Method for adjusting an image according to a priori probabilities

• US 5,386,829 A
• Filed: 09/17/1992
• Issued: 02/07/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (Cedars Sinai Health System)
• Original Assignee: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (Cedars Sinai Health System)
• Inventors: Diamond, George A.
• Primary Examiner(s): ZELE, KRISTA MICHELLE
• Application Number:
  US07/946,748
• Time in Patent Office: 873 Days
• Field of Search: 128/653.1, 364/413.02, 364/413.16, 364/413.17, 364/413.22, 364/551.01, 364/554, 382/6, 382/39, 382/54
• US Class Current: 600/425
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/20076 Probabilistic image processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30004 Biomedical image processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/90 Dynamic range modification of images or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0012 Biomedical image inspection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

The disclosed method provides a two-dimensional display of an enhanced image of measurement data from a prescribed test (e.g., a medical test), which is adjusted to incorporate information relating to a known pretest probability that a particular condition is present. The enhancement adjusts a particular parameter of the two-dimensional image, such as gray level or hue, to facilitate a more accurate evaluation of the condition.

Claims

1. A method for providing a two-dimensional display representative of the significance of the results of a prescribed test administered to evaluate the possible presence of a predetermined condition, the method comprising the steps of:

determining a pretest probability that the predetermined condition is present;

administering a prescribed test to generate a test measurement bearing a predetermined relationship to the predetermined condition;

adjusting the test measurement based on the pretest probability determined in the step of determining, to produce an adjusted measurement; and

providing a first two-dimensional display having a parameter that varies according to the adjusted measurement.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the method further includes a step of providing a second two-dimensional display having a parameter that varies according to the test measurement; and

the variable parameter of the first and second two-dimensional displays are the same.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the two-dimensional display provided in the step of providing is a black-and-white image; and

the step of providing includes a step of varying the shade of gray of the two-dimensional display according to the adjusted measurement.

4. A method as defined in claim 3, wherein:

the two-dimensional display provided in the step of providing is a video display having an array of pixels; and

the step of providing includes steps, performed for each pixel of the display, of providing a random number and comparing that random number with the adjusted measurement corresponding to that pixel, and then displaying either a black value or a white value based on the outcome of the comparison.

5. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the adjusted measurement produced in the step of adjusting is just a single measurement; and

the display provided in the step of providing is substantially uniform across a substantial portion of its two dimensions.

6. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the test measurement generated in the step of administering includes a plurality of test measurement values representing a two-dimensional area;

the adjusted measurement produced in the step of adjusting includes a plurality of adjusted measurement values, each associated with a separate test measurement value; and

the display provided in the step of providing represents a non-uniform image.

7. A method as defined in claim 6, wherein:

the predetermined condition whose possible presence is being evaluated is a predetermined medical condition in a patient; and

the two-dimensional display provided in the step of providing represents an image of a portion of the patient'"'"'s body.

8. A method as defined in claim 6, wherein:

the method further includes a step of providing a second two-dimensional display having a parameter that varies according to the test measurement values;

the two-dimensional displays provided in the two steps of providing are black-and-white images and the two steps of providing include steps of varying the shades of gray of the two-dimensional displays according to the respective test measurement values and adjusted measurement values; and

the method further includes a step of adjusting the two displayed images to have substantially the same overall brightnesses.

9. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the test measurement is scaled to have a value between 0 and 1; and

the step of adjusting implements the following equation ##EQU3##

10. A method for providing a two-dimensional display of a section of a patient'"'"'s body and representative of the significance of the results of a prescribed medical test administered on the patient possibly having a predetermined medical condition, the method comprising the steps of:

determining a pretest probability that the patient has a predetermined medical condition;

administering a prescribed medical test on the patient to generate a test measurement bearing a predetermined relationship to the predetermined medical condition, wherein the test measurement is scaled to have a value between 0 and 1;

adjusting the test measurement based on the pretest probability determined in the step of determining, to produce an adjusted measurement, wherein the adjustment is made according to the following ##EQU4## providing a video display having a gray level that varies according to the adjusted measurement.

11. A method as defined in claim 10, wherein the step of providing a video display includes steps, performed for each pixel of the display, of providing a random number and comparing that random number with the adjusted measurement corresponding to that pixel, and then displaying either a black value or a white value based on the outcome of the comparison.

12. A method as defined in claim 10, wherein:

the adjusted measurement produced in the step of adjusting is just a single measurement; and

the display provided in the step of providing is substantially uniform across a substantial portion of its two dimensions.

13. A method as defined in claim 10, wherein:

the test measurement generated in the step of administering includes a plurality of test measurement values representing a two-dimensional area;

the adjusted measurement produced in the step of adjusting includes a plurality of adjusted measurement values, each associated with a separate test measurement value; and

the video display provided in the step of providing represents a non-uniform image.

14. A method as defined in claim 13, wherein:

the method further includes a step of providing a second two-dimensional display having a parameter that varies according to the test measurement values;

the two-dimensional displays provided in the two steps of providing are black-and-white images and the two steps of providing include steps of varying the shades of gray of the two-dimensional displays according to the respective test measurement values and adjusted measurement values; and

the method further includes a step of adjusting the two displayed image to have substantially the same overall brightnesses.