Influence of tube voltage and current on in-line phase contrast imaging using a microfocus x-ray source

In-line x-ray phase contrast imaging has attracted much attention due to two major advantages： its effectiveness in imaging weakly absorbing materials, and the simplicity of its facilities. In this paper a comprehensive theory based on Wigner distribution developed by Wu and Liu [Med. Phys. 31 2378-2384 （2004）] is reviewed. The influence of x-ray source and detector on the image is discussed. Experiments using a microfocus x-ray source and a CCD detector are conducted, which show the role of two key factors on imaging： the tube voltage and tube current. High tube current and moderate tube voltage are suggested for imaging.

Single-shot grating-based x-ray differential phase contrast imaging with a modified analyzer grating

X-ray grating interferometer has attracted widely attention in the past years due to its capability in achieving x-ray phase contrast imaging with low brilliance source. However, the widely used phase stepping information extraction method reduces system stability and prolongs data acquisition time by several times compared with conventional x-ray absorption- based imaging. The mechanical stepping can be avoided by using a staggered grating, but at the cost of low vertical spatial resolution. In this paper, employing a modified staggered grating and the angular signal radiography, we proposed a single-shot grating-based x-ray differential phase contrast imaging with decent vertical spatial resolution. The theoretical framework was deduced and proved by numerical experiments. Absorption, phase, and scattering computed tomography can be performed without phase stepping. Therefore, we believe this fast and highly stable imaging method with decent resolution would be widely applied in x-ray grating-based phase contrast imaging.

Non-Linear Phase Tomography Based on Fréchet Derivative

Phase imaging coupled to micro-tomography acquisition has emerged as a powerful tool to investigate specimens in a non-destructive manner. While the intensity data can be acquired and recorded, the phase information of the signal has to be “retrieved” from the data modulus only. Phase retrieval is an ill-posed non-linear problem and regularization techniques including a priori knowledge are necessary to obtain stable solutions. Several linear phase recovery methods have been proposed and it is expected that some limitations resulting from the linearization of the direct problem will be overcome by taking into account the non-linearity of the phase problem. To achieve this goal, we propose and evaluate a non-linear algorithm for in-line phase micro-tomography based on an iterative Landweber method with an analytic calculation of the Fréchet derivative of the phase-intensity relationship and of its adjoint. The algorithm was applied in the projection space using as initialization the linear mixed solution. The efficacy of the regularization scheme was evaluated on simulated objects with a slowly and a strongly varying phase. Experimental data were also acquired at ESRF using a propagation-based X-ray imaging technique for the given pixel size 0.68 μm. Two regularization scheme were considered: first the initialization was obtained without any prior on the ratio of the real and imaginary parts of the complex refractive index and secondly a constant a priori value was assumed on ?. The tomographic central slices of the refractive index decrement were compared and numerical evaluation was performed. The non-linear method globally decreases the reconstruction errors compared to the linear algorithm and is achieving better reconstruction results if no prior is introduced in the initialization solution. For in-line phase micro-tomography, this non-linear approach is a new and interesting method in biomedical studies where the exact value of the a priori ratio is not known.

Cosine fitting radiography and computed tomography

A new method in diffraction-enhanced imaging computed tomography （DEI-CT） that follows the idea developed by Chapman et al. [Chapman D, Thomlinson W, Johnston R E, Washburn D, Pisano E, Gmur N, Zhong Z, Menk R, Arfelli F and Sayers D 1997 Phys. Med. BioL 42 2015] in 1997 is proposed in this paper. Merged with a ＂reverse projections＂ algorithm, only two sets of projection datasets at two defined orientations of the analyzer crystal are needed to reconstruct the linear absorption coefficient, the decrement of the real part of the refractive index and the linear scattering coefficient of the sample. Not only does this method reduce the delivered dose to the sample without degrading the image quality, but, compared with the existing DEI-CT approaches, it simplifies data-acquisition procedures. Experimental results confirm the reliability of this new method for DEI-CT applications.

Phase Contrast Micro-Computed Tomography of Biological Sample at SSRF

In line X-ray phase contrast micro-computed tomography （IL-XPCT）, which can be implemented at third generation synchrotron radiation sources or by using a micro-focus X-ray tube, is a powerful technique for non-destructive, high-resolution investigations of a broad variety of materials. At the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility （SSRF）, the X-ray Imaging and Biomedical Applications Beamline was built and started regular user operation in May 2009. Both qualitative （without phase retrieval） and quantitative （with phase retrieval） three-dimensional IL-XPCT experimental techniques have been established at the beamline IL-XPCT experiments of a test sample （plastic pipes） used to evaluate the technique, and of a biological sample （locust） at the beamline are reported. Two series of images, qualitative and quantitative, including tomographic slices and three-dimensional rendering images were obtained. In qualitative images, there is a strong edge-enhancement which leads to very clear sample contours, while in quantitative images, the edge-enhancement fades but quantitative measurement of sample＇s phase information could be achieved. The experiments demonstrate that the combination of qualitative and quantitative images is useful for biological sample studies.

16层螺旋CT多期扫描对原发性肝癌的诊断价值

目的通过多层螺旋CT（MSCT）行肝脏多期增强扫描，探讨原发性肝癌（PHC）在多期增强扫描中的强化表现，比较各期的检出率。将动脉早、中及晚期相互组合，优化出诊断PHC的最佳扫捕方案。方法回顾性分析明确诊断为PHC的患者92例，共140个PHC病灶；其中男75例，女17例，年龄28～77岁。采用飞利浦螺旋Brilliancel6扫描机行增强后多期扫描，增强扫描采用3～4期（动脉早期、中期、晚期及门静脉期），动脉早期为22s，动脉中期为29s，动脉晚期为37s，门脉期为75s，延迟期为5min，每个全肝扫描周期为8．2s；扫描结束后在工作站对图像进行处理，统计各期的病灶检出数，并对肝脏与肿瘤实性部分的CT密度值分别进行测量并计算其差值行统计学分析。将动脉早、中、晚期组合成4种方案，计算其各自对病灶的检出率。结果本组140个病灶中，瘤径在增强后的动脉早期、动脉中期、动脉晚期及门静脉期，肿瘤与肝脏密度差值各期间差异有显著性差异（H=55．268，P=0．000〈0．01）。动脉早期检出率最低为35．71％，动脉晚期检出率最高为78．57％，动脉早、中、晚期及门静脉期对于病灶的检出率存在显著性差异（χ^2=33．985，P=0．000）；动脉早期＋晚期（80．00％）与多动脉期（80．00％）联合扫描的检出率一致且最高，同时与单纯动脉早、中或晚期扫捕相比，动脉早期＋晚期扫描及多动脉期联合扫描的检出率最高。结论采用MSCT行肝脏多期增强扫描，优化了动脉期的扫描方案，将全肝扫描落在真正的动脉期内，使显示富血供肿瘤强化的机会增加，同时较薄层面的扫捕也提高了PHC病灶检出的机会。

Multi-modality measurement and comprehensive analysis of hepatocellular carcinoma using synchrotron-based microscopy and spectroscopy

The visualization and data mining of tumor multidimensional information may play a major role in the analysis of the growth,metastasis,and microenvironmental changes of tumors while challenging traditional imaging and data processing techniques.In this study,a general trans-scale and multi-modality measurement method was developed for the quantitative diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)using a combination of propagation-based phase-contrast computed tomography(PPCT),scanning transmission soft X-ray microscopy(STXM),and Fourier transform infrared micro-spectroscopy(FTIR).Our experimental results reveal the trans-scale micro-morpho-logical HCC pathology and facilitate quantitative data analysis and comprehensive assessment.These results include some visualization features of PPCT-based tissue microenvironments,STXM-based cellular fine structures,and FTIR-based bio-macromolecular spectral characteris-tics during HCC tumor differentiation and proliferation.The proposed method provides multidimensional feature data support for constructing a high-accuracy machine learning algorithm based on a gray-level histogram,gray-gradient co-occurrence matrix,gray-level co-occurrence matrix,and back-propagation neural network model.Multi-dimensional information analysis and diagnosis revealed the morphological pathways of HCC pathological evolution and we explored the relationships between HCC-related feature changes in inflammatory microenviron-ments,cellular metabolism,and the stretching vibration peaks of biomolecules of lipids,proteins,and nucleic acids.Therefore,the proposed methodology has strong potential for the visualization of complex tumors and assessing the risks of tumor differentiation and metastasis.

采用吸收修正Bronnikov算法的有机复合样品的X射线显微计算机层析研究

有机复合样品如大多数由低原子序数物质构成的多聚物组合材料、生物软组织等具有混合相位和振幅特性,采用传统吸收计算机层析(CT)或纯相位重构算法难以达到较高密度分辨的目的。采用基于吸收修正的Bronnikov相位恢复算法的X射线同轴相衬CT技术对高分子混合组份材料和药物医学样品进行了实验研究。结果表明该相位恢复算法可以实现多聚物组合材料的无损分辨和精确测量,能够清晰辨别各组份材料的电子密度分布;验证了药物样品多孔性结构三维测量的可行性,能够有效提供孔隙测量的阈值选择。该方法在材料科学尤其是聚合物组合材料、泡沫多孔材料都会发挥很好的作用;单距的低辐射优势,尤其适用于生物医学样品三维无损成像。

同轴X射线相位衬度计算机X射线断层摄影术研究

基于北京同步辐射装置(BSRF)开展了同轴X射线相位衬度计算机X射线断层摄影术(CT)研究。利用北京同步辐射的14 keV单色X射线作为光源,以高分辨能力的X射线胶片作为探测器,分别开展吸收衬度和同轴相位衬度成像的比较研究以及相位衬度计算机X射线断层摄影术研究。相位衬度计算机X射线断层摄影术重建采用Bronnikov提出的算法。结果显示,与传统的吸收衬度图像相比,相位衬度图像具有更好的衬度和更高的空间分辨力;实验获得人工样品和蝗虫的相位衬度计算机X射线断层摄影术重建图像。重建图像中可见样品的一些结构细节。实验结果表明,相位衬度X射线成像更适合于研究弱吸收或吸收差异很小的材料;利用北京同步辐射开展同轴X射线相位衬度计算机X射线断层摄影术研究是可行的。

基于L_1范数的微分相位衬度CT稀疏角度重建算法

微分相位衬度成像及其计算层析(CT)技术是近年出现的无损检测新方法。但是,相位衬度CT往往需要对样品进行多次扫描,这必将导致非常长的辐射时间和巨大的辐射剂量。稀疏角度重建在降低辐射剂量方面有着非常明显的优势,因此,研究针对相位衬度CT的稀疏角度重建算法就显得尤为重要。在分析了相位衬度CT的特点之后,将压缩感知理论引入相位衬度CT重建中,并在该理论框架下将L1约束融入代数迭代重建(ART)算法中,提出了一种微分相位衬度CT重建算法。数值模拟和实际实验表明,该方法可以根据少量投影数据给出较好的重建结果。