Three-dimensional reconstruction based on a limited number of X-ray projections

Claim 1

A method for generating a tomographically reconstructed image of an object comprising the steps of: creating a first projected image of the object by exposing the object to electromagnetic radiation and measuring, at a first plurality of locations spaced from said object, the intensity of said electromagnetic radiation transmitted through said object; creating a second projected image of the object by exposing the object to the electromagnetic radiation and measuring, at a second plurality of locations spaced from said object, the intensity of said electromagnetic radiation transmitted through said object; creating a reconstructed image of the object having a plurality of pixels including the steps of: setting each of said pixels to an initialized value in accordance with a corresponding momentum factor; and adjusting the initialized value of each of said pixels based on said first and second projected images; performing a terracing function on said reconstructed image; performing a smoothing function on said reconstructed image; and displaying said tomographically reconstructed image on the basis of said reconstructed image.

Claim 2

A method for generating a tomographically reconstructed image of an object comprising the steps of: creating a first projected image of the object by exposing the object to electromagnetic radiation and measuring, at a first plurality of locations spaced from said object, the intensity of said electromagnetic radiation transmitted through said object; creating a second projected image of the object by exposing the object to the electromagnetic radiation and measuring, at a second plurality of locations spaced from said object, the intensity of said electromagnetic radiation transmitted through said object; creating a reconstructed image of the object having a plurality of pixels including the steps of: setting each of said pixels to an initialized value in accordance with a corresponding momentum factor; and adjusting the initialized value of each of said pixels based on said first and second projected images; performing a terracing function on said reconstructed image; performing a smoothing function on said reconstructed image; and displaying said tomographically reconstructed image on the basis of said reconstructed image.

Claim 9

A method for generating a tomographically reconstructed image of an object including first and second reconstructed slice images comprising the steps of: generating said first reconstructed slice image including the steps of: creating a first projected image of the object by exposing the object to electromagnetic radiation and measuring, at a first plurality of locations spaced from said object, the intensity of said electromagnetic radiation transmitted through said object; creating a second projected image of the object by exposing the object to the electromagnetic radiation and measuring, at a second plurality of locations spaced from said object, the intensity of said electromagnetic radiation transmitted through said object; creating a first reconstructed image, including a plurality of pixels, of the object from said first and second projected images and predetermined values of said plurality of pixels; performing a terracing function on said first reconstructed image; and performing a smoothing function on said first reconstructed image; moving said object a fixed distance relative to said first and second plurality of locations; and generating a second reconstructed slice image including the steps of: creating a third projected image of the object by exposing the object to said electromagnetic radiation and measuring, at the first plurality of locations spaced from said object, the intensity of said electromagnetic radiation transmitted through said object; creating a fourth projected image of the object by exposing the object to the electromagnetic radiation and measuring, at the second plurality of locations spaced from said object, the intensity of said electromagnetic radiation transmitted through said object; creating a second reconstructed image, including a plurality of pixels, of the object from said third and fourth projected images and values of each said plurality of pixels corresponding to values of pixels of said first reconstructed slice image; performing a terracing function on said second reconstructed image; and performing a smoothing function on said second reconstructed image; and displaying said first and second reconstructed slice images on the basis of said first and second reconstructed images, respectively.

Claim 10

A method for generating a tomographically reconstructed image of an object including first and second reconstructed slice images comprising the steps of: generating said first reconstructed slice image including the steps of: creating a first projected image of the object by exposing the object to electromagnetic radiation and measuring, at a first plurality of locations spaced from said object, the intensity of said electromagnetic radiation transmitted through said object; creating a second projected image of the object by exposing the object to the electromagnetic radiation and measuring, at a second plurality of locations spaced from said object, the intensity of said electromagnetic radiation transmitted through said object; creating a first reconstructed image, including a plurality of pixels, of the object from said first and second projected images and predetermined values of said plurality of pixels; performing a terracing function on said first reconstructed image; and performing a smoothing function on said first reconstructed image; moving said object a fixed distance relative to said first and second plurality of locations; and generating a second reconstructed slice image including the steps of: creating a third projected image of the object by exposing the object to said electromagnetic radiation and measuring, at the first plurality of locations spaced from said object, the intensity of said electromagnetic radiation transmitted through said object; creating a fourth projected image of the object by exposing the object to the electromagnetic radiation and measuring, at the second plurality of locations spaced from said object, the intensity of said electromagnetic radiation transmitted through said object; creating a second reconstructed image, including a plurality of pixels, of the object from said third and fourth projected images and values of each said plurality of pixels corresponding to values of pixels of said first reconstructed slice image; performing a terracing function on said second reconstructed image; and performing a smoothing function on said second reconstructed image; and displaying said first and second reconstructed slice images on the basis of said first and second reconstructed images, respectively.

Claim 11

A method for generating a three dimensional tomographically reconstructed image of an object comprising the steps of: creating a first projected image of the object by exposing the object to electromagnetic radiation and measuring, at a first plurality of locations spaced from said object, the intensity of said electromagnetic radiation transmitted through said object; creating a second projected image of the object by exposing the object to the electromagnetic radiation and measuring, at a second plurality of locations spaced from said object, the intensity of said electromagnetic radiation transmitted through said object; creating a first reconstructed slice, including a plurality of voxels having a specified physical characteristic, of the object from said first and second projected images; creating a third projected image of the object by exposing the object to electromagnetic radiation and measuring, at a third plurality of locations spaced from said object, the intensity of said electromagnetic radiation transmitted through said object; creating a fourth projected image of the object by exposing the object to the electromagnetic radiation and measuring, at a fourth plurality of locations spaced from said object, the intensity of said electromagnetic radiation transmitted through said object; creating a second reconstructed slice, including a plurality of voxels having a specified physical characteristic, of the object from said third and fourth projected images; comparing each of said plurality of voxels of said first reconstructed slice to a predetermined physical characteristics to select a first voxel whose specified physical characteristic matches the predetermined physical characteristic; comparing the specified physical characteristics, of said plurality of voxels of said first reconstructed slice and said second reconstructed slice which are contiguous with said selected first voxel to select at least a second voxel whose specified physical characteristic matches the predetermined physical characteristic; and displaying said first and second selected voxels.

Claim 12

A method for generating a three dimensional tomographically reconstructed image of an object comprising the steps of: creating a first projected image of the object by exposing the object to electromagnetic radiation and measuring, at a first plurality of locations spaced from said object, the intensity of said electromagnetic radiation transmitted through said object; creating a second projected image of the object by exposing the object to the electromagnetic radiation and measuring, at a second plurality of locations spaced from said object, the intensity of said electromagnetic radiation transmitted through said object; creating a first reconstructed slice, including a plurality of voxels having a specified physical characteristic, of the object from said first and second projected images; creating a third projected image of the object by exposing the object to electromagnetic radiation and measuring, at a third plurality of locations spaced from said object, the intensity of said electromagnetic radiation transmitted through said object; creating a fourth projected image of the object by exposing the object to the electromagnetic radiation and measuring, at a fourth plurality of locations spaced from said object, the intensity of said electromagnetic radiation transmitted through said object; creating a second reconstructed slice, including a plurality of voxels having a specified physical characteristic, of the object from said third and fourth projected images; comparing each of said plurality of voxels of said first reconstructed slice to a predetermined physical characteristics to select a first voxel whose specified physical characteristic matches the predetermined physical characteristic; comparing the specified physical characteristics, of said plurality of voxels of said first reconstructed slice and said second reconstructed slice which are contiguous with said selected first voxel to select at least a second voxel whose specified physical characteristic matches the predetermined physical characteristic; and displaying said first and second selected voxels.

Claim 16

An apparatus for generating a tomographically reconstructed image of an object comprising: first projection means for creating a first projected image of the object by exposing the object to electromagnetic radiation and measuring, at a first plurality of locations spaced from said object, the intensity of said electromagnetic radiation transmitted through said object; second projection means for creating a second projected image of the object by exposing the object to the electromagnetic radiation and measuring, at a second plurality of locations spaced from said object, the intensity of said electromagnetic radiation transmitted through said object; reconstruction means for creating a reconstructed image of the object from said first and second projected images; terracing means for performing a terracing function on said reconstructed image; and smoothing means for performing a smoothing function on said reconstructed image; and display means for displaying said tomographically reconstructed image on the basis of said reconstructed image.

Claim 17

An apparatus for generating a tomographically reconstructed image of an object comprising: first projection means for creating a first projected image of the object by exposing the object to electromagnetic radiation and measuring, at a first plurality of locations spaced from said object, the intensity of said electromagnetic radiation transmitted through said object; second projection means for creating a second projected image of the object by exposing the object to the electromagnetic radiation and measuring, at a second plurality of locations spaced from said object, the intensity of said electromagnetic radiation transmitted through said object; reconstruction means for creating a reconstructed image of the object from said first and second projected images; terracing means for performing a terracing function on said reconstructed image; and smoothing means for performing a smoothing function on said reconstructed image; and display means for displaying said tomographically reconstructed image on the basis of said reconstructed image.

Claim 19

A method for generating a tomographically reconstructed image of an object comprising the steps of: creating a first projected image of the object by exposing the object to electromagnetic radiation and measuring, at a first plurality of locations spaced from said object, the intensity of said electromagnetic radiation transmitted through said object; creating a second projected image of the object by exposing the object to the electromagnetic radiation and measuring, at a second plurality of locations spaced from said object, the intensity of said electromagnetic radiation transmitted through said object; creating a reconstructed image of the object from said first and second projected images; separating the projected images into object portions and background portions; generating a first reconstructed image on the basis of said object portions; generating a second reconstructed image on the basis of said background portions; and displaying said tomographically reconstructed image on the basis of said first and second reconstructed images.

Claim 20

A method for generating a tomographically reconstructed image of an object comprising the steps of: creating a first projected image of the object by exposing the object to electromagnetic radiation and measuring, at a first plurality of locations spaced from said object, the intensity of said electromagnetic radiation transmitted through said object; creating a second projected image of the object by exposing the object to the electromagnetic radiation and measuring, at a second plurality of locations spaced from said object, the intensity of said electromagnetic radiation transmitted through said object; creating a reconstructed image of the object from said first and second projected images; separating the projected images into object portions and background portions; generating a first reconstructed image on the basis of said object portions; generating a second reconstructed image on the basis of said background portions; and displaying said tomographically reconstructed image on the basis of said first and second reconstructed images.

Claim 21

A method for generating a tomographically reconstructed image of an object including current and next reconstructed slice images comprising the steps of: generating said current reconstructed slice image including the steps of: creating a first projected image of the object by exposing the object to electromagnetic radiation and measuring, at a first plurality of locations spaced from said object, the intensity of said electromagnetic radiation transmitted through said object; creating a second projected image of the object by exposing the object to the electromagnetic radiation and measuring, at a second plurality of locations spaced from said object, the intensity of said electromagnetic radiation transmitted through said object; creating a current reconstructed image, including a plurality of pixels, of the object from said first and second projected images and predetermined values of said plurality of pixels; performing a terracing function on said current reconstructed image; and performing a smoothing function on said current reconstructed image; moving said object a fixed distance relative to said first and second plurality of locations; and generating a next reconstructed slice image including the steps of: creating a third projected image of the object by exposing the object to said electromagnetic radiation and measuring, at the first plurality of locations spaced from said object, the intensity of said electromagnetic radiation transmitted through said object; creating a fourth projected image of the object by exposing the object to the electromagnetic radiation and measuring, at the second plurality of locations spaced from said object, the intensity of said electromagnetic radiation transmitted through said object; creating a next reconstructed image, including a plurality of pixels, of the object from said third and fourth projected images and values of each said plurality of pixels corresponding to values of pixels of said current reconstructed slice image; performing a terracing function on said next reconstructed image; performing a smoothing function on said next reconstructed image; and displaying said current and next reconstructed slice images on the basis of said current and next reconstructed images, respectively.

Claim 22

A method for generating a tomographically reconstructed image of an object including current and next reconstructed slice images comprising the steps of: generating said current reconstructed slice image including the steps of: creating a first projected image of the object by exposing the object to electromagnetic radiation and measuring, at a first plurality of locations spaced from said object, the intensity of said electromagnetic radiation transmitted through said object; creating a second projected image of the object by exposing the object to the electromagnetic radiation and measuring, at a second plurality of locations spaced from said object, the intensity of said electromagnetic radiation transmitted through said object; creating a current reconstructed image, including a plurality of pixels, of the object from said first and second projected images and predetermined values of said plurality of pixels; performing a terracing function on said current reconstructed image; and performing a smoothing function on said current reconstructed image; moving said object a fixed distance relative to said first and second plurality of locations; and generating a next reconstructed slice image including the steps of: creating a third projected image of the object by exposing the object to said electromagnetic radiation and measuring, at the first plurality of locations spaced from said object, the intensity of said electromagnetic radiation transmitted through said object; creating a fourth projected image of the object by exposing the object to the electromagnetic radiation and measuring, at the second plurality of locations spaced from said object, the intensity of said electromagnetic radiation transmitted through said object; creating a next reconstructed image, including a plurality of pixels, of the object from said third and fourth projected images and values of each said plurality of pixels corresponding to values of pixels of said current reconstructed slice image; performing a terracing function on said next reconstructed image; performing a smoothing function on said next reconstructed image; and displaying said current and next reconstructed slice images on the basis of said current and next reconstructed images, respectively.