In this paper, we present a 3D virtual phantom design software, which was developed based on object-oriented programming methodology and dedicated to medical physics research. This software was named Magical Phantom (MPhantom), which is composed of 3D visual builder module and virtual CT scanner. The users can conveniently construct any complex 3D phantom, and then export the phantom as DICOM 3.0 CT images. MPhantom is a user-friendly and powerful software for 3D phantom configuration, and has passed the real scene's application test. MPhantom will accelerate the Monte Carlo simulation for dose calculation in radiation therapy and X ray imaging reconstruction algorithm research.
Aiming at the problem of high-quality image reconstruction from projection data at sparse angular views, we proposed an improved fast iterative reconstruction algorithm based on the minimization of selective image total variation (TV). The new reconstruction scheme consists of two components. Firstly, the algebraic reconstruction technique (ART) algorithm was adopted to reconstruct image that met the identity and non-negativity of projection data, and then, secondly, the selective TV minimization was used to modify the above image. Two phases were alternated until it met the convergence criteria. In order to further speed up the convergence of the algorithm, we applied a fast convergence technology in the iterative process. Experiments on simulated Sheep-Logan phantom were carried out.The results demonstrated that the new method not only improved image reconstruction quality and protected the edge of the image characteristics, but also improved the convergence speed of the iterative reconstruction significantly.
Ultrasound diffraction tomography (UDT) possesses the characteristics of high resolution, sensitive to dense tissue, and has high application value in clinics. To suppress the artifact and improve the quality of reconstructed image, classical interpolation method needs to be improved by increasing the number of projections and channels, which will increase the scanning time and the complexity of the imaging system. In this study, we tried to accurately reconstruct the object from limited projection based on compressed sensing. Firstly, we illuminated the object from random angles with limited number of projections. Then we obtained spatial frequency samples through Fourier diffraction theory. Secondly, we formulated the inverse problem of UDT by exploring the sparsity of the object. Thirdly, we solved the inverse problem by conjugate gradient method to reconstruct the object. We accurately reconstructed the object using the proposed method. Not only can the proposed method save scanning time to reduce the distortion by respiratory movement, but also can reduce cost and complexity of the system. Compared to the interpolation method, our method can reduce the reconstruction error and improve the structural similarity.
The medical magnetic resonance (MR) image reconstruction is one of the key technologies in the field of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The compressed sensing (CS) theory indicates that the image can be reconstructed accurately from highly undersampled measurements by using the sparsity of the MR image. However, how to improve the image reconstruction quality by employing more sparse priors of the image becomes a crucial issue for MRI. In this paper, an adaptive image reconstruction model fusing the double dictionary learning is proposed by exploiting sparse priors of the MR image in the image domain and transform domain. The double sparse model which combines synthesis sparse model with sparse transform model is applied to the CS MR image reconstruction according to the complementarity of synthesis sparse and sparse transform model. Making full use of the two sparse priors of the image under the synthesis dictionary and transform dictionary learning, the proposed model is tackled in stages by the iterative alternating minimization algorithm. The solution procedure needs to utilize the synthesis and transform K-singular value decomposition (K-SVD) algorithms. Compared with the existing MRI models, the experimental results show that the proposed model can more efficiently improve the quality of the image reconstruction, and has faster convergence speed and better robustness to noise.
Acoustic properties of biological tissues usually vary inhomogeneously in space. Tissues with different chemical composition often have different acoustic properties. The assumption of acoustic homogeneity may lead to blurred details, misalignment of targets and artifacts in the reconstructed photoacoustic tomography (PAT) images. This paper summarizes the main solutions to PAT imaging of acoustically heterogeneous tissues, including the variable sound speed and acoustic attenuation. The advantages and limits of the methods are discussed and the possible future development is prospected.
This study aims to propose a multifrequency time-difference algorithm using spectral constraints. Based on the knowledge of tissue spectrum in the imaging domain, the fraction model was used in conjunction with the finite element method (FEM) to approximate a conductivity distribution. Then a frequency independent parameter (volume or area fraction change) was reconstructed which made it possible to simultaneously employ multifrequency time-difference boundary voltage data and then reduce the degrees of freedom of the reconstruction problem. Furthermore, this will alleviate the illness of the EIT inverse problem and lead to a better reconstruction result. The numerical validation results suggested that the proposed time-difference fraction reconstruction algorithm behaved better than traditional damped least squares algorithm (DLS) especially in the noise suppression capability. Moreover, under the condition of low signal-to-noise ratio, the proposed algorithm had a more obvious advantage in reconstructions of targets shape and position. This algorithm provides an efficient way to simultaneously utilize multifrequency measurement data for time-difference EIT, and leads to a more accurate reconstruction result. It may show us a new direction for the development of time-difference EIT algorithms in the case that the tissue spectrums are known.
ObjectiveTo explore the safety and effectiveness of a precise marking method based on body surface mesh and three-dimensional (3D) image reconstruction.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 22 patients in our hospital from October 2018 to October 2019. There were 13 males and 9 females aged 58.5 (37-72) years. All patients underwent a precise marking of pulmonary nodules based on body surface mesh and 3D image reconstruction. Then, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) was performed to resect the nodules. The clinical data, including positioning success rate and operation time were analyzed.ResultsA total of 22 small pulmonary nodules were removed. The average diameter of small nodules was 12±3 mm, and the average distance from the visceral pleura was 17±6 mm. The localization success rate was 86.4%. The operation time was 110±43 min, and there was no surgery-related complication.ConclusionThe method of marking pulmonary nodules based on body surface mesh and 3D image reconstruction is a safe and reliable technology, which reduces the risk of hemopneumothorax caused by CT-guided lung puncture.