VOLUME IMAGING IN FLUOROSCOPY - A CLINICAL PROTOTYPE SYSTEM BASED ON A GENERALIZED DIGITAL TOMOSYNTHESIS TECHNIQUE

Purpose: This work involves the development of a new digital tomosynth esis technique into a clinical prototype imaging system for the three- dimensional visualization of patient anatomy. Material and Methods: Th e multiple projection algorithm (MPA) has been developed into a clinic al prototype imaging system comprising a digital chain that is interfa ced with an isocentric fluoroscopic unit to form an integrated DTS fac ility. Planes of varying orientations can be synthesized retrospective ly on the basis of an acquired set of appropriate projection images ex tending over the whole volume of interest. Results and Conclusion: The system provides an image reconstruction and processing facility that can effectively augment fluoroscopic examinations. Reconstruction time s of a few seconds per plane have been achieved. The region of interes t can be approached by tracking through cross-sections with user-selec ted orientations. Anatomical planes of particular interest can be iden tified and their reconstructed images can be stored. The characteristi cs of the image presentation modality have the potential to extend the field of current digital tomosynthesis applications to new areas in r adiology and other clinical domains.