Methods, systems, apparatuses, and computer programs for processing tomographic images
A method, apparatus, system, and computer program for generating clinical information. Information indicating at least one clinical aspect of an object is received. Clinical information of interest relating to the at least one clinical aspect is generated from a plurality of projection images.
1. A method of identifying a tomographic image of a dental object from a plurality of tomographic images of the dental object, the method comprising:
receiving information specifying a region of interest in the dental object as shown in at least one of a plurality of projection images or in at least one of a plurality of tomographic images reconstructed from the plurality of projection images; and
identifying a tomographic image of the plurality of tomographic images, wherein the identified tomographic image is in greater focus in an area corresponding to the region of interest of the dental object than others of the plurality of tomographic images,
wherein the region of interest is specified in an orthogonal projection image of the plurality of projection images.
2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
creating a focus profile from a plurality of focus factors respectively corresponding to the plurality of tomographic images,
wherein the identifying includes searching the focus profile for a local maximum among the plurality of focus factors, and
wherein the identified tomographic image corresponds to the local maximum among the plurality of focus factors.
3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein each focus factor is calculated based on pixel variances in an area corresponding to the region of interest.
4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
displaying the identified tomographic image on a display unit.
5. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
displaying on a display unit at least a portion of the identified tomographic image overlaid on an orthogonal projection image of the plurality of projection images.
6. The method according to claim 4 , further comprising:
displaying a pictorial representation of a position of the identified tomographic image, the pictorial representation being selectable to cause the identified tomographic image to be displayed.
7. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
calculating a location of the identified tomographic image within the plurality of tomographic images.
8. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
acquiring the plurality of projection images; and
reconstructing the plurality of tomographic images from the plurality of projection images.
9. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
processing the plurality of tomographic images by performing at least one of an image blurring, an image sharpening, a brightness optimization, and a contrast optimization to enhance an image quality of the plurality of tomographic images.
10. An apparatus for identifying a tomographic image of a dental object from a plurality of tomographic images of the dental object, comprising:
a processor; and
a memory storing at least one control program, wherein the processor and the memory are operable to:
receive information specifying a region of interest in the dental object as shown in at least one of a plurality of projection images or in at least one of a plurality of tomographic images reconstructed from plurality of projection images; and
identify a tomographic image of the plurality of tomographic images, wherein the tomographic image is in greater focus in an area corresponding to the region of interest of the dental object than others of the plurality of tomographic images,
wherein the region of interest is specified in an orthogonal projection image of the plurality of projection images.
11. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the processor and memory are further operable to:
create a focus profile from a plurality of focus factors respectively corresponding to the plurality of tomographic images, and
search the focus profile for a local maximum among the plurality of focus factors,
wherein the tomographic image corresponds to the local maximum among the plurality of focus factors.
12. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the processor and memory are further operable to provide the tomographic image to a display unit.
13. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the processor and memory are further operable to provide to a display unit at least a portion of the tomographic image overlaid on an orthogonal projection image of the plurality of projection images.
14. The apparatus according to claim 10 , further comprising:
a display unit,
wherein the processor and memory are further operable to control the display unit to display a pictorial representation of a position of the tomographic image, the pictorial representation being selectable to cause the display unit to display the tomographic image.
15. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the processor and memory are further operable to calculate a location of the tomographic image within the plurality of tomographic images.
16. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the plurality of projection images are x-ray images, and the plurality of tomographic images are tomosynthesis images.
17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program which, when executed by a computer system, causes the computer system to perform a method comprising:
receiving information specifying a region of interest in a dental object as shown in at least one of a plurality of projection images or in at least one of a plurality of tomographic images reconstructed from the plurality of projection images; and
identifying a tomographic image of the dental object from the plurality of tomographic images, wherein the identified tomographic image is in greater focus in an area corresponding to the region of interest of the dental object than others of the plurality of tomographic images,
wherein the region of interest is specified in an orthogonal projection image of the plurality of projection images.
18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the method further comprises:
creating a focus profile from a plurality of focus factors respectively corresponding to the plurality of tomographic images,
wherein the identifying includes searching the focus profile for a local maximum among the plurality of focus factors, and
wherein the identified tomographic image corresponds to the local maximum among the plurality of focus factors.