Abstract: A method for reporting image quality obtains a digital radiological image and processes the image to detect at least one speckle. Noise signal magnitude in the digital radiological image is estimated. At least one speckle is identified according to its signal magnitude relative to the noise signal estimate. The at least one speckle detected in the image is reported.

Abstract: A method of obtaining recommendations for lowered radiation dose for a type of radiological image, executed at least in part by a computer system, obtains at least one clinical image of at least one patient, taken under a baseline set of exposure conditions, as a basis image. Processing instructions related to image simulation under one or more reduced exposure conditions are obtained. The basis image is processed according to the processing instructions to generate a set of one or more simulation images, each simulation image representative of corresponding reduced exposure conditions. One or more simulation images are displayed to one or more diagnostic practitioners and an evaluation obtained from the one or more practitioners related to at least the quality of the one or more simulation images. At least one recommended reduced exposure condition is generated and electronically stored according to the practitioner evaluation.

Abstract: A method for detecting one or more motion effects in a diagnostic image obtains image data for the diagnostic image and identifies at least one region of interest in the diagnostic image. The probability of motion blur within the at least one region of interest is calculated according to a motion-sensitive feature of the at least one region of interest. The calculated probability for motion blur within the at least one region of interest is reported.

Abstract: A method of obtaining recommendations for lowered radiation dose for a type of radiological image, executed at least in part by a computer system, obtains at least one clinical image of at least one patient, taken under a baseline set of exposure conditions, as a basis image. Processing instructions related to image simulation under one or more reduced exposure conditions are obtained. The basis image is processed according to the processing instructions to generate a set of one or more simulation images, each simulation image representative of corresponding reduced exposure conditions. One or more simulation images are displayed to one or more diagnostic practitioners and an evaluation obtained from the one or more practitioners related to at least the quality of the one or more simulation images. At least one recommended reduced exposure condition is generated and electronically stored according to the practitioner evaluation.

Abstract: A system for obtaining information related to diagnostic imaging performance at a site has a user instruction interface for obtaining an operator request for information related to image quality for stored diagnostic images. A data processor is in communication with at least one database of stored patient diagnostic images and is programmed with instructions for retrieving one or more patient diagnostic images from the database of patient diagnostic images according to the operator request from the user instruction interface, for analyzing the image quality of the one or more patient diagnostic images as specified in the operator request, and for providing at least output information about the image quality analysis to a data mining engine. The data mining engine is programmed with instructions to process the output information that is obtained from the data processor and to provide information related to image quality according to the output information.

Abstract: A method for reporting image quality obtains a digital radiological image and processes the image to detect at least one speckle. Noise signal magnitude in the digital radiological image is estimated. At least one speckle is identified according to its signal magnitude relative to the noise signal estimate. The at least one speckle detected in the image is reported.

Abstract: A method for detecting one or more motion effects in a diagnostic image obtains image data for the diagnostic image and identifies at least one region of interest in the diagnostic image. The probability of motion blur within the at least one region of interest is calculated according to a motion-sensitive feature of the at least one region of interest. The calculated probability for motion blur within the at least one region of interest is reported.

Abstract: A method for providing a reduced exposure value for radiographic imaging obtains a set of flat-field images at two or more exposure values and measures the noise power spectra using the flat field images. At least one noise table is generated according to interpolated noise power spectra for a set of predetermined exposure values. Values from the at least one noise table are applied to a clinical image to form a reduced exposure simulation image. A noise mask is generated according to at least one noise table and the exposure values of the reduced exposure simulation image and added to the reduced exposure simulation image. The reduced exposure simulation image is assessed to generate a desired dose reduction factor.

Abstract: A method for providing a reduced exposure value for radiographic imaging obtains a set of flat-field images at two or more exposure values and measures the noise power spectra using the flat field images. At least one noise table is generated according to interpolated noise power spectra for a set of predetermined exposure values. Values from the at least one noise table are applied to a clinical image to form a reduced exposure simulation image. A noise mask is generated according to at least one noise table and the exposure values of the reduced exposure simulation image and added to the reduced exposure simulation image. The reduced exposure simulation image is assessed to generate a desired dose reduction factor.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a scanner in a digital photofinishing system, including the steps of: providing a calibration strip having a series of calibration patches including a plurality of neutral and colored patches, and including a Dmin patch; providing reference printing density values for each of the patches on the calibration strip; scanning the calibration strip in the scanner to produce scanner densities for each patch; and performing a regression on the scanner densities and the reference printing densities to produce a calibration matrix for converting from scanner density to printing density.