Error estimation and stabilization for low order finite elements

See full text for abstractEThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceOverseas Research Students Awards SchemeSchool of Mathematics of the University of Manchester.GBUnited Kingdo

Image-guided treatment using an X-ray therapy unit and gold nanoparticles: Test of concept

International audienceGold nanoparticles (GNPs) have the potential to enhance the radiation dose locally in conjunction with kV X-rays used for radiation therapy. As for other radiotherapy modalities, the absorbed dose needs to be controlled. To do that, it is an advantage to know the distribution of GNPs. However, no effective imaging tool exists to determine the GNP distribution in vivo. Various approaches have been proposed to determine the concentration of GNPs and its distribution in a tumour and in other organs and tissues. X-ray fluorescence computed tomography (XFCT) is a promising imaging technique to do that. A new experimental device based on the XFCT technique allowing the in vivo control of GNP radiotherapy treatments is proposed. As a test of concept, experimental acquisitions and Monte Carlo simulations were performed to determine the performance that a XFCT detector has to fulfil

Monte Carlo simulation on Graphical Processor Unit of the scattered beam in radiography non-destructive testing context

CEA-LIST develops CIVA software for non-destructive testing simulation. Radiography Monte Carlo simulation for the scattered beam can be quite long (several hours) even on a multi-thread CPU implementation. In order to reduce this computation time, we have modified and adapted for CIVA a GPU open source code named MCGPU. This paper presents our work and the results of cross comparison between CIVA and the modified MCGPU code in a NDT context

Scattering correction using continuously thickness-adapted kernels

International audienceQuantitative reconstruction values are often miscalculated in Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) due to the presence of secondary radiation originating from scattering of photons inside the object and detector under consideration. The effect becomes more prominent and challenging in case of X-ray source of high energy (over a few 100 keV) which is used in industrial Non-Destructive Testing (NDT), due to higher scatter to primary ratio (SPR). This paper describes a scatter correction algorithm for correcting the combined scattering due to the object and the detector based on variations in Scatter Kernel Superposition (SKS) method. Scatter correction is performed for homogeneous and heterogeneous objects in a robust iterative manner suitable for high SPR, using pencil beam kernels which are simulated in computed tomography (CT) module of the CIVA software for NDT simulations. Two methods for scatter correction using SKS approach are discussed and compared in the paper. In the first method, we use a discrete approach in which kernels for only few thicknesses are used. In the second method a continuous approach is proposed where the kernels are analytically parameterised for all thicknesses. The results obtained after scatter correction are well within the expected reconstruction values. The continuous method produces better edge enhanced corrected projections and the method results in improved reconstruction values than the discrete method

Separable scatter model of the detector and object contributions using continuously thickness-adapted kernels in CBCT

International audienceDue to the increased cone beam coverage and the introduction of flat panel detector, the size of X-ray illumination fields has grown dramatically in Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT), causing an increase in scatter radiation. Existing reconstruction algorithms do not model the scatter radiation, so scatter artifacts appear in the reconstruction images. The contribution of scattering of photons inside the detector itself becomes prominent and challenging in case of X-ray source of high energy (over a few 100 keV) which is used in typical industrial Non Destructive Testing (NDT). In this paper, comprehensive evaluation of contribution of detector scatter is performed using continuously thickness-adapted kernels. A separation of scatter due to object and the detector is presented using a four-Gaussian model. The results obtained prove that the scatter correction only due to the object is not sufficient to obtain reconstruction image free from artifacts as the detector also scatters considerably. The obtained results are also validated experimentally using a collimator to remove the contribution of object scatter

Confidence map tool for gradient based X-ray phase contrast imaging

International audienceWe present in this paper a graphical tool that we propose to call a confidence map, allowing to evaluate locally the quality of a phase image extracted from the measurement of its gradients. This tool is primarily used to alert the observer of the presence of artifacts that could affect his interpretation of the image. It can also be used to optimize a phase imager since it associates a cause to the creation of each artifact: noise, aliasing and dislocation. Illustration of this confidence map tool is proposed on a microfocus X-ray tube using multilateral shearing interferometry, a gradient based phase contrast technique employing a single 2D-grating

Evaluation of a scattering correction method for high energy tomography

One of the main drawbacks of Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) is the contribution of the scattered photons due to the object and the detector. Scattered photons are deflected from their original path after their interaction with the object. This additional contribution of the scattered photons results in increased measured intensities, since the scattered intensity simply adds to the transmitted intensity. This effect is seen as an overestimation in the measured intensity thus corresponding to an underestimation of absorption. This results in artifacts like cupping, shading, streaks etc. on the reconstructed images. Moreover, the scattered radiation provides a bias for the quantitative tomography reconstruction (for example atomic number and volumic mass measurement with dual-energy technique). The effect can be significant and difficult in the range of MeV energy using large objects due to higher Scatter to Primary Ratio (SPR). Additionally, the incident high energy photons which are scattered by the Compton effect are more forward directed and hence more likely to reach the detector. Moreover, for MeV energy range, the contribution of the photons produced by pair production and Bremsstrahlung process also becomes important. We propose an evaluation of a scattering correction technique based on the method named Scatter Kernel Superposition (SKS). The algorithm uses a continuously thickness-adapted kernels method. The analytical parameterizations of the scatter kernels are derived in terms of material thickness, to form continuously thickness-adapted kernel maps in order to correct the projections. This approach has proved to be efficient in producing better sampling of the kernels with respect to the object thickness. This technique offers applicability over a wide range of imaging conditions and gives users an additional advantage. Moreover, since no extra hardware is required by this approach, it forms a major advantage especially in those cases where experimental complexities must be avoided. This approach has been previously tested successfully in the energy range of 100 keV – 6 MeV. In this paper, the kernels are simulated using MCNP in order to take into account both photons and electronic processes in scattering radiation contribution. We present scatter correction results on a large object scanned with a 9 MeV linear accelerator

Evaluation of a scattering correction method for high energy tomography

One of the main drawbacks of Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) is the contribution of the scattered photons due to the object and the detector. Scattered photons are deflected from their original path after their interaction with the object. This additional contribution of the scattered photons results in increased measured intensities, since the scattered intensity simply adds to the transmitted intensity. This effect is seen as an overestimation in the measured intensity thus corresponding to an underestimation of absorption. This results in artifacts like cupping, shading, streaks etc. on the reconstructed images. Moreover, the scattered radiation provides a bias for the quantitative tomography reconstruction (for example atomic number and volumic mass measurement with dual-energy technique). The effect can be significant and difficult in the range of MeV energy using large objects due to higher Scatter to Primary Ratio (SPR). Additionally, the incident high energy photons which are scattered by the Compton effect are more forward directed and hence more likely to reach the detector. Moreover, for MeV energy range, the contribution of the photons produced by pair production and Bremsstrahlung process also becomes important. We propose an evaluation of a scattering correction technique based on the method named Scatter Kernel Superposition (SKS). The algorithm uses a continuously thickness-adapted kernels method. The analytical parameterizations of the scatter kernels are derived in terms of material thickness, to form continuously thickness-adapted kernel maps in order to correct the projections. This approach has proved to be efficient in producing better sampling of the kernels with respect to the object thickness. This technique offers applicability over a wide range of imaging conditions and gives users an additional advantage. Moreover, since no extra hardware is required by this approach, it forms a major advantage especially in those cases where experimental complexities must be avoided. This approach has been previously tested successfully in the energy range of 100 keV – 6 MeV. In this paper, the kernels are simulated using MCNP in order to take into account both photons and electronic processes in scattering radiation contribution. We present scatter correction results on a large object scanned with a 9 MeV linear accelerator