Method and apparatus for three-dimensional deconvolution of optical microscope images

A method of deconvolution filtering image data from an imaging system having a point spread function, the method comprising:

• obtaining image data generated by the imaging system, the image data representing convolution of the point spread function of the imaging system and an image of a source object that is known a priori;
• in the spatial-domain, filtering with an FIR filter said image data to provide filtered image data, said FIR filter having a plurality of coefficients;
• in the spatial-domain, comparing a synthesized representation of said source object and said filtered image data to generate an error function;
• adaptively adjusting said coefficients to determine a minimum of the error function;
• ending said adjusting of said coefficients to provide fixed coefficients;
• using said fixed coefficients to filter subsequent image data in a non-adaptive manner;
• wherein said FIR filter deconvolves said image data;
• said image data comprises multi-dimensional image data and said FIR filter includes coefficients for each of said dimensions;
• and
• said FIR filter is a one-dimensional statistical filter and said convolution is multi-dimensional.

An apparatus for deconvolution filtering image data from an imaging system having a point spread function, the image data representing convolution of the point spread function of the imaging system and an image of a source object that is known a priori, the apparatus comprising:

• an FIR filter for obtaining image data generated by the imaging system and in the spatial-domain, filtering said image data to provide filtered image data, said FIR filter having a plurality of coefficients;
• a comparator for comparing, in the spatial-domain, a synthesized representation of said source object and said filtered image data to generate an error function;
• said FIR filter adaptively adjusting said coefficients to determine a minimum of the error function;
• said FIR filter ending said adjusting of said coefficients to provide fixed coefficients;
• said FIR filter using said fixed coefficients to filter subsequent image data in a non-adaptive manner;
• wherein said FIR filter deconvolves said image data;
• said image data comprises three dimensional image data and said FIR filter includes coefficients for each of said dimensions;
• and
• said FIR filter is a one-dimensional statistical filter and said convolution is three dimensional.

An apparatus for deconvolution filtering image data from an imaging system having a point spread function, the image data representing convolution of the point spread function of the imaging system and an image of a source object that is known a priori, the apparatus comprising:

• an FIR filter for obtaining image data generated by the imaging system and in the spatial-domain, filtering said image data to provide filtered image data, said FIR filter having a plurality of coefficients;
• a comparator for comparing, in the spatial-domain, a synthesized representation of said source object and said filtered image data to generate an error function;
• said FIR filter adaptively adjusting said coefficients to determine a minimum of the error function;
• said FIR filter ending said adjusting of said coefficients to provide fixed coefficients;
• said FIR filter using said fixed coefficients to filter subsequent image data in a non-adaptive manner;
• wherein said FIR filter deconvolves said image data;
• said image data comprises multi-dimensional image data and said FIR filter includes coefficients for each of said dimensions;
• and
• said FIR filter is a one-dimensional statistical filter and said convolution is multi-dimensional.