title: Blind deblurring of spiral CT images.
abstract: To discriminate fine anatomical features in the inner ear, it has been desirable that spiral computed tomography (CT) may perform beyond their current resolution limits with the aid of digital image processing techniques. In this paper, we develop a blind deblurring approach to enhance image resolution retrospectively without complete knowledge of the underlying point spread function (PSF). An oblique CT image can be approximated as the convolution of an isotropic Gaussian PSF and the actual cross section. Practically, the parameter of the PSF is often unavailable. Hence, estimation of the parameter for the underlying PSF is crucially important for blind image deblurring. Based on the iterative deblurring theory, we formulate an edge-to-noise ratio (ENR) to characterize the image quality change due to deblurring. Our blind deblurring algorithm estimates the parameter of the PSF by maximizing the ENR, and deblurs images. In the phantom studies, the blind deblurring algorithm reduces image blurring by about 24%, according to our blurring residual measure. Also, the blind deblurring algorithm works well in patient studies. After fully automatic blind deblurring, the conspicuity of the submillimeter features of the cochlea is substantially improved.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242, USA. ming-jiang@ieee.org
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Ge
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Margaret W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Skinner
authors.forename: Jay T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Rubinstein
authors.forename: Michael W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Vannier
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D016477:Artifacts; D003051:Cochlea / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*