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Optical processing architecture and its potential application for digital and analog radiography
Author(s) -
Liu Hong,
Xu Jian,
Fajardo Laurie L.,
Yin Shizhuo,
Yu Francis T. S.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
medical physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.473
H-Index - 180
eISSN - 2473-4209
pISSN - 0094-2405
DOI - 10.1118/1.598565
Subject(s) - computer science , digital image processing , image processing , flexibility (engineering) , analog image processing , computer hardware , signal processing , digital signal processing , interface (matter) , electronic engineering , artificial intelligence , engineering , image (mathematics) , statistics , mathematics , bubble , maximum bubble pressure method , parallel computing
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.