Tool and method to produce orientation marker on a subject of interest

• US 20040102699A1
• Filed: 11/26/2002
• Published: 05/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GE Medical Systems Information Technologies Incorporated (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: GE Medical Systems Information Technologies Incorporated (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Brackett, Charles Cameron, Morita, Mark M., Fors, Steven L.
• Application Number:
  US10/305,304
• Publication Number:
  US 20040102699A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/426
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/463 characterised by displaying multiple images or images and diagnostic data on one display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/502 for diagnosis of breast, i.e. mammography

Abstract

A method and tool for producing an orientation marker on an image of a subject of interest displayed on an imaging system. The tool comprises a mechanism configured to obtain the image of the subject of interest. A means for interactively moving in real time, through the image. A means for selecting, in real time, a point on the image. A means for aligning guidelines on the selected point to define a region of the subject of interest. A means for determining, in real time, the in-plane orientation of the image relative to the defined region and the selected point, and displaying the image with the selected point and the defined region.

Claims

1. An tool to produce an orientation marker on an image of a subject of interest displayed on a computer screen, the tool comprising:

a mechanism configured to obtain the image of the subject of interest;

means for interactively moving, in real-time, through the image;

means for selecting, in real-time, a point on the image;

means for aligning guidelines on the selected point to define a region of the subject of interest;

means for determining, in real-time, the in-plane orientation of the image relative to the defined region and the selected point; and

displaying the image with the selected point and the defined region.

2. The tool of claim 1, including a means for changing the image being acted upon.

3. The tool of claim 1, including a means for reconfiguring the guidelines.

4. The tool of claim 1, including a means for storing the displayed image.

5. The tool of claim 1, including means for annotating the displayed image in the defined region.

6. The tool of claim 1, wherein the displayed image in one selected from a group consisting of magnification view, cleavage view, spot view, lateral and medial aspects of a cranial caudal image and upper and lower aspects of a medial lateral oblique image of the subject of interest.

7. The tool of claim 6, wherein the subject of interest is an anatomical structure.

8. The tool of claim 7, wherein the anatomical structure is a breast.

9. The tool of claim 8, wherein the point selected is on the breast nipple.

10. The tool of claim 1, wherein the means for selecting is performed by an input device selected from a group consisting of a mouse, a joystick, a keyboard, a track ball, a touch screen, a voice recognition control and a light wand.

11. A method for producing an orientation marker on an image of a subject of interest displayed on a computer screen, the method comprising the steps of:

interactively moving, in real-time, through the image;

selecting, in real-time, a point on the image;

aligning guidelines on the selected point to define a region of the subject of interest;

determining, in real-time, the in-plane orientation of the image relative to the defined region and the selected point; and

displaying the image with the selected point and the defined region.

12. The method of claim 11, including a step of changing the image being acted upon.

13. The method of claim 11, including a step of reconfiguring the guidelines.

14. The method of claim 11, including a step of storing the displayed image.

15. The method of claim 11, including a step of annotating the displayed image in the defined region.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the displayed image in one selected from a group consisting of magnification view, cleavage view, spot view, lateral and medial aspects of a cranial caudal image and upper and lower aspects of a medial lateral oblique image of the subject of interest.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the subject of interest is an anatomical structure.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the anatomical structure is a breast.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the point selected is on the breast nipple.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of selecting is performed by an input device selected from a group consisting of a mouse, a joystick, a keyboard, a track ball, a touch screen, a voice recognition control and a light wand.