Eastman-kodak Company

Ben K Jang

Roger S Gaborski

Tony H Ko

Richard Lawrence VanMetter

Ralph Schaetzing

Olorunfunmi A Oliyide

Thomas R Mergler

Yi-Sing Hsiao

Qienyuan Zhou

Jay Wei

Utkarsh Sharma

A method for enhancing a digital image comprises the following steps.

Image enhancement in digital image processing

An automated method and apparatus are disclosed for detecting the irradiation field of a radiographic image, wherein digital image data is acquired and subjected to multiple phases of digital imaging processes. The image is first acquired by a radiation image recording apparatus through a landmark-synthesizing device that generates landmark patterns on the acquired image. These patterns are indicative of where the irradiation field is located, and are subsequently detected by digital image processing techniques. Next, the irradiation field is robustly and efficiently identified through these landmark patterns. An irradiation map is then created that functions as a template for any further image processing to be done on the irradiation field. Once the irradiation field is identified, the landmark patterns are removed from the acquired image using digital image processing techniques if desired. Finally, a mask image is generated to reduce the flare effect of the output image in areas that have received very little radiation, making the output image both diagnostically useful and aesthetically pleasing.

Method and apparatus for irradiation field detection in digital

An automated method and system for determining the positional orientation of radiographic images, wherein digital image data is acquired and subjected to multiple phases of digital imaging processing. The image is processed to segment the object of interest, i.e., a body region, from the foreground and background of the image. Next, the center is determined for the body region. The body region center is then positioned so that it coincides with the center of the film or medium. The image is subsequently decomposed into one or more horizontal and vertical strips. Feature extraction is performed on these strips to preliminarily determine the orientation of the image. Finally, a set of rules is applied to the image information described above to determine the positional orientation of the image.

Automated method and system for determination of positional orientation

An image segmentation method for segmenting various regions of digital radiographic images first uses progressively smoothing techniques to generate smoothed images at multiple scales (resolutions). Next, texture measures are computed at each scale for each pixel in the smoothed image. Then a clustering algorithm is applied to the feature space spanned by the vector of texture measures. A segment spectrum, which is the number of clusters as a function of scale, is subsequently constructed to determine the most stable range of scales and the most stable number of regions into which the image is best segmented. Each pixel in the image is then classified into one of the detected regions according to its belonged cluster in the feature space. Region filling is then performed to eliminate small holes in each segmented region. Finally, a segmented map is generated to function as multivalued templates for any further image processing to be done on various segmented regions of the image.

Automated method and system for image segmentation in digital

A digital radiographic image is segmented into various regions and a region thereof is further decomposed into subregions, wherein digital image data is acquired and subjected to multiple phases of digital imaging processes. The region decomposition method first uses progressively smoothing techniques to generate smoothed regions at multiple scales. Next, the number of connected components at each scale is computed for each smoothed region. A shape spectrum, which is the number of connected components as a function of scale, is subsequently constructed to determine the most stable range of scales and the most stable number of subregions into which the region is decomposed. Each pixel is then classified into subregions, according to the geometrical relationship of the connected components detected at most stable scales. Finally, a decomposed map is generated to function as multivalued templates for any further image processing to be done on various decomposed subregions.

Automated method and system for region decomposition in digital

A digital image processing method automatically separates (segments) the desired regions in a digital radiographic image (i.e., the body part being imaged) from the undesired regions (background areas around the body part that have received unattenuated radiation or foreground areas that have received very little radiation due to the use of radiation limiting devices). The method includes the steps of edge detection, block generation, block classification, block refinement and bit map generation.

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Rochester, NY, United States of America

Ben K Jang