Runtime optimization of acquisition trajectories for X-ray computed tomography with a robotic sample holder

TL;DR

This paper introduces an online trajectory optimization method for X-ray computed tomography that dynamically improves image quality and reduces measurement time without prior sample knowledge.

Contribution

It presents a novel runtime trajectory optimization approach for CT scans using a robotic sample holder, enhancing image quality and efficiency.

Findings

Optimized trajectories improve reconstruction quality.

Method reduces measurement time.

Avoids artifacts without prior sample info.

Abstract

Tomographic imaging systems are expected to work with a wide range of samples that house complex structures and challenging material compositions, which can influence image quality in a bad way. Complex samples increase total measurement duration and may introduce beam-hardening artifacts that lead to poor reconstruction image quality. This work presents an online trajectory optimization method for an X-ray computed tomography system with a robotic sample holder. The proposed method reduces measurement time and increases reconstruction image quality by generating an optimized spherical trajectory for the given sample without prior knowledge. The trajectory is generated successively at runtime based on intermediate sample measurements. We present experimental results with the robotic sample holder where two sample measurements using an optimized spherical trajectory achieve improved reconstruction quality compared to a conventional spherical trajectory. Our results demonstrate the ability of our system to increase reconstruction image quality and avoid artifacts at runtime when no prior information about the sample is provided.