Outline and Guide for
Learning
Blur, Visibility of Detail,
and Resolution
Resources and References
The Physical Principles of Medical
Imaging
Online Textbook
Visuals for Discussion
Mind Map Showing Factors Related to Medical
Image Blurring
Introduction and Overview
Blur
Concept
Appearance of blur in everyday images (human vision, photography, etc)
Images of blur (point-spread and line-spread functions)
Blur shapes
Equivalent blur values
Effects of blur
Reduces visibility of
detail and small objects
Produces image unsharpness
Reduces spatial resolution
Relationship of visibility of
detail to blur
Significance of object size
Clinical significance of blurring
Spatial Resolution
Concept
Relationship to visibility of detail
Measurement of resolution
Modulation Transfer Function (MTF)
Concept
MTF curves
MTF curves comparing imaging systems with different amounts of blurring
Composite MTF curve for a system containing several sources of blurring
Relationship of MTF to visibility of detail
Calculation of MTF from blur values,
how it is done
Blurring and visibility of
detail in the different imaging modalities
Each imaging modality has specific sources of blurring
Comparison of blurring and visibility of detail for the modalities
NOTE: The sources of blurring with the different
imaging modalities and how it is controlled is considered later in the units
dedicated to the specific modalities.