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Metal artifact reduction methods in computed tomography replace the projection data passing through metals with an estimate of the true data. Inaccurate estimation leads to the generation of secondary artifacts. Data estimates can be improved by the use of prior knowledge of the projection data. In this paper, a method has been created to generate a prior image. The method uses computer vision techniques to segment regions of the initially reconstructed image and then discriminates between regions that are likely to be artifacts and anatomical structures. Results on test images show that metal artifacts are reduced and that few secondary artifacts are present, even in the case of multiple metal objects.

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has requirements for future explosives scanners that include dealing with a larger number of threats, higher probability of detection, lower false alarm rates and lower operating costs. One tactic that DHS is pursuing to achieve these requirements is to augment the capabilities of the established security vendors with third-party algorithm developers. The purposes of this presentation are to review DHS's objectives for involving third parties in the development of advanced algorithms and then to discuss how these objectives are achieved using workshops and grand challenges.

Summary form only given. We demonstrate phase-contrast enhanced X-ray imaging (PCXI) for characterization of the solid deuterium-tritium surface inside of beryllium shells. This novel method of X-ray imaging takes advantage of the small refraction and diffraction of the X-rays at boundaries between materials. PCXI is more sensitive to small density changes in low atomic number materials than traditional absorption radiography. Point-projection X-ray microscopes were used in our laboratory to study the surface roughness of a solid deuterium-tritium layer inside of a beryllium capsule. This method can also be applied to plasma physics characterization

A high-speed Radon transform computer (RTC) has been designed and simulated that operates on the principles of the parallel projection pipeline engine (PPPE) processor suggested by J.L.C. Sanz, et al. (1988). The computer consists of an array of identical processing elements with fast communication links to each of its neighbors and uses forward- and back-projection formulas tests linear interpolation. Simulation and experimental timing tests have been performed on both a systolic array of 64 transputer processors and on arrays of commercial DSP (digital signal processor) chips. A custom VLSI implementation is currently under design which is expected to perform forward and inverse transforms of 512 by 512 images at or near video rates. >

A class of hybrid domain-iterative algorithms for 2-D image reconstruction is described. The consistent iterative reconstruction-reprojection (CIRR) algorithm was designed and implemented along with other classical domain-iterative methods. The algorithms are tested on the hollow projections problem, where simple object models are assumed known. Results show that the CIRR algorithm is robust and accurate, and converges quickly. >