System and method for efficiently customizing an imaging system

• US 20040008900A1
• Filed: 07/12/2002
• Published: 01/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jabri, Kadri N., Uppaluri, Renuka, Hobert, Kevin J., Yao, Jianqing, Stevens, Grant M., Battle, Vianney P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,450,747 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/254
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

The present technique provides a system and method for efficiently customizing an imaging system, such as a medical diagnostic imaging system. Based on images typically produced by one or more imaging systems, the present technique forms a plurality of image subject matter groups each having a plurality of related image types/views and one representative image type/view. Each customer is then provided with a plurality of predefined image style options for each of the plurality of representative image types/views. The predefined image style selected for each of the plurality of representative image types/views is then applied to each of the plurality of related image types/views in the respective image subject matter group. The imaging system is then automatically customized based on the foregoing predefined image style selections.

Claims

1. An imaging method, comprising the acts of:

forming image subject matter groups based at least partially on expertise in subject matter of the images;

facilitating selection of imaging preferences for each of the image subject matter groups based on multiple appearance styles of a sample image for each of the image subject matter groups; and

configuring an imaging system based on the imaging preferences.

2. The imaging method of claim 1, wherein the act of forming image subject matter groups comprises the act of identifying a plurality of core images representative of related subject matter.

3. The imaging method of claim 2, wherein the act of forming image subject matter groups further comprises the act of grouping related images with each of the plurality of core images.

4. The imaging method of claim 1, wherein the act of facilitating selection of imaging preferences comprises the act of providing the multiple appearance styles of the sample image for each of the image subject matter groups based on different image acquisition parameters.

5. The imaging method of claim 1, wherein the act of facilitating selection of imaging preferences comprises the act of providing the multiple appearance styles of the sample image for each of the image subject matter groups based on different image processing parameters.

6. The imaging method of claim 1, wherein the act of facilitating selection of imaging preferences comprises the act of acquiring the multiple appearance styles of the sample image for each of the image subject matter groups representative of an anatomy.

7. The imaging method of claim 1, wherein the act of facilitating selection of imaging preferences comprises the act of providing a user option between different still image appearances in the multiple appearance styles of the sample image for each of the image subject matter groups.

8. The imaging method of claim 1, wherein the act of facilitating selection of imaging preferences comprises the act of providing a user option between different video stream characteristics in the multiple appearance styles of the sample image for each of the image subject matter groups.

9. The imaging method of claim 1, wherein the act of facilitating selection of imaging preferences comprises the act of defining the multiple appearance styles.

10. The imaging method of claim 9, wherein the act of defining the multiple appearance styles comprises the act of analyzing customer feedback.

11. The imaging method of claim 9, wherein the act of defining the multiple appearance styles comprises the act of tailoring the multiple appearance styles to visual expectations of medical clinicians.

12. The imaging method of claim 9, wherein the act of defining the multiple appearance styles comprises the act of characterizing brightness, contrast, sharpness, and edge characteristics.

13. The imaging method of claim 9, wherein the act of defining the multiple appearance styles comprises the act of characterizing video stream characteristics.

14. The imaging method of claim 9, wherein the act of defining the multiple appearance styles comprises the act of specifying system parameters necessary to achieve the multiple appearance styles for each image in the image subject matter groups.

15. The imaging method of claim 1, wherein the act of configuring the imaging system comprises the act of setting operational parameters of the imaging system to achieve the imaging preferences for each of the image subject matter groups.

16. The imaging method of claim 1, wherein the act of configuring the imaging system comprises the act of automatically setting image acquisition parameters of the imaging system.

17. The imaging method of claim 1, wherein the act of configuring the imaging system comprises the act of automatically setting image processing parameters of the imaging system.

18. The imaging method of claim 1, wherein the act of configuring the imaging system comprises the act of customizing the imaging system to the imaging preferences of a particular user.

19. An imaging method, comprising the acts of:

identifying a plurality of core images representative of medical subject matter of the images;

grouping non-core images to each of the plurality of core images to form a plurality of image subject matter groups; and

facilitating selection of an image look for each of the image subject matter groups from a plurality of different looking sample medical images for each of the image subject matter groups.

20. The imaging method of claim 19, wherein the acts of identifying and grouping comprise the act of organizing the plurality of image groups based at least partially on clinical expertise in the medical subject matter.

21. The imaging method of claim 19, wherein the acts of identifying and grouping comprise the act of organizing the plurality of image groups based at least partially on statistical analysis of medical imaging.

22. The imaging method of claim 19, wherein the act of grouping comprises the act of organizing the non-core images based on an anatomical relationship with a respective one of the plurality of core images.

23. The imaging method of claim 19, wherein the act of facilitating selection of the image look comprises the act of providing the plurality of different looking sample medical images based on different image acquisition parameters.

24. The imaging method of claim 19, wherein the act of facilitating selection of the image look comprises the act of providing the plurality of different looking sample medical images based on different image processing parameters.

25. The imaging method of claim 19, wherein the act of facilitating selection of the image look comprises the act of providing a user option between different still image appearance characteristics in the plurality of different looking sample medical images for each of the image subject matter groups.

26. The imaging method of claim 19, wherein the act of facilitating selection of the image look comprises the act of providing a user option between different video stream characteristics in the plurality of different looking sample medical images for each of the image subject matter groups.

27. The imaging method of claim 19, wherein the act of facilitating selection of the image look comprises the act of defining a plurality of different image looks based at least partially on customer expectations.

28. The imaging method of claim 27, wherein the act of defining the plurality of different image looks comprises the act of characterizing audio and video characteristics.

29. The imaging method of claim 27, wherein the act of defining the plurality of different image looks comprises the act of specifying system parameters necessary to achieve the plurality of different image looks for each image in the image subject matter groups.

30. The imaging method of claim 19, comprising the act of configuring operational parameters of the imaging system to achieve the image look selected for each of the image subject matter groups.

31. The imaging method of claim 30, wherein the act of configuring the operational parameters comprises the act of setting image acquisition parameters of the imaging system.

32. The imaging method of claim 30, wherein the act of configuring the operational parameters comprises the act of setting image processing parameters of the imaging system.

33. The imaging method of claim 30, wherein the act of configuring the operational parameters comprises the act of tailoring operation of the imaging system to the image looks desired by a particular user.

34. An imaging method, comprising the acts of:

forming a plurality of image subject matter groups each having a representative image;

defining multiple image looks based at least partially on expertise;

specifying imaging system parameters necessary to achieve the multiple image looks;

providing an option to select a desired image look from the multiple image looks for each representative image; and

facilitating use of the imaging system parameters to achieve the desired image look for the corresponding representative image and each related image in a corresponding group of the plurality of image subject matter groups.

35. The imaging method of claim 34, wherein the act of forming the plurality of image subject matter groups comprises the act of grouping image types/views based on feedback from users of an imaging system.

36. The imaging method of claim 34, wherein the act of forming the plurality of image subject matter groups comprises the act of grouping related medical images based on clinical expertise.

37. The imaging method of claim 34, wherein the act of defining the multiple image looks comprises the act of analyzing historical characteristics of images produced by an imaging system.

38. The imaging method of claim 34, wherein the act of defining the multiple image looks comprises the act of tailoring the multiple image looks to image appearance characteristics expected by medical clinicians.

39. The imaging method of claim 34, wherein the act of defining the multiple image looks comprises the act of varying still image characteristics.

40. The imaging method of claim 34, wherein the act of defining the multiple image looks comprises the act of varying video stream characteristics.

41. The imaging method of claim 34, wherein the act of specifying imaging system parameters comprises the act of identifying image acquisition parameters necessary to acquire images having the multiple image looks for each image in each of the plurality of image subject matter groups.

42. The imaging method of claim 34, wherein the act of specifying imaging system parameters comprises the act of identifying image processing parameters necessary to process images having the multiple image looks for each image in each of the plurality of image subject matter groups.

43. The imaging method of claim 34, wherein the act of specifying imaging system parameters comprises the act of generating operational parameters for a particular imaging system.

44. The imaging method of claim 34, wherein the act of specifying imaging system parameters comprises the act of acquiring operational parameters for an imaging system in a particular medical modality.

45. The imaging method of claim 34, wherein the act of providing the option to select the desired image look comprises the act of displaying the multiple image looks with a sample image for each representative image.

46. The imaging method of claim 45, wherein the act of providing the option to select the desired image look further comprises the act of requesting a user to select the desired image look based on the multiple image looks displayed with each sample image.

47. The imaging method of claim 34, wherein the act of facilitating use of the imaging system parameters comprises the act of configuring an imaging system to acquire images having the desired image looks.

48. The imaging method of claim 34, wherein the act of facilitating use of the imaging system parameters comprises the act of configuring an imaging system to process images to have the desired image looks.

49. An imaging method, comprising the acts of:

evaluating a plurality of differently produced medical images for each of a plurality of image subject matter groups, which are organized at least partially based on clinical expertise in medical imaging;

selecting an image style from the plurality of differently produced medical images for each of the plurality of image subject matter groups; and

facilitating a custom configuration of an imaging system based on the image styles selected for the plurality of image subject matter groups.

50. The imaging method of claim 49, wherein the act of evaluating the plurality of differently produced medical images comprises the act of viewing images acquired by different acquisition parameters.

51. The imaging method of claim 49, wherein the act of evaluating the plurality of differently produced medical images comprises the act of viewing images processed by different processing parameters.

52. The imaging method of claim 49, wherein the act of evaluating the plurality of differently produced medical images comprises the act of analyzing a plurality of predefined image appearance styles.

53. The imaging method of claim 52, wherein the act of analyzing the plurality of predefined image appearance styles comprises the act of comparing different configurations of image contrast, brightness, sharpness, and edge characteristics between the differently produced medical images.

54. The imaging method of claim 49, wherein the act of selecting the image style comprises the act specifying a user preference for image appearance characteristics of all images in a corresponding group from the plurality of image subject matter groups.

55. The imaging method of claim 49, wherein the act of selecting the image style comprises the act of identifying a desired image accentuation for a particular anatomy.

56. The imaging method of claim 49, wherein the act of facilitating the custom configuration of the imaging system comprises the act of tailoring operation of the imaging system to customer preferences corresponding to the image styles.

57. An imaging method, comprising the acts of:

grouping means for grouping a plurality of images into groups of related images; and

appearance selection means for configuring an imaging system to facilitate a desired image look for each of the groups of related images.

58. The imaging method of claim 57, comprising appearance definition means for characterizing a plurality of image styles.

59. The imaging method of claim 57, comprising parameter specification means for deriving operational parameters of the imaging system necessary to facilitate the desired image looks.

60. The imaging method of claim 57, comprising system setup means for setting operational parameters of the imaging system to facilitate the desired image looks.

61. A computer program, comprising:

a machine readable medium having machine readable code, comprising;

an image mapping routine for organizing image types/views into a plurality of image subject matter groups based at least partially on expertise in subject matter of the images;

an image style selection routine for facilitating user selection of imaging preferences for each of the plurality of image subject matter groups based on sample images having different image appearance styles; and

a system configuration routine for configuring an imaging system based on the imaging preferences.

62. The computer program of claim 61, wherein the image mapping routine comprises an image associating routine for associating each of the images with a related one of a plurality of core images representative of related subject matter.

63. The computer program of claim 61, wherein the image style selection routine comprises a style definition routine for defining a plurality of different image looks.

64. The computer program of claim 61, wherein the system configuration routine comprises an automation routine for automatically executing the system configuration routine upon user selection of the imaging preferences.

65. A system for customizing an imaging system, comprising:

at least one machine readable medium storing a plurality of image styles, a plurality of image subject matter groups each having a representative image type, and a sample image for each representative image type;

a style selection interface adapted to display each sample image in each of the plurality of image styles to facilitate user selection of a preferred style from the plurality of image styles for each representative image type illustrated by the respective sample image; and

a style configuration system adapted to configure operational parameters of an imaging system to achieve the preferred style for each respective group of the plurality of image subject matter groups.

66. The system of claim 65, wherein the plurality of image styles comprise different contrast, brightness, and edge characteristics.

67. The system of claim 65, wherein the plurality of image styles comprise different anatomical accentuations for medical diagnostic images.

68. The system of claim 65, wherein the plurality of image subject matter groups comprise different anatomical categories.

69. The system of claim 68, wherein each group of the plurality of image subject matter groups comprises different views of an anatomy.

70. The system of claim 65, wherein the operational parameters comprise image processing parameters.

71. The system of claim 65, wherein the operational parameters comprise image acquisition parameters.

72. The system of claim 65, wherein the style configuration system is applicable to multiple types of imaging systems in different medical modalities.

73. The system of claim 65, wherein at least one group of the plurality of image subject matter groups has only the representative image type.