IP Library Granted Patent US 10,165,989
Granted Patent B2
US 10,165,989 · App. 15/212,809 · Granted Jan 1, 2019

Tomography apparatus and method of reconstructing cross-sectional image

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,165,989
App. No.
15/212,809
Granted
Jan 1, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A tomography apparatus includes a data obtainer configured to obtain first image data at a first point and second image data at a second point using tomography, the tomography being performed by irradiating an X-ray to an object; an image processor configured to perform noise reduction based on at least one from among the first image data and the second image data, and to obtain a first reference image corresponding to the first image data and a second reference image corresponding to the second image data using a result of the performed noise reduction; and an image reconstructor configured to reconstruct a target image representing the object based on the first reference image and the second reference image.

Claims (42)

1. A tomography apparatus comprising:

at least one processor configured to:

obtain first image data at a first point and second image data at a second point using tomography, the tomography being performed by irradiating an X-ray to an object;

perform noise reduction based on at least one from among the first image data and the second image data, and to obtain a first reference image corresponding to the first image data and a second reference image corresponding to the second image data using a result of the performed noise reduction; and

reconstruct a target image representing the object based on the first reference image and the second reference image,

wherein the at least one processor is further configured to perform the noise reduction by adjusting a size of a voxel inside a first image obtained from the first image data and a size of a voxel inside a second image obtained from the second image data.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to obtain motion information estimating a motion of the object based on the first reference image and the second reference image, and to reconstruct the target image representing the object at a target point based on the motion information.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first image data and the second image data are obtained from at least one from among an X-ray based on a first threshold dose, an X-ray based on a first threshold voltage, and an X-ray based on a first threshold current.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to perform the noise reduction based on a dose of the X-ray detected from the at least one from among the first image data and the second image data.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to perform the noise reduction using a low pass filter.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to detect an edge region from at least one of a first image obtained from the first image data and a second image obtained from the second image data, and to perform the noise reduction based on the edge region.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to remove noise while conserving the edge region.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to perform the noise reduction by applying a predetermined model to at least one of the first image data and the second image data.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the predetermined model comprises at least one from among a model reflecting geometry information of a tomography apparatus irradiating the X-ray, a model reflecting a characteristic of the X-ray, and a model reflecting a noise characteristic.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to perform the noise reduction by adjusting a thickness of a slice obtained from the first image data and a thickness of a slice obtained from the second image data.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine a quality of the first image data and the second image data, and to determine whether to perform the noise reduction depending on the determined quality.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the quality is determined based on at least one from among a dose of the X-ray and a condition under which the X-ray is irradiated.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a display configured to display at least one from among the first reference image, the second reference image, and the target image.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a user interface configured to receive a user input using a user interface screen to perform the noise reduction; and

a display configured to display the user interface screen.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a user interface configured to receive a user input for selecting the first image data and the second image data from among image data corresponding to a plurality of points based on the tomography.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first reference image differs from the second reference image in at least one from among a size of the object, a location of the object, and a shape of the object.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the adjusting of the size of the voxel inside the first image comprises increasing the size of the voxel inside the first image.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the adjusting of the size of the voxel inside the first image comprises reducing a number of voxels in the first image.

19. A method of reconstructing a cross-sectional image, the method comprising:

obtaining first image data at a first point and second image data at a second point using tomography, the tomography being performed by irradiating an X-ray to an object;

performing noise reduction based on at least one from among the first image data and the second image data;

obtaining a first reference image corresponding to the first image data and a second reference image corresponding to the second image data using a result of the performed noise reduction; and

reconstructing a target image representing the object based on the first reference image and the second reference image,

wherein the performing of the noise reduction comprises adjusting a size of a voxel inside a first image obtained from the first image data and a size of a voxel inside a second image obtained from the second image data.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the reconstructing of the target image representing the object comprises:

obtaining motion information estimating a motion of the object based on the first reference image and the second reference image; and

reconstructing the target image representing the object at a target point based on the motion information.

21. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing a method of reconstructing a cross-sectional image, the method comprising:

obtaining first image data at a first point and second image data at a second point using tomography, the tomography being performed by irradiating an X-ray to an object;

performing noise reduction based on at least one from among the first image data and the second image data;

obtaining a first reference image corresponding to the first image data and a second reference image corresponding to the second image data using a result of the performed noise reduction; and

reconstructing a target image representing the object based on the first reference image and the second reference image,

wherein the performing of the noise reduction comprises adjusting a size of a voxel inside a first image obtained from the first image data and a size of a voxel inside a second image obtained from the second image data.

Assignments (6)
MERGER Recorded Jan 10, 2025
From: FUJIFILM HEALTHCARE CORPORATION
To: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 069923/0638 →
MERGER Recorded Oct 11, 2024
From: FUJIFILM HEALTHCARE CORPORATION
To: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 069170/0485 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE PROPERTY AND APPLICATION NUMBERS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 058026 FRAME: 0559. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jan 31, 2022
From: HITACHI LTD.
To: FUJIFILM HEALTHCARE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 058917/0853 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2021
From: HITACHI, LTD.
To: FUJIFILM HEALTHCARE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 058026/0559 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 16, 2020
From: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
To: HITACHI, LTD.
Reel/Frame 054379/0598 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 18, 2016
From: SEO, CHAN-WON; RIFU, TOSHIHIRO; LEE, DUHGOON; KIM, DO-IL; NAM, SANG-NAM; LEE, KYOUNG-YONG
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 039180/0044 →