Systems and Methods for Image Processing of 2D Medical Images

• US 20090087053A1
• Filed: 09/27/2007
• Published: 04/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: de Vaan, Jan Anne Niels
• Granted Patent: US 8,009,891 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/131
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/24 involving graphical user interfaces [GUIs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10072 Tomographic images
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/20108 Interactive selection of 2D slice in a 3D data set
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0012 Biomedical image inspection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/40 for processing medical images, e.g. editing

Abstract

Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system for image processing including a database, an image processor, and a display. The database includes a plurality of image slices. Each image slice in the plurality of image slices is based at least in part on an object. The image processor is adapted to generate a display image. The display image includes a selected image slice rendered about perpendicular to a localizer image. The selected image slice is selected from the plurality of image slices. The display is adapted to display the display image.

Claims

1. A system for image processing including:

a database including a plurality of image slices, wherein each image slice in the plurality of image slices is based at least in part on an object;

an image processor adapted to generate a display image, wherein the display image includes a selected image slice rendered about perpendicular to a localizer image, wherein the selected image slice is selected from the plurality of image slices; and

a display adapted to display the display image.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the display image is displayed with diagnostic quality without 3D perspective deformation.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the display image includes a reference tag.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the image processor is adapted to scroll though a plurality of selected image slices.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein when scrolling though more than one image slice, the selected image slice is fixed in relation to the position of an image slice in a previous display image, wherein the localizer image moves.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein when scrolling though more than one image slice, the localizer image is fixed in relation to the position of the localizer image in a previous display image, wherein the selected image slice moves.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the localizer image is based at least in part on the plurality of image slices.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein data associated with the selected image slice is used to position the selected image slice with respect to the localizer image.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the display image includes a plurality of selected image slices.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the selected image slice may be rendered translucent.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the localizer image is translucent.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the display image is rotated around an axis.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the display image is generated using a 3D rendering engine.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the image processor is adapted to allow a user to manipulate the selected image slice using a 2D image manipulation tool.

15. A method for image processing including:

selecting a selected image slice from a plurality of image slices, wherein the plurality of image slices are based at least in part on an object;

determining a position of a localizer image with respect to the selected image slice;

generating a display image, wherein the display image includes the selected image slice and the localizer image, wherein the selected image slice is rendered about perpendicular to the localizer image; and

outputting the display image.

16. The method of claim 15, further including generating a second display image, wherein the second display image includes a second selected image slice and the localizer image, wherein the second selected image slice is rendered about perpendicular to the localizer image, and wherein the sequential output of the display image and the second display image results in the appearance of scrolling through the selected image slice and the second selected image slice.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein when scrolling, the position of the second selected image slice is fixed in relation to the position of the selected image slice in a previous display image, wherein the localizer image moves.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein when scrolling, the localizer image is fixed in relation to the position of the localizer image in a previous display image, wherein the selected image slice moves.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein data associated with the selected image slice is used to position the selected image slice with respect to the localizer image.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein a plurality of selected image slices is selected, wherein the display image is generated with the plurality of selected image slices.

21. The method of claim 20, further including generating the display image with one or more of the plurality of selected image slices rendered translucent.

22. A computer-readable medium including a set of instructions for execution on a computer, the set of instructions including:

an image slice selection routine configured to select a selected image slice from a plurality of image slices based at least in part on an object;

a positioning routine configured to determine a position of a localizer image with respect to the selected image slice;

an image generation routine configured to generate a display image, wherein the display image includes the selected image slice and the localizer image, wherein the selected image slice is rendered about perpendicular to the localizer image; and

a display routine configured to output the display image.