Method and system for enhancing the quality of device images

• US 7,421,140 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2001
• Issued: 09/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shraga Rottem
• Original Assignee: Shraga Rottem
• Inventors: Rottem, Shraga
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehta; Bhavesh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Seth; Manav
• Application Number:
  US10/471,315
• Publication Number:
  US 20040122307A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,477 Days
• Field of Search: 382/124, 382128-132, 382254-275, 715764-767, 700 83- 85, 700108-111, 700186-195, 606/130
• US Class Current: 382/254
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

A system for improving the quality of medical images depicts a list of sub-optimal image situations. For each sub-optimal image situation, a list of at least one possible reason for the sub-optimal image situation is provided, sorted by the probability. For each reason in the list, a list of at least one remedy for said reason is provided. By navigating these lists, an inexperienced user of an item of imaging equipment is guided to obtain an optimal quality image.

Claims

1. A system for improving the quality of medical images comprising:

means for providing a list of a plurality of sub-optimal image situations for an operator'"'"'s selection;

for each sub-optimal image situation, means for providing a list of at least one possible reason for said sub-optimal image situation selected by said operator, wherein the list of at least one possible reason is sorted by the probability the reason being the actual cause of the sub-optimal image; and

for each reason in the list of at least one possible reason, means for providing a list of at least one remedy for said reason to said operator.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for linking a remedy to an audio or video file that contains an explanation or depiction of how to perform said remedy.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for displaying text containing a gold standard image in response to positioning a mouse cursor on said gold standard image.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising means for displaying a graph in response to said mouse cursor position.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising pattern recognition means for stopping a scan when a gold standard image has been achieved.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising means for informing a user of missing items needed to obtain a gold standard image.