Method and apparatus for pre-processing scans as a preparation for segmenting the same

• US 20080144959A1
• Filed: 07/18/2006
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Rasch, Matthias, Keel, Allen, Lorenz, Christine H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,903,850 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/260
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/75 Unsharp masking

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for pre-processing image data of a three-dimensional volume includes providing the image data of a vessel, applying a super-sampling filter to the image data to generate super-sampled image data having an increased resolution as compared to the image data, applying an unsharp masking filter to the super-sampled image data for increasing contrast of an edge of the vessel, applying a de-noising filer for removing noise surrounding the edge after applying the unsharp masking filter, and storing the image data after applying the de-noising filter thereto.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for pre-processing image data of a three-dimensional volume comprising:

providing the image data of a vessel;

applying a super-sampling filter to the image data to generate super-sampled image data having an increased resolution as compared to the image data;

applying an unsharp masking filter to the super-sampled image data for increasing contrast of an edge of the vessel;

applying a de-noising filer for removing noise surrounding the edge after applying the unsharp masking filter; and

storing the image data after applying the de-noising filter thereto.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein applying the super-sampling filter comprises:

upsampling the image data for increasing the resolution of the image data;

determining a Fourier transform of the image data after upsampling;

applying a low-pass filter to the Fourier transform;

multiplying voxel values of the image data by a Fourier gain after applying the low-pass filter;

applying an inverse Fourier transform (FT) to the image data to determine an interpolated image after multiplying voxel values; and

outputting the interpolated image, wherein the interpolated image is the super-sampled image data.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein upsampling comprises inserting a zero value between each pair of adjacent voxels of the image data.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein applying the unsharp masking filter comprises filtering the image data by:

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the de-noising filter is edge-preserving.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising segmenting stored image data.

7. A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for pre-processing image data of a three-dimensional volume, the method steps comprising:

providing the image data of a vessel;

applying a super-sampling filter to the image data to generate super-sampled image data having an increased resolution as compared to the image data;

applying an unsharp masking filter to the super-sampled image data for increasing contrast of an edge of the vessel;

applying a de-noising filer for removing noise surrounding the edge after applying the unsharp masking filter; and

storing the image data after applying the de-noising filter thereto.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein applying the super-sampling filter comprises:

upsampling the image data for increasing the resolution of the image data;

determining a Fourier transform of the image data after upsampling;

applying a low-pass filter to the Fourier transform;

multiplying voxel values of the image data by a Fourier gain after applying the low-pass filter;

applying an inverse Fourier transform (FT) to the image data to determine an interpolated image after multiplying voxel values; and

outputting the interpolated image, wherein the interpolated image is the super-sampled image data.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein upsampling comprises inserting a zero value between each pair of adjacent voxels of the image data.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein applying the unsharp masking filter comprises filtering the image data by:

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the de-noising filter is edge-preserving.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising segmenting stored image data.

13. A computer-implemented method for pre-processing Magnetic Resonance (MR) image data comprising:

providing the MR image data;

super-sampling the MR image data to generate super-sampled MR image data;

increasing contrast of an edge in the super-sampled MR image data;

removing noise about the edge to generate pre-processed MR image data; and

segmenting the pre-processed MR image data.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein super-sampling comprises:

upsampling the MR image data for increasing a resolution of the image data;

determining a Fourier transform of the MR image data after upsampling;

applying a low-pass filter to the Fourier transform;

multiplying voxel values of the MR image data by a Fourier gain after applying the low-pass filter;

applying an inverse Fourier transform (FT) to the MR image data to determine an interpolated image after multiplying voxel values; and

outputting the interpolated image, wherein the interpolated image is the super-sampled MR image data.