Canon Medical Systems Corporation

Xiaohui Zhan

Xiaofeng Niu

Kevin Christopher Zimmerman

Yi Qiang

Liang Cai

Zhou Yu

Ilmar A Hein

Richard Thompson

Ruoqiao Zhang

Xiaochun Lai

Ilmar Hein

Jian Zhou

Hiroaki Miyazaki

Yujie Lu

Zhihong Ye

Cai Liang

Cameron Clarke

An apparatus and a method for detection of defective pixels for a photon-counting detector-based computed tomography (CT) system is disclosed. In particular, the apparatus and the method disclosed herein, detect detector pixels that have intermittent behavior using on-the-fly defective pixel screening based on various criteria during an object scan. The defective pixels are discarded using a defective pixel map before image reconstruction.

Method for detecting and handling detector pixels with intermittent behavior for a small pixelated photon counting computed tomography (CT) system

An X-ray scanner system is provided. The system includes a photon-counting detector, a memory, and processing circuitry. The detector has a plurality of detector pixels in a channel direction. The memory stores a detector response forward model of the photon-counting detector. The detector response forward model is to be used during image reconstruction of an imaging object. The processing circuitry estimates an attenuation profile of the imaging object, determine, with respect to each of the plurality of detector pixels, a set of spatial weights, based on the estimated attenuation profile, and update, based on the determined set of spatial weights, the detector response forward model stored in the memory.

Detector response calibaration data weight optimization method for a photon counting x-ray imaging system

A method and a system for providing calibration for a polychromatic photon counting detector forward counting model. Measurements with multiple materials and known path lengths are used to calibrate the photon counting detector counting response of the forward model. The flux independent weighted bin response function is estimated using the expectation maximization method, and then used to estimate the pileup correction terms at plural tube voltage settings for each detector pixel. The beam hardening corrections are then applied to the measured projection data sinogram, and the corrected sinogram is reconstructed to the counting image at the selected single energy.

Counting response and beam hardening calibration method for a full size photon-counting CT system

A photon counting computed tomography (CT) method including receiving a first forward model including a set of first parameters and a set of second parameters corresponding to a plurality of materials and path lengths by scanning a slab at plural tube voltages and plural tube currents of an X-ray tube; evaluating an image quality of a material decomposition image reconstructed by the set of first parameters and the set of second parameters; and updating at least one second parameters from the set of second parameters if the image quality of the material decomposition image does not satisfy a predetermined threshold, wherein the updating is achieved by updating the at least one second parameter from the set of second parameters to an energy dependent parameter from a constant value.

Iterative method for material decomposition calibration in a full size photon counting computed tomography system

A method and a system for providing calibration for a photon counting CT detector forward model for material decomposition. Various slabs of predetermined material and path lengths are placed in the photon counting CT detector and scanned using one or more stationary X-rays to obtain calibration data and parametrize the forward model.

Material decomposition calibration method and apparatus for a full size photon counting CT system

A method and a system for providing calibration for a photon counting detector forward model for material decomposition. The flux independent weighted bin response function is estimated using the expectation maximization method, and then used to estimate the pileup correction terms at each tube voltage setting for each detector pixel.

Two-step material decomposition calibration method for a full size photon counting computed tomography system

A method and apparatus for diagnosing and/or calibrating underperforming pixels in detectors in a small pixelated photon counting CT system utilizes a series of tests on image data acquired in-situ as part of a series of calibration scans in the CT system. Tests are performed on the acquired data to determine the existence of underperforming pixels within the detectors such that the information acquired by those pixels can be replaced by alternate data from surrounding pixels (e.g. by interpolation). The underperforming pixels are stored in 'bad' pixel tables and may be specific to a type of image (e.g., spectral or counting) and a specific protocol.

Bad detector calibration methods and workflow for a small pixelated photon counting CT system

A method and a system for a two-step calibration method for the polychromatic semiconductor-based PCD forward counting model, to account for various pixel summing readout modes for imaging at different resolutions. The flux independent weighted bin response function is estimated using the expectation maximization method, and then used to estimate the pileup correction terms at plural tube voltage settings for each detector pixel. To correct the variation of the detector response due to different PCD sub-pixel summing schemes, the embodiments calibrate forward model parameters based on the various pixel readout modes.

Pixel summing scheme and methods for material decomposition calibration in a full size photon counting computed tomography system

An apparatus, system and method for calibrating an x-ray apparatus including acquiring sinogram data by scanning a symmetrical phantom using a plurality of detector channels; generating mirror-copied sinogram data by mirror-copying at least one of first sinogram data and second sinogram data of the acquired sinogram data, wherein the first sinogram data and the second sinogram data are generated by dividing the sinogram data at a center detector channel of the plurality of detector channels; outputting a first reconstructed image by reconstructing the mirror-copied sinogram data; and determining a calibration parameter based on the first reconstructed image.

Self calibration method and apparatus for correcting offset angle in a photon counting computed tomography system

An embodiment of a computed tomography apparatus includes an x-ray source and scan control circuitry configured to control the x-ray source to expose a subject with x-rays over a scan having a plurality of views. A detector is disposed to receive x-rays from the x-ray source, has a plurality of anodes arranged in groups, and a common conductive strip between the anodes. Photon counting circuits are respectively provided for each of the anodes and have adjustable operating parameters. Connection circuitry is configured to adaptively connect, in a first mode, each anode to one of the photon counting circuits and, in a second mode, each anode in a group to a same one of the photon counting circuits. Processing circuitry, connected to the connection circuitry and the photon counting circuits, is configured to, for each of the views, select the first mode or the second mode and adjust the operating parameters based upon exposure data obtained from exposing the subject with the x-rays from the x-ray source.

X-ray CT apparatus with adaptive photon counting detectors

According to one embodiment, a photon-counting detector (PCD) includes a plurality of macro-pixels. The plurality of macro-pixels arranged on a semiconductor crystal has a first face and a second face. The first face and the second face are parallel. Each macro-pixel from the plurality of macro-pixels is configured to acquire projection data for generating a reconstructed image. The plurality of macro-pixels each includes at least one large micro-pixel is disposed within the each macro-pixel and at least two small micro-pixels is disposed within the each macro-pixel. Each of the at least two small micro-pixels has a surface area that is less than a surface area of the at least one large micro-pixel.

Photon counting detector and x-ray computed tomography apparatus

An apparatus and method are described using a forward model to correct pulse pileup in spectrally resolved X-ray projection data from photon-counting detectors (PCDs). The forward model represents pulse pileup effects using an integral in which the integrand includes a term that is a function of a count rate, which term is called a spectrum distortion correction function. This correction function can be represented as superposition of basis energy functions and corresponding polynomials of the count rate, which are defined by the polynomial coefficients. To calibrate the forward model, the polynomial coefficients are adjusted to optimize an objective function, which uses calibration data having known projections lengths for the material components of a material decomposition. To determine projection lengths for projection data from a computed tomography scan, the calibrated polynomial coefficients are held constant and the projection lengths are adjusted to optimize an objective function.

Method and apparatus for computed tomography (CT) and material decomposition with count-rate dependent pileup correction

A method and apparatuses are provided to estimate, for two or more detector elements in an array of photon-counting detector elements, respective energy spectra of an X-ray beam incident on the corresponding detector elements from an X-ray source, the energy spectra being estimated by modeling X-ray attenuation as a function of X-ray energy when an X-ray beam is transmitted through a filter and set, for each detector element of the two or more detector elements, a first energy threshold of an energy range that is detected by the each detector element, the first energy threshold of the each detector element being based on the estimated energy spectra of the each detector element.

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Vernon Hills, IL, United States of America

Xiaohui Zhan