IMAGE VISUALIZATION

• US 20160117539A1
• Filed: 05/04/2014
• Published: 04/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: GOTMAN, Shlomo, GILBOA, Guy
• Granted Patent: US 10,095,904 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1099 scanning using X-rays
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1447 extracting optical codes from image or text carrying said optical code
• 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 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

A method includes at least a portion of an image displayed on a video screen or film, and generating a signal indicative thereof, wherein the at least a portion of the image includes encoded information identifying at least one of a visualization tool or information that are not available without the encoded information, identifying and reading the encoded information, and at least one of invoking the visualization tool or displaying the information identified and read from the encoded information.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

capturing, with a camera, at least a portion of an image displayed on a video screen or film, and generating a signal indicative thereof, wherein the at least the portion of the image includes encoded information identifying a visualization, the software visualization application not available without the encoded information;

identifying and reading the encoded information; and

executing the computer executable instructions of the software visualization application read from the encoded information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the encoded information is included in a barcode added to the image.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the barcode is added to the image at the time the image is generated.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the barcode is added to the image after the image was generated.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the barcode includes up to 2000 bytes of data.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the barcode is located in a rectangular region of the image where no anatomical or overlay information is located.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the barcode is located along a perimeter of the image.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the information includes overlay information, and further comprising:

superimposing the overlay information over the displayed image.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the visualization tool is located on a computing system displaying the image.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the visualization tool is located remote from a computing system displaying the image and accessed over a network.

11. An image, comprising:

a first region in which scanned anatomy is displayed; and

a second region in which no information is displayed, wherein the second region includes encoded information identifying a software visualization application to run, where the software visualization application is not available without the encoded information.

12. The image of claim 11, wherein the encoded information is included in a barcode.

13. The image of claim 12, wherein the barcode includes up to 2000 bytes of data.

14. The image of claim 12, wherein the barcode is located in a rectangular region.

15. The image of claim 12, wherein the barcode is located along a perimeter of the image.

16. The image of claim 12, wherein the information includes overlay information.

17. The image of claim 12, wherein the visualization tool is located on a computing system displaying the image.

18. The image of claim 12, wherein the visualization tool is located remote from a computing system displaying the image and accessed over a network.

19. A visualization computing system, comprising:

a sensor that takes a picture of an image displayed on a monitor or film and generates a signal indicative thereof,

wherein the image includes encoded information identifying at least one of a visualization tool or information that are not available without the encoded information; and

a processor that scans the signal and extracts the encoded information and at least one of invokes the visualization tool or displays information from the extracted encoded information.

20. The visualization computing system of claim 19, wherein the encoded information is included in a barcode embedded in the image.

21. The visualization computing system of claim 20, wherein the barcode includes up to 2000 bytes of data.

22. The visualization computing system of claim 19, wherein the barcode is located in a region within the image that is outside of any displayed anatomy.

23. The visualization computing system of claim 22, wherein the barcode is located along a perimeter of the image.

24. The visualization computing system of claim 19, wherein the information includes overlay information, and the processor superimposes the overlay information over the displayed image.

25. The visualization computing system of claim 19, wherein the visualization tool is located on the visualization computing system.

26. The visualization computing system of claim 19, wherein the visualization tool is located remote from the visualization computing system and accessed over a network.

27. The visualization computing system of claim 19, wherein the encoded information is includes information from a group consisting of:

patient identification, examination identification, image number, imaging protocol, acquisition parameter, detection parameter, reconstruction parameter, a private DICOM fields, anatomical tissue labeling, computer automated diagnostic information related to suspected lesions or bone fractures, fusion of medical data from other imaging modalities, dose contours for radiation therapy planning, a digital signature, radiation dose, or workflow instructions.

28. The visualization computing system of claim 19, further comprising:

updating the encoded information in response to processing the image.

29. The visualization computing system of claim 19, further comprising:

overlaying updated encoded information over encoded information, maintaining a history of the encoded information in the image.

30. The visualization computing system of claim 19, further comprising:

identifying a region of the image in which clinical information is absent and encoding the information in the identified space.