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Tao S, Xu Y, Bai L, Tian Z, Hao X, Kuang C, Liu X. Moiré artifacts reduction in Talbot-Lau X-ray phase contrast imaging using a three-step iterative approach. OPTICS EXPRESS 2022; 30:35096-35111. [PMID: 36258469 PMCID: PMC9662601 DOI: 10.1364/oe.466277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Talbot-Lau X-ray phase contrast imaging is a promising technique in biological imaging since it can provide absorption, differential phase contrast, and dark-field images simultaneously. However, high accuracy motorized translation stages and high stability of the imaging system are needed to avoid moiré artifacts in the reconstructed images. In this work, the effects of the stepping errors and the dose fluctuations on the transmission, differential phase contrast, and dark-field images are theoretically derived and systematically summarized. A novel three-step iterative method is designed for image reconstruction in Talbot-Lau interferometry with phase-stepping errors and dose fluctuations. Phase distributions, phase-stepping errors, and dose fluctuation coefficients are iteratively updated via the least square method until the convergence criteria are met. Moiré artifacts are mostly reduced via the proposed method in both the numerical simulations and experiments. The reconstructed images are highly coincident with the ground truth, which verifies the high accuracy of this method. The proposed algorithm is also compared with other moiré artifacts reduction algorithms, which further demonstrates the high precision of this algorithm. This work is beneficial for reducing the strict requirements for the hardware system in the conventional Talbot-Lau interferometry, such as the high accuracy motorized stages and the X-ray tube with high stability, which is significant for advancing the X-ray phase contrast imaging towards the practical medical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siwei Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Modern Optical Instrumentation, College of Optical Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yueshu Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Modern Optical Instrumentation, College of Optical Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ling Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Modern Optical Instrumentation, College of Optical Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zonghan Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Modern Optical Instrumentation, College of Optical Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiang Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Modern Optical Instrumentation, College of Optical Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Cuifang Kuang
- State Key Laboratory of Modern Optical Instrumentation, College of Optical Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Extreme Optics, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Xu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Modern Optical Instrumentation, College of Optical Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Ningbo Research Institute, Zhejiang University, Ningbo, China
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Mikhaylov A, Zakharova M, Vlnieska V, Khanda A, Bremer S, Zuber M, Henrique Pezzin S, Kunka D. Inverted Hartmann mask made by deep X-ray lithography for single-shot multi-contrast X-ray imaging with laboratory setup. OPTICS EXPRESS 2022; 30:8494-8509. [PMID: 35299301 DOI: 10.1364/oe.452114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
This paper reports on the fabrication and characterization of an inverted Hartmann mask and its application for multi-contrast X-ray imaging of polymer composite material in a laboratory setup. Hartmann masks open new possibilities for high-speed X-ray imaging, obtaining orientation-independent information on internal structures without rotating the object. The mask was manufactured with deep X-ray lithography and gold electroplating on a low-absorbing polyimide substrate. Such an approach allows us to produce gratings with a small period and high aspect ratio, leading to a higher spatial resolution and extension towards higher X-ray energies. Tuning the manufacturing process, we achieved a homogeneous patterned area without supporting structures, thus avoiding losses on visibility. We tested mask performance in a laboratory setup with a conventional flat panel detector and assessed mask imaging capabilities using a tailored phantom sample of various sizes. We performed multi-modal X-ray imaging of epoxy matrix polymer composites reinforced with glass fibers and containing microcapsules filled with a healing agent. Hartmann masks made by X-ray lithography enabled fast-tracking of structural changes in low absorbing composite materials and of a self-healing mechanism triggered by mechanical stress.
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Ludwig V, Seifert M, Hauke C, Hellbach K, Horn F, Pelzer G, Radicke M, Rieger J, Sutter SM, Michel T, Anton G. Exploration of different x-ray Talbot-Lau setups for dark-field lung imaging examined in a porcine lung. Phys Med Biol 2019; 64:065013. [PMID: 30731447 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6560/ab051c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
X-ray dark-field imaging is a promising technique for lung diagnosis. Due to the alveolar structure of lung tissue, a higher contrast is obtained by the dark-field image compared to the attenuation image. Animal studies indicate an enhancement regarding the detection of lung diseases in early stages. In this publication, we focus on the influence of different Talbot-Lau interferometer specifications while maintaining the x-ray source, sample magnification and detector system. By imaging the same porcine lung with three different grating sets, we analyze the contrast-to-noise ratio of the obtained dark-field images with respect to visibility and correlation length. We demonstrate that relatively large grating periods of the phase and of the analyzer grating are sufficient for high quality lung imaging at reasonable dose levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Ludwig
- Erlangen Centre for Astroparticle Physics, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
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