Method and apparatus for displaying pixel data

• US 20060033752A1
• Filed: 08/13/2004
• Published: 02/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GE Medical Systems (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: GE Medical Systems (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: Gering, David T., Hoford, John D.
• Application Number:
  US10/917,622
• Publication Number:
  US 20060033752A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/629
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/032 Transmission computed tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/463 characterised by displaying multiple images or images and diagnostic data on one display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/501 for diagnosis of the head, e.g. neuroimaging or craniography
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS

Abstract

A method for displaying an image including a plurality of pixels includes defining a plurality of pixel groups for the image. Each pixel group includes at least one pixel. A pixel chart is generated for each pixel group. The pixel chart shows underlying data associated with the pixel group. The pixel chart is superimposed on the image over its associated pixel group. A system includes a display unit, a data collection unit adapted to collect underlying data, and a data processing unit. The data processing unit is adapted to generate an image including a plurality of pixels for displaying on the display unit based on the underlying data, define a plurality of pixel groups for the image, each pixel group including at least one pixel, generate a pixel chart for each pixel group, the pixel chart showing the underlying data associated with the pixel group, and superimpose the pixel chart on the image over its associated pixel group.

Claims

1. A method for displaying an image including a plurality of pixels, comprising:

defining a plurality of pixel groups for the image, each pixel group including at least one pixel;

generating a pixel chart for each pixel group, the pixel chart showing underlying data associated with the pixel group; and

superimposing the pixel chart on the image over its associated pixel group.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each pixel has associated underlying data, and generating the pixel chart further comprises combining the underlying data for each pixel in the pixel group.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein defining the plurality of pixel groups further comprises defining each pixel group to include only one pixel.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of zoom levels are provided for the image, and superimposing the pixel chart further comprises superimposing the pixel chart for zoom levels higher than a predetermined threshold.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

calculating a composite metric for each pixel based on underlying data associated with each pixel; and

determining a color of the pixel based on the composite metric.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein determining the composite metric further comprises determining at least one of a mean value, a median value, a maximum value, a minimum value, a variance value, a slope, a curve fit parameter, an intercept, a time constant, a value at a particular time, and a value at a particular frequency.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the pixel chart for each pixel group further comprises generating the pixel chart showing underlying time series data associated with the pixel group.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the pixel chart for each pixel group further comprises generating the pixel chart showing underlying frequency spectrum data associated with the pixel group.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating the image based on medical imaging data.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating the image based on aerial imaging data.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein each pixel has associated underlying data, and generating the pixel chart further comprises combining the underlying data for each pixel in the pixel group.

11. A system, comprising:

a display unit;

a data collection unit adapted to collect underlying data;

a data processing unit adapted to generate an image including a plurality of pixels for displaying on the display unit based on the underlying data, define a plurality of pixel groups for the image, each pixel group including at least one pixel, generate a pixel chart for each pixel group, the pixel chart showing the underlying data associated with the pixel group, and superimpose the pixel chart on the image over its associated pixel group.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein each pixel group includes only one pixel.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein a plurality of zoom levels may be used for displaying the image, and the data processing unit is adapted to superimpose the pixel chart for zoom levels higher than a predetermined threshold.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the data processing unit is further adapted to calculate a composite metric for each pixel based on underlying data associated with each pixel and determine a color of the pixel based on the composite metric.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the composite metric comprises at least one of a mean value, a median value, a maximum value, a minimum value, a variance value, a slope, a curve fit parameter, an intercept, a time constant, a value at a particular time, and a value at a particular frequency.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the underlying data comprises time series data associated with the pixel group.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the underlying data comprises frequency spectrum data associated with the pixel group.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the underlying data further comprises medical imaging data.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the underlying data further comprises aerial imaging data.