Systems and methods for improving a resolution of an image

• US 20070206719A1
• Filed: 03/02/2006
• Published: 09/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Suryanarayanan, Srikanth, Mallya, Yogisha, Licato, Paul, Mahan, Tara
• Granted Patent: US 7,466,790 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 378/4
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/032 Transmission computed tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/488 involving pre-scan acquisition
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2223/419 computed tomograph
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2223/612 biological material
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2223/66 multiple steps inspection, e.g. coarse/fine
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/046 using tomography, e.g. computed tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/005 Specific pre-processing for tomographic reconstruction, e.g. calibration, source positioning, rebinning, scatter correction, retrospective gating

Abstract

A method for improving a resolution of an image is provided. The method includes reconstructing an image of an initial portion of an object at an initial resolution, and reconstructing an additional portion of the object at an additional resolution.

Claims

1. A method for improving a resolution of an image, said method comprising:

generating first projection data by scanning an object and by receiving a display field-of-view of the object, the first projection data including an initial resolution;

generating pre-processed projection data by separately scanning the object;

reconstructing an image of an initial portion of the object by applying the initial resolution to a portion of the pre-processed projection data that corresponds to the initial portion;

reconstructing an additional portion of the object by applying the additional resolution to a portion of the pre-processed projection data that corresponds to the additional portion; and

displaying a reconstructed image for viewing by an user.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising generating the additional resolution based on the initial resolution.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising generating the additional resolution based on the initial resolution by generating the additional resolution higher than the initial resolution.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising segmenting the additional portion from the initial portion.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the additional portion comprises a region of interest within the object.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising segmenting the additional portion from the initial portion by segmenting the additional portion within scout data representing the object.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising segmenting the additional portion from the initial portion by segmenting a three-dimensional volume representing the object.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising segmenting the additional portion from the initial portion by automatically segmenting, by a controller, the additional portion from the initial portion.

9. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising segmenting the additional portion from the initial portion by segmenting the additional portion within data acquired by a helical scan of the object.

10. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising manually segmenting the additional portion from the initial portion.

11. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising generating the additional resolution based on the initial resolution by generating the additional resolution lower than the initial resolution.

12. A controller configured to:

generate first projection data by scanning an object and by receiving a display field-of-view of the object, the first projection data including an initial resolution;

generate pre-processed projection data by separately scanning the object;

reconstruct an image of the object by applying the initial resolution to a portion of the pre-processed projection data that corresponds to the initial portion;

reconstruct an additional portion of the object by applying the additional resolution to a portion of the pre-processed projection data that corresponds to the additional portion; and

display a reconstructed image for viewing by an user.

13. A controller in accordance with claim 12 further configured to generate the additional resolution based on the initial resolution.

14. A controller in accordance with claim 12 further configured to generate the additional resolution based on the initial resolution by one of:

generating the additional resolution higher than the initial resolution; and

generating the additional resolution lower than the initial resolution.

15. A controller in accordance with claim 12 further configured to segment the additional portion from the initial portion.

16. A controller in accordance with claim 12 wherein the additional portion comprises a region of interest within the object.

17. An imaging system comprising:

a source configured to generate a beam;

a detector array configured to detect the beam; and

a controller configured to;

generate first projection data by scanning an object and by receiving a display field-of-view of the object, the first projection data including an initial resolution;

generate pre-processed projection data by separately scanning the object;

reconstruct an image of the object by applying the initial resolution to a portion of the pre-processed projection data that corresponds to the initial portion;

reconstruct an additional portion of the object by applying the additional resolution to a portion of the pre-processed projection data that corresponds to the additional portion; and

display a reconstructed image for viewing by an user.

18. An imaging system in accordance with claim 17 wherein said controller further configured to generate the additional resolution based on the initial resolution.

19. An imaging system in accordance with claim 17 wherein said controller further configured to generate the additional resolution based on the initial resolution by one of:

generating the additional resolution higher than the initial resolution; and

generating the additional resolution lower than the initial resolution.

20. An imaging system in accordance with claim 17 wherein said controller further configured to segment the additional portion from the initial portion.