Digital x-ray imaging system with automatic display image greyscale enhancement and method

Abstract

Digital X-ray imaging system,automatically provides an enhanced digital display image,D from a digital camera image,C showing internal structure,S of interest within subject,S. Calibrated radiation attenuators,A placed near the subject appear in the camera image and in the display image. X-ray source,X generates X-ray radiations which are attenuated within the calibrated attenuators to provide calibrated attenuations. The X-ray radiations are also differentially attenuated within the interior of the subject to reveal internal structure therein. Digital X-ray camera,C detects the calibrated radiations to form the camera image of the calibrated greyscale levels. The camera also detects the differentially attenuated radiations to provide the camera image of internal structure of the subject. Each calibrated attenuator appears in the camera image as a collection of adjacent camera pixels exhibiting one of the plurality of calibrated greyscale levels within the camera greyscale. Retriever,retrieves the calibrated greyscale level from the digital camera image of each attenuator pixel collection. Greyscale coordinator,is responsive to the retrieved calibrated greyscale levels for determining mapping assignments defining the relationship between the camera greyscale and the display greyscale which provides the enhanced digital display image. Greyscale mapper,M is responsive to the mapping assignments for mapping the camera greyscale levels of the camera pixels forming the camera image into display greyscale levels of display pixels forming the enhanced display image. Display monitor,D is responsive to the enhanced display image for displaying a pixel image of the internal structure of interest within the subject.