Image comparison apparatus and method

• US 6,424,332 B1
• Filed: 01/29/1999
• Issued: 07/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eisenlohr Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hunter Innovations, Inc. (Watts Water Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Powell, Douglas H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sajous, Wesner
• Application Number:
  US09/241,102
• Time in Patent Office: 1,271 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/174, 345/175, 345/176, 345/156, 345/418, 345/765, 345/112, 345/113, 345/114, 345/115, 345/118, 345/121, 345/132, 345/9, 403/61, 382/284
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/026 and a display device, e.g. CRT, LCD, for adding markings or signs or to enhance the contrast of the viewed object

Abstract

An image comparison apparatus and method for use in preoperative planning procedures which provides for superposition of a transparent medium with an image thereon, such as a medical x-ray, and a computer-interfaced display screen, and which allows a user to size, orient and spatially manipulate a digital image of on the display screen with respect to the superimposed medical transparency. A computer associated with the display screen periodically receives information updates for displayable images from product and advertising sources and electronic catalogs. The computer also transfers data to market services.

Claims

1. An apparatus for comparing dynamic digital images with a medical transparency having an image thereon, comprising:

(a) a liquid crystal display screen, said liquid crystal display screen having a plurality of pixels;

(b) a touch screen, said touch screen coupled to said liquid crystal display screen;

(c) a back light, said liquid crystal display screen coupled to said back light;

(d) a transparent panel, said transparent panel joined to said back light, said transparent panel movably coupled to said liquid crystal display screen;

(e) said transparent panel and said liquid crystal display screen structured and configured to receive said medical transparency therebetween when said liquid crystal display screen and said transparent panel are in an open position;

(f) said transparent panel and said liquid crystal display screen structured and configured to hold said medical transparency therebetween in a fixed position and to maintain said medical transparency, said liquid crystal display screen and said back light in a stationary relationship when said liquid crystal display screen and said transparent panel are in a closed position;

(g) a touch pad, said touch pad associated with said back light;

(h) a computer, said computer operatively coupled to said liquid crystal display screen, said computer operatively coupled to said touch screen, said computer operatively coupled to said touch pad, said pixels of said liquid crystal display screen responsive to said computer; and

(i) program means, associated with said computer, for generating, displaying and manipulating a digital image of a medical implant on said liquid crystal display screen according to input from said touch screen and said touch pad.

2. An apparatus for comparing dynamic digital images with a medical transparency having an image thereon as recited in claim 1, wherein said assembling means further comprises means for retaining said medical transparency in between said touch screen and said liquid crystal display screen.

3. A apparatus for comparing dynamic digital images with a medical transparency having an image thereon as recited in claim 1, wherein said program means further comprises means, responsive to input from said touch screen and said touch pad, for carrying out the operations of:

(a) allowing a user to select a viewing mode;

(b) allowing a user to select a digital medical implant image;

(c) allowing a user to select a view of said selected digital medical implant image;

(d) allowing a user to perform spatial manipulations of said selected digital medical implant image with respect to said liquid crystal display screen; and

(e) allowing a user to generate, display and manipulate digital tool images on said liquid crystal display screen.

4. An apparatus for comparing dynamic digital images with a medical transparency having an image thereon as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

(a) program means, associated with said computer, for carrying out the operation of preoperative planning analysis; and

(b) program means, associated with said computer, for carrying out the operation of postoperative outcome analysis.

5. An apparatus for comparing dynamic digital images with a medical transparency having an image thereon as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

(a) program means, associated with said computer, for carrying out the operation of updating and monitoring an inventory of medical implant items corresponding to said digital medical implant image displayed on said liquid crystal display screen;

(b) program means, associated with said computer, for carrying out the operation of downloading, to said computer, product information associated with said digital medical implant image displayed on said liquid crystal display screen; and

(c) program means, associated with said computer, for carrying out the operation of uploading market service data from said computer.

6. A apparatus for comparing dynamic digital images with a medical transparency having an image thereon as recited in claim 1, wherein said program means for carrying out the operation of allowing a user to perform spatial manipulations of said selected digital medical implant image further comprises program means for allowing a user to:

(a) translate said selected digital medical implant image with respect to said liquid crystal display screen;

(b) enlarge and reduce said selected digital medical implant image with respect to said liquid crystal display screen; and

(c) rotate said selected digital medical implant image about at least one rotational axis with respect to said liquid crystal display screen.

7. An apparatus for comparing dynamic images with a transparency having an image thereon, comprising:

(a) a display, said display having a plurality of pixels;

(b) means for illuminating said display, said display coupled to said illuminating means;

(c) means for superimposing said transparency with said display and for holding said transparency, said display, and said illuminating means in a stationary relationship, with said transparency interposed between said display and said illuminating means, said superimposing means comprising means for retaining said transparency in between said touch screen and said display and for maintaining said touch screen, said display, said transparency and said illuminating means in a stationary relationship;

(d) a computer, said computer operatively coupled to said display, said computer including a touch screen, said touch screen superimposed with said display, said pixels on said display responsive to said computer;

(e) program means, associated with said computer, for generating, displaying and manipulating a digital image on said display according to input from said user interface means, said digital image on said display in superposition with said image on said transparency.

8. An apparatus for comparing dynamic digital images with a transparency having an image thereon as recited in claim 7, wherein said superimposing means comprises:

(a) a transparent panel, said transparent panel coupled to said illuminating means, said transparent panel coupled to said display; and

(b) said transparent panel and said display structured and configured to receive said transparency between said transparent panel and said display and to hold said transparency, said display and said illuminating means in a positionally fixed relationship with respect to each other.

9. An apparatus for ,comparing dynamic digital images with a transparency having an image thereon as recited in claim 7, wherein said program means further comprises means, responsive to input from said user interface means, for carrying out the operations of:

(a) allowing a user to select a viewing mode for said display;

(b) allowing a user to select a digital image for display on said display;

(c) allowing a user to select a view of said selected digital image on said display;

(d) allowing a user to perform spatial manipulations of said selected digital image on said display with respect to said image on said transparent medium; and

(e) allowing a user to generate, display and manipulate additional digital images on said display.

10. An apparatus for comparing dynamic digital images with a transparency having an image thereon as recited in claim 9, wherein said program means for carrying out the operation of allowing a user to perform spatial manipulations of said selected digital image further comprises program means for allowing a user to:

(a) translate said selected digital image with respect to display;

(b) enlarge and reduce said selected digital image with respect to said display; and

(c) rotate said selected digital image about at least one axis with respect to said display.

11. An apparatus for comparing dynamic digital images with a transparency having an image thereon as recited in claim 7, further comprising:

(a) program means, associated with said computer, for carrying out the operation of updating and monitoring an inventory of items corresponding to said digital image displayed on said display;

(b) program means, associated with said computer, for carrying out the operation of downloading, to said computer, product information associated with said digital image displayed on said display; and

(c) program means, associated with said computer, for carrying out the operation of uploading market service data from said computer.

12. An apparatus for comparing dynamic digital images with a transparency having an image thereon as recited in claim 7, wherein said transparent medium comprises a medical transparency, and said digital image on said display comprises a graphical representation of a medical implant.

13. An apparatus for comparing dynamic digital images with a transparency having au image thereon as recited in claim 12, wherein said program means further comprises means for carrying out the operations of:

(a) pre-operative planning analysis; and

(b) post-operative outcome analysis.

14. An apparatus for comparing dynamic digital images with a transparency having an image thereon, comprising:

(a) a display, said display having a plurality of pixels;

(b) a touch screen, said touch screen coupled to said display;

(c) means for illuminating said display, said display coupled to said illuminating means;

(d) means for superimposing said transparency with said display and for holding said transparency, said display, said touch screen and said illuminating means in a stationary relationship, with said transparency interposed between said display and said touch screen, said superimposing means further comprising means for retaining said transparency in between said display and said illuminating means and for maintaining said touch screen, said display, said transparency and said illuminating means in a stationary relationship,

(e) a computer, said computer operatively coupled to said display, said computer operatively coupled to said touch screen, said pixels on said display responsive to said computer;

(f) program means, associated with said computer, for generating, displaying and manipulating a digital image on said display according to input from said touch screen, said digital image on said display in superposition with said image on said transparency.

15. An apparatus for comparing dynamic digital images with a transparency having an image thereon as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

(a) a touch pad, said touch pad operatively coupled to said computer; and

(b) said program means for generating, displaying and manipulating said digital image on said display being responsive to input from said touch pad.

16. An apparatus for comparing dynamic digital images with a transparency having an image thereon as recited in claim 14, wherein said means for retaining said transparency in between said display and said illuminating means and for maintaining said touch screen, said display, said transparency and said illuminating means in a stationary relationship, comprises:

(a) a transparent panel, said transparent panel coupled to said illuminating means, said transparent panel coupled to said display; and

(b) said transparent panel and said display structure and configured to receive said transparent medium between said transparent panel and said display and to hold said transparent medium, said display and said illuminating means in a static relationship with respect to each other.

17. An apparatus for comparing dynamic digital images with a transparency having an image thereon as recited in claim 14, wherein said program means further comprises means, responsive to input from said touch screen and said touch pad, for carrying out the operations of:

(a) allowing a user to select a viewing mode;

(b) allowing a user to select an image;

(c) allowing a user to select a view of said selected image;

(d) allowing a user to perform spatial manipulations of said selected image with respect to said flat panel display; and

(e) allowing a user to generate, display and manipulate additional images on said flat panel display.

18. An apparatus for comparing dynamic digital images with a transparency having an image thereon as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

(a) program means, associated with said computer, for carrying out the operation of updating and monitoring an inventory of items corresponding to said image displayed on said flat panel display;

(b) program means, associated with said computer, for carrying out the operation of downloading, to said computer, product information associated with said image displayed on said flat panel display; and

(c) program means, associated with said computer, for carrying out the operation of uploading market service data from said computer.