A new speckle reducing anisotropic diffusion for ultrasonic speckle

作者：Li Can Fei^*; Wang Yao Nan; Xiao Chang Yan; Lu Xiao

来源：Acta Automatica Sinica, 2012, 38(3): 412-419.

DOI：10.3724/SP.J.1004.2012.00412

• Anisotropic Diffusion
• Block effects
• Clinical images
• Constant speed
• Homogeneous regions
• Homogenous region
• Intrinsic diffusion
• Local statistics
• Quantitative comparison
• Sigmoid function
• Simulation data
• Speckle reducing anisotropic diffusion
• Speckle reduction
• Transition regions
• Ultrasonic images
• Weak edge

Although speckle reducing anisotropic diffusion (SRAD) has been greatly explored in ultrasonic imaging, it generates block effects in homogeneous regions and blurs edges due to the intrinsic diffusion. To address these defects, we propose a new speckle reducing anisotropic diffuse (NSRAD) in which a new Sigmoid function as the diffusion coefficient is suggested. Due to the specific properties of such novel diffusion coefficient at various region, NSRAD is able to diffuse: 1) in a nearly constant speed within homogeneous regions, thus to avoid the block effect; 2) in a sensitively varying speed within the transition regions, at the same time, in a speed approaching to zero more quickly than that in SRAD concerning the structure regions, thus helps to improve the resolution and enhance the weak edge while sharpening the strong edges at the edges. The performances of the proposed model are verified in experiments with synthetic and clinical images. Especially, a quantitative comparison between NSRAD and SRAD is made upon simulation data, where we demonstrate that NSRAD suppresses speckle more efficiently in homogenous regions hereby has less distortion, while in inhomogeneous regions it enhances details and sharpens the edges more effectively than SRAD.

• 出版日期2012