Sensitivity lens for assessing uncertainty in image visualizations of data sets, related methods and computer products

A graphic user interface tool, comprising:

• at least one user-selectable sensitivity lens that cooperates with a display to allow a user to select a region of interest in a rendered diagnostic medical image to automatically electronically generate different visualization versions of the region of interest associated with uncertainty in visualization of the rendered image.

A method of assessing uncertainty in rendering images of features in a medical visualization system, comprising:

• accepting user input to apply at least one sensitivity lens to a region of interest in a visualization of a rendered image;
• and
• automatically displaying different visualizations of the region of interest defined by the sensitivity lens to assess uncertainty in the visualization of the rendered image.

A signal processor circuit comprising a rendering module for rendering images from respective patient multidimensional imaging data sets obtained using one or more imaging modalities, wherein the circuit is configured to communicate with a graphical user interface associated with a client workstation to accept user input to apply at least one sensitivity lens to a region of interest in a visualized medical image rendered from a multi-dimensional image data set, whereby a sequence of different visualizations of the region of interest in the sensitivity lens is displayed in quick succession of between about 1-50 frames per second.

A computer program product for providing a visualization uncertainty assessment tool for visualizations of rendered diagnostic medical images, the computer program product comprising:

• a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied in the medium, the computer-readable program code comprising:
• computer readable program code configured to generate a sequence of different visualizations of a region of interest in an image rendered from a multi-dimensional image data set, wherein the sequence of different visualizations generated visually explore uncertainty in the visualization of features in the region of interest.

A visualization system for rendering diagnostic medical images from a multi-dimensional data set, comprising:

• a visualization system configured to apply a transfer function with an explicit probabilistic model to classify image data based on a likelihood of material type and map an intensity value to an array of pure material colors to render a medical image from a multi-dimensional image data set.

A visualization system for rendering diagnostic medical images from a multi-dimensional data set, comprising:

• a visualization system configured to substantially automatically electronically generate and display an animation of different visualizations showing potential visualization uncertainty in at least part of a diagnostic medical image.