Material Characteristic Image Noise Reduction via Composite Spectra
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image processing techniques for material characterization in medical imaging suffer from noise propagation due to quantum noise and fail to consider beam hardening, making it difficult to obtain accurate quantitative physical property values.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus and method that generates material characteristic images using radiation energy spectra, incorporating a noise reduction processing unit to reduce noise components, and utilizes composite images and spectra from multiple radiation energies to produce images with improved quality and quantitative properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If material characteristic images are generated from multiple radiation energy images, then material separation and identification capability is improved, but noise components propagate during calculation making quantitative accuracy poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes noise components from the material characteristic images through dedicated noise reduction processing units that operate on the images generated from multiple radiation energy images, separating the useful material information from the harmful noise while maintaining quantitative accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces composite images and composite spectra as intermediary elements that mediate between the multiple radiation energy images and the final material characteristic images, allowing noise reduction while preserving the material separation capability and quantitative properties
2Measurement precision
If simple arithmetic operations are used for material characteristic image generation, then processing speed is improved, but beam hardening effect is not considered reducing quantitative accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameters of the image generation process by incorporating beam hardening correction models and using composite spectra with multiple energy components, transforming the simple arithmetic operations into a more comprehensive physical model that accounts for beam hardening while maintaining computational efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary beam hardening correction and composite spectrum generation before the final material characteristic image calculation, preparing the radiation images and spectra in advance to account for beam hardening effects, thereby improving quantitative accuracy without complicating the final calculation step
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively reduces noise and enhances the quantitative accuracy of material characteristic images, improving the quality of images and enabling better material separation and identification in medical imaging applications.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of radiation images captured at different radiation energy levels are processed to generate a material characteristic image by using an energy spectrum of the radiation
Implementation Method 2
quantum noise originating from system noise or radiation will propagate during the calculation process
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus comprises: an image generating unit configured to generate, by using a radiation energy spectrum, a material characteristic image of a material contained in a plurality of radiation images captured by different radiation energies; and a noise reduction processing unit configured to reduce a noise component of the material characteristic image. The image generating unit uses a composite image obtained from the plurality of radiation images, a first material characteristic image in which the noise component has been reduced, and a composite spectrum obtained from spectra of the different radiation energies to generate a second material characteristic image with reduced noise.