Image analysis – Applications – Biomedical applications
Reexamination Certificate
2001-03-29
2004-10-19
Johns, Andrew W. (Department: 2621)
Image analysis
Applications
Biomedical applications
Reexamination Certificate
active
06807293
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
The field of the invention is medical imaging methods and systems. More particularly, the invention relates to a method of more rapidly displaying medical images on the screen(s) or other output interfaces of medical imaging system(s).
Medical imaging systems are among the most important tools of doctors in diagnosing their patients. A variety of different types of medical imaging systems have been developed such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems, CT scanning systems and positron-emission tomography (PET) scanner systems, to name a few. Depending upon the type of medical images that are required to diagnose a patient, one or more of these different systems can be employed.
Although these different types of medical imaging systems operate based upon different principles, the systems are similar in that each of the systems acquire, process, and eventually produce and display images based upon large amounts of data. Consequently, to effectively produce and display images in a manner that is useful to doctors or other operators, these systems require a great amount of processing power and speed.
Further, although the processing that must be performed by the different types of medical imaging systems in order to generate images varies from system to system insofar as the different systems acquire different types of data and acquire their data in different manners, the different types of medical imaging systems share in common similar processing operations for properly formatting and configuring the images for display on a screen. That is, the final, image processing operations performed by the different types of medical imaging systems are largely the same for the different types of medical imaging systems.
Though important to a variety of different types of medical imaging systems, the image processing operations often require such significant amounts of processing that the operations restrict the speed at which doctors or other operators can bring up and look at different images. This is particularly the case in medical imaging systems that allow operators to provide repeated input commands (e.g., by way of a mouse) to vary different characteristics of the images. For example, some medical imaging systems now allow an operator to vary any one of the window/level, position (or pan), or zoom of a particular image being displayed, merely by pressing a button in an interactive mode of operation. Additionally, some medical imaging systems allow an operator to command that a series of related images be displayed in rapid sequence.
In each of these cases, conventional methods of image processing can restrict the speed and ease with which an operator can view or modify the display of images. In the case where the operator is viewing the images in an interactive mode, conventional methods of image processing require such large amounts of processing that there can exist a significant time delay between the times at which an operator provides a particular command and at which a resulting change in the displayed image occurs. Not only can such time delays be inconvenient and annoying to an operator, but also such time delays can make it difficult for an operator to bring about desired images on the screen. In particular, the operator can sometimes provide an excessive number of commands that result in an “overshooting” of the desired image because the operator does not have a clear, immediate indication of whether the system has accepted and responded to the operator's previous commands.
Further with respect to the rapid sequential display of a series of related images, conventional methods of image processing tend to restrict the rapidity at which the series of images can be displayed, due to the large amount of processing that is required. When the rate at which the series of images is displayed decreases, the value to the operator of viewing the series of images can be reduced since patterns of changes in the images with respect to one another can become less apparent to the operator.
It would therefore be advantageous if a new method of image processing could be developed for implementation in medical imaging systems that increased the speed at which the medical imaging systems could process and display images. In particular, it would be advantageous if the new method of image processing improved the speed at which images could be processed and displayed in response to commands provided by an operator in an interactive mode of operation, for example, commands to adjust the window/level, position, or zoom of an image. Additionally, it would be advantageous if the new method of image processing improved the speed at which a series of related images could be sequentially displayed.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for rendering medical images for display on a medical imaging system. The method includes acquiring an image data set by way of an acquisitioning system, and entering a special mode of operation that is either an interactive mode of operation or a repetitive series rendering mode of operation. The method further includes pre-calculating pixel values based upon the image data set, and displaying an image on an output device based upon the pre-calculated pixel values. The method additionally includes altering at least one aspect of the displayed image, wherein the altered displayed image continues to be based upon the pre-calculated pixel values.
The present invention further relates to a method for rendering medical images for display on a medical imaging system. The method includes determining whether a specialized mode of operation has been commanded. The specialized mode is selected from the group consisting of an interactive window/level rendering mode, an interactive position rendering mode, an interactive zoom rendering mode, and a repetitive series rendering mode. The method additionally includes, if a specialized mode of operation has been commanded: pre-calculating pixels; displaying an image based upon the pre-calculated pixels; and altering the displayed image based upon a command, wherein the altered displayed image is still based upon the pre-calculated pixels. The method further includes, if a specialized mode has not been commanded, generating a standard image in accordance with a standard mode.
The present invention additionally relates to a system for rendering medical images for display on a medical imaging system. The system includes an acquisitioning system, a processing system, and an imaging system. The processing system is coupled to the acquisitioning system, and the processing system generates a preliminary image data set based upon data from the acquisitioning system. The imaging system is coupled to the processing system, is capable of generating and displaying images based upon the preliminary image data set, and is capable of entering a specialized mode of operation in response to a command. When the imaging system enters into the specialized mode, the imaging system pre-calculates pixels based upon the preliminary image data set and further performs a secondary operation to generate and display a first image. When the imaging system is operating in the specialized mode, the imaging system is capable of generating and displaying an altered version of the first image based upon the pre-calculated pixels.
The present invention further relates to a system for rendering medical images for display on a medical imaging system. The system includes an acquisitioning system for obtaining data based upon which an image can be generated and a database for storing the obtained data. The system also includes a processing system for processing the obtained data to generate a preliminary image data set, an output device for outputting the image, and an input device capable of receiving commands. The processing system is capable of responding to a first command from the input device by entering into a specialized mode of operation, pre-calculating pixels based upon the preliminary image data set, per
Deaven David M.
Mussack Christopher J.
Zavaljevski Aleksandar
GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLP
Horton Carl
Johns Andrew W.
Nakhjavan Shervin
Quarles & Brady LLP
LandOfFree
Method for multi-path rendering of medical images does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method for multi-path rendering of medical images, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method for multi-path rendering of medical images will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3316165