PubMed Health⌕ Search

PubMed · 10227368

Optical processing architecture and its potential application for digital and analog radiography.

Abstract

In this report we introduce the fundamental architectures and the potential applications of optical processing techniques in medical imaging. Three basic optical processing architectures were investigated for digital and analog radiography. The processors consist of a module that converts either the analog or the digital radiograph into a coherent light distribution; a coherent optical processing architecture that performs various mathematical operations; a programmable digital-optical interface and other accessories. Optical frequency filters were implemented for mammographic and other clinical feature enhancement. In medical image processing, digital computers offer the advantages of programmability and flexibility. In contrast, optical processors perform parallel image processing with high speed. Optical processors also offer analog nature, compact size, and cost effectiveness. With technical advances of digital-optical interface devices, the medical image processor, in the foreseeable future, may be a hybrid device, namely, a programmable optical architecture.

Explore related subjects

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

H Liu, J Xu, L L Fajardo. 1999. Optical processing architecture and its potential application for digital and analog radiography.. https://doi.org/10.1118/1.598565

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related citations

Dual-trap technique for reduction of low-frequency noise in force measuring optical tweezers.

High-resolution long-time force measurements by optical tweezers are often limited by low-frequency (1/f) noise. A dual-trap technique is presented that can reduce such noise in the force signal. It incorporates a second trap (a reference trap) that probes the noise in the system and it is based upon the assumption that the low-frequency parts of the noise from the two traps are correlated. A subtraction of the low-frequency signal from the reference trap from the signal from the force measuring trap will therefore yield a net signal that is significantly less influenced by noise. It is shown that this dual-trap technique can reduce the noise in the force signal up to 60% depending on detection bandwidth.

Equipment Design↗

Optimization of doses received by the hospital staff and the members of the family of patients undergoing 111In-DTPA-D-Phe1-Octreotide therapy.

According to the Euratom Directives (96/29, 97/43), the doses received by the workers as well as the family of patients and third persons during medical exposures, should conform to the dose constraint levels (DCLs), established by the authorities for each group in the context of optimisation. This study deals with the implementation of a radiation protection protocol, concerning the aforementioned group members for patients undergoing treatment with 111In-DTPA-D-Phe1-Octreotide, after intra-arterial infusion. It is shown that by applying this protocol the annual doses to the medical and technical staff are considerably reduced and remain below the established DCLs. Following the post-release behaviour instructions given to the patient, doses to the family and third persons may be kept lower than the corresponding DCLs provided by the National Regulations.

Equipment Design↗

In vivo myograph measurement of muscle contraction at optimal length.

BACKGROUND: Current devices for measuring muscle contraction in vivo have limited accuracy in establishing and re-establishing the optimum muscle length. They are variable in the reproducibility to determine the muscle contraction at this length, and often do not maintain precise conditions during the examination. Consequently, for clinical testing only semi-quantitative methods have been used. METHODS: We present a newly developed myograph, an accurate measuring device for muscle contraction, consisting of three elements. Firstly, an element for adjusting the axle of the device and the physiological axis of muscle contraction; secondly, an element to accurately position and reposition the extremity of the muscle; and thirdly, an element for the progressive pre-stretching and isometric locking of the target muscle. Thus it is possible to examine individual in vivo muscles in every pre-stretched, specified position, to maintain constant muscle-length conditions, and to accurately re-establish the conditions of the measurement process at later sessions. RESULTS: In a sequence of experiments the force of contraction of the muscle at differing stretching lengths were recorded and the forces determined. The optimum muscle length for maximal force of contraction was established. In a following sequence of experiments with smaller graduations around this optimal stretching length an increasingly accurate optimum muscle length for maximal force of contraction was determined. This optimum length was also accurately re-established at later sessions. CONCLUSION: We have introduced a new technical solution for valid, reproducible in vivo force measurements on every possible point of the stretching curve. Thus it should be possible to study the muscle contraction in vivo to the same level of accuracy as is achieved in tests with in vitro organ preparations.

Equipment Design↗