초록 ▼

A method for automated detection of abnormal anatomic regions, wherein a mammogram is digitized to produce a digital image and the digital image is processed using local edge gradient analysis and linear pattern analysis in addition to feature extraction routines to identify abnormal anatomic region

A method for automated detection of abnormal anatomic regions, wherein a mammogram is digitized to produce a digital image and the digital image is processed using local edge gradient analysis and linear pattern analysis in addition to feature extraction routines to identify abnormal anatomic regions. Noise reduction filtering and pit-filling/spike-removal filtering techniques are also provided. Multiple difference imaging techniques are also used in which difference images employing different filter characteristics are obtained and processing results logically OR\ed to identify abnormal anatomic regions. In another embodiment the processing results with and without noise reduction filtering are logically AND\ed to improve detection sensitivity. Also, in another embodiment the wavelet transform is utilized in the identification and detection of abnormal regions. The wavelet transform is preferably used in conjunction with the difference imaging technique with the results of the two techniques being logically OR\ed.

대표청구항 ▼

A method for automated detection of an abnormal anatomic region, comprising: obtaining a digital image of an object including said anatomic region; first filtering said digital image using a first set of filters having a first transfer function to produce a difference image based on a difference bet

A method for automated detection of an abnormal anatomic region, comprising: obtaining a digital image of an object including said anatomic region; first filtering said digital image using a first set of filters having a first transfer function to produce a difference image based on a difference between a signal-enhanced and a signal suppressed image of said digital image; second filtering said digital image using a wavelet decomposition and reconstruction of said digital image to produce a transformation image; processing said difference image to identify in said difference image first locations which corresponds to potential abnormal regions; processing said transformation image to identify in said transformation image second locations which correspond to potential abnormal regions; logically OR\ing the first and second locations to identify as candidate abnormal regions all those first and second locations which are separated by a predetermined distance or more; and, processing the candidate abnormal regions to identify abnormal regions from among said candidate abnormal regions.