An experimental procedure using edge response functions (ERF) has been devised to rapidly provide modulation transfer function (MTF) values for gamma camera imaging. Both camera intrinsic and system MTFs are generated. This procedure uses a simple test tool to generate the ERF which is then processed by a computer program using a cubic splines differentiation technique and a discrete Fourier transform algorithm to produce the MTF values. An analytic test of the computer algorithms as well as an experimental test using collimator data from the Bureau of Radiological Health is presented to confirm the accuracy of the procedure.

The analysis of EKG gated radionuclide cardiac imaging data with Fourier amplitude and phase images is becoming a valuable clinical technique, demonstrating location, size, and severity of regional ventricular abnormalities. Not all commercially available nuclear medicine computer systems offer software for phase and amplitude analysis; however, many systems do have the capability of linear image arithmetic using simple macro commands which can easily by sequenced into stored macro-strings or programs. Using simple but accurate series approximations for the Fourier operations, macro programs have been written for a Digital Equipment Corporation Gamma-11 system to obtain phase and amplitude images from routine gated cardiac studies. In addition, dynamic cine-mode presentation of the onset of mechanical systole is generated from the phase data, using only a second set of macro programs. This approach is easily adapted to different data acquisition protocols, and can be used on any system with macro commands for image arithmetic.

No abstract

No abstract