Integrating Data and Image Domain Deep Learning for Limited Angle Tomography using Consensus Equilibrium

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel method combining deep learning in data and image domains via consensus equilibrium to improve limited-angle CT reconstruction, reducing artifacts in security imaging applications.

Contribution

It proposes a two-step deep learning approach using cGANs in both data and image domains integrated through consensus equilibrium for better limited-angle tomography reconstruction.

Findings

Effective artifact reduction in real security CT data

Improved image quality over traditional methods

Applicable to various limited data imaging scenarios

Abstract

Computed Tomography (CT) is a non-invasive imaging modality with applications ranging from healthcare to security. It reconstructs cross-sectional images of an object using a collection of projection data collected at different angles. Conventional methods, such as FBP, require that the projection data be uniformly acquired over the complete angular range. In some applications, it is not possible to acquire such data. Security is one such domain where non-rotational scanning configurations are being developed which violate the complete data assumption. Conventional methods produce images from such data that are filled with artifacts. The recent success of deep learning (DL) methods has inspired researchers to post-process these artifact laden images using deep neural networks (DNNs). This approach has seen limited success on real CT problems. Another approach has been to pre-process the incomplete data using DNNs aiming to avoid the creation of artifacts altogether. Due to imperfections in the learning process, this approach can still leave perceptible residual artifacts. In this work, we aim to combine the power of deep learning in both the data and image domains through a two-step process based on the consensus equilibrium (CE) framework. Specifically, we use conditional generative adversarial networks (cGANs) in both the data and the image domain for enhanced performance and efficient computation and combine them through a consensus process. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach on a real security CT dataset for a challenging 90 degree limited-angle problem. The same framework can be applied to other limited data problems arising in applications such as electron microscopy, non-destructive evaluation, and medical imaging.