Method, computer program product and apparatus for enhancing a computerized tomography image
First Claim
1. A method to enhance a first CT image composed of a plurality of elements, each element having an intensity value indicative of a tissue type, the method comprising:
- receiving the first CT image,providing, by enhancement processing based on the first CT image, one or more processed CT images, the enhancement processing being performed with respect to at least one predetermined intensity value range, andcombining the first CT image and one or more of the one or more processed CT images or at least two of the processed CT images, whereby an enhanced CT image is provided, the combining being based on a classification with respect to intensity values of regions within at least one of the first CT image and the one or more processed CT images, wherein the combining includesdetermining a first region mask for the first CT image or a first of the one or more processed CT images, the first region mask defining an area within the first CT image, or the first of the one or more processed CT images, whose elements have intensity values within a first intensity value range,determining a respective additional region mask for a second of the one or more of the processed CT images, the respective additional region mask defining an area within the second of the one or more of the processed CT images, whose elements have intensity values within the at least one predetermined intensity value range, andcombining the first CT image or the first of the one or more processed CT images with the second of the one or more of the processed CT images, weighted by their respective region masks, whereby the enhanced CT image is provided.
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Abstract
A method is disclosed for enhancing a CT image composed of a plurality of elements, each having an intensity value indicative of a tissue type. The method comprises receiving (101) a first CT image, providing, by enhancement processing (103) based on said first CT image, a plurality of copies of said first CT image, and combining (104) said copies with said first CT image, whereby an enhanced CT image is provided. The combining is based on a classification with respect to intensity values of regions within said first and said copies of said first CT image. The enhancement processing (103) is performed with respect to predetermined intensity value ranges. The method may be implemented as a computer program product or as a device.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method to enhance a first CT image composed of a plurality of elements, each element having an intensity value indicative of a tissue type, the method comprising:
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receiving the first CT image, providing, by enhancement processing based on the first CT image, one or more processed CT images, the enhancement processing being performed with respect to at least one predetermined intensity value range, and combining the first CT image and one or more of the one or more processed CT images or at least two of the processed CT images, whereby an enhanced CT image is provided, the combining being based on a classification with respect to intensity values of regions within at least one of the first CT image and the one or more processed CT images, wherein the combining includes determining a first region mask for the first CT image or a first of the one or more processed CT images, the first region mask defining an area within the first CT image, or the first of the one or more processed CT images, whose elements have intensity values within a first intensity value range, determining a respective additional region mask for a second of the one or more of the processed CT images, the respective additional region mask defining an area within the second of the one or more of the processed CT images, whose elements have intensity values within the at least one predetermined intensity value range, and combining the first CT image or the first of the one or more processed CT images with the second of the one or more of the processed CT images, weighted by their respective region masks, whereby the enhanced CT image is provided. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18)
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16. A device for enhancing a first CT image composed of a plurality of elements, each element having an intensity value indicative of a tissue type, the device comprising:
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receiving unit configured to receive the first CT image, processing unit configured to provide, by enhancement processing based on the first CT image, one or more processed CT images, the processing means being adapted for enhancement processing with respect to at least one predetermined intensity value range, and combining unit configured to combine the first CT image and one or more of the one or more processed CT images or at least two of the processed CT images, whereby an enhanced CT image is provided, the combining being based on a classification with respect to intensity values of regions within at least one of the first CT image and the one or more of the processed CT images, wherein the combining unit is further configured to determine a first region mask for the first CT image or a first of the one or more processed CT images, the first region mask defining an area within the first CT image, or the first of the one or more processed CT images, whose elements have intensity values within a first intensity value range, determine a respective additional region mask for a second of the one or more of the processed CT images, the respective additional region mask defining an area within the second of the one or more of the processed CT images, whose elements have intensity values within the at least one predetermined intensity value range, and combine the first CT image or the first of the one or more processed CT images with the second of the one or more of the processed CT images, weighted by their respective region masks, whereby the enhanced CT image is provided.
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17. A method to enhance a first digital image composed of a plurality of elements, each element having an intensity value, the method comprising:
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receiving the first digital image, providing, by enhancement processing based on the first digital image, one or more processed digital images, the enhancement processing being performed with respect to at least one predetermined intensity value range, and combining the first digital image and one or more of the one or more processed digital images or at least two of the processed digital images, whereby an enhanced digital image is provided, the combining being based on a classification with respect to intensity values of regions within at least one of the first image and the one or more of the processed digital images, wherein the combining includes determining a first region mask for the first digital image or a first of the one or more processed digital images, the first region mask defining an area within the first digital image, or the first of the one or more processed digital images, whose elements have intensity values within a first intensity value range, determining a respective additional region mask for a second of the one or more of the processed digital images, the respective additional region mask defining an area within the second of the one or more of the processed digital images, whose elements have intensity values within the at least one predetermined intensity value range, and combining the first digital image or the first of the one or more processed digital images with the second of the one or more of the processed digital images, weighted by their respective region masks, whereby the enhanced digital image is provided.
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Specification