High Speed Imaging of Dynamic Processes with a Switched Source X-ray CT System

Thompson, William M and Lionheart, William RB and Morton, Edward J and Cunningham, Mike and Luggar, Russell (2015) High Speed Imaging of Dynamic Processes with a Switched Source X-ray CT System. [MIMS Preprint]

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Abstract

Conventional x-ray computed tomography (CT) scanners are limited in their scanning speed by the mechanical constraints of their rotating gantries, and as such do not provide the necessary temporal resolution for imaging of fast-moving dynamic processes, such as moving fluid flows. The Real Time Tomography (RTT) system is a family of fast cone beam CT scanners which instead use multiple fixed discrete sources, and complete rings of detectors in an offset geometry. We demonstrate the potential of this system for use in the imaging of such high speed dynamic processes, and give results using simulated and real experimental data. The unusual scanning geometry results in some challenges in image reconstruction, which are overcome using algebraic iterative reconstruction techniques and explicit regularisation. Through the use of a simple temporal regularisation term, and by optimising the source firing pattern, we show that temporal resolution of the system may be increased at the expense of spatial resolution, which may be advantageous in some situations. Results are given showing temporal resolution of approximately 500μs with simulated data, and 3ms with real experimental data.

Item Type:	MIMS Preprint
Uncontrolled Keywords:	x-ray tomography dynamic
Subjects:	MSC 2010, the AMS's Mathematics Subject Classification > 45 Integral equations MSC 2010, the AMS's Mathematics Subject Classification > 65 Numerical analysis MSC 2010, the AMS's Mathematics Subject Classification > 76 Fluid mechanics
Depositing User:	Prof WRB Lionheart
Date Deposited:	06 Feb 2015
Last Modified:	20 Oct 2017 14:13
URI:	https://eprints.maths.manchester.ac.uk/id/eprint/2244

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