Real time continuous CT imaging

摘要

A continuous CT scanner (10) for producing real time images includes a stationary gantry portion (12) having an examination region (14) and a rotating gantry portion (20) for continuous rotation about the examination region (14). Mounted to the rotating gantry portion (20) is an imaging x-ray source (22) which produces a fan-shaped x-ray beam (24) having a plurality of rays through the examination region (14). A plurality of radiation detectors (28) are mounted to one of the rotating and stationary gantry portions (20, 12) and are arranged to receive rays of the fan-shaped x-ray beam (24) after the rays have passed through the examination region (14). The plurality of radiation detectors (28) converts detected radiation into electronic data wherein the electronic data includes a plurality of data lines in a fan beam format. A rebinning processor (30) interpolates the electronic data from the fan-beam format to a parallel-beam format. A reconstruction processor (50) then convolves and backprojects the electronic data to form in real time an image representation of a subject (52) within the examination region (14). The increased data collection rate and data processing rates allow for real time image updating.