Multi modal Image Fusion for Spinal Disorder Using Variants of Transforms and Wavelets

Abstract

It becomes tedious for the medical practitioners to diagnose and plan the proper treatment of the diseases whenever they have to consider the digital images using multiple modalities to be checked simultaneously. The current practice of individual observation of multiple modality images separately, causes the improper treatment plans due to incomplete understanding of the nature of disease in most of the cases. As a result it becomes costly affair for both patients and medical practitioners. So there is a need of conducting the research to develop the fused images in order to provide all relevant and vital details of body part at one place in one image itself. Digital Image fusion is the process of merging multiple digital images into single image i.e. fused image . Fused image contents more information than input images in terms of human perception and machine processing. In medical imaging application, digital images of same or different modalities can be fused to generate a new image which helps medical practitioners with reliable and accurate diagnosis of the disease under study. Fused image of mono modal medical images is used to see pre and post -operative results. Multi modal medical images are fused for treatment or surgical planning. In this research work, we have focused on fusion of lumbar spine images of two different modalities i.e.: Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) T2 weighted imaging. CT and MRI images are complementary with each other in nature so it works well for fusion. CT provides bony details whereas MRI provides soft tissue details so fusion works well in order to combine these two details in single image for better treatment planning by the medical practitioners. Since CT and MRI images are captured using two different machines, these images need to be strictly aligned with each other before fusing. So we have used landmark based registration method for the alignment purpose.