Fast kVp switching CT imaging of a dynamic cardiac phantom

Dual energy CT cardiac imaging is challenging due to cardiac motion and the resolution requirements of clinical applications. In this paper we investigate dual energy CT imaging via fast kVp switching acquisitions of a novel dynamic cardiac phantom. The described cardiac phantom is realistic in appearance with pneumatic motion control driven by an ECG waveform. In the reported experiments the phantom is driven off a 60 beats per minute simulated ECG waveform. The cardiac phantom is inserted into a phantom torso cavity. A fast kVp switching axial step and shoot acquisition is detailed. The axial scan time at each table position exceeds one heart cycle so as to enable retrospective gating. Gating is performed as a mechanism to mitigate the resolution impact of heart motion. Processing of fast kVp data is overviewed and the resulting kVp, material decomposed density, and monochromatic reconstructions are presented. Imaging results are described in the context of potential clinical cardiac applications.