Image processing method, system and apparatus for forming an overview image of an elongated scene

An image processing system comprising:

• means for acquiring a sequence of overlapping images representing an elongated scene, said images being obtained at different positions along a translation direction, and
• means for merging said images into an overview image, said means for merging further including:
• means for determining regularized displacement fields of overlapping regions of interest and sections of said regions in image pairs, and
• means for merging said sections based on dimensions calculated from the regularized region displacement field,
• wherein the means for determining further comprises:
• means for determining the regions and the region sections that have first dimensions suitable for matching in image pairs and estimating region and section displacement fields, and
• means for regularizing said region and section displacement fields.

A medical apparatus comprising:

• acquisition means for acquiring examination images of a patient,
• translation means for acquiring translation of consecutive overlapping images of an elongated part of the patient, and
• an image processing system comprising:
• means for acquiring a sequence of overlapping images representing an elongated scene, said images being obtained at different positions along a translation direction, and
• means for merging said images into an overview image, said merging further including:
• means for determining regularized displacement fields of overlapping regions of interest and sections of said regions in image pairs, and
• means for merging said sections based on dimensions calculated from the regularized region displacement field, and
• wherein the means for determining further comprises:
• means for determining the regions and the region sections that have first dimensions suitable for matching in image pairs and estimating region and section displacement fields, and
• means for regularizing said region and section displacement fields.