Method and apparatus for generation of an x-ray image
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for generating an x-ray image of an examination subject, comprising the steps of:
- obtaining a first x-ray image having an image field that contains a subject image region that contains only an image of an examination subject, said first x-ray image being comprised of a plurality of image points each exhibiting a greyscale value within a predetermined greyscale value range that is dependent on an image reproduction medium;
in a processor, digitally processing said first x-ray image to obtain an intermediate image encompassing said image field, said intermediate image being comprised of a plurality of image points equal to said plurality of image points of said first x-ray image, each exhibiting a grayscale value within said greyscale value range; and
in said processor, identifying said subject image region in said intermediate image by associating with said subject image region all image points in said intermediate image exhibiting respective grayscale values within said grayscale value range; and
making said intermediate image available at an output of the processor as a data file in a form for presentation at said image reproduction medium.
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Abstract
In a method and an apparatus for generation of an x-ray image of an examination subject, a subject image region exclusively reproducing the examination subject is identified in the image field of a first, complete x-ray image. A grayscale value range is identified in an intermediate image encompassing the entire image field and derived from the first x-ray image by digital image processing; and all image points whose grayscale value in the intermediate image lie within this grayscale value range are associated with the subject image region.
20 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for generating an x-ray image of an examination subject, comprising the steps of:
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obtaining a first x-ray image having an image field that contains a subject image region that contains only an image of an examination subject, said first x-ray image being comprised of a plurality of image points each exhibiting a greyscale value within a predetermined greyscale value range that is dependent on an image reproduction medium; in a processor, digitally processing said first x-ray image to obtain an intermediate image encompassing said image field, said intermediate image being comprised of a plurality of image points equal to said plurality of image points of said first x-ray image, each exhibiting a grayscale value within said greyscale value range; and in said processor, identifying said subject image region in said intermediate image by associating with said subject image region all image points in said intermediate image exhibiting respective grayscale values within said grayscale value range; and making said intermediate image available at an output of the processor as a data file in a form for presentation at said image reproduction medium. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus for generating an x-ray image of an examination subject, comprising:
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an x-ray imaging system adapted to interact with an examination subject to obtain a first x-ray image having an image field that contains a subject image region that contains only an image of the examination subject, said first x-ray image being comprised of a plurality of image points each exhibiting a greyscale value within a predetermined greyscale value range that is dependent on an image reproduction medium; a digital processor configured to process said first x-ray image to obtain an intermediate image encompassing said image field, said intermediate image being comprised of a plurality of image points each exhibiting a grayscale value, and to identify said subject image region in said intermediate image by associating with said subject image region all image points in said intermediate image exhibiting respective grayscale values within said grayscale value range; and said digital processor being configured to make said intermediate image available at an output of the processor as a data file in a form for presentation at said image reproduction medium. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A digital image processor for generating an x-ray image of an examination subject, said digital image processor being supplied with a first x-ray image having an image field that contains, a subject image region that contains only an image of an examination subject, said first x-ray image being comprised of a plurality of image points each exhibiting a greyscale value within a predetermined greyscale value range that is dependent on an image reproduction medium, said digital image processor being programmed to digitally process said first x-ray image to obtain an intermediate image encompassing said image field, said intermediate image being comprised of a plurality of image points equal to said plurality of image points of said first x-ray image, each exhibiting a grayscale value, and to identify said subject image region in said intermediate image by associating with said subject image region all image points in said intermediate image exhibiting respective grayscale values within said grayscale value range, and make said intermediate image available at an output of the processor as a data file in a form for presentation at said image reproduction medium.
Specification