Superimposed display of image contours

• US 8,994,747 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2008
• Issued: 03/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ImaCor, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ImaCor, Inc.
• Inventors: Heron, Nicolas
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Xiao M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUTTRAM, ALAN T
• Application Number:
  US12/267,262
• Publication Number:
  US 20090122082A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,335 Days
• Field of Search: 345/420, 382130-132, 382/316
• US Class Current: 345/629
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52073 Production of cursor lines, markers or indicia by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52074 Composite displays, e.g. split-screen displays; Combination of multiple images or of images and alphanumeric tabular information
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/24 involving graphical user interfaces [GUIs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10136 3D ultrasound image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30048 Heart; Cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0012 Biomedical image inspection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/30 Determination of transform parameters for the alignment of images, i.e. image registration

Abstract

Disclosed are computer-implemented methods, systems, and computer program products for displaying superimposed image contours. A first centroid or center-of-mass of a contour extracted from a first image that depicts a moving object as the object appeared at a first time is calculated. A second centroid or center-of-mass of a second contour extracted from a second image that depicts the object as the object appeared at a second time is also calculated. The second image depicts the object in substantially the same plane as the first image. The first and second contours are displayed with the respective first and second centroids or centers-of-mass positioned at a common location. In some implementations, the images are ultrasound images depicting, for example, a human heart. The images can be transgastric short axis views of the human heart.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

calculating a first centroid or center-of-mass of a first contour extracted from a first image depicting a moving object as the object appeared at a first time;

calculating a second centroid or center-of-mass of a second contour extracted from a second image depicting the object as the object appeared at a second time, the second image depicting the object in substantially the same plane as the first image; and

displaying the first and second contours superimposed on a single display, with the respective first and second centroids or centers-of-mass positioned at a common location, wherein the displaying step includes displaying at least one identifying characteristic or feature for visually distinguishing the first contour from the second contour,

wherein the step of calculating a first centroid or center-of-mass of the first contour and the step of calculating a second centroid or center-of-mass of the second contour each comprise the steps of;

partitioned a polygon into a plurality of triangles each having three vertices;

(x₁, y₁), (x₂, y₂), and (x₃, y₃);

computing a centroid (x_c, y_c) of each triangle based on the equation

2. A computer-implemented method comprising:

calculating a first centroid or center-of-mass of a first contour extracted from a first image depicting a moving object as the object appeared at a first time;

calculating a second centroid or center-of-mass of a second contour extracted from a second image depicting the object as the object appeared at a second time, the second image depicting the object in substantially the same plane as the first image; and

displaying the first and second contours superimposed on a single display, with the respective first and second centroids or centers-of-mass positioned at a common location, wherein the displaying step includes displaying at least one identifying characteristic or feature for visually distinguishing the first contour from the second contour,

wherein the step of calculating a first centroid or center-of-mass of the first contour and the step of calculating a second centroid or center-of-mass of the second contour each comprise the steps of;

determining x and y coordinates of the centroid or center-of-mass (C_x, C_y) using the equations

3. A system comprising:

a computing apparatus comprising a processor, a memory, and an image capturing module;

a calculation module to calculate a first centroid or center-of-mass of a first contour extracted from a first image depicting a moving object as the object appeared at a first time and to calculate a second centroid or center-of-mass of a second contour extracted from a second image depicting the object as the object appeared at a second time, the second image depicting the object in substantially the same plane as the first image;

a first display window in communication with the processor to display images from the image capturing module; and

a second display window in communication with the processor and the calculation module to display the first contour of the object superimposed with the second contour of the object, with the respective first and second centroids or centers-of-mass positioned at a common location, wherein at least one identifying characteristic or feature for visually distinguishing the first contour from the second contour is displayed in the second display window,

wherein the first centroid or center-of-mass of the first contour and the second centroid or center-of-mass of the second contour are each calculated by;

partitioned a polygon into a plurality of triangles each having three vertices;

(x₁, y₁), (x₂, y₂), and (x₃, y₃);

computing a centroid (x_c, y_c) of each triangle based on the equation

4. A system comprising:

a computing apparatus comprising a processor, a memory, and an image capturing module;

a calculation module to calculate a first centroid or center-of-mass of a first contour extracted from a first image depicting a moving object as the object appeared at a first time and to calculate a second centroid or center-of-mass of a second contour extracted from a second image depicting the object as the object appeared at a second time, the second image depicting the object in substantially the same plane as the first image;

a first display window in communication with the processor to display images from the image capturing module; and

a second display window in communication with the processor and the calculation module to display the first contour of the object superimposed with the second contour of the object, with the respective first and second centroids or centers-of-mass positioned at a common location, wherein at least one identifying characteristic or feature for visually distinguishing the first contour from the second contour is displayed in the second display window,

wherein the first centroid or center-of-mass of the first contour and the second centroid or center-of-mass of the second contour are each calculated by;

determining x and y coordinates of the centroid or center-of-mass (C_x, C_y) using the equations