Patent ID: 7630534

Claim:
A method for image processing, the method comprising: locating on an image a plurality of points of an element (P) that may constitute an object of interest, the plurality of points having an intensity that is greater than a threshold value; displaying an image on which the intensity of one or more of the points of the element (P) thus located is enhanced with respect to the intensity of one or more points of an area surrounding the element (P) but not belonging to the element (P); and applying an amplification factor to the intensity of the points of the element P, wherein the amplification is a function of a similarity parameter of the element (P) with a calcareous sign, and wherein for each element (P), the similarity parameter is determined: (a) for each of the points of the element (P) by: determining a maximum amplitude by correlating the intensity of the image in the surrounding area of the point with a filter function (g σ,θ ) leading to a maximum response; and determining a maximum amplitude in an orthogonal direction by correlating the intensity of the image in the surrounding area of the point with an orthogonal direction filter function to the filter function leading to the maximum response; (b) for each element (P) by: determining a brightness parameter as an average of the maximum amplitudes in the orthogonal direction on all the points of the element (P); and obtaining from this a similarity parameter of the element (P) to a calcareous sign based on one or more of the brightness parameter and a roundness parameter as well as the degree to which a central point of the element (P) belongs to a “fiber” class.