US5802134A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Nutating slice CT image reconstruction apparatus and method
Assignee: Analogic Corp
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Filing: 1997-04-09
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Granted: 1998-09-01
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Expires: 2017-04-09
Abstract
Abstract A nutating slice CT image reconstruction apparatus and method generates a set of projection data using helical cone-beam scanning. The three-dimensional projection data is used to reconstruct a series of planar image slices. The slices are selected such that they define a tilt angle and a rotation angle with respect to the longitudinal axes of the object being scanned. Successive slices have equal tilt angles but changing rotation angles such that normal axes of successive slices define a nutation and precession about the longitudinal axis of the object. Projection data for the tilted slices are formed of selected one-dimensional fan-beam data. As such, the projection data can be applied to conventional two-dimensional reconstruction approaches to generate an image.
Inventors
- 👤 Gregory L. Larson
- 👤 Christopher C. Ruth
- 👤 Carl R. Crawford
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 12:26
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B6/00; A61B6/02; A61B6/03; A61B6/032; A61B6/027; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S378/00; Y10S378/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 53
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of reconstructing image data for a region having a longitudinal axis, said method comprising: scanning the region with an array of detectors to generate scan data representative of the region; defining a plurality of image data slices corresponding to a plurality of positions along the longitudinal axis of the region, successive image data slices being non-parallel with each other; and using the scan data, generating image data for the plurality of image data slices.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of reconstructing image data for a region having a longitudinal axis, said method comprising: scanning the region with an array of detectors to generate scan data representative of the region; defining a plurality of image data slices corresponding to a plurality of positions along the longitudinal axis of the region, successive image data slices being non-parallel with each other; and using the scan data, generating image data for the plurality of image data slices.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the region is scanned with a computed tomography (CT) device to generate the scan data.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the region is scanned with a radiation source which directs radiation through the region onto the array of detectors.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the radiation source is a cone-beam source.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, wherein successive image data slices are nutated with respect to each other.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the array of detectors is a two-dimensional array.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of generating image data comprises applying a two-dimensional back projection computation to the scan data.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of generating image data comprises applying a two-dimensional reconstruction computation to the scan data.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the scan data is generated using a helical scan.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the scan data is generated using a helical cone-beam scan.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the step of generating image data comprises applying a two-dimensional back projection computation to the scan data.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the step of generating image data comprises applying a two-dimensional reconstruction computation to the scan data.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising rebinning the scan data to parallel-ray scan data.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising providing overscan correction to the scan data.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of reconstructing image data for a computed tomography (CT) image of a region, said region having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, said method comprising: scanning the region with a radiation source and an array of detectors to generate scan data representative of the region; at each of a plurality of positions along the longitudinal axis of the region, defining image data slice, said image data slice defining a slice plane having a normal axis forming a tilt angle with the longitudinal axis of the region and a rotation angle with the transverse axis of the region such that the normal axes of successive image data slices have the same tilt angle and different rotation angles; and using the scan data, generating image data for the plurality of image slices.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of reconstructing image data for a computed tomography (CT) image of a region, said region having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, said method comprising: scanning the region with a radiation source and an array of detectors to generate scan data representative of the region; at each of a plurality of positions along the longitudinal axis of the region, defining image data slice, said image data slice defining a slice plane having a normal axis forming a tilt angle with the longitudinal axis of the region and a rotation angle with the transverse axis of the region such that the normal axes of successive image data slices have the same tilt angle and different rotation angles; and using the scan data, generating image data for the plurality of image slices.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the radiation source is a cone-beam source.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the array of detectors is a two-dimensional array.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the step of generating image data comprises applying a two-dimensional back projection computation to the scan data.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the step of generating image data comprises applying a two-dimensional reconstruction computation to the scan data.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the scan data is generated using a helical scan.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the scan data is generated using a helical cone-beam scan.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 21, wherein the step of computing image data comprises applying a two-dimensional back projection computation to the scan data.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 21, wherein the step of generating image data comprises applying a two-dimensional reconstruction computation to the scan data.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 15, further comprising rebinning the scan data to parallel-ray scan data.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 15, further comprising providing overscan correction to the scan data.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 15, further comprising, before scanning the region, performing a calibration scan with a tilted opaque disk to determine the tilt angle.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 26, further comprising computing an area of a projection of the opaque disk on the array of detectors to minimize error in the reconstructed image data.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
85 words
In a computed tomography (CT) system, a method of generating a reconstructed slice of image data comprising: scanning a region with a radiation source and an array of detectors to generate a plurality of scan data, the region including an axis; identifying a slice angle between the axis and a slice plane defined by the reconstructed slice such that error in the reconstructed slice image data is minimized; and using the scan data, computing the image data for the reconstructed slice at the slice angle.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
85 words
In a computed tomography (CT) system, a method of generating a reconstructed slice of image data comprising: scanning a region with a radiation source and an array of detectors to generate a plurality of scan data, the region including an axis; identifying a slice angle between the axis and a slice plane defined by the reconstructed slice such that error in the reconstructed slice image data is minimized; and using the scan data, computing the image data for the reconstructed slice at the slice angle.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 28, wherein the radiation source is a cone-beam source.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 28, wherein the array of detectors is a two-dimensional array.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 28, wherein the image data is computed from the scan data using a two-dimensional reconstruction computation.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 28, wherein the scan data is generated using a helical scan.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 28, wherein the scan data is generated using a helical cone-beam scan.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 28, wherein identifying the slice angle comprises, before scanning the region, performing a calibration scan with a tilted opaque disk.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 28, further comprising computing an area of a projection of the opaque disk on the array of detectors to minimize error in the reconstructed image data.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
78 words
A system for generating image data for a region having a longitudinal axis, said system comprising: an array of detectors for scanning the region to generate scan data representative of the region; processing means for defining a plurality of image data slices at a plurality of positions along the longitudinal axis of the region such that successive image data slices are non-parallel with each other; and generating means for computing image data for the plurality of image slices.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
78 words
A system for generating image data for a region having a longitudinal axis, said system comprising: an array of detectors for scanning the region to generate scan data representative of the region; processing means for defining a plurality of image data slices at a plurality of positions along the longitudinal axis of the region such that successive image data slices are non-parallel with each other; and generating means for computing image data for the plurality of image slices.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 36, wherein the system is a computed tomography (CT) system.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 36, further comprising a radiation source for directing radiation through the region and onto the array of detectors to scan the region.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 38, wherein the radiation source is a cone-beam source.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 36, wherein the array of detectors is a two-dimensional array.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 36, wherein the generating means comprises two-dimensional back projection means for generating the image data.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 36, wherein the generating means comprises two-dimensional reconstruction means for generating the image data.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 36, further comprising two-dimensional back projection hardware for generating the image data.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 36, wherein the array of detectors is adapted to perform a helical scan of the region.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 36, wherein the array of detectors is adapted to perform a helical cone-beam scan of the region.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 36, further comprising means for rebinning the scan data to parallel-ray scan data.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 36, further comprising means for providing overscan correction to the scan data.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 36, further comprising means for performing a calibration scan with a titled opaque disk before scanning the region.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 48, further comprising means for computing an area of a projection of the opaque disk on the array of detectors to minimize error in the reconstructed image data.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-08-31 | 2002-03-02 | 2002-09-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-08-31 | 2006-03-02 | 2006-09-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-08-31 | 2010-03-02 | 2010-09-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |