Method and apparatus for automated image quality evaluation of X-ray systems using any of multiple phantoms
First Claim
1. A method for automated image quality evaluation of x-ray imaging systems, said method comprising:
- processing an imported x-ray image to determine image components;
locating landmarks in an area of said imported x-ray image exposed to x-rays;
predicting regions of interest in said area of said imported x-ray image exposed to x-rays based on said landmarks;
measuring image quality parameters within said regions of interest for evaluation of x-ray imaging system image quality; and
adjusting said image quality parameters based on said evaluation of x-ray imaging system image quality.
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Abstract
A system for automated x-ray system parameter evaluation is provided. A physical model or template is created and stored in the system, one for each desired phantom. The automated system imports a grayscale x-ray image and then processes the image to determine image components. First, a histogram of the image is created, then a threshold in the histogram is determined and the imported image is binarized with respect to the threshold. Next, connected component analysis is used to determine image components. If the components do not match, then the image is rejected. The system next locates landmarks in the imported image corresponding to expected physical structures. The landmarks include a perimeter ring, vertical and horizontal line segments, and fiducials. The system uses the landmarks to predict Regions of Interest (ROIs) where measurement of the x-ray system parameters takes place. Finally, the x-ray system parameters are measured in the identified ROIs.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method for automated image quality evaluation of x-ray imaging systems, said method comprising:
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processing an imported x-ray image to determine image components;
locating landmarks in an area of said imported x-ray image exposed to x-rays;
predicting regions of interest in said area of said imported x-ray image exposed to x-rays based on said landmarks;
measuring image quality parameters within said regions of interest for evaluation of x-ray imaging system image quality; and
adjusting said image quality parameters based on said evaluation of x-ray imaging system image quality. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An automated image quality evaluation system including:
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a phantom having at least one sub-phantom for assisting in the determination of at least one system performance parameter, and an image processor for analyzing an x-ray image of said phantom, wherein said image processor identifies said at least one sub-phantom based on at least on a landmark in said at least one sub-phantom, wherein said image processor predicts a region of interest in said at least one sub-phantom based on said at least one landmark. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for automated image quality evaluation using phantom images from a medical imaging system, comprising:
- obtaining a grayscale image representative of a phantom mounted in the medical imaging system;
analyzing said grayscale image with respect to a predetermined phantom template corresponding to a desired image of said phantom in order to evaluate said grayscale image; and
automatically determining whether to reject said grayscale image.- View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
determining components of said grayscale image, said components used in said analyzing step to evaluate said grayscale image.
- obtaining a grayscale image representative of a phantom mounted in the medical imaging system;
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25. The method of claim 23, further comprising:
comparing components of said grayscale image with associated components of said phantom template to evaluate said grayscale image.
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26. The method of claim 23, further comprising:
locating landmark in said grayscale image based on predetermined configurations for said phantom mounted in the medical imaging systems.
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27. The method of claim 23, further comprising:
predicting regions of interest in said grayscale image based on predefined characteristics of said phantom mounted in the medical imaging system.
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28. The method of claim 23, further comprising:
measuring sub-phantom parameters representation of regions of interest from said phantom mounted in the medical imaging system.
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29. The method of claim 23, further comprising:
creating a histogram of said grayscale image to evaluate said grayscale image.
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30. The method of claim 23, further comprising:
comparing an imaging characteristic of said grayscale image to at least one threshold to determine whether to reject said grayscale image.
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31. A method for determining a phantom template for an automated image quality evaluation system comprising:
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identifying a phantom to be template;
determining geometric attributes of the said phantom;
determining landmark characteristics of said phantom;
determining the registration points of said phantom;
predicting regions of interest of said phantom; and
storing said geometric attributes, landmarks, registration points, and regions of interest to form a phantom template for said phantom said phantom template capable of use in image quality evaluation. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34)
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Specification