Sobel Algorithm for Processing Medical Images on FPGA

Abstract

FPGAs are gaining interest in microchip manufacturing due to their high computational power and parallelization capabilities. This makes them suitable for compact, integrated devices handling diverse computational tasks, particularly in the medical field. The Sobel operator is a simple method for determining image contours. It utilizes 2D convolution with kernel matrices to approximate brightness derivatives along horizontal and vertical axes. FPGA implementation allows for easy parallelization. However, as a standalone algorithm, it is not ideal for medical image processing due to limited accuracy and noise sensitivity. Instead, it can be used as an additional filter to enhance edges in conjunction with other algorithms, improving diagnostic detail. FPGA implementation enables rapid edge detection, making it suitable for integration into medical image recognition systems.