The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 09, 1999
Filed:
Jul. 25, 1997
Kunio Doi, Willowbrook, IL (US);
Takayuki Ishida, Westmont, IL (US);
Shigehiko Katsuragawa, Chicago, IL (US);
Arch Development Corporation, Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
A method and computerized automated initial image matching technique for enhancing detection of interval changes between temporally subsequent radiographic images via image subtraction. The method includes the steps of digitizing images, normalizing density and contrast in the digital images, correcting for lateral inclination in the digital images, detecting edges of a same feature in each image, converting the images into low resolution matrices, blurring the low resolution images, segmenting portions of the blurred low resolution matrices based on the detected edges, matching the digital images based on a cross-correlation match between the segmented portions, performing non-linear warping to further match Regions of Interest (ROI), and performing image subtraction between the matched digital images. The low resolution matrices are greater than 64.times.64 in size and are produced by averaging. Blurring of the low resolution matrices is performed via a Gaussian filter that removes fine structures in each image such as small vessels, bronchia, etc. The method may be performed by a computer system according to instructions stored on a computer readable medium.