New Hull-Voxel Approach to Image Reconstruction from Limited Projections and Views

V. Vengrinovich1, S. Zolotarev1, W. Schlegel2, B-M. Hesse2 and J. Hesser3

1Institute of Applied Physics, Minsk, Belarus, Email: veng@iaph.bas-net.by

2German Center for Cancer Research(DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany

3Mannheim University, Mannheim, Germany

ABSTRACT

We discuss the problem of image reconstruction from limited views and sparse projections in order to achieve a more accurate diagnosis of the patient’s morphology. As a priori assumption, we demand that the object consists of regions with constant attenuation coefficient. Hereby, the number of such regions is not restricted. The Hull-voxel reconstruction concept is a new method based on this a priori information and thereupon makes up for the lack of projections data. In the first reconstruction phase the Bayesian approach is applied, while at the second phase the so called hull-voxel iteration reconstruction algorithm is developed, which provides the iterative fitting of regions’ surfaces by global optimization technique. The results are evaluated based on simulated Shepp-Logan and experimental medical phantoms respectively.

Keywords Tomography, limited data, planar geometry