METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING MULTI-ENERGY (INCLUDING DUAL ENERGY) COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY (CT) IMAGING

摘要

An improved dual energy CT imaging system for providing improved imaging and improved material identification.

主权项

1. A multi-energy computed tomography (CT) imaging system for providing an image of an object, the system comprising:
a polychromatic X-ray source; a detector for detecting X-rays from the polychromatic X-ray source after the X-rays have passed through an object and for providing a first set of polychromatic energy measurements relating to a first polychromatic X-ray spectrum passed through the object and for providing a second set of polychromatic energy measurements relating to a second polychromatic X-ray spectrum passed through the object; and a processor configured to:
(i) transform at least one of the first set of polychromatic energy measurements and the second set of polychromatic energy measurement into a corresponding first monochromatic data set associated with X-rays at a selected first monochromatic energy level and into a corresponding second monochromatic data set associated with X-rays at a selected second monochromatic energy level;(ii) transform the first monochromatic data set into a first monochromatic image and transform the second monochromatic data set into a second monochromatic image; and(iii) use at least one of the first monochromatic image and the second monochromatic image to perform at least one of (a) provide an image free from beam hardening artifacts, and (b) provide identification of material properties within the object.