Method and device for noise suppression in medical images

US8249355B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Siemens Aktiengesellschaft · DE

Inventors

• Stefan Böhm · Oberasbach, DE
• Sandra Martin · Herzogenaurach, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 21, 2008
• Grant date: Aug 21, 2012
• Expiry date: Jun 22, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06T2207/30004
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for noise suppression in medical images comprising steps of measuring the gradient field strength of an image pixel and selecting a suitable filter mask for noise suppression as a function of the gradient field strength, with the value of the gradient field strength being compared with a predetermined threshold value. The method is repeated when an additional image pixel is selected. A decision is made per read-in image pixel as to which type of filter mask is used for filtering. A selection can be made between filter masks of different sizes or isotropic or anisotropic or directional filter masks. The decision is based on the measured gradient field strength of the respective pixel. The use of different filter masks allows the signal-to-noise ratio to be improved, without distorting structures like edges for instance and without generating artificial structures in homogenous noise regions.