Real-time compression of raw computed tomography data: technology, architecture, and benefits

Albert Wegener; Naveen Chandra; Yi Ling; Robert Senzig; Robert Herfkens

doi:10.1117/12.810599

13 March 2009 Real-time compression of raw computed tomography data: technology, architecture, and benefits

Albert Wegener, Naveen Chandra, Yi Ling, Robert Senzig, Robert Herfkens

Proceedings Volume 7258, Medical Imaging 2009: Physics of Medical Imaging; 72582H (2009) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.810599
Event: SPIE Medical Imaging, 2009, Lake Buena Vista (Orlando Area), Florida, United States

Abstract

Compression of computed tomography (CT) projection samples reduces slip ring and disk drive costs. A lowcomplexity, CT-optimized compression algorithm called Prism CT^TM achieves at least 1.59:1 and up to 2.75:1 lossless compression on twenty-six CT projection data sets. We compare the lossless compression performance of Prism CT to alternative lossless coders, including Lempel-Ziv, Golomb-Rice, and Huffman coders using representative CT data sets. Prism CT provides the best mean lossless compression ratio of 1.95:1 on the representative data set. Prism CT compression can be integrated into existing slip rings using a single FPGA. Prism CT decompression operates at 100 Msamp/sec using one core of a dual-core Xeon CPU. We describe a methodology to evaluate the effects of lossy compression on image quality to achieve even higher compression ratios. We conclude that lossless compression of raw CT signals provides significant cost savings and performance improvements for slip rings and disk drive subsystems in all CT machines. Lossy compression should be considered in future CT data acquisition subsystems because it provides even more system benefits above lossless compression while achieving transparent diagnostic image quality. This result is demonstrated on a limited dataset using appropriately selected compression ratios and an experienced radiologist.

Citation Download Citation

Albert Wegener, Naveen Chandra, Yi Ling, Robert Senzig, and Robert Herfkens "Real-time compression of raw computed tomography data: technology, architecture, and benefits", Proc. SPIE 7258, Medical Imaging 2009: Physics of Medical Imaging, 72582H (13 March 2009); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.810599

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available