Image processing method, system and apparatus

An image processing system comprising:

• a memory for storing data and a computer program;
• a processor coupled to the memory for executing the computer program, said computer program comprising instructions for:
• receiving an impulse response of a source of an interferometer system;
• receiving an impulse response of a detector of the interferometer system, the source impulse response being determined independently of the detector impulse response;
• capturing an image of an object generated by a grating of the interferometer system, the image being captured by the detector of the interferometer system;
• processing the captured image using the determined detector impulse response to attenuate artefacts introduced by the detector;
• demodulating the processed image to produce a demodulated image, artefacts introduced by the source being present in the demodulated image;
• and
• processing the demodulated image using the source impulse response to reduce the artefacts in the demodulated image introduced by the source.

An image processing apparatus comprising:

• receiving module for receiving an impulse response of a source of an interferometer system and for receiving an impulse response of a detector of the interferometer system, the source impulse response being determined independently of the detector impulse response;
• capturing module for capturing an image of an object generated by a grating of the interferometer system, the image being captured by the detector of the interferometer system;
• processing module for processing the captured image using the determined detector impulse response to attenuate artefacts introduced by the detector;
• demodulating module for demodulating the processed image to produce a demodulated image, artefacts introduced by the source being present in the demodulated image;
• and
• processing module for processing the demodulated image using the source impulse response to reduce the artefacts in the demodulated image introduced by the source.

A computer readable medium having a computer program recorded thereon for image processing, the program comprising:

• code for receiving an impulse response of a source of an interferometer system;
• code for receiving an impulse response of a detector of the interferometer system, the source impulse response being determined independently of the detector impulse response;
• code for capturing an image of an object generated by a grating of the interferometer system, the image being captured by the detector of the interferometer system;
• code for processing the captured image using the determined detector impulse response to attenuate artefacts introduced by the detector;
• code for demodulating the processed image to produce a demodulated image, artefacts introduced by the source being present in the demodulated image;
• and
• code for processing the demodulated image using the source impulse response to reduce the artefacts in the demodulated image introduced by the source.

A system for processing an image of an object captured, the system comprising:

• a memory for storing data and a computer program;
• and
• a processor coupled to the memory for executing the program, the program comprising instructions for:
• capturing a first image to determine an impulse response of an energy source of the system, the first image being produced by energy waves from the energy source passing through a first opening device of the system, the first opening device being positioned towards the energy source;
• and
• capturing a second image to determine an impulse response of a detector of the system, the second image being produced by the energy waves passing through a second opening device of the system, the second opening device being positioned towards the detector, wherein the source impulse response and the detector impulse response are determined to be used independently to process the image of the object.

A computer readable medium having a computer program stored thereon for processing an image of an object captured by a system, the program comprising:

• code for capturing a first image of the object to determine an impulse response of an energy source of the system, the first image being produced by energy waves from the energy source passing through a first opening device of the system, the first opening device being positioned towards the energy source;
• code for capturing a second image of the object to determine an impulse response of a detector of the system, the second image being produced by the energy waves passing through a second opening device of the system, the second opening device being positioned towards the detector;
• and
• code for processing the image of the object using the source impulse response and the detector impulse response.

A system comprising:

• an x-ray source producing a plurality of X-rays;
• a source grating forming a plurality of virtual sources as at least a portion of the X-rays pass through openings in the source grating, the source grating being associated with a source impulse response of the system to at least one of the plurality of virtual sources;
• a detector adapted to capture an image from the source grating, the captured image being dependent on at least the source impulse response and characteristics of the detector;
• and
• a processor for executing a computer program, the computer program comprising instructions for:
• processing the captured image using the characteristics of the detector to attenuate artefacts introduced by the detector;
• demodulating the processed image to determine a demodulated image;
• and
• processing the demodulated image using the source impulse response to enhance contrast in the demodulated image.