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Tao S, Tian Z, Bai L, Wang W, Xu Y, Kuang C, Liu X. Tri-directional x-ray phase contrast multimodal imaging using one hexagonal mesh modulator. Phys Med Biol 2023; 68:195017. [PMID: 37652041 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6560/acf5c3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Objective. X-ray phase contrast imaging is a promising technique for future clinical diagnostic as it can provide enhanced contrast in soft tissues compared to traditional x-ray attenuation-contrast imaging. However, the strict requirements on the x-ray coherence and the precise alignment of optical elements limit its applications towards clinical use. To solve this problem, mesh-based x-ray phase contrast imaging method with one hexagonal mesh is proposed for easy alignment and better image visualization.Approach. The mesh produces structured illuminations and the detector captures its distortions to reconstruct the absorption, differential phase contrast (DPC) and dark-field (DF) images of the sample. In this work, we fabricated a hexagonal mesh to simultaneously retrieve DPC and DF signals in three different directions with single shot. A phase retrieval algorithm to obtain artifacts-free phase from DPC images with three different directions is put forward and false color dark-field image is also reconstructed with tri-directional images. Mesh-shifting method based on this hexagonal mesh modulator is also proposed to reconstruct images with better image quality at the expense of increased dose.Main results. In numerical simulations, the proposed hexagonal mesh outperforms the traditional square mesh in image evaluation metrics performance and false color visualization with the same radiation dose. The experimental results demonstrate its feasiblity in real imaging systems and its advantages in quantitive imaging and better visualization. The proposed hexagonal mesh is easy to fabricate and can be successfully applied to x-ray source with it spot size up to 300μm.Significance. This work opens new possibilities for quantitative x-ray non-destructive imaging and may also be instructive for research fields such as x-ray structured illumination microscopy (SIM), x-ray spectral imaging and x-ray phase contrast and dark-field computed tomography (CT).
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Affiliation(s)
- Siwei Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Extreme Photonics and Instrumentation, College of Optical Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, People's Republic of China
| | - Zonghan Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Extreme Photonics and Instrumentation, College of Optical Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, People's Republic of China
| | - Ling Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Extreme Photonics and Instrumentation, College of Optical Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Extreme Photonics and Instrumentation, College of Optical Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, People's Republic of China
| | - Yueshu Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Extreme Photonics and Instrumentation, College of Optical Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Extreme Photonics and Instrumentation, ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 315100, People's Republic of China
| | - Cuifang Kuang
- State Key Laboratory of Extreme Photonics and Instrumentation, College of Optical Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Extreme Photonics and Instrumentation, ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 315100, People's Republic of China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Extreme Optics, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, People's Republic of China
| | - Xu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Extreme Photonics and Instrumentation, College of Optical Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Extreme Photonics and Instrumentation, ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 315100, People's Republic of China
- Ningbo Research Institute, Zhejiang University, Ningbo 315100, People's Republic of China
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Schmid C, Viermetz M, Gustschin N, Noichl W, Haeusele J, Lasser T, Koehler T, Pfeiffer F. Modeling Vibrations of a Tiled Talbot-Lau Interferometer on a Clinical CT. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON MEDICAL IMAGING 2023; 42:774-784. [PMID: 36301786 DOI: 10.1109/tmi.2022.3217662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
X-ray computed tomography (CT) is an invaluable imaging technique for non-invasive medical diagnosis. However, for soft tissue in the human body the difference in attenuation is inherently small. Grating-based X-ray phase-contrast is a relatively novel imaging method which detects additional interaction mechanisms between photons and matter, namely refraction and small-angle scattering, to generate additional images with different contrast. The experimental setup involves a Talbot-Lau interferometer whose susceptibility to mechanical vibrations hindered acquisition schemes suitable for clinical routine in the past. We present a processing pipeline to identify spatially and temporally variable fluctuations occurring in an interferometer installed on a continuously rotating clinical CT gantry. The correlations of the vibrations in the modular grating setup are exploited to identify a small number of relevant fluctuation modes, allowing for a sample reconstruction free of vibration artifacts.
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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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Demonstration of Neutron Phase Imaging Based on Talbot–Lau Interferometer at Compact Neutron Source RANS. QUANTUM BEAM SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/qubs6020022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Neutron imaging based on a compact Talbot–Lau interferometer was demonstrated using the RIKEN accelerator-driven compact neutron source (RANS). A compact Talbot–Lau interferometer consisting of gadolinium absorption gratings and a silicon phase grating was constructed and connected to the RANS. Because of pulsed thermal neutrons from the RANS and a position-sensitive detector equipped with time-of-flight (TOF) analysis, moiré interference patterns generated using the interferometer were extracted at a TOF range around the design wavelength (2.37 Å) optimal for the interferometer. Differential phase and scattering images of the metal rod samples were obtained through phase-stepping measurements with the interferometer. This demonstrates the feasibility of neutron phase imaging using a compact neutron facility and the potential for flexible and unique applications for nondestructive evaluation.
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Xu J, Wang Z, van Gogh S, Rawlik M, Spindler S, Stampanoni M. Intensity-based iterative reconstruction for helical grating interferometry breast CT with static grating configuration. OPTICS EXPRESS 2022; 30:13847-13863. [PMID: 35472989 DOI: 10.1364/oe.455967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Grating interferometry breast computed tomography (GI-BCT) has the potential to provide enhanced soft tissue contrast and to improve visualization of cancerous lesions for breast imaging. However, with a conventional scanning protocol, a GI-BCT scan requires longer scanning time and higher operation complexity compared to conventional attenuation-based CT. This is mainly due to multiple grating movements at every projection angle, so-called phase stepping, which is used to retrieve attenuation, phase, and scattering (dark-field) signals. To reduce the measurement time and complexity and extend the field of view, we have adopted a helical GI-CT setup and present here the corresponding tomographic reconstruction algorithm. This method allows simultaneous reconstruction of attenuation, phase contrast, and scattering images while avoiding grating movements. Experiments on simulated phantom and real initial intensity, visibility and phase maps are provided to validate our method.
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Guo P, Wang Z, Wu C, Zhu X, Zhang L. Iterative signal retrieval for X-ray grating interferometry with dual-shot. JOURNAL OF X-RAY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 2022; 30:891-901. [PMID: 35694949 DOI: 10.3233/xst-221162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND X-ray grating interferometry normally requires multiple steps and exposures, causing a prolonged imaging time. There is motivation to use fewer steps to reduce scanning time and complexity, while keeping fidelity of the retrieved signals. OBJECTIVE We propose an iterative signal retrieval method, extracting attenuation, dark field contrast (DFC), and differential phase contrast (DPC) signals from two X-ray exposures. METHODS Two shots were captured at G2 grating positions with difference of 1/4 grating period. The algorithm consists of two stages. At the first stage, amplitude of sample phase stepping curve retrieved by virtual phase stepping (VPS) method, visibility and local phase of background phase stepping curve are used to limit the results to the proximity of the ground truth. After the second stage, three high-quality parameters, amplitude, visibility, and local phase, are retrieved through finetuning, and three signals are calculated. Simulated and real-sample experiments were conducted to validate this method. RESULTS We used standard phase stepping result as benchmark and calculated structural similarity (SSIM) and peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) between benchmark and parameters retrieved by our dual-shot method and virtual phase stepping (VPS) method. For both simulated and real-sample experiments, the SSIM and PSNR value of dual-shot method are higher than those of VPS method. For real-sample method, we also conducted a three-step PS, and the SSIM and PSNR value of dual-shot method are slightly lower than those of three-step PS. CONCLUSION Using our dual-shot method demonstrates higher performance than other single-shot method in retrieving high-quality signals, and it also reduces radiation dose and time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peiyuan Guo
- Department of Engineering Physics, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Particle & Radiation Imaging (Tsinghua University) of Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Zhentian Wang
- Department of Engineering Physics, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Particle & Radiation Imaging (Tsinghua University) of Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Chengpeng Wu
- Department of Engineering Physics, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Particle & Radiation Imaging (Tsinghua University) of Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaohua Zhu
- Department of Engineering Physics, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Particle & Radiation Imaging (Tsinghua University) of Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Engineering Physics, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Particle & Radiation Imaging (Tsinghua University) of Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
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Matsuo K, Tamura R, Hotta K, Okada M, Takeuchi A, Wu Y, Hashimoto K, Takano H, Momose A, Nishino A. Bilaterally Asymmetric Helical Myofibrils in Ascidian Tadpole Larvae. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:800455. [PMID: 34950666 PMCID: PMC8688927 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.800455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The locomotor system is highly bilateral at the macroscopic level. Homochirality of biological molecules is fully compatible with the bilateral body. However, whether and how single-handed cells contribute to the bilateral locomotor system is obscure. Here, exploiting the small number of cells in the swimming tadpole larva of the ascidian Ciona, we analyzed morphology of the tail at cellular and subcellular scales. Quantitative phase-contrast X-ray tomographic microscopy revealed a high-density midline structure ventral to the notochord in the tail. Muscle cell nuclei on each side of the notochord were roughly bilaterally aligned. However, fluorescence microscopy detected left-right asymmetry of myofibril inclination relative to the longitudinal axis of the tail. Zernike phase-contrast X-ray tomographic microscopy revealed the presence of left-handed helices of myofibrils in muscle cells on both sides. Therefore, the locomotor system of ascidian larvae harbors symmetry-breaking left-handed helical cells, while maintaining bilaterally symmetrical cell alignment. These results suggest that bilateral animals can override cellular homochirality to generate the bilateral locomotor systems at the supracellular scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koichi Matsuo
- Laboratory of Cell and Tissue Biology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ryota Tamura
- Department of Neurosurgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kohji Hotta
- Department of Biosciences and Informatics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Mayu Okada
- Laboratory of Cell and Tissue Biology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akihisa Takeuchi
- Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute (JASRI), Sayo, Japan
| | - Yanlin Wu
- Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Koh Hashimoto
- Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Hidekazu Takano
- Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Atsushi Momose
- Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Atsuo Nishino
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Science, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, Japan
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Signal Retrieval from Non-Sinusoidal Intensity Modulations in X-ray and Neutron Interferometry Using Piecewise-Defined Polynomial Function. J Imaging 2021; 7:jimaging7100209. [PMID: 34677295 PMCID: PMC8538536 DOI: 10.3390/jimaging7100209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Grating-based phase-contrast and dark-field imaging systems create intensity modulations that are usually modeled with sinusoidal functions to extract transmission, differential-phase shift, and scatter information. Under certain system-related conditions, the modulations become non-sinusoidal and cause artifacts in conventional processing. To account for that, we introduce a piecewise-defined periodic polynomial function that resembles the physical signal formation process, modeling convolutions of binary periodic functions. Additionally, we extend the model with an iterative expectation-maximization algorithm that can account for imprecise grating positions during phase-stepping. We show that this approach can process a higher variety of simulated and experimentally acquired data, avoiding most artifacts.
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Graetz J, Balles A, Hanke R, Zabler S. Review and experimental verification of x-ray dark-field signal interpretations with respect to quantitative isotropic and anisotropic dark-field computed tomography. Phys Med Biol 2020; 65:235017. [PMID: 32916662 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6560/abb7c6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Talbot(-Lau) interferometric x-ray and neutron dark-field imaging has, over the past decade, gained substantial interest for its ability to provide insights into a sample's microstructure below the imaging resolution by means of ultra small angle scattering effects. Quantitative interpretations of such images depend on models of the signal origination process that relate the observable image contrast to underlying physical processes. A review of such models is given here and their relation to the wave optical derivations by Yashiro et al and Lynch et al as well as to small angle scattering is discussed. Fresnel scaling is introduced to explain the characteristic distance dependence observed in cone beam geometries. Moreover, a model describing the anisotropic signals of fibrous objects is derived. The Yashiro-Lynch model is experimentally verified both in radiographic and tomographic imaging in a monochromatic synchrotron setting, considering both the effects of material and positional dependence of the resulting dark-field contrast. The effect of varying sample-detector distance on the dark-field signal is shown to be non-negligible for tomographic imaging, yet can be largely compensated for by symmetric acquisition trajectories. The derived orientation dependence of the dark-field contrast of fibrous materials both with respect to variations in autocorrelation width and scattering cross section is experimentally validated using carbon fiber reinforced rods.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Graetz
- Lehrstuhl für Röntgenmikroskopie, Universität Würzburg, Josef-Martin-Weg 63, 97074 Würzburg, Germany. Fraunhofer IIS, division EZRT, Flugplatzstraße 75, 90768 Fürth / Josef-Martin-Weg 63, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
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Abstract
Under the JST-ERATO project in progress to develop X-ray and neutron phase-imaging methods together, recent achievements have been selected and reviewed after describing the merit and the principle of the phase imaging method. For X-ray phase imaging, recent developments of four-dimensional phase tomography and phase microscopy at SPring-8, Japan are mainly presented. For neutron phase imaging, an approach in combination with the time-of-flight method developed at J-PARC, Japan is described with the description of new Gd grating fabrication.
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