System and methods for the reduction and elimination of image artifacts in the calibration of X-ray imagers
First Claim
1. A medical imaging system comprising:
- an x-ray source for generating x-rays;
calibration markers positioned in a path of the x-rays;
an x-ray receiving device for receiving the generated x-rays and deriving a digital image representing objects through which the generated x-rays have passed, the digital image including representations of the calibration markers; and
a processor coupled to the x-ray receiving device for performing image processing operations on the digital image, the image processing operations de-emphasizing the visual presence of the representations of the calibration markers.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Image processing operations are used to improve images that include visual artifacts generated by calibration markers used in intrinsic calibration of an x-ray image. Artifacts introduced by opaque or semi-transparent calibration markers may be completely or partially removed from the image. More particularly, artifacts caused by opaque calibration markers are removed by changing the pixels corresponding to the projections of the calibration markers to blend in with pixels surrounding the calibration markers. Artifacts may also be generated with semi-transparent calibration markers. These artifacts may be eliminated from the image, while leaving intact the underlying image, by subtracting a constant offset from each marker projection.
377 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A medical imaging system comprising:
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an x-ray source for generating x-rays; calibration markers positioned in a path of the x-rays; an x-ray receiving device for receiving the generated x-rays and deriving a digital image representing objects through which the generated x-rays have passed, the digital image including representations of the calibration markers; and a processor coupled to the x-ray receiving device for performing image processing operations on the digital image, the image processing operations de-emphasizing the visual presence of the representations of the calibration markers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of creating an image of an object comprising the steps of:
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transmitting x-rays in a path including a target object and calibration markers arranged in a predetermined pattern; receiving the transmitted x-rays; deriving a digital image representing the object and the calibration markers; and de-emphasizing the representations of the calibration markers in the digital image. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A computer readable medium containing computer instructions for causing a processor to perform the steps of:
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storing a digital image representing anatomy of a patient, the digital image including representations of calibration markers that at least partially occlude portions of the patient anatomy; and performing image processing operations on the digital image to de-emphasize the representations of the calibration markers. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A computer system comprising:
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a first computer memory storing a digital image representing anatomy of a patient, the digital image including representations of calibration markers that at least partially occlude portions of the patient anatomy; a second memory storing instruction for performing image processing operations on the digital image to de-emphasize the representations of the calibration markers; and a processor coupled to the first and second memory for executing the instructions stored in the second memory. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method for causing a computer processor to perform the steps of:
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storing a digital image representing anatomy of a patient, the digital image including representations of calibration markers that at least partially occlude portions of the patient anatomy; and performing image processing operations on the digital image to de-emphasize the representations of the calibration markers. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
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33. A medical imaging system comprising:
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an x-ray source for generating x-rays; semi-transparent calibration markers positioned in a path of the x-rays; an x-ray receiving device for receiving the generated x-rays and deriving a digital image representing objects through which the generated x-rays have passed, the digital image including representations of the calibration markers; and a processor coupled to the x-ray receiving device for performing image processing operations on the digital image, the digital processing operations removing distortion from the image by performing intrinsic calibration on the image based on projections of the semi-transparent calibration markers in the image.
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Specification