Techniques for imaging a scanned object
A technique for enhancing an image includes manipulating a base image to highlight pixels showing a particular material based on the energy absorption information of each pixel. In another technique, pixels in a base image are each converted to an output value to produce a converted image. Another technique allows imaging an obstructed object within a base image which is made of pixels, each representing a captured signal from a source emitting a source signal I 0 . An obstruction region contains pixels representing a combined signal I 3 having traversed the obstructed object and an obstructive layer. Knowing a layer signal I 2 representing a signal having traversed the obstructive layer outside of the obstruction region, the layer signal I 2 may be removed from the combined signal I 3 , in order to reveal the original signal I 1 representing an image of the obstructed object.
1. A method for imaging an obstructed object in an image, the method comprising:
receiving, via an input port, a base image comprising pixels, each representing a captured signal from a source emitting a source signal I 0 ;
locating, by means of a locating module embedded in a processor, a region of interest in the base image wherein the pixels represent a combined signal I 3 having traversed the obstructed object and an obstructive layer;
providing, in a memory, a layer signal I 2 representing a signal having traversed the obstructive layer outside of said region of interest;
isolating, by means of a calculator embedded in the processor, an original signal I 1 in said region of interest, by removing for each pixel in said region of interest, the layer signal I 2 from the combined signal I 3 , on the basis of said source signal I 0 , the resulting original signal I 1 representing an image of the obstructed object; and
displaying on a display screen, a resulting image from said original signals I 1 , wherein the region of interest reveals the obstructed object.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the isolating step is based on the Beer-Lambert Law.
3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the original signal I 1 is obtained according to the following equation:
I
1
=
(
I
3
·
I
0
)
/
I
2
=
I
0
2
(
e
-
μ
1
t
1
·
e
-
μ
2
t
2
)
I
0
e
-
μ
2
t
2
=
I
0
e
-
μ
1
t
1
wherein I 1 =I 0 e −μ 1 t 1 ,
where μ 1 represents an attenuation coefficient of the obstructed object and t 1 represents a thickness of the obstructed object; and
wherein I 2 =I 0 e −μ 2 t 2 ,
where μ 2 represents an attenuation coefficient of the obstructive layer and t 2 represents a thickness of the obstructive layer.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the source signal I 0 represents a low energy component of a source signal, wherein the layer signal I 2 represents a low energy component of the signal having traversed the obstructive layer outside of said region of interest, wherein the combined signal I 3 represents a low energy component of the signal having traversed the obstructed object and said obstructive layer, and wherein the resulting original signals I 1 represents a low energy component of a signal representing the obstructed object when unobstructed.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the source signal I 0 represents a high energy component of a source signal, wherein the layer signal I 2 represents a high energy component of the signal having traversed the obstructive layer outside of said region of interest, wherein the combined signal I 3 represents a high energy component of the signal having traversed the obstructed object and said obstructive layer, and wherein the resulting original signals I 1 represents a high energy component of a signal representing the obstructed object when unobstructed.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the source signal is sourced from an X-Ray emission.
7. A non-transitory processor-readable storage medium for imaging an obstructed object in an image, the processor-readable storage medium comprising data and instructions for execution by a processor, to execute the steps of the method, in accordance with claim 1 .
8. A system for imaging an obstructed object in an image, the system comprising:
an input port for receiving a base image comprising pixels, each representing a captured signal from a source emitting a source signal I 0 ;
a locating module embedded in a processor, the processor being in communication with the input port for locating a region of interest in the base image wherein the pixels represent a combined signal I 3 having traversed the obstructed object and an obstructive layer;
a memory for providing a layer signal I 2 representing a signal having traversed the obstructive layer outside of said region of interest;
a calculator embedded in the processor, for isolating an original signal I 1 in said region of interest, by removing for each pixel in said region of interest, the layer signal I 2 from the combined signal I 3 , on the basis of said source signal I 0 , the resulting original signal I 1 representing an image of the obstructed object; and
a display screen for displaying a resulting image from said original signals I 1 , wherein the region of interest reveals the obstructed object.