Method and installation for imaging

A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium having program code thereon, which when run on a programmable machine, is adapted to perform the following steps:

• (a) for each of a set of areas to be observed of an observation region, and for an instant δt of an observation period T, a measurement F0(x, y, δt) is provided of the detected signals corresponding to a radiation emission originating from said area during the instant δt,
• (b) on the one hand a first image of first values F1(x, y, δt) is provided from the measurement F0(x, y, δt), termed “integration” image, being an estimation of the intensity of the detected signals originating from said area during the instant, and on the other hand a second image of second values F2(x, y, δt) is provided from the measurement F0(x, y, δt), termed “count” image, being an estimate of the number of detected signals originating from said area during the instant, F2(x, y, δt) being obtained by assigning, for a set of contiguous areas where the measurement F0(x, y, δt) is non-zero forming a detection spot:
• one signal unit at the barycenter of said spot, and
• zero signal unit in the other areas of the spot,
• (c) in at least one concerned area of said set of areas, a value Fe(x0, y0, δt) of the number of signals in the concerned area during said instant is estimated from at least a combination of the first F1(x0, y0, δt) and second F2(x0, y0, δt) values, in which, during the step (c), the following steps are implemented:
• (c1) a neighborhood R(x0;
• y0) is defined that forms a part of said set of areas, said neighborhood comprising at least the concerned area and neighboring areas distinct of the concerned area,
• (c2) a criterion of detection level in the neighborhood is estimated based on measurements F0(x, y, δt) for neighboring areas included in said neighborhood R(x0;
• y0) during the observation period T, and
• (c3) the value Fe(x0, y0, δt) of the number of signals is estimated according, in addition, to at least said criterion of detection level in the neighborhood.

An imaging installation comprising:

• (A) a memory storing, for each of a set of areas to be observed of an observation region, and for an instant δt of an observation period, a measurement F0(x, y, δt) of detected signals corresponding to an emission of radiation originating from said area during the instant δt,
• (B) a computer adapted to provide on the one hand a first image of first values F1(x, y, δt) from the measurement F0(x, y, δt), termed “integration” image, being an estimate of the intensity of the detected signals originating from said area during the instant, and on the other hand a image of second values F2(x, y, δt) from the measurement F0(x, y, δt), termed “count” image, being an estimate of the number of detected signals originating from said area during the instant, F2(x, y, δt) being obtained by assigning, for a set of contiguous areas where the measurement F0(x, y, δt) is non-zero forming a detection spot:
• one signal unit at the barycenter of said spot, and
• zero signal units in the other areas of the spot,
• said computer being adapted to estimate, in at least one concerned area, chosen from said set of areas, a value Fe(x0, y0, δt) of the number of signals in the concerned area during said instant from at least one combination of the first F1(x0, y0, δt) and second F2(x0, y0, δt) values,
• the computer being adapted to define a neighborhood R(x0;
• y0) forming a part of said set of areas, said neighborhood comprising at least the concerned area and neighboring areas distinct from the concerned area,
• the computer being adapted to estimate a criterion of detection level in the neighborhood, at least from the measurements F0(x, y, δt) for neighboring areas included in said neighborhood R(x0;
• y0) during the observation period T, and
• the computer being adapted to estimate the value Fe(x0, y0, δt) of the number of signals according, in addition, at least to said criterion of detection level in the neighborhood.