Method of displaying images

• US 7,995,066 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2005
• Issued: 08/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GMBH (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Martin, Sandra, Böhm, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): Chauhan; Ulka
• Assistant Examiner(s): PRENDERGAST, ROBERTA D
• Application Number:
  US11/230,803
• Publication Number:
  US 20060098006A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,149 Days
• Field of Search: 345/475, 382/131
• US Class Current: 345/475
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/325 Image enhancement, e.g. by subtraction techniques using polyenergetic X-rays

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for image reproduction, in particular for single or serial medical exposures, whereby one or more main images are reproduced on a display device. The method is characterized in that additional or interim images are generated using image interpolation prior to image reproduction from the one or more main images and in that additional image noise which varies from image to image is applied to the one or more main images and the additional or interim images, said image noise being generated by a noise generator, and image reproduction taking place by displaying in chronological order the one or more main images and additional or interim images to which the additional image noise has been applied. The method in particular improves the visual image impression in the case of fluoroscopic X-ray image exposures, without having to increase the applied X-ray dose.

Claims

1. A method of displaying images in a chronological sequence, comprising:

generating a plurality of interim images based on at least one main image using an image interpolation algorithm, said interpolation algorithm configured to generate a chronologically consecutive sequence of the interim images with respect to the at least one main image;

adding a varying image noise to the main image and to the interim images, the image noise generated by a noise generator, wherein an amplitude of the image noise is adjusted based on a signal level of the main image, wherein said signal level is based on an emulation of quantum noise; and

chronologically displaying the main image and the interim images in an image sequence, wherein the added varying image noise reduces a visual perception of noise in the displayed image sequence with respect to a noise originally present in the main image.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the main image includes a series of images.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein

the series of images includes a series of medical X-ray images acquired from a patient at an image acquisition frequency,

the interim images are inserted into the series of X-ray images, and

the series of X-ray images the interim images inserted into the series of X-ray images are displayed at an image display frequency higher than the image acquisition frequency.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein each interim image is generated from two chronologically consecutive main images of the series of X-ray images using the image interpolation algorithm.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the image acquisition frequency is less or equal to 20 Hz, and the image display frequency is 60 Hz or higher to enable an image display frequency supportive of a corresponding high-frequency value for the added image noise, wherein said high-frequency value for the added image noise perceptibly improves a visual impression of the displayed images without having to increase a level of X-ray radiation exposure to the patient.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the interim images are generated from the at least one main image using spatial frequency filtering.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the spatial frequency filtering includes low pass filtering.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the image interpolation algorithm and the noise generator are integrated in a graphics card.

9. A graphics card for displaying a sequence of images, comprising:

an interpolating unit having an image interpolation algorithm for generating a plurality of interim images based on at least one main image, said interpolation algorithm configured to generate a chronologically consecutive sequence of the interim images with respect to the at least one main image;

a noise generator for adding image noise to the main image and the interim images, the image noise varying within the interim images, wherein an amplitude of the image noise is adjusted based on a signal level of the main image, wherein said signal level is based on an emulation of quantum noise; and

a display coordination unit for chronologically displaying the main image and the interim images in an image sequence, wherein the added varying image noise by the noise generator reduces a visual perception of noise in the displayed image sequence with respect to a noise originally present in the main image.