基于Zernike相衬法的相衬成像探索

传统CT由于利用人体组织对X光的吸收进行成像具有很大的局限性。利用相位衬度对物体成像可以获得更高的对比度和分辨率,因此相衬成像成为近年来研究的热点。但是目前相衬图像的获取十分困难,一般需要利用第三代同步光源。为了摆脱物理手段的限制和探索图像相位信息的意义,提出了一种基于Zernike相衬法处理医学图像的方法,并对该方法进行了分析。实验表明,结果图像呈现出了相衬成像的特点。     

台阶模糊边的X射线同轴相衬成像参数优化

采用图像衬度,信噪比,分辨率和探测器抽样数作为X射线同轴相衬成像质量的综合评价标准,针对具有广泛应用意义的台阶模糊边分布特征的物体,提出了参数优化方法并建立了优化流程.通过数值模拟的方式分别对具有广泛代表性的亚微米焦点源、激光驱动微米焦点源及同步辐射源3种X射线源下成像系统的相关参数进行了优化.结果表明,基于优化方法的优化流程很好地完成了3种X射线源的同轴相衬成像参数优化.可见,这种优化方法具有广泛的应用意义,在根据具体情况对方法进行简单修正的基础上,可以完成任意X射线源下对具有台阶模糊边分布特征物体的同轴相衬成像优化工作.     

基于X射线像增强器成像的相衬滤波模型

对铝、黄铜、不锈钢3种金属材料制作的光栅在不同射线剂量和厚度差异的条件下进行图像采集,结合系统级的联合调制评价模型研究不同材料对X射线的调制作用,结果表明:在相同的射线剂量下,无论哪种材料的光栅,厚度差异越大成像反差越大;在厚度差异相同的情况下,随着射线剂量变化,不同材料对射线的调制能力变化趋势相差甚远。对光学调制传递函数、射线剂量和光栅厚度差异值进行三维曲线拟合,建立物质对X射线的调制模型和采集模型。在像增强器成像模型的基础上提出X射线相衬增强滤波模型,通过对薄膜基准目标源进行图像采集,在噪声环境下对其进行积分滤波处理和相衬增强处理,结果压低了图像噪声的同时也强化了目标轮廓信息,并大幅地增强X射线的成像反差。     

近贴X射线成像系统调制传递特性联合检测方法

利用光学调制传递函数评价原理,在建立了各个成像子系统信号传递关系的基础上,提出了一种近贴式X射线成像光学调制传递特性检测方法。从像增强器约束、射线源约束和噪声约束这3个角度对近贴式X射线成像系统光学调制传递函数进行理论定标。将近贴式X射线成像系统后端的CCD望远系统换成CCD显微系统并对不同空间分辨率的铅栅进行成像与对比度拟合。实验结果表明:时域均衡可以有效提高拟合精度。其拟合结果表明空间分辨率为10线对/mm时其调制传递函数仍有10%,与理论定标结果基本一致。故传统近贴式X射线成像系统的望远光学镜头分辨率才是真正的成像瓶颈。     

大景深相位模板的个性化设计

从大景深成像系统实际所需要的景深、分辨率以及最小调制传递函数MTF响应值出发,本文建立了相位模板的个性化优化设计模型.在设计景深、分辨率范围内,以保证系统的MTF值大于设定的最小MTF响应值为优化限制条件,以不同离焦对应的光学传递函数的Fisher信息的积分作为优化目标函数.对波前编码系统的立方相位模板CPM和指数相位模板EPM进行了几组优化设计.同时,给出了后续的图像复原滤波器表达式.结果表明,得到的个性化相位模板和图像复原的结合,能够满足系统的实际需求,系统总的传递函数接近衍射受限系统的传递函数.     

X射线同轴相衬成像实验

X射线相衬成像技术对软组织成像时比基于衰减的传统X射线成像技术优势明显,现在亟待发展一套广泛适用的相衬成像理论来指导其发展和临床应用．首先介绍了同轴相衬成像及相位成像的原理,随后根据菲涅耳．基尔霍夫衍射理论,利用数值模拟的方法研究微焦点源的尺寸对图像可见度的影响,最后在数值模拟结果指导下通过实验室直径为50μm的微焦点源X射线成像系统获得了厚度为150μm左右塑料气泡膜的相衬图像．     

X射线束点尺寸对X射线相位衬度成像的影响

X射线相位衬度成像利用X射线穿过样品后的相位变化,通过衍射信息来获得样品的结构特征。X射线相位衬度成像在生物影像、显微成像以及材料科学研究中有重要的应用。如果X射线成像样品物质密度比较低,它对X射线的吸收很小,所以常规的吸收衬度成像质量较差,不易分辨样品的结构细节。理论分析和实验研究都表明当X射线束点尺寸减小到一定尺度后,X射线源的空间相干性增强,采用相位衬度成像可以提高低密度样品的成像质量。X射线相位衬度成像质量与X射线束点尺寸,样品到影像记录平面之间距离直接相关。本文研究了X射线束点尺寸与低密度样品影像边沿轮廓宽度和对比度之间的影响关系。研究结果表明,根据低密度样品的介电常数、X射线源到样品距离,以及样品到影像记录平面距离,存在最优化的X射线束点尺寸。在该最优化配置条件下,低密度样品的X射线成像可以获得最好的图像质量。     

量子检测效率在数字化X线系统计量中的应用

介绍了依据国际标准IEC 62220-1在RQA5线质下,获得调制传递函数、噪声功率谱的实验方法,以及通过调制传递函数和噪声功率谱计算量子检测效率的方法。通过获得的实验数据分析了量子检测效率与入射剂量、数字化X线系统的空间分辨率以及低对比分辨率的关系。实验结果证明量子检测效率是数字化X线系统计量检定的补充,是最适合描述数字化X线系统成像性能的指标。     

X射线成像术(上)

该文着重从衬度的形成讨论了X射线成像。介绍衬度生成的三种机制:吸收、位相变动和衍射。还介绍了成像设备的主要构成部件:X射线源(X射线发生器、直线加速器和同步辐射),各类探测器、像增强器与显示器,机械、控制与数据处理系统等;应用各种衬度形成的一些成像方法也作了简述,如利用吸收衬度的造影成像、数字减影和双色减影成像、计算机断层成像;利用相位衬度的干涉仪法、类同轴全息法和衍射增强法;利用衍射衬度的Lang透射法和Berg-Barrett反射法等,并用少量例子说明。     

波前编码中立方相位板的装配及加工误差对成像性能的影响

在波前编码技术中,通过立方相位板的光学调制和后续图像处理,扩展了系统景深.其中系统的光学调制过程,可以用广义光瞳函数描述.系统的广义光瞳函数描述了光通过立方相位板后相位的变化过程.立方相位板是波前编码技术的关键器件,装配及加工误差直接影响系统的成像性能.本文通过推导不同误差情况下的广义光曈函数,得到了立方相位板装配及加工误差对点扩散函数(PSF)和调制传递函数(MTF)的变化规律.评估这些规律,得到了装配和加工误差对系统成像性能的变化规律,为装配和加工过程提供了基本的指导.文中分析了不同装配误差和加工误差对于系统性能的影响,其中围绕Z轴的装配误差和加工中振动引起的正弦形状误差对于MTF的影响最大.因此,在装配和加工中应尽量避免围绕Z轴的装配误差和正弦形状误差,正弦形状误差的PV值应保持在0.5μm之内.     

Monte Carlo simulation of grating-based neutron phase contrast imaging at CPHS

Since the launching of the Compact Pulsed Hadron Source (CPHS) project of Tsinghua University in 2009, works have begun on the design and engineering of an imaging/radiography instrument for the neutron source provided by CPHS. The instrument will perform basic tasks such as transmission imaging and computerized tomography. Additionally, we include in the design the utilization of coded-aperture and grating-based phase contrast methodology, as well as the options of prompt gamma-ray analysis and neutron-energy selective imaging. Previously, we had implemented the hardware and data-analysis software for grating-based X-ray phase contrast imaging. Here, we investigate Geant4-based Monte Carlo simulations of neutron refraction phenomena and then model the grating-based neutron phase contrast imaging system according to the classic-optics-based method. The simulated experimental results of the retrieving phase shift gradient information by five-step phase-stepping approach indicate the feasibility of grating-based neutron phase contrast imaging as an option for the cold neutron imaging instrument at the CPHS.     

X射线成像术(下)

该文的前半部分(本刊上一期)已扼要介绍了X射线成像的三种衬度机制及成像设备各主要组件的构造,下半部分将继续介绍应用各种衬度的不同的成像方法和一些实例。     

Optical phase contrast measurement of ultrasonic fields

This report describes an optical phase contrast imaging technique for the measurement of wide bandwidth ultrasound fields in water. In this method, a collimated optical wavefront (λ_l = 810 nm) impinges on a wide bandwidth ultrasound pulse. The method requires that refractive index perturbations induced by the ultrasound field be sufficiently small. Specifically, on exit from the acoustic field, the phase of the optical wavefront must be proportional to the ray sum of local density taken in the direction of propagation of the incident optical wave. A similar restriction is placed on the dimensions of the ultrasound pulse. Repeated measurement of this phase as the ultrasound field is rotated through 180° about an axis normal to the direction of propagation of the incident optical wave generates the Radon transform of the ultrasonically induced refractive index perturbation. Standard tomographic reconstruction techniques are used to reconstruct the full three-dimensional refractive index perturbation. A simple two-lens imaging system and an optical signal processing element from phase contrast microscopy provide a method of directly measuring an affine function of the desired optical phase for small optical phase shifts. The piezo- and elasto-optic coefficients (the first partial derivatives of refractive index with respect to density and pressure) relate refractive index to density and pressure via a linear model. The optical measurement method described in this paper provides a direct, quantitative measurement of the piezo- and elasto-optic coefficients (from the density or pressure fields)     

Radial modulation of microbubbles for ultrasound contrast imaging

Over the past few years, extensive research has been carried out in the field of ultrasound contrast imaging. In addition to the development of new types of ultrasound contrast agents, various imaging methods dedicated to contrast agents have been introduced, and some of them are now commercially available. In this study, we present results of an imaging technique that is capable of detecting echoes from microbubbles and eliminating those emanating from nonoscillating structures (tissue), thereby enhancing contrast imaging. The method is based on mixing a low frequency (LF) modulator signal and a high frequency (HF) imaging signal to effectively modulate the size of the contrast microbubble through its volumetric oscillations using the LF signal and to probe the radial motion using the HF imaging signal. To evaluate the performances and limitations of the method, high-speed optical observations and acoustic measurements were carried out on soft-shelled microbubbles. The results showed that, by incorporating the modulator signal, the bubbles respond differently compared to the HF excitation alone. The decorrelation between the signals obtained at the compression and expansion phase of the modulator signal is significantly high to be used as a parameter to detect contrast microbubbles and discriminate them from tissue. The echo received from a solid reflector shows identical responses during the compression and rarefaction phase of the LF signal. In conclusion, these results demonstrate the feasibility of this fully linear approach for improving the contrast detection.     

Reduced depth of field in incoherent hybrid imaging systems

A hybrid imaging system combines a modified optical imaging module and a digital postprocessing step. We define what to our knowledge is a new metric to quantify the blurring of a defocused image that is more suitable than the defocus parameter for describing defocused hybrid imaging systems. We use this metric to design a pupil phase grating to reduce the depth of field, thereby increasing the axial resolution, of an incoherent hybrid imaging system using quasi-monochromatic illumination. By introducing this grating at the exit pupil and digitally processing the output of the detector, we reduce the depth of field by more than a factor of 2. Finally, we examine the effect of using a CCD optical detector, instead of an ideal optical detector, on the reduction of the depth of field.     

Three-dimensional unconstrained and constrained image-reconstruction techniques applied to fluorescence, frequency-domain photon migration

The development of near-infrared (NIR) optical imaging for biomedical optical imaging is hampered by the computational intensiveness of large-scale three-dimensional (3-D) image reconstruction and the potential lack of endogenous contrast for detection of relevant tissue features. In this contribution the inverse optical imaging problem is formulated in three dimensions in a noncompressive geometry as a simple-bound constrained minimization problem in order to recover the interior fluorescence properties of exogenous contrast agent from frequency-domain photon migration measurements at the boundary. The solution of the forward optical diffusion problem for the frustum shape containing fluorescence inclusions of 10:1 contrast is accomplished by use of the Galerkin finite-element formulation. The inverse approach employs the truncated Newton method with trust region and a modification of automatic reverse differentiation to speed the computation of the optimization problem. The image-reconstruction results confirm that the constrained minimization may offer a more logical approach for the 3-D optical imaging problem than unconstrained optimization.     

Simulation of high-resolution X-ray microscopic images for improved alignment

The introduction of precision optical elements to X-ray microscopes necessitates fine realignment to achieve optimal high-resolution imaging. In this paper, we demonstrate a numerical method for simulating image formation that facilitates alignment of the source, condenser, objective lens, and CCD camera. This algorithm, based on ray-tracing and Rayleigh-Sommerfeld diffraction theory, is applied to simulate the X-ray microscope beamline U7A of National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory (NSRL). The simulations and imaging experiments show that the algorithm is useful for guiding experimental adjustments. Our alignment simulation method is an essential tool for the transmission X-ray microscope (TXM) with optical elements and may also be useful for the alignment of optical components in other modes of microscopy.