Image quality optimization using an x-ray spectra model-based optimization method

Author(s):  
Clarence L. Gordon III
AIP Advances ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 125121
Author(s):  
Shang Yang ◽  
Libin Zhang ◽  
Yayi Wei

2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 20503-1-20503-5
Author(s):  
Faiz Wali ◽  
Shenghao Wang ◽  
Ji Li ◽  
Jianheng Huang ◽  
Yaohu Lei ◽  
...  

Abstract Grating-based x-ray phase-contrast imaging has the potential to enhance image quality and provide inner structure details non-destructively. In this work, using grating-based x-ray phase-contrast imaging system and employing integrating-bucket method, the quantitative expressions of signal-to-noise ratios due to photon statistics and mechanical error are analyzed in detail. Photon statistical noise and mechanical error are the main sources affecting the image noise in x-ray grating interferometry. Integrating-bucket method is a new phase extraction method translated to x-ray grating interferometry; hence, its image quality analysis would be of great importance to get high-quality phase image. The authors’ conclusions provide an alternate method to get high-quality refraction signal using grating interferometer, and hence increases applicability of grating interferometry in preclinical and clinical usage.


Author(s):  
Luuk J. Oostveen ◽  
Frederick J. A. Meijer ◽  
Frank de Lange ◽  
Ewoud J. Smit ◽  
Sjoert A. Pegge ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives To evaluate image quality and reconstruction times of a commercial deep learning reconstruction algorithm (DLR) compared to hybrid-iterative reconstruction (Hybrid-IR) and model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR) algorithms for cerebral non-contrast CT (NCCT). Methods Cerebral NCCT acquisitions of 50 consecutive patients were reconstructed using DLR, Hybrid-IR and MBIR with a clinical CT system. Image quality, in terms of six subjective characteristics (noise, sharpness, grey-white matter differentiation, artefacts, natural appearance and overall image quality), was scored by five observers. As objective metrics of image quality, the noise magnitude and signal-difference-to-noise ratio (SDNR) of the grey and white matter were calculated. Mean values for the image quality characteristics scored by the observers were estimated using a general linear model to account for multiple readers. The estimated means for the reconstruction methods were pairwise compared. Calculated measures were compared using paired t tests. Results For all image quality characteristics, DLR images were scored significantly higher than MBIR images. Compared to Hybrid-IR, perceived noise and grey-white matter differentiation were better with DLR, while no difference was detected for other image quality characteristics. Noise magnitude was lower for DLR compared to Hybrid-IR and MBIR (5.6, 6.4 and 6.2, respectively) and SDNR higher (2.4, 1.9 and 2.0, respectively). Reconstruction times were 27 s, 44 s and 176 s for Hybrid-IR, DLR and MBIR respectively. Conclusions With a slight increase in reconstruction time, DLR results in lower noise and improved tissue differentiation compared to Hybrid-IR. Image quality of MBIR is significantly lower compared to DLR with much longer reconstruction times. Key Points • Deep learning reconstruction of cerebral non-contrast CT results in lower noise and improved tissue differentiation compared to hybrid-iterative reconstruction. • Deep learning reconstruction of cerebral non-contrast CT results in better image quality in all aspects evaluated compared to model-based iterative reconstruction. • Deep learning reconstruction only needs a slight increase in reconstruction time compared to hybrid-iterative reconstruction, while model-based iterative reconstruction requires considerably longer processing time.


2021 ◽  
pp. 197140092110087
Author(s):  
Andrea De Vito ◽  
Cesare Maino ◽  
Sophie Lombardi ◽  
Maria Ragusi ◽  
Cammillo Talei Franzesi ◽  
...  

Background and purpose To evaluate the added value of a model-based reconstruction algorithm in the assessment of acute traumatic brain lesions in emergency non-enhanced computed tomography, in comparison with a standard hybrid iterative reconstruction approach. Materials and methods We retrospectively evaluated a total of 350 patients who underwent a 256-row non-enhanced computed tomography scan at the emergency department for brain trauma. Images were reconstructed both with hybrid and model-based iterative algorithm. Two radiologists, blinded to clinical data, recorded the presence, nature, number, and location of acute findings. Subjective image quality was performed using a 4-point scale. Objective image quality was determined by computing the signal-to-noise ratio and contrast-to-noise ratio. The agreement between the two readers was evaluated using k-statistics. Results A subjective image quality analysis using model-based iterative reconstruction gave a higher detection rate of acute trauma-related lesions in comparison to hybrid iterative reconstruction (extradural haematomas 116 vs. 68, subdural haemorrhages 162 vs. 98, subarachnoid haemorrhages 118 vs. 78, parenchymal haemorrhages 94 vs. 64, contusive lesions 36 vs. 28, diffuse axonal injuries 75 vs. 31; all P<0.001). Inter-observer agreement was moderate to excellent in evaluating all injuries (extradural haematomas k=0.79, subdural haemorrhages k=0.82, subarachnoid haemorrhages k=0.91, parenchymal haemorrhages k=0.98, contusive lesions k=0.88, diffuse axonal injuries k=0.70). Quantitatively, the mean standard deviation of the thalamus on model-based iterative reconstruction images was lower in comparison to hybrid iterative one (2.12 ± 0.92 vsa 3.52 ± 1.10; P=0.030) while the contrast-to-noise ratio and signal-to-noise ratio were significantly higher (contrast-to-noise ratio 3.06 ± 0.55 vs. 1.55 ± 0.68, signal-to-noise ratio 14.51 ± 1.78 vs. 8.62 ± 1.88; P<0.0001). Median subjective image quality values for model-based iterative reconstruction were significantly higher ( P=0.003). Conclusion Model-based iterative reconstruction, offering a higher image quality at a thinner slice, allowed the identification of a higher number of acute traumatic lesions than hybrid iterative reconstruction, with a significant reduction of noise.


Author(s):  
Wen-Han Zhu ◽  
Wei Sun ◽  
Xiong-Kuo Min ◽  
Guang-Tao Zhai ◽  
Xiao-Kang Yang

AbstractObjective image quality assessment (IQA) plays an important role in various visual communication systems, which can automatically and efficiently predict the perceived quality of images. The human eye is the ultimate evaluator for visual experience, thus the modeling of human visual system (HVS) is a core issue for objective IQA and visual experience optimization. The traditional model based on black box fitting has low interpretability and it is difficult to guide the experience optimization effectively, while the model based on physiological simulation is hard to integrate into practical visual communication services due to its high computational complexity. For bridging the gap between signal distortion and visual experience, in this paper, we propose a novel perceptual no-reference (NR) IQA algorithm based on structural computational modeling of HVS. According to the mechanism of the human brain, we divide the visual signal processing into a low-level visual layer, a middle-level visual layer and a high-level visual layer, which conduct pixel information processing, primitive information processing and global image information processing, respectively. The natural scene statistics (NSS) based features, deep features and free-energy based features are extracted from these three layers. The support vector regression (SVR) is employed to aggregate features to the final quality prediction. Extensive experimental comparisons on three widely used benchmark IQA databases (LIVE, CSIQ and TID2013) demonstrate that our proposed metric is highly competitive with or outperforms the state-of-the-art NR IQA measures.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas P. Sauter ◽  
Jana Andrejewski ◽  
Manuela Frank ◽  
Konstantin Willer ◽  
Julia Herzen ◽  
...  

AbstractGrating-based X-ray dark-field imaging is a novel imaging modality with enormous technical progress during the last years. It enables the detection of microstructure impairment as in the healthy lung a strong dark-field signal is present due to the high number of air-tissue interfaces. Using the experience from setups for animal imaging, first studies with a human cadaver could be performed recently. Subsequently, the first dark-field scanner for in-vivo chest imaging of humans was developed. In the current study, the optimal tube voltage for dark-field radiography of the thorax in this setup was examined using an anthropomorphic chest phantom. Tube voltages of 50–125 kVp were used while maintaining a constant dose-area-product. The resulting dark-field and attenuation radiographs were evaluated in a reader study as well as objectively in terms of contrast-to-noise ratio and signal strength. We found that the optimum tube voltage for dark-field imaging is 70 kVp as here the most favorable combination of image quality, signal strength, and sharpness is present. At this voltage, a high image quality was perceived in the reader study also for attenuation radiographs, which should be sufficient for routine imaging. The results of this study are fundamental for upcoming patient studies with living humans.


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