Low-Cost Digitalization of X-ray Films Using a Scanner and an Image Stitching Algorithm

• Jaime G. Vela UFRJ
• Amit Bhaya UFRJ
• Alexandra M. V. Monteiro UERJ

Abstract

This paper outlines the technical and algorithmic details of a fast low cost method for the digitalization of X-ray films of all standard sizes. In order to keep costs low, a standard A4 size scanner with transparency media adapter was used. Since most X-ray films are larger than the A4 size image capturing area of the scanner, this necessitated the development of an image processing algorithm that could stitch two or four partial images of the whole X-ray film, depending on its size, into a seamless full image of the film. The proposed image stitching algorithm produces high resolution seamless images with good contrast and quality that permits their use in a tele-radiology project, which is the final goal.

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