Patent ID: 6256370
Filing Date: 2001-07-03
Classification: G01N,G06T,Y10S

Abstract:
An apparatus 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 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, the tomosynthesis system producing motion of the x-ray source with respect to the object, the apparatus comprising:logic configured to receive the projection data generated by the tomosynthesis detector, said logic 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, said logic determining intensity values for the virtual pixels based on the intensity values associated with the pixels of the tomosynthesis detector, and wherein said logic performs a CT reconstruction algorithm that processes the intensity values of the virtual pixels to thereby reconstruct an image of the object.