Dr. Liqiang Ren Profile

Dr. Liqiang Ren

Senior Research Fellow at UT Southwestern Medical Ctr.

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Publications (20)

SPIE Journal Paper | 17 June 2022 Open Access

Framework of metal insertion in the projection domain for image quality optimization in interventional computed tomography

Liqiang Ren, Andrea Ferrero, Christopher Favazza

JMI, Vol. 9, Issue 03, 035001, (June 2022) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.10.1117/1.JMI.9.3.035001

KEYWORDS: Metals, Computed tomography, Data modeling, Titanium, X-rays, Quantum electronics, Data acquisition, X-ray computed tomography, Algorithm development, Information operations

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Proceedings Article | 15 February 2021 Presentation + Paper

A framework of metal object insertion in the projection domain for interventional CT image quality optimization

Liqiang Ren, Andrea Ferrero, Christopher Favazza

Proceedings Volume 11598, 115981F (2021) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2582305

KEYWORDS: Image segmentation, Computed tomography, Data modeling, Metals, Oncology, Image resolution, Image quality, Data acquisition

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Numerous advances in CT imaging have led to improved image guidance for interventional oncology procedures. However, image artifacts stemming from metal devices used during procedures have remained a persistent problem. Severe artifacts introduced by metallic treatment devices significantly degrade image quality in anatomical regions of interest and can substantially reduce the confidence of the interventional radiologist in accurate probe placement. The purpose of this work is to develop a framework to accurately simulate the presence of metal objects in CT images, which could be used for image quality assessment and development of artifact mitigation strategies. The projection domain insertion framework was developed based on an existing lesion insertion tool. New noise and beam hardening models were developed and incorporated into the insertion algorithm to better replicate the artifactual signal produced by the metal objects. These models were validated by comparing images of real and artificially inserted metallic rods with known material composition and dimensions in head and body CT phantoms. The validated model was applied to a single cryoablation probe, which was imaged with routine clinical acquisition parameters and reconstructed with three different sets of reconstruction settings to evaluate their effects on probe segmentation and eventual insertion performance. To determine the optimal digital probe model derived from CT images, the segmented probes were inserted into the projection data from a water phantom and compared to the corresponding water images with the real probe. Additional phantom studies were conducted with two probes positioned such that they were coplanar with the imaging plane, to fully evaluate the severity of the simulated metal artifacts. Finally, a comprehensive library of metallic probes used in our clinical practice during cryoablation and microwave ablation procedures was generated, and an intuitive graphical user interface was built to facilitate efficient insertion of any number of different probes at arbitrary positions in patient CT data. Results from the metallic rod experiments demonstrated that quantum noise, electronic noise, and beam hardening were properly modeled. Further, digital probe models derived from probe images from high resolution reconstructions with an extended HU scale yielded simulated image artifacts consistent with presentation of real artifacts; whereas, using probe models derived from segmentations of clinical reconstructions or high resolution reconstruction without the extended HU scale did not. Extension of the insertion model to two coplanar probes demonstrated production of realistic artifacts with similar magnitude and texture to real probes. Lastly, the model was successfully applied to patient data and generated convincing artifacts as compared to patient images with real probes.

Proceedings Article | 15 February 2021 Presentation + Paper

A web-based software platform for efficient and quantitative CT image quality assessment and protocol optimization

Mingdong Fan, Theodore Thayib, Liqiang Ren, Scott Hsieh, Cynthia McCollough, David Holmes, Lifeng Yu

Proceedings Volume 11595, 1159507 (2021) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2582123

KEYWORDS: Image quality, Computed tomography, Denoising

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Proceedings Article | 16 March 2020 Paper

Multi-energy CT with triple x-ray beams: a feasibility animal study

Liqiang Ren, Kishore Rajendran, Joel Fletcher, Thomas Allmendinger, Ahmed Halaweish, Bernhard Schmidt, Thomas Flohr, Cynthia McCollough, Lifeng Yu

Proceedings Volume 11312, 113121R (2020) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2549780

KEYWORDS: X-ray computed tomography, Iodine, Bismuth, X-rays, Gold, Tin, Scanners, Beam splitters, Radiology, Sensors

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Proceedings Article | 16 March 2020 Paper

Ultra-fast-pitch acquisition and reconstruction in helical CT

Hao Gong, Liqiang Ren, Cynthia McCollough, Lifeng Yu

Proceedings Volume 11312, 1131209 (2020) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2549315

KEYWORDS: Computed tomography, Data acquisition, Image restoration, Image quality, CT reconstruction, Chest, Neural networks

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SPIE Journal Paper | 14 March 2019

Impact of prior information on material decomposition in dual- and multienergy computed tomography

Liqiang Ren, Shengzhen Tao, Kishore Rajendran, Cynthia McCollough, Lifeng Yu

JMI, Vol. 6, Issue 01, 013503, (March 2019) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.10.1117/1.JMI.6.1.013503

KEYWORDS: Iodine, Gadolinium, Computed tomography, Calcium, Materials processing, Computer simulations, Denoising, X-rays, X-ray computed tomography, Signal attenuation

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Proceedings Article | 1 March 2019 Presentation + Paper

Multi-energy CT with triple x-ray beams and photon-counting-detector CT for simultaneous imaging of two contrast agents: an experimental comparison

Liqiang Ren, Cynthia McCollough, Lifeng Yu

Proceedings Volume 10948, 109481B (2019) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2513460

KEYWORDS: X-ray computed tomography, X-rays, Iodine, Scanners, X-ray imaging, Bismuth, Computed tomography, Medical physics, Liver, Gadolinium

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Proceedings Article | 1 March 2019 Paper

Material decomposition in photon-counting-detector CT: threshold or bin images?

Liqiang Ren, Shengzhen Tao, Cynthia McCollough, Lifeng Yu

Proceedings Volume 10948, 109482S (2019) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2513463

KEYWORDS: Iodine, X-ray computed tomography, Gadolinium, Computed tomography, X-rays, Medical physics, Radiology, Numerical analysis, Neodymium, Image processing

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SPIE Journal Paper | 24 July 2018

Dual-source multienergy CT with triple or quadruple x-ray beams

Lifeng Yu, Liqiang Ren, Zhoubo Li, Shuai Leng, Cynthia H. McCollough

JMI, Vol. 5, Issue 03, 033502, (July 2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.10.1117/1.JMI.5.3.033502

KEYWORDS: X-ray computed tomography, X-rays, Scanners, Iodine, Bismuth, Tin, Gold, Image filtering, Optical filters, Sensors

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Proceedings Article | 9 March 2018 Presentation + Paper

Three-material decomposition in multi-energy CT: impact of prior information on noise and bias

Liqiang Ren, Cynthia McCollough, Lifeng Yu

Proceedings Volume 10573, 105731G (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2294953

KEYWORDS: Gadolinium, X-ray computed tomography, Condition numbers, X-rays, Computer simulations, Medicine, Tin, Beam splitters, Denoising, Matrices

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Proceedings Article | 7 March 2018 Presentation + Paper

Correlation between model observers in uniform background and human observers in patient liver background for a low-contrast detection task in CT

Hao Gong, Lifeng Yu, Shuai Leng, Samantha Dilger, Wei Zhou, Liqiang Ren, Cynthia McCollough

Proceedings Volume 10577, 105770M (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2294955

KEYWORDS: Computed tomography, Liver, Image quality, X-ray computed tomography, Signal detection, Liver cancer

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Proceedings Article | 20 February 2017 Paper

Characteristic performance investigation of a photon counting detector for x-ray fluorescence imaging applications

Liqiang Ren, Muhammad Ghani, Di Wu, Yuhua Li, Wei Chen, Ge Wang, Bin Zheng, Hong Liu

Proceedings Volume 10065, 100650L (2017) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2253008

KEYWORDS: Photon counting, Sensors, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, X-rays, Nanoparticles, Sensor performance, X-ray detectors, X-ray imaging, Luminescence, Calibration, Collimators

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Proceedings Article | 1 April 2016 Paper

Sub-mSV breast XACT scanner: concept and design

Shanshan Tang, Liqiang Ren, Pratik Samant, Jian Chen, Hong Liu, Liangzhong Xiang

Proceedings Volume 9790, 97900L (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2211079

KEYWORDS: X-rays, X-ray imaging, Acoustics, Breast, Computed tomography, Breast imaging, X-ray technology, Signal detection, Tissues, Ultrasonography, Absorption, Transducers

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Proceedings Article | 30 March 2016 Paper

Quantitative comparison of spatial resolution in step-and-shoot and continuous motion digital breast tomosynthesis

Muhammad Ghani, Di Wu, Molly Wong, Liqiang Ren, Bin Zheng, Kai Yang, Xizeng Wu, Hong Liu

Proceedings Volume 9783, 97836D (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2216102

KEYWORDS: Digital breast tomosynthesis, Spatial resolution, Modulation transfer functions, Prototyping, Sensors, X-ray detectors, X-rays, Phase contrast, X-ray imaging, X-ray sources, Mammography, Metals, Reconstruction algorithms, Breast, Spatial frequencies

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Proceedings Article | 9 March 2016 Paper

Optimized acquisition time for x-ray fluorescence imaging of gold nanoparticles: a preliminary study using photon counting detector

Liqiang Ren, Di Wu, Yuhua Li, Wei Chen, Bin Zheng, Hong Liu

Proceedings Volume 9709, 97090P (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2209717

KEYWORDS: Data acquisition, Signal to noise ratio, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, Gold, Nanoparticles, Photon counting, Spectroscopy, Spectral data processing, Image quality, X-ray detectors, X-rays

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Proceedings Article | 9 March 2016 Presentation + Paper

Characterization of operating parameters of an in vivo micro CT system

Muhammad Ghani, Liqiang Ren, Kai Yang, Wei Chen, Xizeng Wu, Hong Liu

Proceedings Volume 9709, 97090M (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2209626

KEYWORDS: In vivo imaging, Phase contrast, Modulation transfer functions, Imaging systems, Sensors, Computed tomography, X-ray computed tomography, Computing systems, Spatial resolution, X-ray detectors, Tungsten, X-rays, Manufacturing, Reconstruction algorithms, Laser scattering

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Proceedings Article | 27 February 2014 Paper

Background estimation methods for quantitative x-ray fluorescence analysis of gold nanoparticles in biomedical applications

Liqiang Ren, Di Wu, Yuhua Li, Wei Chen, Hong Liu

Proceedings Volume 8944, 89440H (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2040401

KEYWORDS: Gold, Luminescence, Biological research, Statistical analysis, Nanoparticles, Numerical analysis, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, Biomedical optics, Error analysis, Spectroscopy

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Proceedings Article | 27 February 2014 Paper

Interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization signal detection by computing intensity variance along the optical axis

Zheng Li, Bin Zheng, Liqiang Ren, Hong Liu

Proceedings Volume 8944, 89440V (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2041307

KEYWORDS: Signal detection, Image segmentation, Luminescence, Statistical analysis, Objectives, Analytical research, 3D image processing, Image acquisition, Microscopes, Imaging systems

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Proceedings Article | 1 March 2013 Paper

A preliminary investigation: the impact of microscopic condenser on depth of field in cytogenetic imaging

Liqiang Ren, Yuchen Qiu, Zheng Li, Yuhua Li, Bin Zheng, Shibo Li, Wei Chen, Hong Liu

Proceedings Volume 8580, 85800K (2013) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2001665

KEYWORDS: Objectives, Imaging systems, Prototyping, Optical microscopes, Microscopes, Shape analysis, Spatial resolution, Spatial frequencies, Health sciences, Statistical analysis

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Proceedings Article | 21 February 2013 Paper

Objective evaluation of the microscopic image sharpness for diagnostic metaphase chromosomes

Yuchen Qiu, Yuhua Li, Liqiang Ren, Wei Chen, Bin Zheng, Shibo Li, Hong Liu

Proceedings Volume 8582, 85820I (2013) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2001533

KEYWORDS: Image resolution, Objectives, Prototyping, Sensors, Diagnostics, Microscopy, Bone, Microscopes, Image analysis, Image quality standards

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