Methods and systems for volumetric reconstruction using radiography

• US 8,989,342 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2012
• Issued: 03/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Liesenfelt, Michael, Shedlock, Dan, Edwards, William Talion
• Primary Examiner(s): Kiknadze, Irakli
• Application Number:
  US13/450,040
• Publication Number:
  US 20130279645A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,070 Days
• Field of Search: 378/6, 378/4, 378/7, 378/19, 378/70, 378/12
• US Class Current: 378/12
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/203 Measuring back scattering

Abstract

Methods and systems for use in generating a volumetric reconstruction of an object using scattered X-ray radiography. An X-ray beam is directed towards a point within a target object. Scattered X-rays are measured by detectors and measurement data is stored. The X-ray beam is directed towards different points. Measurement data associated with each point is analyzed using a ray tracing methodology to assign contrast values to each point. A volumetric image is generated therefrom.

Claims

1. A system for use in generating a volumetric reconstruction of an object, said system comprising:

an X-ray source configured to generate an X-ray beam, said X-ray source positioned on a first side of the object;

at least one detector capable of measuring X-rays scattered from the X-ray beam, said at least one detector positioned on the first side of the object in a pre-determined orientation with respect to said X-ray source; and

a computing device programmed to;

define a point cloud including a plurality of points associated with a three-dimensional (3D) space, wherein at least a portion of the object is within the 3D space;

instruct said X-ray source to sweep the X-ray beam across the plurality of points;

receive, from said at least one detector, measurement data for each point of the plurality of points, the measurement data representative of scattered X-rays associated with the X-ray beam and measured by said at least one detector;

assign a contrast value to each point in a subset of the plurality of points, the subset determined by defining a volume of points included within a geometry defined by an intersection of a field of view of the at least one detector and a penetrating path of the X-ray beam through the object; and

generate a volumetric image of the object using a projection of the measurement data for the plurality of points into the object.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said X-ray source comprises a collimator.

3. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said detector comprises a scintillator and a semiconductor array detector.

4. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said computing device is communicatively coupled to a database, said computing device is further programmed to store measurement data in said database.

5. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said computing device is further programmed to output the generated volumetric image.

6. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the contrast value assigned to each point in the subset of the plurality of points is associated with a corresponding pixel contrast value from a respective image produced by the at least one detector.

7. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said computing device is further programmed to combine the points assigned a contrast value into a single point set by averaging the contrast value of each point defined in the point cloud.

8. A method for use in generating a volumetric reconstruction of an object, said method comprising:

defining a point cloud including a plurality of points associated with a three-dimensional (3D) space, wherein at least a portion of the object is within the 3D space;

sweeping an X-ray beam from an X-ray source across the plurality of points, the X-ray source positioned on a first side of the object;

measuring X-rays scattered from the X-ray beam using at least one detector positioned on the first side of the object in a pre-determined orientation with respect to the X-ray source;

receiving, using a computing device, measurement data for each point of the plurality of points, the measurement data representative of the measured scattered X-rays associated with the X-ray beam and measured by the at least one detector;

assigning a contrast value to each point in a subset of the plurality of points, the subset determined by defining a volume of points included within a geometry defined by an intersection of a field of view of the at least one detector and a penetrating path of the X-ray beam through the object; and

generating a volumetric image of the object using a projection of the measurement data for the plurality of points into the object.

9. A method in accordance with claim 8, further comprising controllably positioning the X-ray source using a scan controller coupled to the X-ray source.

10. A method in accordance with claim 9, wherein controllably positioning the X-ray source using a scan controller comprises instructing, using the computing device, the scan controller to position the X-ray source.

11. A method in accordance with claim 10, wherein controllably positioning the X-ray source using a scan controller further comprises at least one of rotating and translating the X-ray source.

12. A method in accordance with claim 8, wherein transmitting an X-ray beam from an X-ray source towards the object comprises transmitting an X-ray beam from an X-ray source towards the object using a collimator.

13. A method in accordance with claim 8, wherein measuring scattered X-rays from the X-ray beam using at least one detector comprises measuring scattered X-rays from the X-ray beam using at least one detector including a scintillator and a semiconductor array detector.

14. A method in accordance with claim 8, further comprising storing, using the computing device, the measurement data in a database communicatively coupled to the computing device.

15. A method in accordance with claim 8, further comprising outputting, using the computing device, the generated volumetric image.

16. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media having computer-executable components embodied thereon, said computer-executable components comprising:

a point definition component that when executed by at least one processor unit causes the processor unit to define a point cloud including a plurality of points associated with a three-dimensional (3D) space, wherein at least a portion of the object is within the 3D space;

a scanning control component that when executed by at least one processor unit causes the processor unit to instruct an X-ray source to sweep an X-ray beam across the plurality of points, the X-ray source positioned on a first side of the object;

a data collection component that when executed by at least one processor unit causes the processor unit to receive measurement data for each point of the plurality of points, the measurement data representative of X-rays scattered from the X-ray beam measured by at least one detector, wherein the at least one detector is positioned on the first side of the object in a pre-determined orientation with respect to the X-ray source; and

a volumetric reconstruction component that when executed by at least one processor unit causes the processor unit to;

assign a contrast value to each point in a subset of the plurality of points, the subset determined by defining a volume of points included within a geometry defined by an intersection of a field of view of the at least one detector and a penetrating path of the X-ray beam through the object; and

generate a volumetric image of the object using a projection of the measurement data for the plurality of points into the object.

17. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media in accordance with claim 16, wherein said data collection component causes the processor unit to store the measurement data in a database, and wherein said scanning control component causes the processor unit to instruct a scan controller coupled to the X-ray source to controllably position the X-ray source.

18. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media in accordance with claim 16, wherein said volumetric reconstruction component causes the processor unit to generate a back projection of the measurement data based on a pre-determined orientation of the at least one detector with respect to the X-ray source.

19. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media in accordance with claim 16, wherein said volumetric reconstruction component causes the processor unit to output the volumetric image.