Model-based reconstruction of multiple circular and elliptical objects from a limited number of projections

We consider tomographic image reconstruction from a limited number of noisy projections. An efficient algorithm based on maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) is developed to reconstruct images of multiple discs with unknown locations and radii. The algorithm is successfully applied to images with signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) as low as 0 dB, using as few as 16 projections, and containing as many as twelve discs with widely varying radii. Experimental results show that our approach significantly outperforms conventional convolution back projection. The algorithm is successfully extended to the multiple ellipse case.