Systems and methods for generating images of tissue

• US 9,367,965 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2013
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volcano Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Volcano Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Kemp, Nathaniel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kimbinh T
• Application Number:
  US14/036,580
• Publication Number:
  US 20140098099A1
• Time in Patent Office: 993 Days
• Field of Search: 345/419, 345/427, 351/206
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/20 Editing of 3D images, e.g. changing shapes or colours, aligning objects or positioning parts
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2210/41 Medical
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2219/008 Cut plane or projection plane definition
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2219/028 Multiple view windows (top-side-front-sagittal-orthogonal)

Abstract

The invention relates to systems and methods for three dimensional imaging of tissue. The invention provides systems and methods to provide a representation of tissue from three-dimensional data in the form of a montage of images having an indication of a spatial registration among the images.

Claims

1. A method for examining a tissue comprising:

obtaining and storing in a non-transitory memory coupled to a processor within a computing device a three-dimensional data set representing a tissue;

receiving a selection via the computing device, wherein the selection comprises data from within the data set indicating an image and a longitudinal image of the tissue;

automatically generating, using the processor, an indicator of a relationship between the image and the longitudinal image; and

automatically providing, using the processor, a visual montage representation of the tissue, the montage comprising the image, the longitudinal image, and the indicator of the relationship between the image and the longitudinal image;

wherein the longitudinal image comprises an image longitudinal display (ILD) including an axis of translation of an imaging device used for capturing the longitudinal image; and

wherein the indicator includes a longitudinal section line within the image, wherein the indicator indicates a substantially orthogonal relationship between the image and the longitudinal image and an area within the tissue illustrated by the image and the longitudinal image.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional data set comprises B-scans comprising A-lines.

3. The method of claim 1, further wherein the computing device is part of an OCT or ultrasound image collection system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the representation comprises

rendering elements within a graphical user interface and further wherein the selection is received through the use of a computer pointing mechanism.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the representation comprises saving, using the processor, a file comprising the representation to a tangible storage medium.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying, prior to selecting the data, an initial image corresponding to a portion of the data set, and further wherein selecting the data comprises selecting the initial image.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

sequentially displaying a plurality of images, wherein the plurality comprises the initial image, to create an animation of motion through the tissue, and further wherein the selection is received through the use of a device to select a point in the animation.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving new data indicating a new image or a new longitudinal image and repeating the automatically generating step and the automatically providing step.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising rendering elements of a graphical user interface to allow a user to edit the representation by one selected from the list consisting of:

adding text;

inserting an additional image from an image file;

cropping a portion of the display;

rearranging portions of the display;

adjusting color;

adjusting brightness and contrast; and

re-sizing the display.

10. A device for creating an image of a tissue comprising a memory coupled to a processor and configured to:

obtain a three-dimensional data set representing a tissue;

receive a selection of the data indicating an image and a longitudinal image of the tissue;

automatically generate, using the processor, an indicator of a relationship between the image and the longitudinal image; and

automatically provide, using the processor, a visual montage representation of the tissue, the montage comprising the image, the longitudinal image, and the indicator of the relationship between the image and the longitudinal image;

wherein the longitudinal image comprises an image longitudinal display (ILD) including an axis of translation of an imaging device used for capturing the longitudinal image; and

wherein the indicator includes a longitudinal section line within the image, wherein the indicator indicates a substantially orthogonal relationship between the image and the longitudinal image and an area within the tissue illustrated by the image and the longitudinal image.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the three-dimensional data set comprises B-scans comprising A-lines.

12. The device of claim 10, further comprising an input mechanism configured to be operably coupled to an OCT or ultrasound imaging device.

13. The device of claim 10, further comprising a computer pointing mechanism and wherein the processor is further configured to render elements within a graphical user interface.

14. The device of claim 10, further comprising a tangible storage medium and further wherein the processor is configured to save a file comprising the display to a tangible storage medium.

15. The device of claim 10, further configured to display, prior to receiving the selection, an initial image corresponding to a portion of the data set.

16. The device of claim 15, further configured to sequentially display a plurality of images, wherein the plurality comprises the initial image, to create an animation of motion through the tissue.

17. The device of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive new data indicating a new image or a new longitudinal image;

automatically generate a new indicator of a relationship between the new image and the new longitudinal image; and

automatically provide a new representation comprising the new image, the new longitudinal image, and the new indicator of the relationship between the image and the longitudinal image.

18. The device of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to present editing tools allowing a user to edit the generated display by one selected from the list consisting of:

adding text;

inserting an additional image from an image file;

cropping a portion of the display;

rearranging portions of the display;

adjusting color;

adjusting brightness and contrast;

and re-sizing the display.