General Electric Company

Hologic, Inc.

R2 Technology, Inc.

Sussan Pourjavid

Haili Chui

Jimmy R Roehrig

Xiaolan Zhang

Akira Hasegawa

Paul Richard Granfors

David W Kurzynski

A method and apparatus for analyzing a medical image obtained from one of a plurality of digital modalities, the method comprising transforming or mapping the initial medical image to create a uniform contrast response and appearance regardless of the original modality of the image.

Method and apparatus for expanding the use of existing computer-aided detection code

Potentially defective pixel regions of a discrete pixel detector are identified through analysis of a series of dark images and a series of exposed images. In the case of an x-ray system, the dark images are created with little or no radiation impacting the detector, while the exposed images are created with a uniform level of radiation over the detector surface. Output signals from the detector are averaged over the series of dark images, and over the series of exposed images. Analyses are performed on the average values to identify pixels producing inconsistent output signals, pixels producing output signals varying more than a desired amount from reference levels, and pixels producing output signals varying more than a desired amount from output signals of neighboring pixels. A mask is generated referencing the defective pixels for use in processing subsequent images.

Method and apparatus for identifying defective regions in a discrete pixel detector

A technique is disclosed for identifying potentially defective circuitry associated with discrete pixel regions in an imaging system detector. Signals representative of the pixels in an image matrix are generated. The signals are analyzed to identify mean and standard deviation values from a histogram of the pixel population. Pixels lying outside of a desired range, such as a distribution envelope determined from the histogram, are compared to the mean value plus or minus a multiple of the standard deviation. Pixels lying outside of the desired range are labeled or masked as potentially defective.

Method and apparatus for defective pixel identification

Histogram analysis method for defective pixel identification

A technique for compensating for a retained image includes sampling image data from a digital detector following termination of a first exposure to model decay of the retained image. Based upon the modeled decay, further decay of the retained image is predicted. The predicted decay values are employed to correct or compensate for the decaying retained image in a subsequent exposure. The technique is particularly well suited to compensation of retained images in fluoroscopic exposures following radiographic exposures in a digital x-ray system.

Method and apparatus for compensating for image retention in an amorphous silicon imaging detector

To transmit images over a network between an imager and one of several reproduction devices, an correction function is determined which adjusts the image to produce optimal reproductions from the selected device. To derive the correction function, a test pattern image with different gray scale regions is sent to and reproduced by each reproduction device. The optical density of each region in the reproduced test pattern images is measured and employed to derive the correction function. Thereafter, when a image is sent over the network, the correction function for the recipient reproduction device is applied to produce a corrected image which is sent over the network.

Method for compensating image data to adjust for characteristics of a

An automated qualitative image quality method is used for an ultrasound imaging system. Initially, an impulse response of the system is determined. The impulse response is used with a cystic filling determination to achieve automated qualitative image quality for the ultrasound imaging system. The impulse response of the system is determined using a wire-in-water test. That is, a wire target is put in a water tank. Next, a transducer is set to be perpendicular to the axis of the wire, to get a cross-section of the wire. Sound waves are transmitted and reflected echoes are received at different gain settings. Curve fitting techniques are then used to form a system beam profile. Finally, acoustic peak to noise and detail resolution qualitative image quality measurements are made using the system beam profile. The cystic filling of the system is determined by defining a first region of interest in a darkened region of an image and a second region of interest in a surrounding region of the image. Collected data is then used to calculate a cystic filling measurement.

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Sunnyvale, CA, United States of America

Sussan Pourjavid