In this project, we are seeking to provide an image processing tool, for use by medical specialists, which can combine a given set of images such that all information from the constituent bands are preserved [PDF].  In this example, we have combined the raw images of T1, T2, and Gad into fused results.  T1 is used to measure fat, melanin, slow blood, and calicification; T2 is used to measure increased water due to tumors and methemoglobin found in acute hemorrhages [info]; the Gad image used was T1-weighted, after Gd-DTPA, which is used to measure the relaxivity of water protons [PDF].  For more detailed information on medical imagery, please visit The Whole Brain Atlas.

Below is a sample of fused brain imagery:

Original MRI T1-weighted image	Original MRI T2-weighted image
Original MRI Gad image
2 Band Fusion - T1 vs T2	3 Band Fusion
Animated GIF	Animated GIF

I am also currently working on a QT/VTK implementation in C++ of the explorer window to allow intuitive and useful interaction with the fused results.  This system will replace the slower TCL-based implementation which can be seen here.

Related Projects

A related project is the visualization of multi-spectral fusion for precision farming.  

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a Faculty Research Grant awarded to the director of the laboratory by the faculty research committee and Jacksonville State University.  Opinions, interpretations, and conclusions are those of the authors and not necessarily endorsed by the committee or Jacksonville State University.