Single-exposure low-dose x-ray imaging with grid-less and grid (GLG) imaging plates. A Kalman-filter approach

The present study was designed to monitor novel ideas in the acquisition and manipulation of data in an X-ray imaging system. A grid was sandwiched between two cascaded imaging plates (IPs). Using a fan-beam X-ray tube and a single exposure scheme, the two IPs, respectively, recorded grid-less and grid (GLG) type information of the object. Referring to the mathematical model of the GLG technique, it was explained that the collected data associated with the grid-less IP was of high (S/N) together with large scattered components whereas that of IP with grid was of low (S/N) and suppressed scattered components. Based on this assumption and using a Gaussian convolution kernel representing the effect of scattering, a technique was proposed to estimate scatter parameters of the GLG plates. Then, a Kalman-filter was developed to restore noisy-blurred images of the GLG techniques using the IPs data and estimated parameters. The results are shown for both the computer simulated and real X-ray phantom data. (author)