Image processing method to generate a panoramic image

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

• provide a single frame data set comprising a plurality of frames captured by a medical or dental imaging system having a radiation source and a radiation detector which move about a patient on a single trajectory while taking the frame data set;
• calculate from said plurality of frames a plurality of provisional panoramic images by applying at least one different reconstruction parameter or at least one different value of a reconstruction parameter to the plurality of frames for every provisional panoramic image to be calculated, so that each calculated provisional panoramic image differs from another calculated provisional panoramic image;
• scan the provisional panoramic images of said plurality of provisional panoramic images for recognizable structures;
• determine imaging quality of the recognizable structures, compare the imaging quality of identical recognizable structures of different provisional panoramic images and select the recognizable structure of identical recognizable structures of different provisional panoramic images having the highest imaging quality;
• determine variation of the at least one reconstruction parameter or value of the reconstruction parameter for calculation of the plurality of provisional panoramic images of those frames which have selected recognizable structures with the highest imaging quality;
• and
• calculate with reference to the determined variation of the at least one reconstruction parameter or value of the reconstruction parameter a final panoramic image data set representing a final panoramic image;
• and
• display the final panoramic image represented by the final panoramic image data set with improved representation of the geometry of anatomical structures of the portion of the head, wherein the improved representation of the geometry comprises at least one of:
• correction of a translation to the left or right relative to the radiation detector;
• correction of a translation up or down relative to the radiation detector;
• or a combination thereof.

A medical or dental imaging system for generating an image of at least a part of the head of a patient, comprising:

• a radiation source and a radiation detector which are configured to move about a patient to capture a plurality of frames, and
• a computer which is operatively connected to the radiation detector to receive the plurality of frames and which is programmed to:
• receive the plurality of frames captured by the radiation source and the radiation detector;
• calculate from said plurality of frames a plurality of provisional panoramic images by applying at least one different reconstruction parameter or at least one different value of a reconstruction parameter to the plurality of frames for every provisional panoramic image to be calculated, so that each calculated provisional panoramic image differs from another calculated provisional panoramic image;
• scan the provisional panoramic images of said plurality of provisional panoramic images for recognizable structures;
• determine imaging quality of the recognizable structures, compare the imaging quality of identical recognizable structures of different provisional panoramic images, and select the recognizable structure of identical recognizable structures of different provisional panoramic images having the highest imaging quality;
• determine variation of the at least one reconstruction parameter or value of the reconstruction parameter for calculation of the plurality of provisional panoramic images of those frames which have selected recognizable structures with the highest imaging quality;
• calculate with reference to the determined variation of the at least one reconstruction parameter or value of the reconstruction parameter a final panoramic image data set representing a final panoramic image;
• and
• display the final panoramic image represented by the final panoramic image data set with improved representation of the geometry of anatomical structures of the portion of the head, wherein the improved representation of the geometry comprises at least one of:
• correction of a translation to the left or right relative to the radiation detector;
• correction of a translation up or down relative to the radiation detector;
• or a combination thereof.