Verifying cone-beam CT extended axial coverage with iterative reconstruction using real data

The limited detector size of cone-beam CT (CBCT) imaging devices restricts their axial coverage. We previously found in simulation studies that the useful axial coverage could be extended by using two circular scans at different axial positions. By combining this dual scan with iterative reconstruction techniques, we can increase the useful field of view while providing better image quality in the region between the two circles. Here we experimentally verify our previous simulation studies with real phantom scan data. We found that even with real data, iterative techniques reconstruct more of the imaged volume with less cone-angle artifacts than using the stacked analytic reconstructions of the two scanned volumes. This indicates iterative reconstruction with dual circle trajectories can be used to extend axial coverage in CBCT.