Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for training a denoising system for a digital imaging system. The denoising system can be a deep learning denoising system formed as a blind or non-blind denoising system in which the training dataset provided to the denoising system includes a noisy image formed with simulated noise added to a clean digital image, and a reference image formed of the clean image having residual noise added thereto, where the residual noise is a fraction of the simulated noise used to form the noisy image. The use of the residual noise within the reference image of the training dataset teaches the DL network in the training process to remove less than all the noise during subsequent inferencing of digital images from the digital imaging system. By leaving selected amounts of noise in the digital images, the denoiser can be tuned to improve image attributes and texture.

Abstract: A dual energy x-ray imaging system and method of operation includes an artificial intelligence-based motion correction system to minimize the effects of motion artifacts in images produced by the imaging system. The motion correction system is trained to apply simulated motion to various objects of interest within the LE and HE projections in the training dataset to improve registration of the LE and HE projections. The motion correction system is also trained to enhance the correction of small motion artifacts using noise attenuation and subtraction image-based edge detection on the training dataset images reduce noise from the LE projection, consequently improving small motion artifact correction. The motion correction system additionally employs separate motion corrections for soft and bone tissue in forming subtraction soft tissue and bone tissue images, and includes a motion alarm to indicate when motion between LE and HE projections requires a retake of the projections.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for denoising images. In one example, a method includes obtaining an input image and a noise map representing noise in the input image, generating, from the noise map and based on a calibration factor, a strength map, entering the input image and the strength map as input to a denoising model trained to output a denoised image based on the input image and the strength map, and displaying and/or saving the denoised image output by the denoising model.

Abstract: Systems/techniques that facilitate improved neural network inferencing efficiency with fewer parameters are provided. In various embodiments, a system can access a medical image on which an artificial intelligence task is to be performed. In various aspects, the system can facilitate the artificial intelligence task by executing a neural network pipeline on the medical image, thereby yielding an artificial intelligence task output that corresponds to the medical image. In various instances, the neural network pipeline can include respective skip connections from the medical image, prior to any convolutions, to each convolutional layer in the neural network pipeline.

Abstract: An x-ray image orientation detection and correction system including a detection and correction computing device is provided. The processor of the computing device is programmed to execute a neural network model that is trained with training x-ray images as inputs and observed x-ray images as outputs. The observed x-ray images are the training x-ray images adjusted to have a reference orientation. The processor is further programmed to receive an unclassified x-ray image, analyze the unclassified x-ray image using the neural network model, and assign an orientation class to the unclassified x-ray image. If the assigned orientation class is not the reference orientation, the processor is programmed to adjust an orientation of the unclassified x-ray image using the neural network model, and output a corrected x-ray image. If the assigned orientation class is the reference orientation, the processor is programmed to output the unclassified x-ray image.

Abstract: Systems/techniques that facilitate multi-layer image registration are provided. In various embodiments, a system can access a first image and a second image. In various aspects, the system can generate, via execution of a machine learning model on the first image and the second image, a plurality of registration fields and a plurality of weight matrices that respectively correspond to the plurality of registration fields. In various instances, the system can register the first image with the second image based on the plurality of registration fields and the plurality of weight matrices.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for automatically registering and stitching images. In one example, a method includes entering a first image of a subject and a second image of the subject to a model trained to output a transformation matrix based on the first image and the second image, where the model is trained with a plurality of training data sets, each training data set including a pair of images, a mask indicating a region of interest (ROI), and associated ground truth, automatically stitching together the first image and the second image based on the transformation matrix to form a stitched image, and outputting the stitched image for display on a display device and/or storing the stitched image in memory.

Abstract: A method for automatic selection of display settings for a medical image is provided. The method includes receiving a medical image, mapping the medical image to an appearance classification cell of an appearance classification matrix using a trained deep neural network, selecting a first WW and a first WC for the medical image based on the appearance classification and a target appearance classification, adjusting the first WW and the first WC based on user preferences to produce a second WW and a second WC, and displaying the medical image with the second WW and the second WC via a display device.

Abstract: Systems/techniques that facilitate AI-based region-of-interest masks for improved data reconstructions are provided. In various embodiments, a system can access a set of two-dimensional medical scan projections. In various aspects, the system can generate a set of two-dimensional region-of-interest masks respectively corresponding to the set of two-dimensional medical scan projections. In various instances, the system can generate a region-of-interest visualization based on the set of two-dimensional region-of-interest masks and the set of two-dimensional medical scan projections. In various cases, the system can generate the set of two-dimensional region-of-interest masks by executing a machine learning segmentation model on the set of two-dimensional medical scan projections.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for x-ray imaging. In one embodiment, a method comprises acquiring an image of a subject, generating, based on the image and a plurality of parameters, a noise modulation map comprising an estimated amount of noise in each pixel of the image, selectively reducing noise in the image based on the noise modulation map to generate a final image, and displaying the final image. In this way, the radiation dose during imaging may be reduced while maintaining or even improving image quality.

Abstract: The current disclosure provides systems and methods for intelligent selection of display settings, including window-width (WW) and window-center (WC), for medical images, using deep neural networks. The current disclosure may enable automatic selection of display settings for a medical image, based on a deep neural network's appearance classification of the medical image. In one embodiment, the current disclosure provides a method comprising, receiving a medical image, mapping the medical image to an appearance classification cell of an appearance classification matrix using a trained deep neural network, selecting a first WW and a first WC for the medical image based on the appearance classification and a target appearance classification, adjusting the first WW and the first WC based on user preferences to produce a second WW and a second WC, and displaying the medical image with the second WW and the second WC via a display device.

Abstract: An x-ray image orientation detection and correction system including a detection and correction computing device is provided. The processor of the computing device is programmed to execute a neural network model that is trained with training x-ray images as inputs and observed x-ray images as outputs. The observed x-ray images are the training x-ray images adjusted to have a reference orientation. The processor is further programmed to receive an unclassified x-ray image, analyze the unclassified x-ray image using the neural network model, and assign an orientation class to the unclassified x-ray image. If the assigned orientation class is not the reference orientation, the processor is programmed to adjust an orientation of the unclassified x-ray image using the neural network model, and output a corrected x-ray image. If the assigned orientation class is the reference orientation, the processor is programmed to output the unclassified x-ray image.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for x-ray imaging. In one embodiment, a method comprises acquiring an image of a subject, generating, based on the image and a plurality of parameters, a noise modulation map comprising an estimated amount of noise in each pixel of the image, selectively reducing noise in the image based on the noise modulation map to generate a final image, and displaying the final image. In this way, the radiation dose during imaging may be reduced while maintaining or even improving image quality.