University of Utah Undergraduate Research Abstracts, Volume 3, Spring 2003

Potential Advantage of Over-Sampling in Nuclear Medecine Imaging

POTENTIAL ADVANTAGE OF OVER-SAMPLING IN NUCLEAR MEDICINE IMAGING Rodney Earl Senior Electrical Engineering [e-mail] Faculty Sponsor: Larry Zeng Dept. of Electrical Engineering [e-mail] Due to finite system resolution of a SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) detecting system, it is only necessary to sample the projection data in a coarse grid. The design of this project is to define a much more effective method in down-sampling the over sampled two-dimensional images to an image of one-fourth the original number of pixels. The most effective method would be defined as the method that is least effected by noise, but retains the actual image with the most clarity. Whereas the noise is the number one culprit in retarding the actual effectiveness of SPECT imaging, an ideal low- pass filter using Nyquist's interpolation is of greater importance to the project than an ideal high-pass filter which would allow for the greatest resolution in the final smaller image. This project not only investigates current image manipulation techniques, but also explores possibilities of new techniques, especially in entire image down-sampling. It is the thesis of this student that this project will not only improve the usefulness of one of the safest forms of Nuclear Medicine Imaging (SPECT), but will also be a catalyst for more research advance in the vital field of down-sampling. 24