Adaptive processing of medical images to reduce noise magnitude

#The present application relates generally to computed tomography scan image noise and, more specifically, to reducing image noise from low radiation dose scanning.

#Computed tomography (CT) scanning is a diagnostic imaging technique providing detailed representations of internal organs, bones, and soft tissue of the human body, in which cross-sectional data derived from a CT scan is reformatted in multiple planes to generate three-dimensional (3D) representations for human viewing. CT scanning is often used, for example, to determine the presence, size, and location of a cancer tumor or diagnose internal injuries and/or bleeding.

#For CT imaging, there is a tradeoff between radiation dosage levels and image quality. Generally, higher radiation doses result in higher signal-to-noise ratio and higher resolution images with fewer artifacts, while lower doses lead to increased image noise and more artifacts and less-sharp images. In addition to ameliorating patient health concerns associated with high dose radiation scanning, reducing radiation dose for acquiring CT scans increases the tube life for the scanning machine—but increases noise. It would be desirable, therefore, to reduce the noise associated with low radiation dose scanning to produce high-quality CT images.

#For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and its advantages, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like parts:

#FIGS. 1 and 1A are diagrams of the overall configuration of a medical imaging and diagnosis system using adaptive processing to reduce noise magnitude according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

#FIG. 2 is a high level flowchart of adaptive processing of medical image data according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

#FIGS. 1 through 6F, discussed below, and the various embodiments used to describe the principles of the present disclosure in this patent document are by way of illustration only and should not be construed in any way to limit the scope of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art will understand that the principles of the present disclosure may be implemented in any suitably arranged data processing system connected to generate or receive, process, and display CT scan image data.

#FIGS. 1 and 1A are diagrams of the overall configuration of a medical imaging and diagnosis system using adaptive processing to reduce noise magnitude according to embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 1 is in the nature of a schematic and/or block diagram, while FIG. 1A illustrates portions of FIG. 1 somewhat more pictorially. In the following description, an x-ray CT system is described as an example of the medical imaging and diagnosis system 100. However, the techniques of the present disclosure could be adapted to other systems.

#The medical imaging and diagnosis system (x-ray CT system) 100 includes a gantry 101, a bed assembly 102, and a console 103. The gantry 101 is a device configured to acquire information on internal portions of a subject P to be examined or treated, in order to generate a medical image of those internal portions of the subject P. The bed 102 is a device on which the subject P is placed. The console 103 is connected and configured to control the entire medical imaging and diagnosis system 100, including the gantry 101 and the bed 102.