KEYWORDS: Denoising, Signal attenuation, Image filtering, Dual energy imaging, Sensors, Switches, Signal to noise ratio, Interference (communication), Calibration, Bone
Dual-energy imaging increases the possibility of pulmonary nodule detection by reducing the bone structure
noise. Dual-shot techniques are limited by structural artefacts due to patient and natural movement during the
switch of voltage between energies. A new acquisition approach for dual-energy imaging was envisioned in order
to reduce this inter-exposure time. The idea is to keep the tube voltage constant, switch a filter in front of
the patient and thus modulate the outgoing x-ray spectrum. The drawback of this method is a poorer spectral
separation between low and high energy images leading to a higher sensitivity to noise. On the other hand, noise
in the reconstructed image is mainly controlled by high-energy image noise, allowing the use of noise suppression
algorithms without loosing high-frequency information present in the low-energy image.
The first part of this paper is a simulation study presenting system optimisation that includes noise reduction in
the HE image. Exposure times and filter thickness are chosen when optimising the signal difference to noise ratio
(SDNR) and dose. Results show better SDNR (9 %) for similar dose than state-of-art dual-shot switching voltage
technique. Thicker filters could lead to better results, but would demand more tube charge. In the second part is
presented experimental validation and implemented noise suppression algorithm. As radiographs of anatomical
phantoms are structured, anisotropic algorithm have been considered. Nodule and anthropomorphic phantoms
were used to measure detail suppression after image processing. Results are shown in terms of noise suppression
in the reconstructed image as well as in detail preservation.
Dual-energy imaging increases the possibility of pulmonary nodule detection by reducing the bone structure
noise. The major problem of the dual-energy acquisition process with digital flat-panel detectors is the interval
of time between low-energy (LE) exposure and high-energy (HE) exposure. Due to misregistration between LE
and HE images, motion artifacts pollute the subtracted image. This paper presents a new acquisition approach
for dual-energy imaging developed in order to reduce this inter-exposure time. The idea is to keep the tube
voltage constant and to just switch a filter in front of the imaged object and thus to modulate the outgoing x-ray
spectrum.
The first part of this study presents how to optimize system parameters for the new acquisition protocol:
source voltage, dynamic filtration before the patient, exposure time for LE and HE acquisition. The tube load
is kept constant to focus the optimization study on the dose and the exposure time. A noise quality factor
(NQF) and a spectral quality factor (SQF) are used as criteria for optimization. The new approach system is
then compared to the state-of-the-art system with voltage switching between low and high energy. A filtering
algorithm of dual energy acquisitions enabling a significant noise reduction is presented. Performance between its
combination with the new acquisition protocol and the reference one are compared. For a limited noise quality
factor, three times faster acquisition time is obtained using the new system. Noise reduction techniques improve
the image SNR by 61% in the new system and only 32% in the reference system, without taking into account
the impact of better registration on the dual-energy image quality.
Access to the requested content is limited to institutions that have purchased or subscribe to SPIE eBooks.
You are receiving this notice because your organization may not have SPIE eBooks access.*
*Shibboleth/Open Athens users─please
sign in
to access your institution's subscriptions.
To obtain this item, you may purchase the complete book in print or electronic format on
SPIE.org.
INSTITUTIONAL Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.
PERSONAL Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.