Patent ID: 7864993

Claim:
A method for correcting defects in X-ray images (R) with the aid of a defect map (D), comprising the steps of: (a) checking all picture elements (p) of an X-ray image (I) which has been pre-corrected with a current defect map (D) to determine whether values (W(p)) of a corresponding picture element lies between specified limits W min and W max , and if so, then (a.1) making corresponding entries in a test number map (T map) to record how often each picture element has been analyzed for defects and (a.2) classifying respective ones of the picture elements (p) on the X-ray image (I) which has been pre-corrected with the current defect map (D) as potentially defective if their corresponding value (W(p)) differs from an interval ([G_u, G_o]) of picture element values in a neighborhood (n(p)) assigned to it by a specified degree, and saving picture elements (p) thus classified in a candidate map (C_map); (b) refreshing the defect map (D) with the aid of (b.1) the T map and (b.2) the C map, wherein a first check is performed for each picture element (p) to determine whether it is entered in the T map more than a minimum number of times, and a further check is performed to determine whether the corresponding picture element (p) has been classified as a potential defect more than another minimum number of times, and responsive to positive outcomes of the first and second checks, then refreshing the defect map (D) with all the corresponding picture elements (p) from the candidate map (C_map) (i) which have been classified as potentially defective and (ii) which also fulfill other criteria; and (c) correcting further X-ray images (R) with the aid of the refreshed defect map (D).