Radiographic Image Processing with Shielded Area Scattered Ray Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radiographic image processing techniques inaccurately estimate and suppress scattered ray components in non-shielded image areas due to incorrect intensity distribution calculations, especially when a shield is present in the irradiation field, leading to excessive suppression of scattered rays in non-shielded areas.
Innovation Solution
A radiographic image processing device and method that acquires area information distinguishing shielded and non-shielded image areas, estimates scattered ray components based on imaging conditions, and suppresses these components in non-shielded areas by calculating their spread from shielded areas, using a scattered ray estimation function that accounts for primary ray components and sets conditions to negate scattered rays from shielded areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing scattered ray suppression techniques are applied to subject images with shielded areas, then scattered ray components can be suppressed in non-shielded areas, but erroneous estimation occurs leading to excessive suppression of scattered rays in non-shielded areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the subject image into shielded image areas and non-shielded image areas based on area information. This segmentation allows different processing approaches for each region: the shielded areas are used as reference for estimating scattered ray intensity distribution, while the non-shielded areas have their scattered ray components suppressed based on this estimation. This resolves the contradiction by enabling accurate estimation through spatial separation of reference and target regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different quality characteristics to different regions of the image. Shielded areas are treated as reference regions with specific intensity distribution properties, while non-shielded areas are treated as target regions for scattered ray suppression. By assigning local quality differences based on shielded/non-shielded status, the system achieves both reliable estimation from shielded regions and precise suppression in non-shielded regions without erroneous calculation.
2Illumination intensity
If scattered ray components are suppressed in non-shielded image areas, then image contrast improves, but erroneous estimation causes excessive suppression and loss of image information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a feedback mechanism where area information about shielded and non-shielded regions is acquired and used to guide the scattered ray suppression process. The intensity distribution from shielded areas provides feedback for estimating scattered ray components in non-shielded areas, enabling contrast improvement while preventing excessive suppression through continuous reference to the original image data and area characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary acquisition of area information that identifies shielded and non-shielded regions before executing the scattered ray suppression. This preliminary action establishes the spatial framework and intensity distribution reference needed to subsequently suppress scattered rays accurately in non-shielded areas without causing information loss, as the suppression is guided by pre-acquired regional characteristics.
Data Source
AI summary
A radiographic image processing device includes: an image acquisition section that acquires a subject image detected by a shielded detection portion and a non-shielded detection portion; an area information acquisition section that acquires area information which is information for specifying a non-shielded image area and a shielded image area; and a scattered ray suppression section that estimates spreading of scattered rays generated in a non-shielded subject portion, estimates that scattered rays that spread to the non-shielded image area from a shielded subject portion are not present, calculates a scattered ray component in each position in the non-shielded image area as the estimated scattered rays reach each position in the non-shielded image area, and suppresses the scattered ray component in each position in the non-shielded image area according to the calculated scattered ray component.