Towards Monte Carlo Simulation of X-ray phase contrast using GATE

Max Langer (1) , Zhenjie Cen (1) , Simon Rit (1) , Jean Michel Létang (1)

1 Imagerie Tomographique et Radiothérapie

We describe the first developments towards a Monte Carlo X-ray phase contrast imaging simulator for the medical imaging and radiotherapy simulation software GATE. Phase contrast imaging is an imaging modality taking advantage of the phase shift of X-rays. This modality produces images with a higher sensitivity than conventional, attenuation based imaging. As the first developments towards Monte Carlo phase contrast simulation, we implemented a Monte Carlo process for the refraction and total reflection of X-rays, as well as an analytical wave optics approach for generating Fresnel diffraction patterns. The implementation is validated against data acquired using a laboratory X-ray tomography system. The overall agreement between the simulations and the data is encouraging, which motivates further development of Monte Carlo based simulation of X-ray phase contrast imaging. These developments have been released in GATE version 8.2.

Domaines: Imagerie médicale

Max Langer, Zhenjie Cen, Simon Rit, Jean Michel Létang. Towards Monte Carlo Simulation of X-ray phase contrast using GATE. Optics Express, 2020, 28 (10), pp.14522-14535. ⟨10.1364/OE.391471⟩. ⟨hal-02557781⟩