Method and apparatus for reconstructing image acquisitions for extended fields-of-view

1 . A method of reconstructing an extended field-of-view image of an imaging volume of a gantry of an X-ray imaging system, the method comprising:

performing a first spin of the gantry to capture a first set of images of a central region of the imaging volume;

performing a second spin of the gantry to capture a second set of images of an annulus region of the imaging volume surrounding the central region;

generating first projected and interpolated padding data for a first image of the central region based on a first image of the annulus region, the first set of images comprising the first image of the central region, and the second set of images comprising the first image of the annulus region;

generating a first extended image of the central region based on the first projected and interpolated padding data;

generating second projected and interpolated padding data for the first image of the annulus region based on the first image of the central region;

generating a first extended image of the annulus region based on the second projected and interpolated padding data;

padding the first extended image of the central region based on edge pixel data of the first extended image of the central region;

padding the first extended image of the annulus region based on edge pixel data of the first extended image of the annulus region; and

performing back projection to reconstruct the extended field-of-view image of the imaging volume based on the first extended image of the central region and the first extended image of the annulus region.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the central region of the imaging volume is centered on an isocenter of the gantry.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the central region of the imaging volume is not centered on an isocenter of the gantry; and

the isocenter is included in each of the first set of images.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

orienting and positioning an X-ray source and a detector array to capture the first set of images; and

reorienting and repositioning the X-ray source and the detector array to capture the second set of images.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, subsequent to padding, ramp filtering the first extended image of the central region and the first extended image of the annulus region.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

generating the second projected and interpolated padding data comprises projecting and interpolating image data on a first detector plane, associated with a detector array of the gantry being in a first orientation and position for capturing the first set of images, to an extended portion of a second detector plane associated with the detector array being in a second orientation and position for capturing the second set of images; and

generating the first projected and interpolated padding data comprises projecting and interpolating image data on the second detector plane to an extended portion of the first detector plane.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

generating the second projected and interpolated padding data comprises a geometric projection onto an extended portion of a first detector plane, the first detector plane corresponding to a detection surface of a detector array of the gantry in a first orientation and a first position; and

generating the first projected and interpolated padding data comprises a geometric projection onto an extended portion of a second detector plane, the second detector plane corresponding to the detection surface of the detector array in a second orientation and a second position.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising generating i) a first X-ray beam via an X-ray source of the gantry when capturing the first image of the central region, and ii) a second X-ray beam via the X-ray source when capturing the first image of the annulus region, wherein:

the first X-ray beam overlaps the second X-ray beam; and

image data associated with the overlap of the first X-ray beam and the second X-ray beam is reweighted to account for redundant sampling during back projection.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

generating third projected and interpolated padding data for a second image of the central region based on a second image of the annulus region, the first set of images comprising the second image of the central region, and the second set of images comprising the second image of the annulus region;

generating a second extended image of the central region based on the third projected and interpolated padding data;

generating fourth projected and interpolated padding data for the second image of the annulus region based on the second image of the central region;

generating a second extended image of the annulus region based on the fourth projected and interpolated padding data; and

performing back projection to reconstruct an image of the imaging volume based on the second extended image of the central region and the second extended image of the annulus region.

10 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the reorienting and repositioning of the X-ray source and the detector array comprises maintaining the X-ray source at a same radial distance from an isocenter of the gantry, tilting the X-ray source and the detector array, and repositioning the detector array relative to the X-ray source to capture images of the annulus region.

11 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising, subsequent to ramp filtering, cropping the first extended image of the central region and the first extended image of the annulus region,

wherein the back projection is performed subsequent to the cropping of the first extended image of the central region and the first extended image of the annulus region.

12 . An imaging system comprising:

a gantry comprising an aperture having an imaging volume in which a subject is disposed, the gantry comprising an X-ray source and a detector array arranged to rotate about an isocenter of the gantry; and

at least one processor configured to:

spin the gantry a first time to capture via the detector array a first set of images of a central region of the imaging volume;

spin the gantry a second time to capture via the detector array a second set of images of an annulus region of the imaging volume surrounding the central region;

generate first projected and interpolated padding data for a first image of the central region by projecting and interpolating image data on a second detector plane associated with the detector array being in a second orientation and second position for capturing the second set of images to an extended portion of a first detector plane associated with the detector array being in a first orientation and first position for capturing the first set of images, the first set of images comprising the first image of the central region, and the second set of images comprising the first image of the annulus region;

generate a first extended image of the central region based on the first projected and interpolated padding data;

generate second projected and interpolated padding data for the first image of the annulus region by projecting and interpolating image data on the first detector plane to an extended portion of the second detector plane;

generate a first extended image of the annulus region based on the second projected and interpolated padding data; and

perform back projection to reconstruct an extended field-of-view image of the imaging volume based on the first extended image of the central region and the first extended image of the annulus region.

13 . The imaging system of claim 12 , wherein the central region of the imaging volume is centered on the isocenter.

14 . The imaging system of claim 12 , wherein:

the central region of the imaging volume is not centered on the isocenter of the gantry; and

the isocenter is included in each of the first set of images.

15 . The imaging system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

orient and position the X-ray source and the detector array to capture the first set of images; and

reorient and reposition the X-ray source and the detector array to capture the second set of images.

16 . The imaging system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

generate the second projected and interpolated padding data including a geometric projection onto the extended portion of the first detector plane, the first detector plane corresponding to a detection surface of the detector array in the first orientation and the first position; and

generate the first projected and interpolated padding data including a geometric projection onto the extended portion of the second detector plane, the second detector plane corresponding to the detection surface of the detector array in the second orientation and the second position.

17 . The imaging system of claim 12 , wherein:

the X-ray source is configured to generate a first X-ray beam when capturing the first image of the central region and a second X-ray beam when capturing the first image of the annulus region;

the first X-ray beam overlaps the second X-ray beam; and

image data associated with the overlap of the first X-ray beam and the second X-ray beam is reweighted to account for redundant sampling during back projection.

18 . The imaging system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

generate third projected and interpolated padding data for a second image of the central region based on a second image of the annulus region, the first set of images comprising the second image of the central region, and the second set of images comprising the second image of the annulus region;

generate a second extended image of the central region based on the third projected and interpolated padding data;

generate fourth projected and interpolated padding data for the second image of the annulus region based on the second image of the central region;

generate a second extended image of the annulus region based on the fourth projected and interpolated padding data; and

perform back projection to reconstruct an image of the imaging volume based on the second extended image of the central region and the second extended image of the annulus region.

19 . The imaging system of claim 15 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to, while reorienting and repositioning the X-ray source and the detector array, maintain the X-ray source at a same radial distance from the isocenter, tilt the X-ray source and the detector array, and reposition the detector array relative to the X-ray source to capture images of the annulus region.

20 . The imaging system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

pad the first extended image of the central region based on edge pixel data of the first extended image of the central region; and

pad the first extended image of the annulus region based on edge pixel data of the first extended image of the annulus region.

21 . The imaging system of claim 20 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to, subsequent to padding, ramp filter the first extended image of the central region and the first extended image of the annulus region.

22 . The imaging system of claim 21 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

subsequent to ramp filtering, crop the first extended image of the central region and the first extended image of the annulus region; and

perform the back projection subsequent to cropping the first extended image of the central region and the first extended image of the annulus region.