Dual-energy computed tomography using a gantry-based preclinical cone-beam microcomputed tomography scanner.
Justin J TseP Joy Dunmore-BuyzeMaria DrangovaDavid W HoldsworthPublished in: Journal of medical imaging (Bellingham, Wash.) (2018)
Dual-energy microcomputed tomography (DECT) can provide quantitative information about specific materials of interest, facilitating automated segmentation, and visualization of complex three-dimensional tissues. It is possible to implement DECT on currently available preclinical gantry-based cone-beam micro-CT scanners; however, optimal decomposition image quality requires customized spectral shaping (through added filtration), optimized acquisition protocols, and elimination of misregistration artifacts. We present a method for the fabrication of customized x-ray filters-in both shape and elemental composition-needed for spectral shaping. Fiducial markers, integrated within the sample holder, were used to ensure accurate co-registration between sequential low- and high-energy image volumes. The entire acquisition process was automated through the use of a motorized filter-exchange mechanism. We describe the design, implementation, and evaluation of a DECT system on a gantry-based-preclinical cone-beam micro-CT scanner.
Keyphrases
- dual energy
- cone beam
- image quality
- computed tomography
- deep learning
- cell therapy
- positron emission tomography
- machine learning
- contrast enhanced
- high throughput
- high resolution
- magnetic resonance imaging
- gene expression
- convolutional neural network
- primary care
- electron microscopy
- quality improvement
- magnetic resonance
- social media
- single cell
- optical coherence tomography
- pet ct