Mr. Alex J. Billingsley Profile

Alex J. Billingsley

at Univ of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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Author

Publications (5)

Proceedings Article | 15 February 2021 Presentation + Paper

Preliminary in-vivo imaging evaluation of patient-specific scatter-corrected digital chest tomosynthesis

Christina Inscoe, Alex Billingsley, Connor Puett, A. Cole Burks, Otto Zhou, Jianping Lu, Yueh Lee

Proc. SPIE. 11595, Medical Imaging 2021: Physics of Medical Imaging

KEYWORDS: In vivo imaging, Chest, Lung, Image quality, Computed tomography, Clinical trials, Reconstruction algorithms, Prototyping

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Proceedings Article | 16 March 2020 Presentation + Paper

Preliminary imaging evaluation of a compact tomosynthesis system for potential point-of-care extremity imaging

Christina Inscoe, Alex Billingsley, Connor Puett, Daniel Nissman, Jianping Lu, Yueh Lee, Otto Zhou

Proc. SPIE. 11312, Medical Imaging 2020: Physics of Medical Imaging

KEYWORDS: Imaging systems, Image quality, Diagnostics, Radiography, X-ray sources, Bone, Point-of-care devices, X-ray imaging

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Proceedings Article | 16 March 2020 Paper

Feasibility of a stationary head CT scanner using a CNT x-ray source array

Derrek Spronk, Yueting Luo, Christy Inscoe, Alex Billingsley, Yueh Lee, Jianping Lu, Otto Zhou

Proc. SPIE. 11312, Medical Imaging 2020: Physics of Medical Imaging

KEYWORDS: X-ray sources, X-ray computed tomography, Head, Sensors, X-rays, Scanners, Imaging systems, Reconstruction algorithms, Calibration, Image quality

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Purpose: Today’s state-of-the-art CT systems rely on a rotating gantry to acquire projections spanning up to 360 degrees around the head and/or body. By replacing the rotating source and detector with a stationary array of x-ray sources and line detectors, a head CT scanner could be potentially constructed with a small footprint and fast scanning speed. The purpose of this project is to design and construct a stationary head CT (s-HCT) scanner capable of diagnosis of stroke and head trauma patients in limited resource areas such as forward operating bases. Here we present preliminary imaging results which demonstrate the feasibility of such a system using carbon nanotube (CNT) x-ray source arrays.

Methods: The feasibility study was performed using a benchtop setup consisting of an x-ray source array with 45 distributed focal spots, each operating at 120kVp, and an Electronic Control System (ECS) for high speed control of the x-ray output from individual focal spots. The projection data was collected by an array of detectors configured specifically for head imaging. The basic performance of the CNT x-ray source array was characterized. By rotating the object in discrete angular steps, a potential s-HCT configuration was emulated. The collected projection images were reconstructed using an iterative reconstruction algorithm developed specifically for this configuration. Evaluation of the image quality was completed by comparing this image of the ACR CT phantom obtained with the s-HCT to that obtained by a clinical CT scanner.

Results: The CNT x-ray source array was found to have a consistent focal spot size of 1.3×1.1 mm² for all beams (IEC 1.0). At 120 kVp the HVL was measured to be 5.8 mm Al. Axial images have been acquired with slice thickness 2.5 mm to evaluate the imaging performance of the s-HCT system. Contrast-noise-ratio was measured for the acrylic (120 HU) and water (0 HU) materials in the ACR CT 464 phantom Module 01. A value of 5.2 is reported for the benchtop setup with an entrance dose of 2.9 mGy, compared to the clinical measurement of 30.5 found at 74.5 mGy. These images demonstrate that the s-HCT system based on CNT x-ray source arrays is feasible.

Conclusion: Customized CNT x-ray sources were developed specifically for head CT imaging. The feasibility of using this source array to construct a s-HCT scanner has been demonstrated by emulating a potential CT configuration. It is shown that diagnostic quality CT images can be obtained using the proposed system geometry. These preliminary images provide confidence that a s-HCT system can be constructed for clinical evaluation.

Proceedings Article | 16 March 2020 Presentation + Paper

Evaluation of patient-specific scatter-corrected digital chest tomosynthesis

Christina Inscoe, Connor Puett, Alex Billingsley, Otto Zhou, Jianping Lu, Yueh Lee

Proc. SPIE. 11312, Medical Imaging 2020: Physics of Medical Imaging

KEYWORDS: Chest, Image quality, 3D image reconstruction, Lung, Heart, Reconstruction algorithms, Imaging systems

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Proceedings Article | 1 March 2019 Paper

Tomosynthesis imaging of the wrist using a CNT x-ray source array

Christina Inscoe, A. Billingsley, C. Puett, S. Feinstein, E. Gunnell, D. Nissman, T. Maetani, R. Draeger, J. Lu, Y. Lee, O. Zhou

Proc. SPIE. 10948, Medical Imaging 2019: Physics of Medical Imaging

KEYWORDS: Image resolution, X-ray sources, Radiography, Imaging systems, Visualization, 3D image processing, Point-of-care devices, Imaging devices, Orthopedic imaging, Carbon nanotubes

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