Subpixel x-ray imaging with an energy-resolving detector

Mats Persson; Staffan Holmin; Staffan Karlsson; Hans Bornefalk; Mats Danielsson

doi:10.1117/1.JMI.5.1.013507

20 March 2018 Subpixel x-ray imaging with an energy-resolving detector

Mats Persson, Staffan Holmin, Staffan Karlsson, Hans Bornefalk, Mats Danielsson

Author Affiliations +

Journal of Medical Imaging, Vol. 5, Issue 1, 013507 (March 2018). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JMI.5.1.013507

Abstract

The detector pixel size can be a severe limitation in x-ray imaging of fine details in the human body. We demonstrate a method of using spectral x-ray measurements to image the spatial distribution of the linear attenuation coefficient on a length scale smaller than one pixel, based on the fact that interfaces parallel to the x-ray beam have a unique spectral response, which distinguishes them from homogeneous materials. We evaluate the method in a simulation study by simulating projection imaging of the border of an iodine insert with 200 mg / ml I in a soft tissue phantom. The results show that the projected iodine profile can be recovered with an RMS resolution of 5% to 34% of the pixel size, using an ideal energy-resolving detector. We also validate this method in an experimental study by imaging an iodine insert in a polyethylene phantom using a photon-counting silicon-strip detector. The results show that abrupt and gradual transitions can be distinguished based on the transmitted x-ray spectrum, in good agreement with simulations. The demonstrated method may potentially be used for improving visualization of blood vessel boundaries, e.g., in acute stroke care.

Citation Download Citation

Mats Persson, Staffan Holmin, Staffan Karlsson, Hans Bornefalk, and Mats Danielsson "Subpixel x-ray imaging with an energy-resolving detector," Journal of Medical Imaging 5(1), 013507 (20 March 2018). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JMI.5.1.013507

Received: 10 August 2017; Accepted: 26 February 2018; Published: 20 March 2018

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