Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system for improved calibration of an image acquisition device. Certain embodiments of the system include an image acquisition device for obtaining at least one image of an object and a calibration fixture positioned in relation to the image acquisition device. The calibration fixture includes a radiotranslucent material providing low frequency content for characterizing the image acquisition device. In an embodiment, the calibration fixture includes a plurality of peaks and valleys to create a low frequency signal for characterizing the image acquisition device. The calibration fixture may be positioned between the image acquisition device and an energy source such that a distance between the image acquisition device and the calibration fixture is minimized. In certain embodiments, a grating or other calibration fixture may be used to generate a moiré pattern to calibrate the image acquisition device.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for reducing image noise with the use of a minimal error spatiotemporal recursive filter. An input image is filtered both temporally and spatially, producing a temporal output and a spatial output. Both the temporal output and the spatial output are correlated with the input image to produce a temporal correlation output and a spatial correlation output. The temporal correlation output and the spatial correlation output are mixed to generate a selecting signal. The selecting signal directly or indirectly determines the composition of an output image. The selecting signal may select a portion of the temporal output and a portion of the spatial output to compose an output image. Alternatively, the selecting signal may select either the temporal output or the spatial output to compose an output image.

Abstract: The present invention provides for an x-ray system and method using dynamic automated spatial modulation of an x-ray beam. The system includes an x-ray source transmitting a spatially modulated beam towards an object to be imaged, an x-ray detector receiving the beam and measuring a plurality of intensities across the beam, a beam processor controlling the beam intensity profile, and an image processor producing an output image signal. The detector produces a residual image based on at least the intensities measured at the detector. The beam intensity profile may be based on at least some of the following: (a) the residual image from the x-ray detector, (b) current beam intensities, (c) regions on interest in the image, and (d) predicted or measured object motion in the image. The system's output image is based on one or more of said residual image and said beam intensity signal.