SYSTEM PROVIDING COMPANION IMAGES

• US 20110126149A1
• Filed: 11/09/2010
• Published: 05/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CareStream Health Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CareStream Health Incorporated
• Inventors: Odorczyk, Kevin C., Lalena, Michael C., Hoeflein, Karl F., Wang, Xiaohui
• Granted Patent: US 9,996,971 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/805
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics
• 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: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

A method for presenting radiographic images of a subject obtains, from the same radiographic image capture, at least a first image and a second image, wherein the at least first and second images differ in presentation. The method associates the at least first and second images as companion images according to one or more entered instructions. There is displayed at least a first executable data link that relates to a first storage location of the first image and a second executable data link that relates to a second storage location of the second image. In response to an operator selection of either of or both of the first and second executable data links, the method displays either the corresponding first or second image, or both companion images.

Claims

1. A method for presenting radiographic images of a subject, the method executed at least in part on a computer system, comprising:

obtaining, from the same radiographic image capture, at least a first image and a second image, wherein the at least first and second images differ in presentation;

associating the at least first and second images as companion images according to one or more instructions;

displaying at least a first executable data link that relates to a first storage location of the first image and a second executable data link that relates to a second storage location of the second image; and

responding to an operator selection of either of or both of the first and second executable data links by displaying either the corresponding first or second image, or by displaying both companion images.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first image is generated by processing raw image data originating from a radiographic imaging system and wherein the second image is generated by processing the first image.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first image is raw image data originating from a radiographic imaging system and wherein the second image is generated by processing the same raw image data originating from the radiographic imaging system.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

executing an operator command to modify the displayed first or second image; and

applying the operator modification to one or more companion images of the displayed first or second image.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the operator modification comprises one or more of application of a digital marker, grid suppression, noise suppression, image rotation, masking, grayscale inversion, zooming, panning, local magnification, cropping, brightness adjustment, contrast adjustment, window adjustment, linear measurement, and angular measurement.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the operator modification relates to adding, editing, positioning, or removing text or a symbol.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein obtaining the second image comprises automatically generating the second image when the first image is acquired.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein obtaining the second image comprises obtaining image data that is enhanced to improve tubing visibility or to improve pneumothorax visibility.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more entered instructions are entered before the image data is acquired.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising printing one or more of the companion images.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein one or more of the at least first and second executable data links is displayed as one or more of a thumbnail image, a text field, a command button, and an on-screen icon.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein sequentially selecting the first and second executable data links allow the operator to toggle between display of the at least first and second images.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising accepting one or more operator instructions that designate at least the first and second storage locations.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising deleting one or more companion images in response to entry of a delete instruction.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein associating the at least first and second images as companion images further comprises assigning a corresponding storage location for each of the at least first and second images.

16. A method for presenting radiographic images of a subject, the method executed at least in part on a computer system and comprising:

acquiring a primary image from image data of the subject from a radiographic system;

acquiring one or more secondary images generated from the acquired primary image data;

associating the primary and the one or more secondary images as companion images for the subject;

displaying, for each individual companion image, a corresponding executable data link, wherein the executable data link relates to a storage address for the corresponding companion image; and

responding to an operator selection of one or more of the executable data links by displaying the corresponding companion image.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein responding to the operator selection comprises providing the corresponding storage address for the companion image.

18. A system for management of a plurality of radiographic images that relate to a single image capture of a subject, wherein the system has an operator interface that comprises:

a management utility that is configurable to associate the plurality of radiographic images as companion images according to operator-entered instructions; and

a display that provides a display area that allows an operator to view one or more of the companion images and a control area that provides image modification utilities for modifying the companion images.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the image modification utilities are taken from the group consisting of a utility for placement of a digital marker on the image, a utility for placement of text annotation onto or alongside the image, a utility for grid suppression, a utility for noise suppression, an image rotation utility, a masking utility, a utility for grayscale inversion, a utility for zooming, a utility for panning, a utility for local magnification, a cropping utility, an annotation utility, a utility for brightness adjustment, a utility for contrast adjustment, a utility for window adjustment, a linear measurement tool, and an angular measurement tool.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein the management utility allows the operator to allow or disallow automatic generation of a companion image according to the subject of the single image capture.