Multifocus Medical Image Fusion based on Fractional Lower Order Moments and Modified Spatial Frequency

DOI: 10.5176/2251-2489_BioTech15.46

Authors: T.Tirupal, B.Chandra Mohan and S.Srinivas Kumar

Abstract: The objective of image fusion for medical images is to combine multiple images obtained from various sources into a single image suitable for better diagnosis. An algorithm is proposed to develop a novel fusion rule for multifocus medical images based on fractional lower order moments. First, multifocus medical images are decomposed using Undecimated Discrete Wavelet Transform (UDWT). Most of the state of the art image fusing techniques are based on Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT). A slight blurring is noticed when DWT is used for image fusion. By using UDWT, this blurring is significantly reduced. Then, the low frequency sub bands are fused using modified spatial frequency (MSF) and high frequency subbands are fused using fractional lower order moments. Finally, the fused image is reconstructed using inverse UDWT. The experimental results on several pairs of multifocus medical images indicate that the proposed algorithm is superior to the existing algorithms in terms of spatial frequency, image quality index, edge information preservation and various other image quality metrics.

Keywords: image fusion; moments; DWT; UDWT; MSF