Method for correcting inhomogeneities in an image, and an imaging apparatus therefor

• US 20060182363A1
• Filed: 12/20/2005
• Published: 08/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthineers AG (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Jellus, Vladimir
• Granted Patent: US 7,672,498 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/254
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/5608 Data processing and visualization specially adapted for MR, e.g. for feature analysis and pattern recognition on the basis of measured MR data, segmentation of measured MR data, edge contour detection on the basis of measured MR data, for enhancing measured MR data in terms of signal-to-noise ratio by means of noise filtering or apodization, for enhancing measured MR data in terms of resolution by means for deblurring, windowing, zero filling, or generation of gray-scaled images, colour-coded images or images displaying vectors instead of pixels image data processing or generation, in general G06T
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/565 Correction of image distortions, e.g. due to magnetic field inhomogeneities
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/5659 caused by a distortion of the RF magnetic field, e.g. spatial inhomogeneities of the RF magnetic field G01R33/56509, G01R33/56518, G01R33/56536 take precedence

Abstract

A method is for correcting inhomogeneities in an image that is recorded from an examination object. The method includes recording an image to be corrected, calculating a correction image from the image to be corrected and correcting the recorded image with the aid of the correction image in order to produce a normalized image by multiplying the correction image by the image to be corrected. When calculating the correction images, the pixels in the vicinity of the imaged examination object are identified with the aid of a signal intensity that is lower than a limiting value. Further, these pixels are allocated signal intensities that in each case are a function of the signal intensity of the pixels in the respective neighborhood.

Claims

1. A method for correcting an image of an examination object, the method comprising:

recording the image;

calculating a correction image from the recorded image; and

correcting the recorded image to produce a normalized image by multiplying the correction image by the recorded image, wherein when calculating the correction image, the pixels in the vicinity of the imaged examination object are identified using a signal intensity that is lower than a limiting value, and wherein the identified pixels are allocated signal intensities that are a function of the signal intensity of the pixels in the respective neighborhood.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein an MR image is recorded by a magnetic resonance apparatus, the corrections correcting inhomogeneities that result in the examination object owing to inhomogeneities during the excitation of the nuclear spin by high-frequency pulses.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

compiling a correction copy from the recorded image.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein a normalized correction copy is calculated by using homomorphic filters that are applied to the correction copy.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein a correction function is formed by calculating the quotient of the normalized correction copy and the correction copy.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the correction image is formed from the correction function by interpolation until the correction image has the same resolution as the recorded image.

7. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the calculating the normalized correction copy includes:

calculating a logarithm of the correction copy,

calculating a Fourier transformation into the Fourier space of the logarithmized image,

multiplying the Fourier transform by a highpass filter,

backtransforming the filtered Fourier transform from the Fourier space into the image space, and

forming an exponential function of the backtransformed image, as a result of which the normalized correction copy is obtained.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in the case of pixels in the interior of the examination object whose signal intensity is lower than the limiting value, the signal intensities are replaced by intensity values that are a function of the signal intensities of in each case N adjacent pixels.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in the case of pixels outside the examination object and having signal intensities below the limiting value, the signal intensity is determined in the following way:

determining the centroid of the examination object, and

reflecting signal intensities from inside the object to outside the examination object in a radially outward fashion on a reflection axis that runs at the edge of the examination object toward the image background.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in the case of pixels outside the examination object and having signal intensities below the limiting value, the signal intensity is determined in the following way:

determining with the aid of the mean value of M adjacent pixels the signal intensities of pixels that lie within a predetermined distance from the examination object.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signal intensity of pixels outside the examination object is selected with the aid of a mean value of the signal intensity of the pixels within the examination object.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in order to compile the correction image, an enlarged image of the image to be corrected is produced by respectively reflecting outward at the edges image strips at the outer edges of the image.

15. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

compiling a correction copy, from the recorded image, with a lower resolution than the recorded image.

16. The method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

compiling a correction copy, from the recorded image, with a lower resolution than the recorded image.

17. The method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

compiling a correction copy from the recorded image.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein a normalized correction copy is calculated by using homomorphic filters that are applied to the correction copy.

13. An imaging apparatus for recording an image of an examination object, comprising:

an image recording unit to record an image to be corrected;

a correction copy calculating unit to calculate a correction copy, which produces a correction copy from the recorded image;

a filter unit to calculate a normalized correction copy;

a correction calculating unit to calculate a correction image, which produces a normalized image by multiplying the correction image by the image to be corrected, the correction copy calculating unit identifying, when calculating the correction copy, the pixels in the vicinity of the imaged examination object with a signal intensity that is lower than a limiting value, and allocating these pixels signal intensities that in each case are a function of the signal intensity of the pixels in the respective neighborhood; and

a display unit to display the normalized image.

14. The imaging apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the imaging apparatus is a magnetic resonance apparatus that produces MR images of the examination object on the basis of nuclear magnetic resonance.

19. An apparatus for correcting an image of an examination object, comprising:

means for recording the image;

means for calculating a correction image from the recorded image; and

means for correcting the recorded image to produce a normalized image by multiplying the correction image by the recorded image, wherein when calculating the correction image, the pixels in the vicinity of the imaged examination object are identified using a signal intensity that is lower than a limiting value, and wherein the identified pixels are allocated signal intensities that are a function of the signal intensity of the pixels in the respective neighborhood.

20. The imaging apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the imaging apparatus is a magnetic resonance apparatus that produces MR images of the examination object on the basis of nuclear magnetic resonance.