a model of correlated noise for each pixel of the vector-valued image; a processor (), which is configured to provide a final loss function (L_F) comprising a set of at least one final covariance matrix (FCM) based on the initial loss function by modifying at least one submatrix and/or at least one matrix element of the initial covariance matrix (ICM); and a noise-suppressor (), which is configured to denoise the vector-valued image using the final loss function (L_F) comprising the set of the at least one final covariance matrix (FCM).

Device and method for denoising a vector-valued image

A beam hardening correction method, a related calibration method for tomographic image data and a related apparatus. The tomographic image data includes attenuation data (f) and phase gradient data (g) and/or small angle scattering data (h). A correction value is computed from the attenuation data (f) by applying a function (q) to the attenuation data (f). The correction value is combined (S) with the phase gradient data (g) or with the small angle scattering data (h).

Empirical beam hardening correction for differential phase contrast CT

The present invention relates to a device for reconstructing an X-ray tomography image, the device comprising a reconstruction module, which is configured to utilize an ordered subset maximum likelihood optimization with a diagonal paraboloid approximation of a cost function for the reconstructing of the X-ray tomography image; and a calculation module, which is configured to calculate a pre-computable denominator term for the cost function for a plurality of subsets of projection data based on a distribution of diagonal denominator terms over the plurality of the subsets of the projection data.

Device and method for reconstructing an X-ray computed tomography image

The present invention relates to computer tomography X-ray imaging. In order to provide further improved data for the reconstruction, a system () for computer tomography X-ray imaging is provided. The system comprises a data interface () and a processing unit (). The data interface is configured to provide at least first and second CT X-ray radiation projection data for at least a first and second X-ray energy range, which ranges are different from each other. The processing unit is configured to determine a correction for slice normalization, and to apply an equal slice normalization for the first and the second CT X-ray projection data and thereby generating prepared first and second CT X-ray projection data. For the correction, the equal slice normalization is based on measured data of outer detector elements. Further, the data interface is configured to provide the prepared first and second CT X-ray projection data for further processing. In an example, the system further comprises a computer tomography X-ray imaging acquisition arrangement () with an X-ray source () configured to generate an X-ray beam, and an X-ray detector () configured as an energy discriminating X-ray detector to simultaneously provide X-ray radiation projection data for at least two different X-ray energy ranges separately. The computer tomography X-ray imaging acquisition arrangement is configured to acquire at least the first and second CT X-ray projection data of a region of interest of an object for the at least first and second X-ray energy range.

Computer tomography X-ray imaging

The invention relates to an image generation apparatus () for generating an image of an object. A reconstruction unit () reconstructs the image based on provided measured projection values such that costs defined by a cost function are reduced, wherein the cost function depends on differences between calculated projection values, which have been determined by simulating a forward projection through the image, and the provided measured projection values, and wherein a degree of dependence of the cost function on a respective difference depends on the respective difference. This can allow for a consideration of a degree of disturbance of the measured projection values by motion and/or by an incomplete illumination of the object during the reconstruction process, which can lead to a reconstruction of an image having an improved image quality.

Image generation apparatus

A signal processing apparatus and a related method. In particular, the apparatus includes a novel image reconstructor to reconstruct cross sectional images of a specimen from interferometric projection data (m). The reconstructor (RECON) is based on a new forward model that accounts for cross-talk of a phase contrast signal into a dark field signal.

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Norderstedt, Germany

Bernhard Johannes Brendel