Adaptive Autoregressive Model for Reduction of Noise in SPECT

Edge-preserving adaptive autoregressive model for Poisson noise reduction

Autoregressive models in image processing are linear prediction models that split an image into a predicted (i.e. filtered) image and a prediction error image, which extracts data on the image edges. Edge separation is a crucial feature of an autoregressive model. Data on the edges can be processed in different ways and then added to the filtered image. Another basic feature of our method is spatially varying modelling. In this short article, we propose an improved autoregressive model that preserves image sharpness around the edges of the image and focus on the reduction of Poisson noise, which degrades nuclear medicine images and presents a special challenge in medical imaging.

Application of a New Enhanced Deconvolution Method in Gearbox Fault Diagnosis

When the mechanical transmission mechanism fails, such as gears and bearings in the gearbox, its vibration signal often appears as a periodic impact. Considering the influence of noise, however, the fault signal is often submerged in the noise, so it is necessary to propose a feasible and effective fault extraction method. MOMEDA (multipoint optimal minimum entropy deconvolution adjusted) overcomes the tedious iterative process of MED (minimum entropy deconvolution) and overcomes the resampling trouble in MCKD (maximum correlated kurtosis deconvolution). It is suitable for dealing with periodic impact signal. Besides, aiming at the poor ability of MOMEDA to capture the deconvolution result of target function in a strong noise environment, this paper proposes an improved MOMEDA gearbox fault feature extraction method. Considering that MOMEDA has poor anti-noise performance and can easily cause misdiagnosis in a strong noisy environment, this paper constructs an autoregressive mean sliding model to improve the noise immunity of MOMEDA. Firstly, the stability of the test signal is judged by the autocorrelation coefficient (ACF) and the partial correlation coefficient (PACF). Secondly, the ARMA (autoregressive moving average) model is constructed and a set of optimal model coefficients are obtained to filter the signal, which greatly improves MOMEDA’s ability to capture fault features. Thirdly, the fault feature is extracted by MOMEDA, and the fault information is extracted accurately under a strong noise environment. Finally, compared with AR-MED, ARMAMED, and other methods, the advantages of ARMAMOMEDA are verified. Moreover, the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method are verified by simulation signals and experimental data from the Case Western Reserve University Bearing Data Center.

Performance of 3DOSEM and MAP algorithms for reconstructing low count SPECT acquisitions

PURPOSE

Low count single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is becoming more important in view of whole body SPECT and reduction of radiation dose. In this study, we investigated the performance of several 3D ordered subset expectation maximization (3DOSEM) and maximum a posteriori (MAP) algorithms for reconstructing low count SPECT images.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Phantom experiments were conducted using the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) NU2 image quality (IQ) phantom. The background compartment of the phantom was filled with varying concentrations of pertechnetate and indiumchloride, simulating various clinical imaging conditions. Images were acquired using a hybrid SPECT/CT scanner and reconstructed with 3DOSEM and MAP reconstruction algorithms implemented in Siemens Syngo MI.SPECT (Flash3D) and Hermes Hybrid Recon Oncology (Hyrid Recon 3DOSEM and MAP). Image analysis was performed by calculating the contrast recovery coefficient (CRC),percentage background variability (N%), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), defined as the ratio between CRC and N%. Furthermore, image distortion is characterized by calculating the aspect ratio (AR) of ellipses fitted to the hot spheres. Additionally, the performance of these algorithms to reconstruct clinical images was investigated.

RESULTS

Images reconstructed with 3DOSEM algorithms demonstrated superior image quality in terms of contrast and resolution recovery when compared to images reconstructed with filtered-back-projection (FBP), OSEM and 2DOSEM. However, occurrence of correlated noise patterns and image distortions significantly deteriorated the quality of 3DOSEM reconstructed images. The mean AR for the 37, 28, 22, and 17mm spheres was 1.3, 1.3, 1.6, and 1.7 respectively. The mean N% increase in high and low count Flash3D and Hybrid Recon 3DOSEM from 5.9% and 4.0% to 11.1% and 9.0%, respectively. Similarly, the mean CNR decreased in high and low count Flash3D and Hybrid Recon 3DOSEM from 8.7 and 8.8 to 3.6 and 4.2, respectively. Regularization with smoothing priors could suppress these noise patterns at the cost of reduced image contrast. The mean N% was 6.4% and 6.8% for low count QSP and MRP MAP reconstructed images. Alternatively, regularization with an anatomical Bowhser prior resulted in sharp images with high contrast, limited image distortion, and low N% of 8.3% in low count images, although some image artifacts did occur. Analysis of clinical images suggested that the same effects occur in clinical imaging.

CONCLUSION

Image quality of low count SPECT acquisitions reconstructed with modern 3DOSEM algorithms is deteriorated by the occurrence of correlated noise patterns and image distortions. The artifacts observed in the phantom experiments can also occur in clinical imaging.