System and method for automatic detection and registration of medical images

A method for automatically registering medical images with an image coordinate system, the method comprising steps of:

• a) arranging a fiducial frame having a plurality of elongated fiducial markers arranged asymmetrically proximate to a subject;
• b) acquiring, with a medical imaging system, image data of the subject and fiducial frame;
• c) applying a line filter that treats the elongated fiducial markers as lines within the image data;
• d) distinguishing the elongated fiducial markers within the image data;
• e) matching the elongated fiducial markers within the image data to a model of the elongated fiducial markers;
• f) registering the image data with a coordinate system based on the matching of the elongated fiducial markers to the model of the elongated fiducial markers;
• and
• g) generating a report indicating at least the registered image data.

A system for automatically registering medical images with an image coordinate system, the system comprising:

• a fiducial frame having a plurality of elongated fiducial markers arranged asymmetrically within the fiducial frame;
• an imaging system configured to acquire image data from the fiducial frame and a subject located proximate to the fiducial frame;
• a computer system including a non-transitive, computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a program that causes the computer system to:
• access the image data of the subject and the fiducial frame;
• analyze the image data to detect the elongated fiducial markers by applying a line filter to treat the elongated fiducial markers as lines within the image data;
• match the elongated fiducial markers detected within the image data to a model of the elongated fiducial markers;
• register the image data with a coordinate system based on the matching of the enhanced contrast of the elongated fiducial markers to the model of the elongated fiducial markers;
• and
• generate a report indicating at least the registered image data.