Dual-Source Multi-Energy CT with Triple or Quadruple X-ray Beams

Abstract

Energy-resolved photon-counting CT (PCCT) is promising for material decomposition with multi-contrast agents. However, corrections for non-idealities of PCCT detectors are required, which are still active research areas. In addition, PCCT is associated with very high cost due to lack of mass production. In this work, we proposed an alternative approach to performing multi-energy CT, which was achieved by acquiring triple or quadruple x-ray beam measurements on a dual-source CT scanner. This strategy was based on a "Twin Beam" design on a single-source scanner for dual-energy CT. Examples of beam filters and spectra for triple and quadruple x-ray beam were provided. Computer simulation studies were performed to evaluate the accuracy of material decomposition for multi-contrast mixtures using a tri-beam configuration. The proposed strategy can be readily implemented on a dual-source scanner, which may allow material decomposition of multi-contrast agents to be performed on clinical CT scanners with energy-integrating detector.

Keywords: Multi-energy CT; basis material decomposition; dual-energy CT; dual-source CT.

Figure 1

(a) Twin-beam acquisition on a single source CT (Siemens); (b) Tri-beam acquisition on a dual-source CT; (c) Quadruple-beam acquisition on a dual-source CT.

Figure 2

Example of x-ray beam spectra generated by a tri-beam configuration (a) and a quadruple-beam configuration (b).

Figure 3

Mass density map of the three materials: (a) iodine, (b) gold, and (c) water.