This paper describes a unique system for constructing a three-dimensional volume from a set of two-dimensional (2D) x-ray projection images based on optical aperture theory. This proprietary system known as Tuned-Aperture Computed Tomography (TACT) is novel in that only a small number of projections acquired from arbitrary or task-specific projection angles is required for the reconstruction process. We used TACT to reconstruct a simulated phantom from seven 2D projections made with the x-ray source positioned within 30 degrees of perpendicular to a detector array. The distance from the x-ray source was also varied to change the amount of perspective distortion in each projection. Finally, we determined the reconstruction accuracy of TACT and compared it to that of a conventional tomosynthesis system. We found the reconstructed volumetric data sets computed with TACT to be geometrically accurate and contain significantly less visible blurring than a similar data set computed with the control technique.

Date Published: 5 June 2003
PDF: 10 pages
Proc. SPIE 5030, Medical Imaging 2003: Physics of Medical Imaging, (5 June 2003); doi: 10.1117/12.479978

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 5030:
Medical Imaging 2003: Physics of Medical Imaging
Martin J. Yaffe; Larry E. Antonuk, Editor(s)