Improved Reconstruction Technique for Moiré Imaging Using an X-Ray Phase-Contrast Talbot–Lau Interferometer

Abstract

X-ray phase-contrast imaging is a promising method for medical imaging and non-destructive testing. Information about the attenuation, small-angle scattering and phase-shifting properties of an object can be gained simultaneously in three image modalities using a Talbot–Lau interferometer. This is a highly sensitive approach for retrieving this information. Nevertheless, until now, Talbot–Lau interferometry has been a time-consuming process due to image acquisition by phase-stepping procedures. Thus, methods to accelerate the image acquisition process in Talbot–Lau interferometry would be desirable. This is especially important for medical applications to avoid motion artifacts. In this work, the Talbot–Lau interferometry is combined with the moiré imaging approach. Firstly, the reconstruction algorithm of moiré imaging is improved compared to the standard reconstruction methods in moiré imaging that have been published until now. Thus, blurring artifacts resulting from the reconstruction in the frequency domain can be reduced. Secondly, the improved reconstruction algorithm allows for reducing artifacts in the reconstructed images resulting from inhomogeneities of the moiré pattern in large fields of view. Hence, the feasibility of differential phase-contrast imaging with regard to the integration into workflows in medical imaging and non-destructive testing is improved considerably. New fields of applications can be gained due to the accelerated imaging process—for example, live imaging in medical applications.