Spiral interpolation algorithm for multislice spiral CT. I. Theory

This paper presents the adaptive axial interpolator (AAI), a novel spiral interpolation approach for multislice spiral computed tomography (CT) implemented in a clinical multislice CT scanner, the SOMATOM Volume Zoom (Siemens Medical Systems, Forchheim, Germany). The method works on parallel-beam data generated from the acquired fan-beam data by azimuthal rebinning. Spiral interpolation is performed by distance-dependent weighting; i.e., for each ray, its distance to the image plane is evaluated and serves as an argument to a freely selectable weighting function, resulting in a weight factor. A normalization step is applied to the weight factors to ensure that the sum of all corresponding weights (i.e., the weights applied to rays that contribute to the same ray in the interpolated sinogram) is 1. By selection of appropriate weighting functions and suitable adjustment of the tube current, it is possible to keep the slice sensitivity profiles (SSP) as well as the pixel noise constant for all pitch values in the relevant range. Also, a large range of slice-thickness can be reconstructed from a given collimation. The method is, thus, very versatile. Further advantages are that it uses the entire applied dose for imaging and allows for efficient implementation using a table lookup approach.