NOVEL ITERATIVE OPTIMIZING QUANTIZATION TECHNIQUE AND ITS APPLICATIONTO X-RAY TOMOGRAPHIC MICROSCOPY FOR 3-DIMENSIONAL RECONSTRUCTION FROMA LIMITED NUMBER OF VIEWS

The iterative optimizing quantization technique (IOQT) is a novel meth od in reconstructing three-dimensional (3D) images from a limited numb er of 2D projections. IOQT can reduce the artifacts and image distorti on due to a limited number of projections and limited range of viewing angles. Equivalently, by reducing the number of projections required for reconstruction, the use of IOQT can reduce the dose delivered to t he specimen, simplify the complexity of an experimental setup, and con sequently support the development of techniques to nondestructively im age microstructures of materials. In this article, we will demonstrate the capability of IOQT to reconstruct an accurate 3D image of an obje ct from a limited number of views, using a computer simulation and an actual 3D test pattern experiment with submicrometer features. In addi tion, we will introduce a promising application of IOQT to X-ray tomog raphic microscopy to study microbiological specimens by presenting the 3D reconstructions of the two different-conditioned human sperm cells from six projections. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.