Junjun Deng

US Patent:

20130026353, Jan 31, 2013

Filed:

Mar 29, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/433361

Inventors:

Shikui Yan - Knoxville TN, US
Junjun Deng - Knoxville TN, US
Thomas Bruckbauer - Knoxville TN, US

Assignee:

SIEMENS MEDICAL SOLUTIONS USA, INC. - Malvern PA

International Classification:

G01D 18/00

US Classification:

2502521

Abstract:

Apparatuses, methods, and computer-readable mediums are provided that utilize a phantom to correct attenuation due to beam hardening. The phantom includes a calibration tip attached to a proximal end of a portion. The portion has a diameter that increases incrementally from the proximal end of the portion towards a distal end of the portion (e.g., a substantially conical shape, a substantially convex shape, a substantially concave shape, or a series of adjacent steps). In another embodiment, a method is provided in which the phantom is scanned and an image of the phantom is reconstructed. Thereafter, an x-ray path length and estimated attenuation coefficient are calculated. A sum of expected coefficients are also calculated. The calculations are used to generate an algorithm for beam hardening coefficients.