四肢成像专用锥束CT方法的设计与优化

Design and optimization of a cone-beam CT system for extremity imaging

目的人体四肢成像具有重要的临床意义,目前国内在该方面的研究匮乏,本文针对四肢骨骼成像高分辨率的特殊需求,创建一种四肢专用锥束CT(ECBCT)成像方法。方法基于三维X射线断层成像技术以及高分辨率X射线平板探测器技术,作者进行了ECBCT成像过程的物理建模及几何建模,研究其几何校正及图像重建方法,并搭建了相应的硬件系统。实验中对笔筒体模、IQ体模以及动物肢体样本进行扫描,以评估该成像方法的有效性及其硬件系统的稳定性。结果采用几何校正后的参数进行重建的笔筒图像结构清楚,无混叠伪影产生;IQ体模重建图像中CT值分布均匀,同等条件下多次扫描重建图像的噪声功率谱不具差异性;动物肢体重建图像分辨率高,骨组织显示清晰。结论 ECBCT可用于人体四肢成像,此外,该技术对骨组织的成像分辨率高,可为骨关节炎等骨科疾病的诊断提供重要的临床信息。

Objective To establish a cone beam computed tomography(ECBCT) system for high-resolution imaging of the extremities. Methods Based on three-dimensional X-Ray CT imaging and high-resolution flat plate detector technique, we constructed a physical model and a geometric model for ECBCT imaging, optimized the geometric calibration and image reconstruction methods, and established the scanner system. In the experiments, the pencil vase phantom, image quality(IQ)phantom and a swine feet were scanned using this imaging system to evaluate its effectiveness and stability. Results On the reconstructed image of the pencil vase phantom, the edges were well preserved with geometric calibrated parameters and no aliasing artifacts were observed. The reconstructed images of the IQ phantom showed a uniform distribution of the CT number, and the noise power spectra were stable in multiple scanning under the same condition. The reconstructed images of the swine feet had clearly displayed the bones with a good resolution. Conclusion The ECBCT system can be used for highresolution imaging of the extremities to provide important imaging information to assist in the diagnosis of bone diseases.