Study Navigation System and Method

• US 20080118120A1
• Filed: 11/22/2006
• Published: 05/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AGFA Healthcare NV (Agfa-Gevaert N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Agfa Healthcare Corporation (Agfa-Gevaert N.V.)
• Inventors: Dennison, Donald K., Potwarka, John J., Mroz, Lukas, Wegenkittl, Rainer, Zeilinger, Gunter, Kanitsar, Armin, Galbari, Scott Gerald
• Granted Patent: US 7,787,679 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/128
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/008 Specific post-processing after tomographic reconstruction, e.g. voxelisation, metal artifact correction
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS

Abstract

A system and method for navigating an image series, the image series containing a number of substantially aligned planar images. First, the images of the image the image series are grouped into a number of subseries, the number of subseries being less than the number of substantially aligned planar images in the image series. A representative image series is generated by generating an image from each subseries. The representative image series is displayed. It is determined whether an image from the representative image series has been selected. If an image from the representative image series has been selected, then the subseries associated with the selected image is displayed.

Claims

1. A method of navigating an image series, the image series containing a first number of substantially aligned planar images, the method comprising:

(a) grouping the images of the image series into a number of subseries, the number of subseries being less than the first number of images;

(b) generating a representative image series by generating an image from each subseries;

(c) displaying the representative image series;

(d) determining whether an image from the representative image series has been selected; and

,

(e) if an image from the representative image series has been selected, then displaying the subseries associated with the selected image.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein each subseries comprises a set of consecutive images from the image series.

3. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein (b) comprises generating the representative image series by generating an image from each subseries by selecting an image from each subseries.

4. The method as defined in claim 3, wherein (b) comprises generating the representative image series by generating an image from each subseries by selecting the first image of each subseries.

5. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein (b) comprises generating the representative image series by generating an image from each subseries by merging the consecutive images of the subseries into a single merged image.

6. The method as defined in claim 5, wherein the merged images are projection images.

7. The method as defined in claim 6, wherein each projection image is one of a minimum intensity projection image, a mean intensity projection image, and a maximum intensity projection image.

8. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

(f) selecting a threshold;

(g) determining whether the first size is above the threshold;

(h) if the first size is above the threshold then performing (a) through (e), otherwise displaying the image series.

9. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein (e) further comprises:

(i) determining whether to end the display of the subseries; and

(ii) if it has been determined to end the display of the subseries then performing (c).

10. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein each image of the representative image series comprises representative image series meta-data, wherein the representative image series meta-data defines the associated subseries.

11. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein each image of each subseries comprises subseries meta-data, wherein the subseries meta-data defines an associated image of the representative images series.

12. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein (c) comprises:

receiving a request for image data from a user; and

,

displaying the representative image series after receiving the request from the user.

13. The method as defined in claim 12, wherein (a) and (b) are performed before (c).

14. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein (b) comprises generating the representative image series by generating an image from each subseries by:

(A) selecting a number of images from the subseries; and

,

(B) merging the selected images into a single image.

15. The method as defined in claim 14, wherein the images are selected from substantially evenly spaced intervals in the subseries.

16. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein (b) comprises generating the representative image series by generating an image from each subseries by:

(I) selecting a portion of each image from the subseries; and

,

(II) merging the selected portions of images into a single image.

17. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein (b) comprises generating the representative image series by generating an image from each subseries by

(i) selecting a number of images from the subseries;

(ii) selecting a portion of each selected image; and

,

(iii) merging the selected portions of the selected images into a single image.

18. A computer-readable medium upon which a plurality of instructions are stored, the instructions for performing the steps of the method as claimed in claim 1.

19. A system for navigating an image series, the image series containing a first number of substantially aligned planar images, the system comprising:

(a) a memory for storing the image series;

(b) a processor coupled to the memory, said processor configured for;

(i) grouping the images of the image series into a number of subseries, the number of subseries being less than the first number of images;

(ii) generating a representative image series by generating an image from each subseries;

(iii) displaying the representative image series;

(iv) determining whether an image from the representative image series has been selected; and

,

(v) if an image from the representative image series has been selected, then displaying the subseries associated with the selected image.

20. The system as defined in claim 19, wherein each subseries comprises a set of consecutive images from the image series.

21. The system as defined in claim 19, wherein (ii) comprises generating the representative image series by generating an image from each subseries by selecting an image from each subseries.

22. The system as defined in claim 21, wherein (ii) comprises generating the representative image series by generating an image from each subseries by selecting the first image of each subseries.

23. The system as defined in claim 19, wherein (ii) comprises generating the representative image series by generating an image from each subseries by merging the consecutive images of the subseries into a single merged image.

24. The system as defined in claim 23, wherein the merged images are projection images.

25. The system as defined in claim 24, wherein each projection image is one of a minimum intensity projection image, a mean intensity projection image, and a maximum intensity projection image.

26. The system as defined in claim 19, further comprising:

(A) selecting a threshold;

(B) determining whether the first size is above the threshold;

(C) if the first size is above the threshold then performing (i) through (v), otherwise displaying the image series.

27. The system as defined in claim 19, wherein (v) further comprises:

(I) determining whether to end the display of the subseries; and

(II) if it has been determined to end the display of the subseries then performing (iii).

28. The system as defined in claim 19, wherein each image of the representative image series comprises representative image series meta-data, wherein the representative image series meta-data defines the associated subseries.

29. The system as defined in claim 19, wherein each image of each subseries comprises subseries meta-data, wherein the subseries meta-data defines an associated image of the representative images series.

30. The system as defined in claim 19, wherein (iii) comprises:

(A) receiving a request for image data from a user; and

,

(B) displaying the representative image series after receiving the request from the user.

31. The system as defined in claim 30, wherein (i) and (ii) are performed before (c).

32. The system as defined in claim 19, wherein (ii) comprises generating the representative image series by generating an image from each subseries by:

(I) selecting a number of images from the subseries; and

,

(II) merging the selected images into a single image.

33. The system as defined in claim 32, wherein the images are selected from substantially evenly spaced intervals in the subseries.

34. The system as defined in claim 19, wherein (ii) comprises generating the representative image series by generating an image from each subseries by:

(A) selecting a portion of each image from the subseries; and

,

(B) merging the selected portions of images into a single image.

35. The system as defined in claim 19, wherein (ii) comprises generating the representative image series by generating an image from each subseries by

(I) selecting a number of images from the subseries;

(II) selecting a portion of each selected image; and

,

(III) merging the selected portions of the selected images into a single image.