Artifacts in the reconstructed volume data of cone beam CT systems can be
removed by the application of respiration correlation techniques to the
acquired projection images. To achieve this, the phase of the patients
breathing is monitored while acquiring projection images continuously. On
completion of the acquisition, projection images that have comparable
breathing phases can be selected from the complete set, and these are
used to reconstruct the volume data using similar techniques to those of
conventional CT. Any phase can be selected and therefore the effect of
breathing can be studied. It is also possible to use a feature in the
projection images such as the patient's diaphragm to determine the
breathing phase. This feature in the projection images can be used to
control delivery of therapeutic radiation dependent on the patient's
breathing cycle, to ensure that the tumor is in the correct position when
the radiation is delivered.