METHOD FOR ENHANCED VISUALIZATION OF MEDICAL IMAGES

• US 20070269106A1
• Filed: 10/13/2006
• Published: 11/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CareStream Health Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CareStream Health Incorporated
• Inventors: Zhang, Jing, Huo, Zhimin
• Granted Patent: US 8,139,828 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10116 X-ray image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30068 Mammography; Breast
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/40 using histogram techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/90 Dynamic range modification of images or parts thereof

Abstract

A method to process medical images for a desired global and local contrast enhancement. A digital image is accessed and segmented, and a first histogram of the digital image is generated. An overall contrast enhanced histogram is generated using the first histogram. A local contrast enhanced histogram is generated using the first histogram. A combined histogram is generated using the overall contrast enhanced histogram and the local contrast enhanced histogram. A contrast-enhanced digital image is generated using the combined histogram.

Claims

1. A method for enhancing the image contrast of a digital image, comprising:

accessing the digital image;

segmenting the digital image;

generating a first histogram of the digital image;

generating an overall contrast enhanced histogram using the first histogram;

generating a local contrast enhanced histogram using the first histogram;

generating a combined histogram using the overall contrast enhanced histogram and the local contrast enhanced histogram; and

using the combined histogram to generate a contrast-enhanced digital image.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the combined histogram is determined by a weighted combination of the overall contrast enhanced histogram and the local contrast enhanced histogram.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the combined histogram is generated by selecting a grey level value on the first histogram as a threshold.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the combined histogram is determined by an equally weighted combination of the overall contrast enhanced histogram and the local contrast enhanced histogram.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the combined histogram is determined by an unequally weighted combination of the overall contrast enhanced histogram and the local contrast enhanced histogram.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the combined histogram is determined by a combination of weighting factors and gray level spaces.