Development of a customizable model for spectral photon‐counting detector CT

A customizable, modular simulation framework was developed to model spatio-energetic detector responses for various PCD materials and designs. The detector responses were integrated into a CT simulation pipeline to build DukeCounter PCD-CT systems. The framework's utility was demonstrated through task-specific assessments of image quality and clinical performance of DukeCounter systems using XCAT phantoms. This approach enables systematic PCD-CT design evaluation and optimization, supporting translational research in medical imaging by reducing the cost, time, and radiation burden of physical experiments.