US 5,987,345 AGranted

Method and system for displaying medical images

AssigneeArch Development Corporation

InventorsRoger Engelmann, Kenneth R. Hoffmann, Heber MacMahon, Kunio Doi

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Abstract

A method and system for displaying medical images and computer output from various CAD schemes on the images. Images are loaded into the display system and displayed in a main viewing area. The system can display various CAD schemes, such as the automated detection of lung nodules, interstitial infiltrates, and heart size, in the case of a chest image, on the image. The method and system also display interval change (temporal subtraction) between images. Individual abnormality from CAD schemes can be viewed by clicking buttons with minified (postage stamp size) images with CAD annotation rendered into them. The images and results are then shown on a high-speed monitor. Interval change between the current and a previous image can also be chosen by clicking buttons containing minified images. Interval change between any other pair of images for a patient can be selected by choosing from minified subtraction images presented in a two-dimensional array format. A previewer next to the array permits rapid inspection of subtraction images before a subtraction set is chosen for detailed study.

Claims54

Dependent claims

A computerized method of displaying medical images, comprising:

obtaining a first medical image representative of an anatomy as said anatomy existed at a first point in time;
obtaining a second medical image representative of an anatomy as said anatomy existed at a second point in time temporally spaced from said first point in time;
obtaining a temporal subtraction image in which one of said first and second medical images of said anatomy is subtracted from the other thereof, said temporal subtraction image highlighting changes occurring in said anatomy between said first and second points in time;
obtaining at least one first diagnostic image of said first medical image, each diagnostic image including said first medical image having superimposed respective diagnostic annotations indicative of the results of computer aided diagnosis superimposed on said first medical image, said diagnostic annotations being displayed in spatial relation to respective portions of said anatomy;
displaying one of said first medical image, said second medical image, said temporal subtraction image and said first diagnostic image in a first display area of a first display screen;
and
displaying said first medical image, said second medical image, said temporal subtraction image and said first diagnostic image including said respective diagnostic annotations in a second display area of said first display screen for visual comparison with the image displayed in said first display area.

4 more elements

In a computerized system for displaying medical images, the improvement comprising:

a mechanism configured to obtain a first medical image representative of an anatomy as said anatomy existed at a first point in time;
a mechanism configured to obtain a second medical image representative of the anatomy as said anatomy existed at a second point in time;
a mechanism configured to obtain a temporal subtraction image in which one of said first and second medical images is subtracted from the other thereof;
a mechanism configured to obtain plural diagnostic images of said first and second medical images, each diagnostic image including said one of said first and second medical images having a respective diagnostic annotation, indicative of the results of computer aided diagnosis, superimposed on the respective of said first and second medical images in spatial relation to respective portions of said anatomy;
a mechanism configured to display at least one of said first and second medical images, said temporal subtraction image and said diagnostic images in a first display area of a first display screen;
and
a mechanism configured to display said first and second medical images, said temporal subtraction image and said diagnostic images including said respective diagnostic annotations in a second display area of said first display screen for visual comparison with the image displayed in said first display area.

4 more elements

A computerized system of displaying medical images, comprising:

a mechanism configured to obtain plural medical images representative of an anatomy as said anatomy existed at different points in time;
a mechanism for obtaining at least one temporal subtraction image formed by subtraction of a first of said plural medical images from at least a second of said plural medical images;
a display mechanism configured to display said medical images and said at least one temporal subtraction image arranged in a matrix, said matrix including a first row in which said second medical image is displayed, and a second row in which a temporal subtraction image and said first medical image are displayed with the temporal subtraction image arranged substantially vertically aligned in a column with the second medical image and horizontally aligned with the first medical image in said second row, said subtraction image having been derived by a subtraction operation performed between said first and second medical images.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.