Patent Document ID: 7515682
Application ID: 11345918
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
1. A method for creating a variable slice thickness, via a graphical user interface, for displaying an imaged object imaged via a tomosynthesis imaging system, the method comprising: acquiring from a tomosynthesis imaging system a plurality of projection images from a plurality of different projection angles within a defined sweep angle; reconstructing a plurality of object images from the plurality of projection images to define a first set of object image slices, each object image having a first slice thickness; selecting a function rule via the graphical user interface; applying the selected function rule and transforming the first set of object image slices, whole images or portions thereof or attributes thereof of the plurality of object images having the first slice thickness to create a second thicker object image slice and a second set of object image slices having the second slice thickness, thereby providing for the display of the object utilizing the second slice thickness that varies from the first slice thickness; and via the graphical user interface, providing for interactive adjustment of the second slice thickness by reselecting a function rule, thereby providing for repeated adjustment to obtain the second slice thickness relative to the first set of object image slices until a user is satisfied with object image results therefrom, where a resulting object image at the second thicker slice will tend to have reduced image noise and artifacts; wherein the selected function rule and the reselected function rule are defined by weighting coefficients that specify the contribution from each of the plurality of object images comprising the first slice thickness, or from different attributes of the plurality of object images comprising the first slice thickness, to the plurality of object images having the associated second slice thickness; wherein the selected function rule and the reselected function rule are further defined by the weighting coefficients that vary according to a linear function, a polynomial function, or an exponential function of slice position within the first set of object image slices; wherein the weighting coefficients are centrally biased over the entire plurality of the first set of object image slices.