Methods and apparatus for preserving orientation information in radiography images

• US 7,563,025 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2006
• Issued: 07/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: George W. Kay
• Original Assignee: George W. Kay
• Inventors: Kay, George W.
• Primary Examiner(s): THOMAS, COURTNEY D
• Application Number:
  US11/279,891
• Publication Number:
  US 20070081631A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,193 Days
• Field of Search: 378 38- 40, 378162-165, 378167-170
• US Class Current: 378/168
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/51 for dentistry
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/04 and forming images of the material
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 42/042 for dental applications radiation diagnosis specially adapted for dentistry A61B6/51; individual packages for X-ray film G03C3/003
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 42/047 provided with marking means
• CPC Class Codes: G03C 5/16 X-ray, infrared, or ultraviolet ray processes
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/73 using feature-based methods

Abstract

A method for preserving orientation information in an image may comprise: collecting image data, including orientation information inherent to collecting the image data; and embedding in the image data an orientation mark unambiguously identifying when the image data is presented in a correct viewing orientation. Image data is stored in a medium together with data forming an embedded orientation mark which is bilaterally asymmetrical in at least two orthogonal axes. In a variation, the data forming the embedded orientation mark further comprises at least one humanly recognizable text or punctuation character, word or trademark.

Claims

1. A method for preserving orientation information in an image, comprising:

reading image data from an image collecting device, including orientation information inherent to the image data; and

embedding in the image data an orientation mark based upon the orientation information, the orientation mark unambiguously identifying when the image data is presented in a correct viewing orientation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein collecting includes forming in the image data an exposure mark indicative of from which side of an image receptor radiation incident upon a target object was then incident upon the image receptor.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

detecting the exposure mark;

interpreting the exposure mark; and

determining a correspondence between the correct viewing orientation of the image data and the interpreting of the exposure mark; and

wherein embedding further comprises;

orienting the orientation mark according to the determined correspondence.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein embedding further comprises rendering the orientation mark substantially inseparable from the image data.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

including with the image data and embedded orientation mark, validation data from which a determination can be made that the embedded orientation mark and the image data are validly associated and are unaltered after embedding the orientation mark.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

removing the exposure mark from the image data.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the orientation mark is bilaterally asymmetrical in at least two orthogonal axes.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the orientation mark comprises at least one humanly recognizable text or punctuation character.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the data forming the embedded orientation mark further comprises at least one humanly recognizable word.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the text or punctuation character includes at least one numeral.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the orientation mark comprises at least one humanly recognizable trademark.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the orientation mark possesses radial symmetry whereby the orientation mark would remain readily recognizable when the image is rotated about a point.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the orientation mark is similarly recognizable when the image is viewed in portrait orientation and in landscape orientation.