Optimization of Hardware and Image Processing for Improved Image Quality in X-Ray Phase Contrast Imaging

摘要

High-quality image products in an X-Ray Phase Contrast Imaging (XPCI) system can be produced with propersystem hardware and data acquisition. However, it may be possible to further increase the quality of the imageproducts by addressing subtleties and imperfections in both hardware and the data acquisition process. Notingthat addressing these issues entirely in hardware and data acquisition may not be practical, a more prudentapproach is to determine the balance of how the apparatus may reasonably be improved and what can beaccomplished with image post-processing techniques.Given a proper signal model for XPCI data, image processing techniques can be developed to compensate formany of the image quality degradations associated with higher-order hardware and data acquisition imperfections.However, processing techniques also have limitations and cannot entirely compensate for sub-par hardware orinaccurate data acquisition practices. Understanding system and image processing technique limitations enablesbalancing between hardware, data acquisition, and image post-processing.In this paper, we present some of the higher-order image degradation effects we have found associated withsubtle imperfections in both hardware and data acquisition. We also discuss and demonstrate how a combinationof hardware, data acquisition processes, and image processing techniques can increase the quality of XPCI imageproducts. Finally, we assess the requirements for high-quality XPCI images and propose reasonable systemhardware modifications and the limits of certain image processing techniques.