Digital mammography system with improved workflow

• US 20070274585A1
• Filed: 05/25/2006
• Published: 11/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CareStream Health Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CareStream Health Incorporated
• Inventors: Huo, Zhimin, Heffernan, Patrick B., Zhang, Daoxian H., Bucci, Marco
• Granted Patent: US 7,945,083 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/132
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30068 Mammography; Breast
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0012 Biomedical image inspection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/40 for processing medical images, e.g. editing
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems

Abstract

A method for supporting diagnostic workflow from a medical imaging apparatus. A set of at least two images are obtained from a patient and displayed according to a user-specified image display layout selected from a plurality of image display layouts. One or more markers are associated with a region of interest in the displayed images. A list of regions of interest is generated, each having an entry for each associated marker. A classification is assigned to each entry in the list of regions of interest according to health risk.

Claims

1. A method for supporting diagnostic workflow from a medical imaging apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:

a) obtaining a set of at least two images of a patient;

b) displaying the set of images according to a user-specified image display layout selected from a plurality of image display layouts;

c) associating one or more markers with one or more of the at least two images, each marker identifying a region of interest in the displayed image;

d) generating a list of regions of interest having an entry for each marker associated in step c); and

e) assigning a classification to each entry in the list according to possible health risk.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of associating one or more markers comprises the step of automatically detecting the region of interest according to tissue characteristics.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of associating one or more markers comprises the step of responding to a user instruction for marker assignment.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of assigning a classification includes the step of applying an image processing algorithm to detect tissue characteristics.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of presenting the list of regions of interest for review by a user.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of generating a report that lists the list of regions of interest and the assigned classifications.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of obtaining the set of at least two images is accomplished by obtaining mammography images.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of obtaining the set of at least two images comprises obtaining images either taken at different times of one or more days apart, or taken from different medical imaging modalities.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising outlining an at least one of the images with a color border.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the set of at least two images is accomplished by obtaining mammography images, and the step of displaying the set of images comprises automatically adjusting image contrast using a breast mask.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the set of at least two images is mammography images, and the step of displaying the set of images comprises simultaneously displaying one mammography image from a current exam and one mammography image from a prior exam.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein associating the marker comprises responding to an instruction from a user.

13. A method for displaying a diagnostic image, the method comprising the steps of:

a) defining a magnification outline window that is smaller than the diagnostic image;

b) positioning the magnification outline window over a portion of the diagnostic image to define a magnified image portion therein;

c) displaying the magnified image portion in a magnification display window; and

d) changing the magnified image portion within the magnification display window with a repeated process of;

(i) changing the relative position of the magnification outline window according to a scan pattern, thereby redefining the magnified image portion and forming a redefined magnified image portion therein; and

(ii) displaying the redefined magnified image portion in the magnification display window.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising selecting the scan pattern from a plurality of available scan patterns.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the scan pattern either (1) moves over the diagnostic image from left to right or (2) is a learned pattern, recorded and stored according to instructions from a user.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of changing the display within the magnification display window is accomplished by conditioning the rate of change according to an attribute of the image data.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the attribute relates to tissue density.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of displaying the magnified image portion in the magnification display window further comprises the step of automatically adjusting image contrast according to the image content within the magnification display window.

19. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of displaying a second magnification display window displaying an image obtained from a previous imaging session.

20. A method for displaying processed mammography images processed by a computer-aided diagnostic system, the method comprising the steps of:

a) displaying, within a first display area, a first processed image acquired from a first medical imaging modality;

b) displaying, within a second display area, a second processed image acquired from a second medical imaging modality; and

c) dimensionally registering the first and second processed images to display substantially the same tissue by scaling one or both of the first and second processed images.