A method for volumetric reconstruction of a cyclically moving object using
a computed tomography (CT) system includes scanning a cyclically moving
object with a CT imaging system including at least one of an area
detector and a linear detector to encompass the desired field of view and
a rotating gantry to measure projection data during a plurality of cycles
of the cyclically moving object. The method also includes dividing a
period of the cyclically moving object into a discrete number of phases,
identifying an initial set of projection data at a desired phase of a
first cycle at a first angle, identifying at least one subsequent set of
projection data at the same desired phase of a subsequent cycle at an
angle that is different from the first angle, and combining the initial
set of projection data with each subsequent set of identified projection
data and using a reconstruction algorithm to generate a three-dimensional
image. The method further includes repeating the steps of identifying an
initial set of projection data at a desired phase of a first cycle at a
first angle, identifying at least one subsequent set of projection data
at the same desired phase of a subsequent cycle at an angle that is
different from the first angle, and combining the initial set of
projection data with each subsequent set of identified projection data
and using a reconstruction algorithm to generate a collection of
three-dimensional images for the desired phases; and temporally filtering
the collection of three-dimensional images on a pixel by pixel basis.