Diagnostic image processing method
AssigneeU.S. Philips Corporation
InventorsIngwer Carlsen, Johannes J. Van Vaals, Volker Rasche, Michael Grass
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Abstract
The invention relates to an image processing method for improving the signal-to-noise ratio for a series of MR images or CT images which are based on the projection-reconstruction method. First the pixels which reproduce the same sub-structure in the projection images are determined in the one-dimensional projection images constituting the two-dimensional MR or CT images. The image values of these pixels are subjected to noise filtering. Two-dimensional MR images or CT images are reconstructed from the noise filtered one-dimensional projection images.
Claims10
A diagnostic image processing method for reconstructing a two-dimensional (2D) image of an object present in an examination zone from a plurality of one-dimensional (1D) projection images and which comprises pixels, the method comprising:
- forming a plurality of 1D projection images by projection of the object from a plurality of predetermined projection directions,
- determining a plurality of motion vector fields, each motion vector field linking content-wise associated pixels in at least two 1D projection images with parallel projection directions,
- applying a noise reduction filter to the image values of the content-wise associated pixels linked by each motion vector field in at least two 1D projection images with parallel projection directions,
- using the image values resulting from the filtering operation to form a plurality of filtered output 1D projection images, and
- reconstructing a 2D image from the plurality of filtered output 1D projection images.
A device for carrying out an image processing method, comprising:
- means for forming a plurality of one-dimensional (1D) projection images of an object present in an examination zone by projection of the object from one of a plurality of predetermined projection directions each 1D projection image comprising pixels, and
- a programmable image processing unit for processing the 1D projection images, wherein the image processing unit is programmed to perform the following steps
- determining a plurality of motion vector fields, each motion vector field linking content-wise associated pixels in at least two 1D projection images with parallel projection directions,
- applying a noise reduction filter to the image values of the content-wise associated pixels linked by each motion vector field in two or more 1D projection images with parallel projection directions,
- using the image values resulting from the filtering operation to form a plurality of filtered output 1D projection images, and
- reconstructing a 2D image from the plurality of filtered output 1D projection images.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.