Biomedical imaging processing is similar in concept to multi-dimensional biomedical signal processing. It includes the analysis, improvement and visualization of images captured by X-rays, ultrasound, magnetic resonance, nuclear medicine and optical imaging technologies.
Image reconstruction and modeling techniques allow the instant processing of 2D signals to create 3D images. When the original CT scanner was invented in 1972, it literally took hours to acquire a portion of image data and over 24 hours to reconstruct that data into a single image. Today, this acquisition and reconstruction takes place in less than a second.
Instead of simply making an X-ray in a lightbox, the image processing software helps to automatically identify and analyze what might not be evident to the human eye. Computerized algorithms can provide a temporal and spatial analysis to detect patterns and characteristics indicative of tumors and other ailments.
Depending on the imaging technique and what diagnosis is being considered, image processing and analysis can be used to determine the diameter, volume, and vasculature of a tumor or organ; The parameters of blood flow or other fluids and microscopic changes that still have to lift any otherwise discernible flags.
In general, physiological modeling and biomedical signal processing are two important paradigms of biomedical engineering (BME): its fundamental concepts are taught from undergraduate studies and are treated more fully in the later years of the curriculum As well as in Ph.D. Courses Traditionally, these two cultural aspects were separated, the first more oriented to physiological topics and how to model them, and the second dedicated to the development of tools or algorithms of processing to improve useful information from clinical data. A practical consequence was that those who made models did not do signal processing and vice versa. However, in recent years, the need for further integration between signal processing and modeling of relevant biological systems has emerged very clearly . This is not only true for training purposes (ie to properly prepare new BME professional members), but also for the development of newly conceived research projects in which the integration between the biomedical signal and the image processing (BSIP). Just to give simple examples, such as the brain-computer machine or interfaces, neuroengineering, dynamic non-linear analysis of the cardiovascular system (CV), integration of sensory-motor characteristics intended for the construction of advanced prostheses and rehabilitation tools Monitoring vital signs and others require an intelligent merging of modeling and signal processing competencies that are certainly peculiar to our BME discipline.