Method and apparatus for performing tomosynthesis

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said logic is a computer and wherein the computer determines the intensity values of the virtual pixels by interpolating intensity values of pixels of the tomosynthesis detector.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said logic projects the projection data onto the virtual CT detector by determining spatial coordinates of the x-ray source at particular locations of the x-ray source, by determining spatial coordinates of the virtual pixels, by associating coordinates on the tomosynthesis detector with virtual pixels of the virtual VCT detector, and by interpolating intensity values of the tomosynthesis detector pixels to compute intensity values of associated virtual pixels of the virtual VCT detector.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein said logic is a computer and wherein the computer determines the intensity values of the virtual pixels by interpolating intensity values of pixels of the tomosynthesis detector.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein said logic projects the projection data onto the virtual CT detector by determining spatial coordinates of the x-ray source at particular locations of the x-ray source, by determining spatial coordinates of the virtual pixels, by associating coordinates on the tomosynthesis detector with virtual pixels of the virtual VCT detector, and by interpolating intensity values of the tomosynthesis detector pixels to compute intensity values of associated virtual pixels of the virtual VCT detector.

Claim 9

A tomosynthesis system for reconstructing an image of an object from a plurality of x-ray projection images of the object, the x-ray projection images being acquired by the tomosynthesis system, the tomosynthesis system comprising: an x-ray source, the x-ray source projecting x-rays through the object; a tomosynthesis detector, the tomosynthesis detector detecting x-rays that pass through the object, the tomosynthesis detector comprising a plurality of pixels, each pixel having an intensity value associated therewith, the tomosynthesis detector generating projection data in response to the x-rays impinging thereon, the projection data corresponding to the intensity values, the tomosynthesis system producing motion of the x-ray source with respect to the object; and a computer, the computer receiving the projection data generated by the tomosynthesis detector, the computer being configured to project the projection data generated by the tomosynthesis detector onto a virtual computed tomography (CT) detector, the virtual CT detector comprising a plurality of virtual pixels, the computer determining intensity values for the virtual pixels based on the intensity values associated with the pixels of the tomosynthesis detector, and wherein the computer performs a CT reconstruction algorithm that processes the intensity values of the virtual pixels to thereby reconstruct an image of the object.

Claim 10

A tomosynthesis system for reconstructing an image of an object from a plurality of x-ray projection images of the object, the x-ray projection images being acquired by the tomosynthesis system, the tomosynthesis system comprising: an x-ray source, the x-ray source projecting x-rays through the object; a tomosynthesis detector, the tomosynthesis detector detecting x-rays that pass through the object, the tomosynthesis detector comprising a plurality of pixels, each pixel having an intensity value associated therewith, the tomosynthesis detector generating projection data in response to the x-rays impinging thereon, the projection data corresponding to the intensity values, the tomosynthesis system producing motion of the x-ray source with respect to the object; and a computer, the computer receiving the projection data generated by the tomosynthesis detector, the computer being configured to project the projection data generated by the tomosynthesis detector onto a virtual computed tomography (CT) detector, the virtual CT detector comprising a plurality of virtual pixels, the computer determining intensity values for the virtual pixels based on the intensity values associated with the pixels of the tomosynthesis detector, and wherein the computer performs a CT reconstruction algorithm that processes the intensity values of the virtual pixels to thereby reconstruct an image of the object.

Claim 11

The tomosynthesis system of claim 7 , wherein the computer determines the intensity values of the virtual pixels by interpolating intensity values of pixels of the tomosynthesis detector.

Claim 12

The tomosynthesis system of claim 7 , wherein the computer projects the projection data onto the virtual CT detector by determining spatial coordinates of the x-ray source at particular locations of the x-ray source, by determining spatial coordinates of the virtual pixels, by associating coordinates on the tomosynthesis detector with virtual pixels of the virtual VCT detector, and by interpolating intensity values of the tomosynthesis detector pixels to compute intensity values of associated virtual pixels of the virtual VCT detector.

Claim 13

A tomosynthesis system for reconstructing an image of an object from a plurality of x-ray projection images of the object, the x-ray projection images being acquired by the tomosynthesis system, the tomosynthesis system comprising: an x-ray source, the x-ray source projecting x-rays through the object; a tomosynthesis detector, the tomosynthesis detector detecting x-rays that pass through the object, the tomosynthesis detector comprising a plurality of pixels, each pixel having an intensity value associated therewith, the tomosynthesis detector generating projection data in response to the x-rays impinging thereon, the projection data corresponding to the intensity values, the tomosynthesis system producing rotational motion of the x-ray source with respect to the object over a particular angular range that is less than 360°; and a computer, the computer receiving the projection data generated by the tomosynthesis detector, the computer being configured to project the projection data generated by the tomosynthesis detector onto a virtual computed tomography (CT) detector, the virtual CT detector comprising a plurality of virtual pixels, the computer determining intensity values for the virtual pixels based on the intensity values associated with the pixels of the tomosynthesis detector, and wherein the computer performs a CT reconstruction algorithm that processes the intensity values of the virtual pixels to thereby reconstruct an image of the object.

Claim 14

A tomosynthesis system for reconstructing an image of an object from a plurality of x-ray projection images of the object, the x-ray projection images being acquired by the tomosynthesis system, the tomosynthesis system comprising: an x-ray source, the x-ray source projecting x-rays through the object; a tomosynthesis detector, the tomosynthesis detector detecting x-rays that pass through the object, the tomosynthesis detector comprising a plurality of pixels, each pixel having an intensity value associated therewith, the tomosynthesis detector generating projection data in response to the x-rays impinging thereon, the projection data corresponding to the intensity values, the tomosynthesis system producing rotational motion of the x-ray source with respect to the object over a particular angular range that is less than 360°; and a computer, the computer receiving the projection data generated by the tomosynthesis detector, the computer being configured to project the projection data generated by the tomosynthesis detector onto a virtual computed tomography (CT) detector, the virtual CT detector comprising a plurality of virtual pixels, the computer determining intensity values for the virtual pixels based on the intensity values associated with the pixels of the tomosynthesis detector, and wherein the computer performs a CT reconstruction algorithm that processes the intensity values of the virtual pixels to thereby reconstruct an image of the object.

Claim 15

The tomosynthesis system of claim 10 , wherein the computer determines the intensity values of the virtual pixels by interpolating intensity values of pixels of the tomosynthesis detector.

Claim 16

The tomosynthesis system of claim 10 , wherein the computer projects the projection data onto the virtual CT detector by determining spatial coordinates of the x-ray source at particular locations of the simulated movement of the x-ray source, by determining spatial coordinates of the virtual pixels, by associating coordinates on the tomosynthesis detector with virtual pixels of the virtual VCT detector, and by interpolating intensity values of the tomosynthesis detector pixels to compute intensity values of associated virtual pixels of the virtual VCT detector.

Claim 19

The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of determining intensity values for the virtual pixels is performed by interpolating intensity values of pixels of the tomosynthesis detector to obtain interpolated intensity values and assigning the interpolated intensity values to corresponding virtual pixels of the virtual CT detector.

Claim 20

The method of claim 14 , wherein the step of projecting the projection data includes the steps of: determining spatial coordinates of the x-ray source at particular locations of the x-ray source; determining spatial coordinates of the virtual pixels; and associating coordinates on the tomosynthesis detector with virtual pixels of the virtual VCT detector.

Claim 23

The method of claim 16 , wherein the step of determining intensity values for the virtual pixels is performed by interpolating intensity values of pixels of the tomosynthesis detector to obtain interpolated intensity values and assigning the interpolated intensity values to corresponding virtual pixels of the virtual CT detector.

Claim 24

The method of claim 17 , wherein the step of projecting the projection data includes the steps of: determining spatial coordinates of the x-ray source at particular locations of the tomosynthesis detector; determining spatial coordinates of the virtual pixels; and associating coordinates on the tomosynthesis detector with virtual pixels of the virtual VCT detector.

Claim 25

A computer program for reconstructing an image of an object from x-ray projection data, the projection data being acquired by a tomosynthesis system, the tomosynthesis system comprising an x-ray source and a tomosynthesis detector, the x-ray source projecting x-rays through the object, the tomosynthesis detector detecting x-rays that pass through the object, the tomosynthesis detector comprising a plurality of pixels, each pixel having an intensity value associated therewith, the tomosynthesis detector generating projection data in response to the x-rays impinging thereon, the projection data corresponding to the intensity values, wherein the tomosynthesis system produces motion of the x-ray source with respect to the object, the program being embodied on a computer-readable medium, the program comprising: a first routine, the first routine projecting the projection data generated by the tomosynthesis detector onto a virtual computed tomography (CT) detector, the virtual CT detector comprising a plurality of virtual pixels; a second routine, the second routine determining intensity values for the virtual pixels based on the intensity values associated with the pixels of the tomosynthesis detector; and a third routine, the third routine processing the intensity values of the virtual pixels in accordance with a CT reconstruction algorithm to thereby reconstruct an image of the object.

Claim 26

A computer program for reconstructing an image of an object from x-ray projection data, the projection data being acquired by a tomosynthesis system, the tomosynthesis system comprising an x-ray source and a tomosynthesis detector, the x-ray source projecting x-rays through the object, the tomosynthesis detector detecting x-rays that pass through the object, the tomosynthesis detector comprising a plurality of pixels, each pixel having an intensity value associated therewith, the tomosynthesis detector generating projection data in response to the x-rays impinging thereon, the projection data corresponding to the intensity values, wherein the tomosynthesis system produces motion of the x-ray source with respect to the object, the program being embodied on a computer-readable medium, the program comprising: a first routine, the first routine projecting the projection data generated by the tomosynthesis detector onto a virtual computed tomography (CT) detector, the virtual CT detector comprising a plurality of virtual pixels; a second routine, the second routine determining intensity values for the virtual pixels based on the intensity values associated with the pixels of the tomosynthesis detector; and a third routine, the third routine processing the intensity values of the virtual pixels in accordance with a CT reconstruction algorithm to thereby reconstruct an image of the object.

Claim 27

The computer program of claim 19 , wherein the first routine comprises: a first code segment, the first code segment determining spatial coordinates of the x-ray source at particular locations of the x-ray source; a second code segment, the second code segment determining spatial coordinates of the virtual pixels and of the pixels of the tomosynthesis detector; and a third code segment, the third code segment associating coordinates on the tomosynthesis detector with virtual pixels of the virtual VCT detector.

Claim 28

The computer program of claim 19 , wherein said second routine comprises code that determines intensity values for the virtual pixels by interpolating intensity values of pixels of the tomosynthesis detector to obtain interpolated intensity values and by assigning the interpolated intensity values to corresponding virtual pixels of the virtual CT detector.

Claim 29

A computer program for reconstructing an image of an object from x-ray projection data, the projection data being acquired by a tomosynthesis system, the tomosynthesis system comprising an x-ray source and a tomosynthesis detector, the x-ray source projecting x-rays through the object, the tomosynthesis detector detecting x-rays that pass through the object, the tomosynthesis detector comprising a plurality of pixels, each pixel having an intensity value associated therewith, the tomosynthesis detector generating projection data in response to the x-rays impinging thereon, the projection data corresponding to the intensity values, wherein the tomosynthesis system produces rotational motion of the x-ray source with respect to the object over a particular angular range that is less than 360°, the program being embodied on a computer-readable medium, the program comprising: a first routine, the first routine projecting the projection data generated by the tomosynthesis detector onto a virtual computed tomography (CT) detector, the virtual CT detector comprising a plurality of virtual pixels; a second routine, the second routine determining intensity values for the virtual pixels based on the intensity values associated with the pixels of the tomosynthesis detector; and a third routine, the third routine processing the intensity values of the virtual pixels in accordance with a CT reconstruction algorithm to thereby reconstruct an image of the object.

Claim 30

A computer program for reconstructing an image of an object from x-ray projection data, the projection data being acquired by a tomosynthesis system, the tomosynthesis system comprising an x-ray source and a tomosynthesis detector, the x-ray source projecting x-rays through the object, the tomosynthesis detector detecting x-rays that pass through the object, the tomosynthesis detector comprising a plurality of pixels, each pixel having an intensity value associated therewith, the tomosynthesis detector generating projection data in response to the x-rays impinging thereon, the projection data corresponding to the intensity values, wherein the tomosynthesis system produces rotational motion of the x-ray source with respect to the object over a particular angular range that is less than 360°, the program being embodied on a computer-readable medium, the program comprising: a first routine, the first routine projecting the projection data generated by the tomosynthesis detector onto a virtual computed tomography (CT) detector, the virtual CT detector comprising a plurality of virtual pixels; a second routine, the second routine determining intensity values for the virtual pixels based on the intensity values associated with the pixels of the tomosynthesis detector; and a third routine, the third routine processing the intensity values of the virtual pixels in accordance with a CT reconstruction algorithm to thereby reconstruct an image of the object.

Claim 31

The computer program of claim 22 , wherein said first routine comprises: a first code segment, the first code segment determining spatial coordinates of the x-ray source at particular locations of the x-ray source; a second code segment, the second code segment determining spatial coordinates of the virtual pixels and of the pixels of the tomosynthesis detector; and a third code segment, the third code segment associating coordinates on the tomosynthesis detector with virtual pixels of the virtual VCT detector.

Claim 32

The computer program of claim 19 , wherein said second routine comprises code that determines intensity values for the virtual pixels by interpolating intensity values of pixels of the tomosynthesis detector to obtain interpolated intensity values and by assigning the interpolated intensity values to corresponding virtual pixels of the virtual CT detector.