Abstract
A different way of processing confocally scanned fluorescence images is presented. Linear median hybrid methods and linear filtering methods are compared numerically with a conventionally processed artificial data set and with real confocal data. The use of linear median hybrid techniques reduces the time required for recording three-dimensional data sets with a confocal fluorescence microscope as well as the photo-damage to the biological sample. The implementation of a linear median algorithm on the hardware level of a confocal microscope is discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Astola J, Heinonen P, Neuvo Y (1989) Linear median hybrid filters. IEEE Transactions on Circuits and System, 36(11): 1430–1438, November
Astola J, Heinonen P, Neuvo Y (1987) On root structures of median and median type filters. IEEE Transactions on Acoustics, Speech, and Signal Processing, Vol. ASSP-35, 1199–1201, August
Bovik A, Huang T, Munson D (1983) A generalization of median filtering using linear combinations of order statistics, IEE Trans. Acoust., Speech and Signal Processing, Vol. ASSP-31, 1342–1350, December
Fong A (1990) Algorithms and architectures for a class of non-linear hybrid filters. Comp. Vision, Graphics and Image Proc., Vol. 50, 101–111
Gallagher N, Wise G (1981) A theoretical analysis of the properties of median filters, IEEE Transactions on Acoustics, Speed and Signal Processing, Vol. ASSP-29, 1136–1141, December
Heinonen P, Neuvo Y (1985) Smoothed median filters with FIR substructures, IEEE Int. Conf. on Acoustics, Speed and Signal Processing. Tampa, FL, March, pp 49–52
Heinonen P, Neuvo Y (1987) FIR median hybrid filters, IEEE Transactions on Acoustics, Speech and Signal Processing, Vol. AASP-35, 832–838, June
Heinonen P (1986) PhD Thesis, Tampere University of Technology Publications 39
Huang T, Yang G, Tang G (1979) A fast two-dimensional median filtering algorithm, IEE Transactions, Acoustics Speech and Signal Processing, Vol. ASSP-27, 13–18, February
Hänninen P, Viitanen J, Salo J, Takala J (1988) TAGIPS, and adaptable parallel processor for imaging applications, SPIE symposium on image processing, Cambridge, Massachusetts, November SPIE proc. 1004, pp. 224–229
Justusson B (1978) Noise reduction by median filtering, Proceedings of 4th Int. Joint Conference on Pattern Recognition, Kyoto, Japan, November pp. 502–504
Justusson B (1979) Order statistics on stationary random process with applications to moving medians, Technical Report TRITA-MAT-1, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm
Maragos P, Schafter R (1987) Morphological filters-part II: their relations to median, order-statistic, and stack filters, IEEE Transactions on Acoustics, Speech and Signal Processing, Vol. ASSP-35, 1170–1184, August
Merdes A, Stelzer E, De Mey J (1991) Three-dimensional architecture of the mitotic spindle analyzed by confocal fluorescence and electron microscopy, Journal of Electron Microscopy Technique, 18:61–73
Nieminen A, Heinonen P, Neuvo Y (1987a) A new class of detail-preserving filters for image processing, IEEE Trans. Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence, PAMI-9(1):74–90, January
Nieminen A, Neuvo Y (1987b) EEG spike detection based on median type filters, Proceedings of International Conference on Digital Signal Processing, Florence, Italy, September, pp. 559–563
Nodes T, Gallagher N (1980) Median filters: some modifications to the median filter process and their properties, Proceedings of 18th Allerton Conference on Communication, Control and Computing, Monticello, IL, October, pp. 926–934
Pawley J (1989) Fundamental limits in confocal microscopy, Handbook of Biological Confocal Microscopy, pp. 15–26, Plenum Press, New York
Rabiner L, Sambur M, Schmidt C (1975) Applications of a nonlinear smoothing algorithm to speech processing, IEEE Transactions on Acoustics, Speech and Signal Processing, Vol. ASSP-23, No. 6:552–557, December
Salo J, Neuvo Y, Hämeenaho V (1988) Improving TV picture quality with linear median type operations, 1988 International Conference on Consumer Electronics, Chicago, USA, June
Shotton D (1989) Confocal scanning optical microscopy and its applications for biological specimens. Journal of Cell Science 94. pp. 175–206
Stein R, Fowlow T (1985) The use of median filters for edge detection in noisy signals, Proceedings of ISCAS-85, 1331–1334, Kyoto, June
Stelzer E, Stricker R, Pick R, Storz C, Hänninen P (1988) Confocal fluorescence microscopes for biological research, ECO1 proceedings/SPIE Proceedings 1028, Hamburg, Federal Republic of Germany, September, pp. 146–151
Tukey JW (1974) Nonlinear (nonsuperposable) methods for smoothing data. In Cong. Rec EASCON-74, p. 673
Tsien R, Waggoner A (1989) Fluorophores for confocal microscopy: photophysics and photochemistry, Handbook of Biological Confocal Microscopy, pp. 169–178, Plenum Press, New York
Vainio O, Tenhunen H, Kropiharju T, Tomberg J, Neuvo Y (1988) A video frequency bit parallel CMOS FIR median hybrid filter. In Proc. 1988 Symposium on VLSI Circuits, Tokyo, Japan, August
Vetterling W, Teukolsky S, Press W, Flannery B (1988) Numerical recipes example book (C), Cambridge University Press
Wilson R, Sheppard C (1984) Theory and practice of scanning optical microscopy. Academic Press, London
White J, Amos W, Fordham M (1987) An evaluation of confocal versus conventional imaging of biological structures by fluorescence light microscopy. Journal of Cell Biology 105. pp. 41–48
Yli-Harja O (1989) PhD Thesis, Lappeenranta University of Technology, Research Papers 13
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hänninen, P., Stelzer, E.H.K. & Salo, J. Nonlinear filtering in improving the image quality of confocal fluorescent images. Machine Vis. Apps. 4, 243–253 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01815301
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01815301