Patent ID: 8447115

Claim:
An imaging method comprising the following steps: (a) for each of a set of areas to be observed of an observation region, and for an instant δt of an observation period T, a measurement F 0 (x, y, δt) is provided of the detected signals corresponding to a radiation emission originating from said area during the instant δt, (b) on the one hand a first image of first values F 1 (x, y, δt) is provided from the measurement F 0 (x, y, δt), termed “integration” image, being an estimation of the intensity of the detected signals originating from said area during the instant, and on the other hand a second image of second values F 2 (x, y, δt) is provided from the measurement F 0 (x, y, δt), termed “count” image, being an estimate of the number of detected signals originating from said area during the instant, F 2 (x, y, δt) being obtained by assigning, for a set of contiguous areas where the measurement F 0 (x, y, δt) is non-zero forming a detection spot: one signal unit at the barycenter of said spot, and zero signal unit in the other areas of the spot, (c) in at least one concerned area of said set of areas, a value F e (x 0 , y 0 , δt) of the number of signals in the concerned area during said instant is estimated from at least a combination of the first F 1 (x 0 , y 0 , δt) and second F 2 (x 0 , y 0 , δt) values, in which, during the step (c), the following steps are implemented: (c1) a neighborhood R(x 0 ; y 0 ) is defined that forms a part of said set of areas, said neighborhood comprising at least the concerned area and neighboring areas distinct of the concerned area, (c2) a criterion of detection level in the neighborhood is estimated based on measurements F 0 (x, y, δt) for neighboring areas included in said neighborhood R(x 0 ; y 0 ) during the observation period T, and (c3) the value F e (x 0 , y 0 , δt) of the number of signals is estimated according, in addition, to at least said criterion of detection level in the neighborhood.