Multimodal image reconstruction with zonal smoothing

A computer-implemented method for multimodal imaging of an examined object, the method comprising causing a computer system to execute instructions for:

• performing a support imaging operation to generate support information associated with the examined object;
• identifying at least two zones in object space based on the support information, wherein the at least two zones are derived from a first imaging modality;
• performing functional imaging of the examined object, thereby generating functional image data;
• reconstructing an image object from the functional image data, wherein reconstructing includes performing a zonal smoothing operation within at least one of the two zones, wherein the reconstructed image object comprises an image from a second imaging modality;
• and
• outputting the reconstructed image object.

A functional imaging device comprising:

• a detector unit for detecting a functional signal emitted from a measured object within a detecting area and providing functional image data in a data space indicative of the functional signal;
• and
• a reconstruction unit for reconstructing, from the functional image data, an image object in object space, the reconstructing unit being configured to
• provide zonal information separating the object space into at least two zones;
• provide at least two zonal image objects, each zonal image object being associated with one of the at least two zones, wherein the at least two zones are derived from a first imaging modality;
• perform a zonal smoothing operation on at least one of the zonal image objects, thereby generating at least one smoothed zonal image object;
• reconstruct the image object on the basis of the at least one smoothed zonal image object, wherein the reconstructed image object comprises an image from a second imaging modality;
• and
• provide the image object at an output of the reconstruction unit.