Scan data correction view weighting of computed tomographic images

• US 6,584,165 B1
• Filed: 07/10/2002
• Issued: 06/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nilsen, Roy-Arnulf Helge, Wang, Sharon X., Fusco, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): BRUCE, DAVID VERNON
• Application Number:
  US10/064,400
• Time in Patent Office: 349 Days
• Field of Search: 378/4, 378/8, 378/15, 378/901
• US Class Current: 378/4
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/032 Transmission computed tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 378/901 Computer tomography program or processor

Abstract

One aspect of the present invention is a method for reconstructing computed tomographic (CT) images. The method includes generating a plurality of projection data, calculating a plurality of base weights using the projection data for each series of images to be reconstructed, storing the base weights in an external memory, and applying a z-smoothing module to the base weights to determine a plurality of final weights. The view weighting process then includes applying the final weights to the projection data for each image.

Claims

1. A method for generating computed tomographic (CT) images, said method comprising:

generating a plurality of projection data;

calculating a plurality of base weights using the projection data;

storing the base weights in a memory; and

applying a z-smoothing module to the base weights to determine a plurality of final weights.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising determining the final weights for each of a plurality of series of images.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising applying the final weights to the projection data to generate a plurality of CT images.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising applying the final weights to a plurality of pre-processed projection data.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising applying the final weights to a plurality of pre-processed projection data using one multiplication and one summation.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising storing the final weights in a memory.

7. A method in accordance with claim 4 further comprising storing a plurality of weighted projection data for each of a plurality of images in a memory.

8. A computer programmed to generate computed tomographic (CT) images, said computer programmed to:

generate a plurality of projection data;

calculate a plurality of base weights using the projection data;

store the base weights in a memory; and

apply a z-smoothing module to the base weights to determine a plurality of final weights.

9. A computer in accordance with claim 8 further programmed to determine the final weights for each of a plurality of series of images.

10. A computer in accordance with claim 8 further programmed to apply the final weights to the projection data to generate a plurality of CT images.

11. A computer in accordance with claim 8 further programmed to apply the final weights to a plurality of pre-processed projection data.

12. A computer in accordance with claim 8 further programmed to apply the final weights to a plurality of pre-processed projection data using one multiplication and one summation.

13. A computer in accordance with claim 8 further programmed to store the final weights in a memory.

14. A computer in accordance with claim 11 further programmed to store a plurality of weighted projection data for each of a plurality of images in a memory.

15. A computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program, said program configured to:

generate a plurality of projection data;

calculate a plurality of base weights using the projection data;

store the base weights in a memory; and

apply a z-smoothing module to the base weights to determine a plurality of final weights.

16. A computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 15 where said program is further configured to instruct the computer to determine the final weights for each of a plurality of series of images.

17. A computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 15 where said program is further configured to apply the final weights to the projection data to generate a plurality of CT images.

18. A computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 15 where said program is further configured to apply the final weights to a plurality of pre-processed projection data.

19. A computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 15 where said program is further configured to apply the final weights to a plurality of pre-processed projection data using one multiplication and one summation.

20. A computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 15 where said program is further configured to store the final weights in a memory.

21. A computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 18 where said program is further configured to store a plurality of weighted projection data for each of a plurality of images in a memory.

22. A computed tomographic (CT) imaging system for reconstructing an image of an object, said imaging system comprising:

a detector array;

at least one radiation source; and

a computer coupled to said detector array and said radiation source, said computer configured to;

generate a plurality of projection data;

calculate a plurality of base weights using the projection data;

store the base weights in a memory; and

apply a z-smoothing module to the base weights to determine a plurality of final weights.

23. A computer in accordance with claim 22 further programmed to determine the final weights for each of a plurality of series of images.

24. A computer in accordance with claim 22 further programmed to apply the final weights to the projection data to generate a plurality of CT images.

25. A computed tomographic (CT) imaging system for reconstructing an image of an object, said imaging system comprising:

a detector array;

at least one radiation source; and

a computer coupled to said detector array and said radiation source, said computer configured to;

generate a plurality of projection data;

calculate a plurality of base weights using the projection data;

store the base weights in a memory;

apply a z-smoothing module to the base weights to determine a plurality of final weights; and

apply the final weights to a plurality of pre-processed projection data using one multiplication and one summation.