Contrast-to-noise ratio optimization for a prototype phase-contrast computed tomography scanner
Mueller M, Yaroshenko A, Velroyen A, Bech M, Tapfer A, Pauwels B, Bruyndonckx P, Sasov A, Pfeiffer F (2015)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2015
Journal
Book Volume: 86
Article Number: 123705
Journal Issue: 12
DOI: 10.1063/1.4938163
Abstract
In the field of biomedical X-ray imaging, novel techniques, such as phase-contrast and dark-field imaging, have the potential to enhance the contrast and provide complementary structural information about a specimen. In this paper, a first prototype of a preclinical X-ray phase-contrast CT scanner based on a Talbot-Lau interferometer is characterized. We present a study of the contrast-to-noise ratios for attenuation and phase-contrast images acquired with the prototype scanner. The shown results are based on a series of projection images and tomographic data sets of a plastic phantom in phase and attenuation-contrast recorded with varying acquisition settings. Subsequently, the signal and noise distribution of different regions in the phantom were determined. We present a novel method for estimation of contrast-to-noise ratios for projection images based on the cylindrical geometry of the phantom. Analytical functions, representing the expected signal in phase and attenuation-contrast for a circular object, are fitted to individual line profiles of the projection data. The free parameter of the fit function is used to estimate the contrast and the goodness of the fit is determined to assess the noise in the respective signal. The results depict the dependence of the contrast-to-noise ratios on the applied source voltages, the number of steps of the phase stepping routine, and the exposure times for an individual step. Moreover, the influence of the number of projection angles on the image quality of CT slices is investigated. Finally, the implications for future imaging purposes with the scanner are discussed.
Involved external institutions
Technische Universität München (TUM)
Germany (DE)
Lund University / Lunds universitet
Sweden (SE)
Bruker Belgium S.A./N.V.
Belgium (BE)
Germany (DE)
Lund University / Lunds universitet
Sweden (SE)
Bruker Belgium S.A./N.V.
Belgium (BE)
How to cite
APA:
Mueller, M., Yaroshenko, A., Velroyen, A., Bech, M., Tapfer, A., Pauwels, B.,... Pfeiffer, F. (2015). Contrast-to-noise ratio optimization for a prototype phase-contrast computed tomography scanner. Review of Scientific Instruments, 86(12). https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4938163
MLA:
Mueller, Mark, et al. "Contrast-to-noise ratio optimization for a prototype phase-contrast computed tomography scanner." Review of Scientific Instruments 86.12 (2015).
BibTeX: Download