Systems, methods and apparatus for incrementally reconstructing overlapped images in a CT system implementing a helical scan

DETAILED DESCRIPTION These and other objects may be attained in a system which, in one embodiment, implements an incremental reconstruction algorithm for helical scan data which does not require independent generation of each overlapped image.
Particularly, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, and rather than utilizing a seed image as in an axial scan, base images are generated.
The locations of base images generated are determined using, for example, the well known Nyquist sampling theory.
Once the base image data is generated, such base image data is utilized to generate overlapped images.
Specifically, an interpolation algorithm, such as a fourth order LaGrange algorithm, may be utilized to generate the overlapping image data.
Using the incremental reconstruction algorithm described above enables reconstruction of overlapping images from helical scan data without requiring that each image be independently generated.
As a result, and with helical scan data, the processing time needed to reconstruct overlapped images is reduced as compared to the processing time needed by the "seed" image algorithm described above.
In addition, the present reconstruction algorithm is believed to maintain image quality.
Moreover, the present reconstruction algorithm also reduces streaks and artifacts in three dimensional (3 D) or multi-planar reformat (MPR) images.