Method for detection of elements of interest in a digital radiographic image

• US 6,542,628 B1
• Filed: 03/02/2000
• Issued: 04/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GE Medical Systems Norway AS (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: GE Medical Systems Norway AS (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: Muller, Serge, Rick, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Jayanti K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): AZARIAN, SEYED H
• Application Number:
  US09/517,349
• Time in Patent Office: 1,125 Days
• Field of Search: 382/131, 382/260, 382/270, 382/115, 382/128, 382/100, 382/132, 382/261, 382/256, 382/266, 162/109, 348/66, 250/587
• US Class Current: 382/132
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10116 X-ray image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30068 Mammography; Breast
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0012 Biomedical image inspection

Abstract

Method of improved detection of elements of interest by means of a detection system in a digital radiographic image of an object, acquired on an acquisition chain, comprising a first calibration phase in which the performances of the detection system are established. For such purpose, a calibration curve with several dimensions is determined by means of a mathematical model of the acquisition chain and object, in order to express a false positive probability as a function of a set of parameters corresponding to the acquisition chain and object. In the course of a second phase of use, a false positive probability value is determined for each pixel of the image. One then selects among the pixels of the digital radiographic image acquired those whose probability value obtained satisfies a predetermined criterion.

Claims

1. A method of improved detection of elements of interest by means of a detection system in a digital radiographic image of an object, acquired on an acquisition chain, comprising the steps of:

a) a calibration phase, in which;

determining from a mathematical model of the acquisition chain and object a plurality of images corresponding to a plurality of gray input levels representing a set of parameters of the object and a set of parameters of the acquisition chain variable over a predetermined range of values;

elaborating, from the system of detection and plurality of images, a mathematical model of detection giving a theoretical number of elements detected as a function of a set of parameters of the acquisition chain, a useful output signal of the detection system and a gray background level of the image considered, representing one of the sets of parameters of the object;

b) a phase of use in which;

the detection system is applied on the digital radiographic image;

for each elementary zone of that image, one introduces as input data in the mathematical model of detection the useful output signal of the detection system, a set of parameters of the acquisition chain taken among the predetermined values and used to obtain said digital radiographic image, and a gray background level calculated on said digital radiographic image, so as to determine a theoretical number of elements detected;

selecting among the elementary zones of the digital radiographic image acquired those whose theoretical number of detected elements satisfies a predetermined criterion.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the mathematical model of the acquisition chain and object includes a noise model.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein in the course of the calibration phase, the detection system is applied several times on the same image, adapted to each of the sets of parameters of the elements of interest, so as to scan a given range of values of the parameters of the elements of interest.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein in the course of the calibration phase, the detection system is applied several times on the same image, adapted to each of the sets of parameters of the elements of interest, so as to scan a given range of values of the parameters of the elements of interest.

5. Method according to claim 1, wherein in the course of the phase of use, the detection system is applied several times on the acquired digital radiographic image, adapted to each of the sets of parameters of the elements of interest, so as to obtain several theoretical numbers of elements detected for each elementary zone of said digital radiographic image, and one selects among the elementary zones the ones whose smallest theoretical number of detected elements obtained satisfies said predetermined criterion.

6. Method according to claim 2, wherein in the course of the phase of use, the detection system is applied several times on the acquired digital radiographic image, adapted to each of the sets of parameters of the elements of interest, so as to obtain several theoretical numbers of elements detected for each elementary zone of said digital radiographic image, and one selects among the elementary zones the ones whose smallest theoretical number of detected elements obtained satisfies said predetermined criterion.

7. Method according to claim 3, wherein in the course of the phase of use, the detection system is applied several times on the acquired digital radiographic image, adapted to each of the sets of parameters of the elements of interest, so as to obtain several theoretical numbers of elements detected for each elementary zone of said digital radiographic image, and one selects among the elementary zones the ones whose smallest theoretical number of detected elements obtained satisfies said predetermined criterion.

8. Method according to claim 4, wherein in the course of the phase of use, the detection system is applied several times on the acquired digital radiographic image, adapted to each of the sets of parameters of the elements of interest, so as to obtain several theoretical numbers of elements detected for each elementary zone of said digital radiographic image, and one selects among the elementary zones the ones whose smallest theoretical number of detected elements obtained satisfies said predetermined criterion.

9. Method according to claim 5, wherein in the course of the phase of use, the detection system is applied several times on the acquired digital radiographic image, adapted to each of the sets of parameters of the elements of interest, so as to obtain several theoretical numbers of elements detected for each elementary zone of said digital radiographic image, and one selects among the elementary zones the ones whose smallest theoretical number of detected elements obtained satisfies said predetermined criterion.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the detection system is a filter of top-hat type.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the gray background level is calculated by means of bandpass filtering.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the gray background level is calculated by means of a morphological opening.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the theoretical number of elements detected is expressed in terms of false positive probability, that is, the probability for an element to be detected when no element of interest has been introduced in the mathematical model of the acquisition chain and of the object.

14. The method according to claim 2, wherein the theoretical number of elements detected is expressed in terms of false positive probability, that is, the probability for an element to be detected when no element of interest has been introduced in the mathematical model of the acquisition chain and of the object.

15. The method according to claim 3, wherein the theoretical number of elements detected is expressed in terms of false positive probability, that is, the probability for an element to be detected when no element of interest has been introduced in the mathematical model of the acquisition chain and of the object.

16. The method according to claim 4, wherein the theoretical number of elements detected is expressed in terms of false positive probability, that is, the probability for an element to be detected when no element of interest has been introduced in the mathematical model of the acquisition chain and of the object.

17. The method according to claim 5, wherein the theoretical number of elements detected is expressed in terms of false positive probability, that is, the probability for an element to be detected when no element of interest has been introduced in the mathematical model of the acquisition chain and of the object.

18. The method according to claim 6, wherein the theoretical number of elements detected is expressed in terms of false positive probability, that is, the probability for an element to be detected when no element of interest has been introduced in the mathematical model of the acquisition chain and of the object.

19. The method according to claim 7, wherein the theoretical number of elements detected is expressed in terms of false positive probability, that is, the probability for an element to be detected when no element of interest has been introduced in the mathematical model of the acquisition chain and of the object.

20. The method according to claim 8, wherein the theoretical number of elements detected is expressed in terms of false positive probability, that is, the probability for an element to be detected when no element of interest has been introduced in the mathematical model of the acquisition chain and of the object.

21. The method according to claim 9, wherein the theoretical number of elements detected is expressed in terms of false positive probability, that is, the probability for an element to be detected when no element of interest has been introduced in the mathematical model of the acquisition chain and of the object.

22. The method according to claim 10, wherein the theoretical number of elements detected is expressed in terms of false positive probability, that is, the probability for an element to be detected when no element of interest has been introduced in the mathematical model of the acquisition chain and of the object.

23. The method according to claim 11, wherein the theoretical number of elements detected is expressed in terms of false positive probability, that is, the probability for an element to be detected when no element of interest has been introduced in the mathematical model of the acquisition chain and of the object.

24. The method according to claim 12, wherein the theoretical number of elements detected is expressed in terms of false positive probability, that is, the probability for an element to be detected when no element of interest has been introduced in the mathematical model of the acquisition chain and of the object.

25. The method according to claim 1, wherein the theoretical number of elements detected is expressed in terms of false negative probability, that is, the probability for an element of interest introduced in the mathematical model of the acquisition chain and of the object not to be detected.

26. The method according to claim 2, wherein the theoretical number of elements detected is expressed in terms of false negative probability, that is, the probability for an element of interest introduced in the mathematical model of the acquisition chain and of the object not to be detected.

27. The method according to claim 3, wherein the theoretical number of elements detected is expressed in terms of false negative probability, that is, the probability for an element of interest introduced in the mathematical model of the acquisition chain and of the object not to be detected.

28. The method according to claim 5, wherein the theoretical number of elements detected is expressed in terms of false negative probability, that is, the probability for an element of interest introduced in the mathematical model of the acquisition chain and of the object not to be detected.

29. The method according to claim 10, wherein the theoretical number of elements detected is expressed in terms of false negative probability, that is, the probability for an element of interest introduced in the mathematical model of the acquisition chain and of the object not to be detected.

30. The method according to claim 11, wherein the theoretical number of elements detected is expressed in terms of false negative probability, that is, the probability for an element of interest introduced in the mathematical model of the acquisition chain and of the object not to be detected.

31. The method according to claim 12, wherein the theoretical number of elements detected is expressed in terms of false negative probability, that is, the probability for an element of interest introduced in the mathematical model of the acquisition chain and of the object not to be detected.

32. The method according to claim 13, wherein satisfying the predetermined criterion involves fixing a predetermined overall threshold of probability and selecting elementary zones, the sum of whose probability values remains below or equal to that threshold.

33. The method according to claim 25, wherein satisfying the predetermined criterion involves fixing a predetermined overall threshold of probability and selecting elementary zones, the sum of whose probability values remains below or equal to that threshold.

34. The method according to claim 13, wherein satisfying the predetermined criterion involves fixing a predetermined overall threshold of probability and selecting each elementary zone, whose probability value remains below or equal to said threshold.

35. The method according to claim 25, wherein satisfying the predetermined criterion involves fixing a predetermined overall threshold of probability and selecting each elementary zone, whose probability value remains below or equal to said threshold.

36. The method according to claim 1, wherein the theoretical number of elements detected is expressed in terms of false negative and false positive probability, and in that satisfying the predetermined criterion involves fixing a pre-determined overall threshold of probability and selecting each elementary zone, of which a given linear combination of two false negative and false positive probability values remains below or equal to that threshold.

37. The method according to claim 2, wherein the theoretical number of elements detected is expressed in terms of false negative and false positive probability, and in that satisfying the predetermined criterion involves fixing a pre-determined overall threshold of probability and selecting each elementary zone, of which a given linear combination of two false negative and false positive probability values remains below or equal to that threshold.

38. The method according to claim 3, wherein the theoretical number of elements detected is expressed in terms of false negative and false positive probability, and in that satisfying the predetermined criterion involves fixing a pre-determined overall threshold of probability and selecting each elementary zone, of which a given linear combination of two false negative and false positive probability values remains below or equal to that threshold.

39. The method according to claim 5, wherein the theoretical number of elements detected is expressed in terms of false negative and false positive probability, and in that satisfying the predetermined criterion involves fixing a pre-determined overall threshold of probability and selecting each elementary zone, of which a given linear combination of two false negative and false positive probability values remains below or equal to that threshold.

40. The method according to claim 10, wherein the theoretical number of elements detected is expressed in terms of false negative and false positive probability, and in that satisfying the predetermined criterion involves fixing a pre-determined overall threshold of probability and selecting each elementary zone, of which a given linear combination of two false negative and false positive probability values remains below or equal to that threshold.

41. The method according to claim 11, wherein the theoretical number of elements detected is expressed in terms of false negative and false positive probability, and in that satisfying the predetermined criterion involves fixing a pre-determined overall threshold of probability and selecting each elementary zone, of which a given linear combination of two false negative and false positive probability values remains below or equal to that threshold.

42. The method according to claim 12, wherein the theoretical number of elements detected is expressed in terms of false negative and false positive probability, and in that satisfying the predetermined criterion involves fixing a pre-determined overall threshold of probability and selecting each elementary zone, of which a given linear combination of two false negative and false positive probability values remains below or equal to that threshold.