CONFIDENCE MAP FOR RADIOGRAPHIC IMAGE OPTIMIZATION

1 . A computer comprising a processing system having stored therein a digital program configured to be executed by the processing system to perform the steps of:

storing an unprocessed or preprocessed radiographic image;

image processing the unprocessed or preprocessed radiographic image and storing the image processed radiographic image;

combining the image processed radiographic image and the unprocessed or preprocessed radiographic image to form a residual image; and

digitally analyzing the residual image to determine a numerical confidence rating of the residual image.

2 . The computer of claim 1 , wherein the processing system is further configured to correct gain, offset, and defects in the unprocessed or preprocessed radiographic image.

3 . The computer of claim 1 , wherein the processing system is further configured to subtract one of the image processed radiographic image and the unprocessed or preprocessed radiographic image from the other.

4 . The computer of claim 1 , wherein the processing system is further configured to determine a standard deviation of noise as between the image processed radiographic image and the unprocessed or preprocessed radiographic image.

5 . The computer of claim 1 , wherein the processing system is further configured to determine an auto correlation value in the residual image.

6 . The computer of claim 1 , wherein the processing system is further configured to determine an auto correlation value as between the image processed radiographic image and the unprocessed or preprocessed radiographic image.

7 . The computer of claim 1 , wherein the processing system is further configured to graphically overlay the residual image onto the image processed radiographic image or the unprocessed or preprocessed radiographic image.

8 . The computer of claim 1 , wherein the processing system is further configured to display the residual image for human visual analysis.

9 . A computer implemented method for processing a digital radiographic image of a subject anatomy, the method comprising:

capturing and storing a pre-processed radiographic image acquired from a digital detector;

iterating the steps of:

image processing and storing the pre-processed radiographic image to form a processed radiographic image;

combining the processed radiographic image and the pre-processed radiographic image to form a residual image;

digitally analyzing the residual image to determine a confidence indicator as between the pre-processed radiographic image and the processed radiographic image; and

storing the processed image, the residual image, and the confidence indicator corresponding to each of the iterations;

recalling from the memory one or more of the stored processed image, the residual image, and the confidence indicator of the corresponding iteration; and

displaying one or more of the recalled processed image, the residual image, and the confidence indicator for a corresponding iteration in response to an operator request.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

storing an image set that links the pre-processed radiographic image acquired from the digital detector along with the processed radiographic image version corresponding to the pre-processed radiographic image; and

storing the confidence indicator corresponding to the processed radiographic image version.

11 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising performing only one of correcting gain, offset, or defects in each iteration.

12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the step of combining further comprises subtracting one of the image processed radiographic image and the pre-processed radiographic image from the other.

13 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising determining a standard deviation of noise as between the image processed radiographic image and the pre-processed radiographic image.

14 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising graphically overlaying the residual image onto the image processed radiographic image or the pre-processed radiographic image.

15 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising simultaneously displaying the residual image, the image processed radiographic image, and the pre-processed radiographic image.