METHOD AND DEVICE SELECTIVE PRESENTATION OF TWO IMAGES INDIVIDUALLY OR COMBINED AS A FUSION IMAGE

• US 20100201708A1
• Filed: 01/15/2010
• Published: 08/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GMBH (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Grimme, Andreas, Gossler, Thomas, Dresel, Holger, Schmidt, Sebastian, Hellinger, Marion
• Granted Patent: US 8,525,852 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/629
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/364 Correlation of different images or relation of image positions in respect to the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7425 Displaying combinations of multiple images regardless of image source, e.g. displaying a reference anatomical image with a live image geometric transforms for image registration G06T3/14; enhancement using image fusion G06T5/50; algorithms for registration of images G06T7/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7435 Displaying user selection data, e.g. icons in a graphical user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/037 Emission tomography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/462 characterised by constructional features of the display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/463 characterised by displaying multiple images or images and diagnostic data on one display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/465 adapted to display user selection data, e.g. graphical user interface, icons or menus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/5235 combining images from the same or different ionising radiation imaging techniques, e.g. PET and CT
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/5247 combining images from an ionising-radiation diagnostic technique and a non-ionising radiation diagnostic technique, e.g. X-ray and ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/36 Image-producing devices or illumination devices not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/20221 Image fusion; Image merging
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/50 using two or more images, e.g. averaging or subtraction

Abstract

In a method and device to show two different images (determined from a first image data set and a second image data set) of at least one imaging modality (in particular a medical imaging modality), the images can be presented together on a display device with a presentation area as a fusion image or as individual images. A detection arrangement associated with the display device detects a movement of at least one finger of a user on the or in the immediate proximity of the presentation area or a contact of the presentation area and, depending on the detection, produces a change of the presentation of the fusion image, or changes between an individual image presentation and fusion image presentation or between two individual image presentations. A change from the first image to the second image is produced based on a movement of at least one finger ensuing essentially parallel to the presentation area, or the display of the first image is produced or removed based on a movement of at least one finger ensuing essentially parallel to the presentation area, with the display of the second image not being altered by the movement.

Claims

1. A method for selectively presenting two different first and second images, respectively obtained from a first image data set and a second image data set that is different from said first image data set, either individually or combined as a fusion image, comprising the steps of:

with respect to a presentation area of a computerized display device, said presentation area having a first side and a second side perpendicular to said first side, detecting movement of at least one finger of a user over or in contact with a surface of said presentation area;

when one of said first or second images is currently displayed in said presentation area, as a currently-displayed image, and movement of said at least one finger in a direction parallel to said first side is detected, automatically removing said currently displayed image from said presentation area and displaying only the other of said first and second images;

when one of said first and second images is currently displayed in said presentation area, as an initially displayed image, and movement of said at least one finger in a first direction parallel to said second side of said presentation area is detected, adding the other of said first and second images to said initially displayed image in said presentation area to form a fusion image of said first and second images in said presentation area; and

when said fusion image is displayed in said presentation area, and movement of said at least one finger in a second direction, opposite to said first direction, parallel to said second side is detected, removing the other of said first and second images from said fusion image to leave only said initially displayed image in said presentation area.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising automatically timing an elapsed time after changing from said currently displayed image to display of said other of said first and second images in said presentation area, and automatically reverting to presentation of said currently displayed image after a predetermined elapsed time.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising automatically timing an elapsed time after removal of said other of said first and second images from said fusion image, and automatically restoring presentation of said fusion image to said presentation area after a predetermined elapsed time.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising displaying said first image in said presentation area with a distinguished region that is selectable by detecting a position of said at least one finger relative to said surface of said presentation area, and modifying presentation of said distinguished region dependent on the detected position of said at least one finger.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising displaying said fusion image in said presentation area with at least one region at an edge of said presentation area, and detecting a beginning of a movement of said at least one finger on said region and altering presentation of said fusion image dependent on said movement at least in a portion of said fusion image associated with said region.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising detecting said movement of said at least one finger with an infrared sensor integrated in said presentation area.

7. A device for selectively presenting two different first and second images, respectively obtained from a first image data set and a second image data set that is different from said first image data set, either individually or combined as a fusion image, comprising:

a computerized display device presentation area having a first side and a second side perpendicular to said first side;

a detector at said presentation area that detects movement of at least one finger of a user over or in contact with a surface of said presentation area;

a processor connected to said display device, said processor being configured, when one of said first or second images is currently displayed in said presentation area, as a currently-displayed image, and movement of said at least one finger in a direction parallel to said first side is detected, to automatically remove said currently displayed image from said presentation area and displaying only the other of said first and second images;

said processor also being configured, when one of said first and second images is currently displayed in said presentation area as an initially displayed image, and movement of said at least one finger in a first direction parallel to said second side of said presentation area is detected, to add the other of said first and second images to said initially displayed image in said presentation area to form a fusion image of said first and second images in said presentation area; and

said processor also being configured, when said fusion image is displayed in said presentation area, and movement of said at least one finger in a second direction, opposite to said first direction, parallel to said second side is detected, to remove the other of said first and second images from said fusion image to leave only said initially displayed image in said presentation area.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said processor is configured to automatically time an elapsed time after changing from said currently displayed image to display of said other of said first and second images in said presentation area, and to automatically revert to presentation of said currently displayed image after a predetermined elapsed time.

9. A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said processor is configured to automatically time an elapsed time after removal of said other of said first and second images from said fusion image, and to automatically restore presentation of said fusion image to said presentation area after a predetermined elapsed time.

10. A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said processor is configured to display said first image in said presentation area with a distinguished region that is selectable by detecting a position of said at least one finger relative to said surface of said presentation area, and to modify presentation of said distinguished region dependent on the detected position of said at least one finger.

11. A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said processor is configured to display said fusion image in said presentation area with at least one region at an edge of said presentation area, and to detect a beginning of a movement of said at least one finger on said region and to alter presentation of said fusion image dependent on said movement at least in a portion of said fusion image associated with said region.

12. A device as claimed in claim 7 comprising an infrared sensor integrated in said presentation area that detects said movement of said at least one finger.