Radiographic imaging system and method

• US 7,016,464 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2005
• Issued: 03/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• 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:
  US11/126,806
• Publication Number:
  US 20050213704A1
• Time in Patent Office: 314 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 computer readable medium comprising computer software for:

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

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

2. The computer readable medium of claim 1, further comprising computer software for obtaining said calibration from said data object.

3. The computer readable medium of claim 1, further comprising computer software for configuring an interface for displaying said radiographic image in accordance with said calibration.

4. The computer readable medium of claim 3, wherein said interface is displayed in accordance with said calibration.

5. The computer readable medium of claim 1, 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.

6. The computer readable medium of claim 1, further comprising computer software for generating a calibrated image based on said radiographic image and said calibration.

7. The computer readable medium of claim 6, further comprising computer software for displaying said calibrated image through an interface in accordance with a plurality of calibration attributes associated with said calibration.

8. The computer readable medium of claim 1, further comprising computer software for 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.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein said unit of measurement includes at least one of an optical density unit and a dosage unit.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 1, further comprising computer software for 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.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein said calibration includes a plurality of calibration points and a plurality of coefficients.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein said data object includes a header, said header comprising said calibration.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein said data object includes a plurality of said calibrations associated with said radiographic image.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein said data object includes a header, said header comprising a plurality of calibration attributes associated with said plurality of calibrations.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 1, further comprising computer software for a file, wherein said data object includes at least said file accessible through said interface.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein said file includes a header, said header comprising a plurality of calibration attributes.