[Digital TV tomosynthesis--system development, digital image processing and clinical applications].

We have designed and developed two types of high-resolution digital X-ray TV tomosynthesis systems which incorporate an X-ray TV fluororadiographic unit with tomographic function and a digital image processor, which handles image data from the image intensifier-TV camera chain. We have studied methods of improving image quality of the tomosynthesis images and their clinical applicability. As a result of clinical application of this method, a number of advantages have already become apparent, as listed below: 1) Low patient radiation dose per examination, short examination time, and early display of the image on the CRT. 2) Reconstruction of the tomograms at any desired depth and oblique tomograms. 3) Spatial frequency filtering to improve the image quality, particularly one-dimensional spatial filtering process to reduce linear tomographic blur. 4) Digital angiotomosynthesis with and without subtraction. 5) Dual energy subtraction digital tomosynthesis. 6) Electronic storage and transmission of image data. Clinical effectiveness of this method was shown in such areas as imaging of the ear, spine and lung, angiography of the brain and abdominal organs, and arthrography.