Computer-aided diagnosis system and method
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a source of digitized image data representing x-ray film said digitized image data having a selected spatial resolution;
a processor coupled with said source to receive said digitized image data, to process said data to detect abnormal anatomical features meeting selected criteria and to generate annotation maps identifying image portions corresponding to said abnormal anatomical features; and
a display coupled with said processor and illuminating said x-ray film for viewing at full analog spatial and contrast resolution while selectively electronically displaying in association therewith corresponding annotation maps at a lower spatial resolution than said selected spatial resolution of said digitized image data, at positions in space which are spatially matched to said illuminated x-ray film.
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Abstract
X-ray images are displayed at both high-resolution and high-illumination with annotation superimposed in registration therewith to point out suspected abnormalities identified through a process in which the x-ray images are digitized and the digitized information is subjected to feature extraction processing. For example, the x-ray images are displayed at high resolution and high illumination in the form of x-ray film images displayed on a light box while the annotation information is selectively superimposed on the same image by a separate imaging system co-acting with the light box. In this manner, the radiologist can view either the x-ray film alone, in the conventional manner, or the same x-ray film, at the same position and at the same high resolution and at the same or substantially the same illumination level but with annotation information superimposed and in registration therewith. In addition, alternative ways are disclosed for displaying the high resolution x-ray image and for selectively superimposing the annotation information thereon.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a source of digitized image data representing x-ray film said digitized image data having a selected spatial resolution; a processor coupled with said source to receive said digitized image data, to process said data to detect abnormal anatomical features meeting selected criteria and to generate annotation maps identifying image portions corresponding to said abnormal anatomical features; and a display coupled with said processor and illuminating said x-ray film for viewing at full analog spatial and contrast resolution while selectively electronically displaying in association therewith corresponding annotation maps at a lower spatial resolution than said selected spatial resolution of said digitized image data, at positions in space which are spatially matched to said illuminated x-ray film. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 20)
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2. A method comprising the steps of:
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providing x-ray film and generating therefrom digitized image data having a selected spatial resolution; computer-processing said image data to generate respective annotation maps for said x-ray film through an image analysis process identifying anatomical abnormalities at image portions meeting selected criteria; and illuminating said x-ray film for viewing at full analog spatial and contrast resolution, and concurrently electronically displaying said respective annotation maps at a lower spatial resolution than said selected spatial resolution of said image data, at positions in space corresponding to those of said illuminated x-ray film. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification