Method and system for simultaneously displaying relationships of measurements of features associated with a medical image

• US 7,252,638 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2003
• Issued: 08/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Kahn, Robert D., Gardner, Edward A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jaworski; Francis J.
• Application Number:
  US10/601,413
• Publication Number:
  US 20040260178A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,506 Days
• Field of Search: 600/437, 600/438, 600/440, 600443-447, 600449-450, 600453-456, 128/916, 382/128, 382/131
• US Class Current: 600/443
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1075 for measuring dimensions by non-invasive methods, e.g. for determining thickness of tissue layer A61B8/0858 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/415 the glands, e.g. tonsils, adenoids or thymus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/416 the spleen
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/06 Measuring blood flow measuring volume flow in general G01F, e.g. G01F1/66, G01F1/72; measuring speed of fluids in general G01P5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0866 involving foetal diagnosis; pre-natal or peri-natal diagnosis of the baby
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/463 characterised by displaying multiple images or images and diagnostic data on one display composite display in devices for short-range imaging with acoustic waves G01S7/52074
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/481 involving the use of contrast agent, e.g. microbubbles introduced into the bloodstream analysis of echo signal exploiting properties of a contrast enhancer in devices for short-range imaging with acoustic waves G01S7/52039

Abstract

The embodiments described herein relate to a method and system for simultaneously displaying relationships of measurements of features associated with a medical image. In one embodiment, a plurality of measurements of features associated with a medical image are provided. Each of the plurality of measurements corresponds to a respective measurement type. Relationships are created between the measurements and references specific to the measurement types, and at least two of the created relationships are simultaneously displayed in a graphical display format. Examples using fetal growth data and time intensity curves are disclosed. Other embodiments are provided, and each of the embodiments described herein can be used alone or in combination with one another.

Claims

1. A method for simultaneously displaying relationships of measurements of features associated with a medical anatomic image of the interior of a single test subject, the method comprising:

(a) providing a plurality of measurements of features associated with a medical anatomic image of the interior of a single test subject, each of the plurality of measurements corresponding to a respective measurement type;

(b) associating each of the plurality of measurements with a reference specific to its measurement type;

(c) for each of the plurality of measurements, creating a relationship between the measurement and the reference specific to its measurement type; and

(d) simultaneously displaying at least two of the relationships created in (c) in a graphical display format, wherein an axis of the graphical display format is in a unitless measure of deviation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of measurements is associated with a time intensity curve.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein some of the measurements are referenced to values that are determined on the basis of the region or organ from which the data originates.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein at least one of the plurality of measurements is a parameter originating from fitting the time-intensity data with a known function.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least some of the plurality of measurements comprise different measurement types.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the measurements comprises a quantification of a physiological attribute that appears in a medical image.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the measurements comprises a quantification of a physiological attribute that is a calculation derived from raw imaging data.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the measurements comprises a quantification of a physiological attribute that is available through an imaging system but is not data that is used to create a medical image.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least some of the relationships show a measure of deviation from a normal.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein (d) comprises displaying the at least two of the relationships in a single graph.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein (d) comprises displaying the at least two of the relationships in separate graphs.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the medical anatomic image comprises an ultrasound image.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the ultrasound image shows the movement of the contrast agent that has been injected in the patient being scanned.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein (d) is performed on a medical diagnostic imaging system.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein (d) is performed on an image review system.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the image is enhanced by a contrast agent.