First clinical results with digital flashing tomosynthesis in coronary angiography

Abstract

Digital flashing tomosynthesis (D-FTS) investigations have been performed using a new nonlinear reconstruction algorithm. It is called extreme-value decoding and produces significantly less artefact than back projection used commonly in tomosynthesis. The reduction of artefact allows the use of tomosynthesis based on only four projections in the case of dilute objects, i.e. objects with only a small number of high absorbing voxels. This condition can be realized in angiography by cancelling soft-tissue and bones by subtraction (e.g. DSA technique). The new technique has been carried out in 10 patients with coronary artery disease after investigation with standard 35 mm cineangiography. For the recording step of the D-FTS images we have used a multiple X-ray source. For the digital nonlinear reconstruction step we have used a VAX 11/780 computer. The estimated degree of stenosis found by D-FTS tomograms shows good accordance with the cineangiographic studies. The amount of contrast medium, the X-ray dose, and the investigation time are significantly reduced, because D-FTS requires only a single pre- and post-injection multiple perspective-image for each coronary artery.

Image quality and localization accuracy in C‐arm tomosynthesis‐guided head and neck surgery

“…Applications in angiography include tomosynthesis imaging of the cerebrovascular system and coronary arteries, 56-58 the latter highlighting the challenge associated with vessel motion and motivating the development of methods for rapid tomographic imaging. 59,60 Dobbins et al [34][35][36] applied tomosynthesis to chest imaging. Respiratory and involuntary organ motion were minimized by imaging under breath-hold, with continuous tube motion and rapid image readout ͑up to 5.8 frames per second͒-e.g., 61 projections acquired in ϳ10 s over a total arc of 16°.…”

Three-Dimensional Digital Tomosynthesis

“…A non-linear reconstruction method, called extreme-value decoding, was proposed for task-specific applications, for example in angiography, when only the projection with the largest or smallest value is used (Haaker 1985a, Haaker 1985b, Stiel 1993.…”

“…The first algorithm is the extreme-value decoding, where only projection data with minimum or maximum value are used for the reconstruction (Haaker 1985a, Haaker 1985b, Stiel 1993. The second algorithm is the voting strategy for statistical reconstruction in breast tomosynthesis when projections with too high value are detected, segmented and completely rejected .…”

Digital x-ray tomosynthesis: current state of the art and clinical potential

“…Coded-aperture imaging Weiss 1974, Groh 1977) was introduced in the 1970s as a means for shortening the film-based tomosynthesis procedure time. Techniques similar to codedaperture imaging were described subsequently by other investigators under a variety of names: 'short-time tomosynthesis' (Klotz and Weiss 1976), 'flashing tomosynthesis' (Nadjmi et al 1980, Becher et al 1983, Haaker et al 1985a, 1985b, Stiel et al 1993 and 'tomoscopy' (Sklebitz and Haendle 1983). In flashing tomosynthesis (FTS), an array of many x-ray point sources were arranged in a fixed geometry, and pulsed either synchronously or in rapid sequence.…”