Radiographic imaging system and method

• US 6,934,358 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2003
• Issued: 08/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Radiological Imaging Technology Incorporated (Radiological Imaging Technology)
• Original Assignee: Radiological Imaging Technology Incorporated (Radiological Imaging Technology)
• Inventors: Ritt, Daniel M., Whitaker, Matthew L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bruce, David V
• Application Number:
  US10/688,130
• Publication Number:
  US 20050025287A1
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: 378/4, 378/8, 378/15, 378/19, 378/62, 378/98, 378/901
• US Class Current: 378/62
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/00 Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis; Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis combined with radiation therapy equipment instruments measuring radiation intensity for application in the field of nuclear medicine, e.g. in vivo counting, G01T1/161; apparatus for taking X-ray photographs G03B42/02
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/40 for processing medical images, e.g. editing
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 378/901 Computer tomography program or processor

Abstract

The invention relates generally to systems and methods for processing radiographic and other medical-related images (collectively “imaging system” or simply the “system”). More specifically, the invention relates to a system for associating particular calibration information with a particular radiographic image. Calibrated images processed by the system can be created from radiographic images and calibration information associated with the radiographic images. In many embodiments, the system includes a user interface that automatically configures itself in accordance with the calibration information embedded with the radiographic image. The system can include a user interface configured to obtain the calibration from the data object.

Claims

1. A radiographic system, comprising:

a data object including a radiographic image and a calibration associated with said radiographic image; and

an interface, wherein said interface is configured to obtain said calibration from said data object.

2. The radiographic system of claim 1, wherein said calibration is associated with said radiographic image by embedding said calibration in said data object.

3. The radiographic system of claim 1, wherein said interface is configured to view said radiographic image in accordance with said calibration.

4. The radiographic system of claim 1, wherein said interface is automatically configured in from said calibration.

5. The radiographic system of claim 1, wherein said interface is configured to generate a calibrated image from said radiographic image and said calibration.

6. The radiographic system of claim 5, wherein said interface is configured to automatically displays said calibrated image.

7. The radiographic system of claim 1, wherein said data object includes a header, said header comprising said calibration.

8. The radiographic system of claim 1, wherein said data object includes a file.

9. The radiographic system of claim 1, wherein said data object includes a plurality of files associated with said radiographic image.

10. The radiographic system of claim 1, wherein said calibration includes at least one of a plurality of calibration points and at least one of a plurality of coefficients.

11. The radiographic system of claim 1, further comprising an acquisition device configured to acquire said radiographic image.

12. The radiographic system of claim 1, wherein said interface is configured to convert said radiographic image into a unit of measurement in accordance with said calibration, wherein said calibration defines said unit of measurement.

13. The radiographic system of claim 12, wherein said unit of measurement includes at least one of an optical density unit and a dosage unit.

14. The radiographic system of claim 1, wherein said interface comprises a plurality of menu items, wherein said interface is configured to use said calibration to selectively display a subset of said plurality of menu items.

15. The radiographic system of claim 1, wherein said data object includes a plurality of said calibrations, wherein said calibrations are associated with said radiographic image.

16. The radiographic system of claim 15, wherein said data object includes a header, wherein said calibrations are embedded in said header.

17. The radiographic system of claim 1, wherein said calibration includes a plurality of calibration attributes configured to be accessible to said interface.

18. The radiographic system of claim 17, wherein said calibration attributes include a plurality of calibration points and a plurality of coefficients.

19. An apparatus for configuring radiographic images comprising:

a computer program tangibly embodied on a computer-readable medium, said computer program providing for a data object comprising a radiographic image and a calibration associated with said radiographic image; and

an interface configured to receive input, wherein said input includes an instruction for associating said calibration with said radiographic image, wherein said interface is further configured to obtain said calibration from said data object.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said data object includes a header, said header comprising said calibration.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said interface is configured to adjust said radiographic image in accordance with said calibration.

22. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said interface is automatically configured in accordance with said calibration.

23. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said interface is configured to generate a calibrated image from said radiographic image and said calibration.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said interface provides for displaying a plurality of views from said calibrated image.

25. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said interface converts said radiographic image to a measurement in accordance with said calibration, wherein said calibration includes a unit of measurement associated with said measurement.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said unit of measurement includes at least one of an optical density unit and a dosage unit.

27. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein a plurality of said calibrations are associated with said radiographic image by embedding said plurality of said calibrations in said data object.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said data object includes a header, said header comprising said plurality of said calibrations.

29. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said calibration includes at least one of a plurality of calibration points and a plurality of coefficients.

30. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said data object includes a file.

31. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said data object includes a plurality of files associated with said radiographic image.

32. A method for calibrating a radiographic image, comprising:

generating a data object, wherein said data object includes said radiographic image; and

associating a calibration with said radiographic image, wherein said calibration is embedded in said data object.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising obtaining said calibration from said data object.

34. The method of claim 32, further comprising configuring an interface for displaying said radiographic image in accordance with said calibration.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein said interface is displayed in accordance with said calibration.

36. The method of claim 32, wherein said interface comprises a plurality of menu items, wherein said interface is configured to selectively display a subset of said plurality of menu items.

37. The method of claim 32, further comprising generating a calibrated image based on said radiographic image and said calibration.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising displaying said calibrated image through an interface in accordance with a plurality of calibration attributes associated with said calibration.

39. The method of claim 32, further comprising converting said radiographic image into a measurement in accordance with said calibration, wherein measurement includes a unit of measurement, and wherein said calibration identifies said unit of measurement.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein said unit of measurement includes at least one of an optical density unit and a dosage unit.

41. The method of claim 32, further comprising acquiring said radiographic image with an acquisition device configured for a subsequent transmission of a plurality of said radiographic images into a plurality of said data objects.

42. The method of claim 32, wherein said calibration includes a plurality of calibration points and a plurality of coefficients.

43. The method of claim 32, wherein said data object includes a header, said header comprising said calibration.

44. The method of claim 32, wherein said data object includes a plurality of said calibrations associated with said radiographic image.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein said data object includes a header, said header comprising a plurality of calibration attributes associated with said plurality of calibrations.

46. The method of claim 32, further comprising a file, wherein said data object includes at least said file accessible through said interface.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein said file includes a header, said header comprising a plurality of calibration attributes.