Mind Map

Outline
and
Learning Guide

Objectives
and
Learning Activities

Visuals for
Classroom

Self-study
Module

Online
Textbook

1.      Introduction and Overview

1.1.   Blur is a Fundamental Image Characteristic

1.2.   Present in All Images

1.3.   Limits Visibility

1.4.   Depends on Characteristics of the Equipment and How it is Operated

2.      Blur

2.1.   Concept

2.2.   Appearance of Blur in Everyday Images (human vision, photography, etc)

2.3.   Images of Blur (point, line, or edge- spread functions)

2.4.   Blur Shapes

2.4.1.      Produced by Motion

2.4.2.      Produced by Focal Spots

2.4.3.      Produced within X-ray Receptors

2.4.4.      Produced by Digitizing (Pixels)

2.4.5.      Produced by Voxels (3D Blurring)

2.5.   Equivalent Blur Values

2.5.1.      Concept

2.5.2.      Compensates for Different Blur Shapes and Distributions

2.5.3.      Useful for Combining Blurs from Several Sources

3.      Effects of Blur

3.1.   Reduces Visibility of Anatomical Detail and of Small Objects (Clinical)

3.2.   Produces Image Unsharpness

3.3.   Reduces Spatial Resolution (Measurement and Evaluation of Equipment)

4.      Relationship of Visibility of Detail to Blur

4.1.   Increased Blurring Reduces Visibility of Detail

4.2.   Using Visibility to Measure Relative Blurring

4.2.1.      Contrast-Detail Test Objects (Phantoms)

4.2.2.      Mammography Phantom Spects (Simulated Microcalcifications)

5.     Spatial Resolution

5.1.   Concept

5.2.   Relation of Spatial Frequency to Object Size

5.3.   Relationship to Visibility of Detail

5.4.   Measurement of Resolution

6.      Modulation Transfer Function (MTF)

6.1.   Concept

6.2.   MTF Curves

6.3.   Relationship to Visibility of Detail

6.4.   Composite MTF for Combined Sources of Blurring

6.5.   Calculation of MTF from Blur Measurements (Line or Edge Spread Functions)
 

7.      Blurring in the Different Imaging Modalities

7.1.   Sources of Blurring in the Different Modalities

7.2.   Relative Blur Values

7.3.   General Clinical Significance