Patent Description:
A wedge filter is an exceedingly common assembly in a CT system. The wedge filter may form a more even dose distribution in a patient. Because the wedge filter is a relatively strong attenuation object, the wedge filter generates scatter signals outside a scanned object. Although an air calibration can remove partial scatter signals caused by the wedge filter, some scatter signals still remain in the scanned object.

<CIT> relates to a CT system that includes a rotatable gantry having an opening to receive an object to be scanned, an x-ray source configured to project an x-ray beam toward the object having a primary intensity, a detector configured to detect high frequency electromagnetic energy passing through the object and output imaging data, and a data acquisition system (DAS) connected to the detector and configured to receive the imaging data. The system also includes a computer programmed to obtain image projection data of the object from the DAS, correct the projection data using a scatter function that is based at least on a known characteristic of the x-ray beam, and generate images using the corrected projection data.

<CIT> relates to a method and device for correcting scattering of a wedge filter and relative computed tomography equipment. The method for correcting scattering of the wedge filter comprises the following steps: calculating output deltaAirScan, received in an air scan situation, of scattering delta0 of the wedge filter; calculating output deltaObjectScan, received when an object is scanned, of scattering delta0 of the wedge filter; and correcting original data r of the object according to deltaAirScan and deltaObjectScan. The method and device for correcting scattering of the wedge filter and the relative computed tomography equipment significantly improve the quality of images of edges of the scanned object or a scanned patient, and can be applied to processes of system calibration, data pre-processing and image reconstruction conveniently. In dual-energy scanning, the method and device for correcting scattering of the wedge filter and the relative computed tomography equipment have particularly obvious effects.

<NPL> discloses that in a cone beam CT system, a bowtie filter brings in additional scatter signals with respect to object induced scatter signals, which can degrade image quality and sometimes result in artifacts. The image quality of CT scans may be improved by analyzing the contribution of bowtie filter induced scatter signals and removing them from projection data.

At present, the scatter signals caused by the wedge filter may be removed through an anti-scatter grid or a computing model-based correction algorithm, which have strong scene dependence and need to be calibrated for each scene.

An objective of the present invention is to provide a correction method for a scatter signal caused by a wedge filter, which can correct a scatter signal caused by a wedge filter more accurately.

The present invention further provides a storage medium, storing a correction program for a scatter signal caused by a wedge filter, where when the correction program is executed by a processor, the steps of the correction method for a scatter signal caused by a wedge filter are processed.

The present invention provides a correction method for a scatter signal caused by a wedge filter, including: S10: performing an air scan by using CT equipment, and calculating a relative intensity of a scatter signal caused by a wedge filter in the air scan according to an air scan result, denoted as an air scan scatter signal relative intensity Wair; S20: performing an object scan on a plurality of experimental objects by using the CT equipment, and calculating theoretical scatter signal intensities Wtheo of the experimental objects in the object scan according to the air scan scatter signal relative intensity Wair, the air scan result, and object scan results of the experimental objects; S30: fitting the theoretical scatter signal intensities Wtheo of the experimental objects in the object scan and measured scatter signal intensities Wmeas of the experimental objects in the object scan according to the object scan results of the experimental objects, to obtain a fitting formula for calculating a scatter signal intensity estimation Wact, and S40: performing an object scan on an actual object by using the CT equipment, calculating a theoretical scatter signal intensity Wtheo of the actual object in the object scan according to the air scan scatter signal relative intensity Wair, the air scan result, and an object scan result of the actual object, calculating a scatter signal intensity estimation Wact of the actual object in the object scan according to the fitting formula and the theoretical scatter signal intensity Wtheo of the actual object in the object scan, and correcting the scan results according to a difference between the scatter signal intensity estimation Wact of the actual object in the object scan and the theoretical scatter signal intensity Wtheo of the actual object in the object scan.

In the correction method for a scatter signal caused by a wedge filter provided by the present invention, air scan data is used as an input, so that the estimation of a scatter signal caused by a wedge filter is more accurate. In addition, the method requires fewer algorithms, and is also applicable to scans of clinical patients.

In another exemplary implementation of the correction method for a scatter signal caused by a wedge filter, step S10 includes: S11: performing a CT air scan by using a narrow collimator and a wide collimator respectively in a case that the wedge filter is used, to obtain a narrow collimated scatter signal intensity In_air in the air scan and a wide collimated air scatter signal intensity Ib_air in the air scan respectively; S12: performing a CT air scan by using the narrow collimator and the wide collimator respectively in a case that the wedge filter is not used, to obtain an initial narrow collimated signal intensity In_p_air in the air scan and an initial wide collimated signal intensity Ib-p-air in the air scan respectively; and S13: calculating the air scan scatter signal relative intensity Wair by Formula (<NUM>) below: <MAT>.

The scatter signal in the air scan with the wedge filter is first obtained in S11, and then the scatter signal in the air scan with the wedge filter is removed in S12. The difference between the scatter signals obtained in S11 and S12 is calculated to obtain the relative intensity in S13. It is only in this case that the obtained signal can be considered as the scatter signal of only the wedge filter. The air scan scatter signal relative intensity obtained in S13 excludes the impact of different initial signal intensities caused by both the wide collimator and the narrow collimator.

In still another exemplary implementation of the correction method for a scatter signal caused by a wedge filter, step S20 includes: S21: performing a CT object scan on the experimental objects by using the narrow collimator and the wide collimator respectively in a case that the wedge filter is used, to obtain narrow collimated scatter signal intensities In_obj of the experimental objects in the object scan and wide collimated scatter signal intensities Ib_obj in the object scan, and S22: calculating the theoretical scatter signal intensities Wtheo of the experimental objects in the object scan by Formula (<NUM>) below: Wtheo = Wair * Ip_obj/Ip_air Formula (<NUM>). After air correction in step <NUM>, the remaining amount of the scatter signals after passing through the experimental objects is calculated in step <NUM>. Because the scattering caused by the experimental objects is not considered, the following steps S30 and S40 are performed.

In still another exemplary implementation of the correction method for a scatter signal caused by a wedge filter, step S30 includes: S31: calculating the measured scatter signal intensities Wmeas of the experimental objects in the object scan by Formula (<NUM>) below: Wmeas = I3_obj/I3_air - In-obj/In-air, Formula (<NUM>); and S32: fitting Formula (<NUM>) below according to the measured scatter signal intensities Wmeas of the experimental objects in the object scan and the theoretical scatter signal intensities Wtheo of the experimental objects in the object scan, where the measured scatter signal intensities Wmeas of the experimental objects in the object scan are used as fit target values of scatter signal intensity estimations Wact in the object scan, Wact = p · Wtheo * G Formula (<NUM>), where P is a scaling factor, and G is a Gaussian convolution kernel.

In still another exemplary implementation of the correction method for a scatter signal caused by a wedge filter, step S40 includes: S41: performing a CT object scan on the actual object by using the wide collimator in a case that the wedge filter is used, to obtain a wide collimated scatter signal intensity Ib_obj of the actual object in the object scan, S42: calculating the theoretical scatter signal intensity Wtheo of the actual object in the object scan by Formula (<NUM>) according to the wide collimated scatter signal intensity Ib_obj of the actual object in the object scan, S43: calculating the scatter signal intensity estimation Wact of the actual object in the object scan by the fitting formula, and S44: correcting the scan results according to the difference between the scatter signal intensity estimation Wact of the actual object in the object scan and the theoretical scatter signal intensity Wtheo of the actual object in the object scan.

The narrow collimator and the wide collimator used in the present invention are both commonly used apparatuses in the CT equipment. The narrow collimator refers to a collimator with an aperture of <NUM> or less, and the wide collimator refers to a collimator with an aperture larger than that of the narrow collimator.

In still another exemplary implementation of the correction method for a scatter signal caused by a wedge filter, the experimental objects are CT water equivalent phantoms.

The present invention further provides a storage medium, storing a correction program for a scatter signal caused by a wedge filter, where when the correction program is executed by a processor, the step of the foregoing correction method are processed.

The accompanying drawings below are only intended to provide exemplary descriptions and explanations for the present invention, but are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

To have a clearer understanding of the technical features, the objectives, and the effects of the present invention, specific implementations of the present invention are now illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals represent components with the same structures or similar structures but the same functions.

In this specification, "exemplary" indicates "serving as an example, a case, or description", and any illustration or implementation described as "schematic" in this specification should not be interpreted as a more preferred or more advantageous technical solution.

For brevity of the accompanying drawings, only parts related to the present invention are schematically shown in the accompanying drawings, and do not represent actual structures as products.

<FIG> is a flowchart of an exemplary implementation of a correction method for a scatter signal caused by a wedge filter. Referring to <FIG>, the correction method for a scatter signal caused by a wedge filter includes following steps.

S <NUM>: Perform an air scan by using CT equipment, and calculate a relative intensity of a scatter signal caused by a wedge filter in the air scan according to an air scan result, denoted as an air scan scatter signal relative intensity Wair;.

S20: Perform an object scan on a plurality of experimental objects by using the CT equipment, and calculate theoretical scatter signal intensities Wtheo of the experimental objects in the object scan according to the air scan scatter signal relative intensity Wair, the air scan result, and object scan results of the experimental objects, where the experimental objects may be CT water equivalent phantoms or human bodies.

S30: Fit the theoretical scatter signal intensities Wtheo of the experimental objects in the object scan and measured scatter signal intensities Wmeas of the experimental objects in the object scan according to the object scan results of the experimental objects, to obtain a fitting formula for calculating a scatter signal intensity estimation Wact, and.

S40: Perform an object scan on an actual object by using the CT equipment, calculate a theoretical scatter signal intensity Wtheo of the actual object in the object scan according to the air scan scatter signal relative intensity Wair, the air scan result, and an object scan result of the actual object, calculate a scatter signal intensity estimation Wact of the actual object in the object scan according to the fitting formula and the theoretical scatter signal intensity Wtheo of the actual object in the object scan, and correct the scan results according to a difference between the scatter signal intensity estimation Wact of the actual object in the object scan and the theoretical scatter signal intensity Wtheo of the actual object in the object scan.

<FIG> is another flowchart of an exemplary implementation of a correction method for a scatter signal caused by a wedge filter. Referring to <FIG>, the correction method for a scatter signal caused by a wedge filter includes the following steps.

S11: Perform a CT air scan by using a narrow collimator and a wide collimator respectively in a case that the wedge filter is used, to obtain a narrow collimated scatter signal intensity In_air in the air scan and a wide collimated air scatter signal intensity Ib_air in the air scan respectively.

S12: Perform a CT air scan by using the narrow collimator and the wide collimator respectively in a case that the wedge filter is not used, to obtain an initial narrow collimated signal intensity In_p_air in the air scan and an initial wide collimated signal intensity Ib_p_air in the air scan respectively. <FIG> shows a difference signal of air scattering obtained in step S11 and step S12, where a solid line represents a case of performing a CT air scan by using a narrow collimator and a wide collimator respectively in a case that a wedge filter is used, and a dotted line represents a case of performing a CT air scan by using the narrow collimator and the wide collimator respectively in a case that the wedge filter is not used.

S13: Calculate the air scan scatter signal relative intensity Wair by Formula (<NUM>) below: <MAT>.

<FIG> shows an air scan scatter signal relative intensity Wair obtained by subtracting curves in <FIG>.

S21: Perform a CT object scan on the experimental objects by using the narrow collimator and the wide collimator respectively in a case that the wedge filter is used, to obtain narrow collimated scatter signal intensities In_obj of the experimental objects in the object scan and wide collimated scatter signal intensities Ib_obj in the object scan.

S22: Calculate the theoretical scatter signal intensities Wtheo of the experimental objects in the object scan by Formula (<NUM>) below: <MAT>.

S31: Calculate the measured scatter signal intensities Wmeas of the experimental objects in the object scan by Formula (<NUM>) below: <MAT>.

S32: Fit Formula (<NUM>) below according to the measured scatter signal intensities Wmeas of the experimental objects in the object scan and the theoretical scatter signal intensities Wtheo of the experimental objects in the object scan, where the measured scatter signal intensities Wmeas of the experimental objects in the object scan are used as fit target values of scatter signal intensity estimations Wact in the object scan,.

Wact = p · Wtheo * G Formula (<NUM>), where P is a scaling factor, and G is a Gaussian convolution kernel.

S41: Perform a CT object scan on the actual object by using the wide collimator in a case that the wedge filter is used, to obtain a wide collimated scatter signal intensity Ib_obj of the actual object in the object scan.

S42: Calculate the theoretical scatter signal intensity Wtheo of the actual object in the object scan by Formula (<NUM>) according to the wide collimated scatter signal intensity Ib_obj of the actual object in the object scan.

S43: Calculate the scatter signal intensity estimation Wact of the actual object in the object scan by the fitting formula.

S44: Correct the scan results according to the difference between the scatter signal intensity estimation Wact of the actual object in the object scan and the theoretical scatter signal intensity Wtheo of the actual object in the object scan.

<FIG> shows a reconstructed image of a CT water equivalent phantom with a diameter of <NUM> without being corrected by a method of the present invention. <FIG> shows a reconstructed image of a CT water equivalent phantom with a diameter of <NUM> corrected by a method of the present invention. It can be seen that an area indicated by an arrow shows that the reconstructed image of the CT water equivalent phantom with a diameter of <NUM> without being corrected by the method of the present invention has darker shade, while the reconstructed image of the CT water equivalent phantom with a diameter of <NUM> corrected by the method of the present invention has lighter shade.

Through the descriptions of the foregoing implementations, a person skilled in the art may clearly understand that the methods in the foregoing embodiments may be implemented by means of software and a necessary general hardware platform, and certainly, may be implemented by hardware, but in many cases, the former manner is a better implementation. Based on such an understanding, the technical solutions of the present invention or the part that makes contributions to the prior art may be substantially embodied in the form of a software product. The computer software product is stored in a storage medium (such as, a ROM/RAM, a magnetic disk, and an optical disc), and contains several instructions to enable a terminal device (which may be a mobile phone, a computer, a server, an air conditioner or a network device) to perform the method according to the embodiments of the present invention.

Claim 1:
A computer-implemented correction method for a scatter signal caused by a wedge filter, comprising:
S10: performing (S10) an air scan by using CT equipment, and calculating a relative intensity of a scatter signal caused by a wedge filter in the air scan according to an air scan result, denoted as an air scan scatter signal relative intensity Wair,
S20: performing (S20) an object scan on a plurality of experimental objects by using the CT equipment, and calculating theoretical scatter signal intensities Wtheo of the experimental objects in the object scan according to the air scan scatter signal relative intensity Wair, the air scan result, and object scan results of the experimental objects,
S30: fitting (S30) the theoretical scatter signal intensities Wtheo of the experimental objects in the object scan and measured scatter signal intensities Wmeas of the experimental objects in the object scan according to the object scan results of the experimental objects, to obtain a fitting formula for calculating a scatter signal intensity estimation Wact, and
S40: performing (S40) an object scan on an actual object by using the CT equipment, calculating a theoretical scatter signal intensity Wtheo of the actual object in the object scan according to the air scan scatter signal relative intensity Wair, the air scan result, and an object scan result of the actual object, calculating a scatter signal intensity estimation Wact of the actual object in the object scan according to the fitting formula and the theoretical scatter signal intensity Wtheo of the actual object in the object scan, and correcting the scan results according to a difference between the scatter signal intensity estimation Wact of the actual object in the object scan and the theoretical scatter signal intensity Wtheo of the actual object in the object scan.