US 6,310,967 B1 · Normal and abnormal tissue identification system and method for medical images such as digital mammograms

Abstract

A system and method for analyzing a medical image to determine whether an abnormality is present, for example, in digital mammograms, includes the application of a wavelet expansion to a raw image to obtain subspace images of varying resolution. At least one subspace image is selected that has a resolution commensurate with a desired predetermined detection resolution range. A functional form of a probability distribution function is determined for each selected subspace image, and an optimal statistical normal image region test is determined for each selected subspace image. A threshold level for the probability distribution function is established from the optimal statistical normal image region test for each selected subspace image. A region size comprising at least one sector is defined, and an output image is created that includes a combination of all regions for each selected subspace image. Each region has a first value when the region intensity level is above the threshold and a second value when the region intensity level is below the threshold. This permits the localization of a potential abnormality within the image.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A method for analyzing a medical image to determine whether the image is classifiable as normal, the method comprising the steps of:

applying a wavelet expansion to a digital representation of a raw image, the raw image comprising an array of sectors, each sector having an intensity level, to obtain a plurality of expansion images of varying resolution;
selecting at least one expansion image having a resolution commensurate with a desired predetermined detection resolution range;
dividing each expansion image into a plurality of regions, each region comprising at least one sector;
and
creating an output image comprising a combination of all regions for each selected expansion image, each region having a first value when the region intensity level is above a predetermined threshold level and a second value when the region intensity level is below the threshold level, for localizing a potential abnormality within the image;
wherein an absence of a predetermined number of regions having a first value intensity level is indicative of the image being classifiable as normal.

3 more elements

An apparatus for analyzing a medical image to determine whether an abnormality is present comprising:

means for applying a wavelet expansion to a digital representation of a raw image, the raw image comprising an array of sectors, each sector having an intensity level, to obtain a plurality of expansion images of varying resolution;
means for selecting at least one expansion image having a resolution commensurate with a desired predetermined detection resolution range;
means for dividing each expansion image into a plurality of regions, each region comprising at least one sector;
and
means for creating an output image comprising a combination of all regions for each selected expansion image, each region having a first value when the region intensity level is above a predetermined threshold level and a second value when the region intensity level is below the threshold level, for localizing a potential abnormality within the image.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Normal and abnormal tissue identification system and method for medical images such as digital mammograms

Life of this patent

Normal and abnormal tissue identification system and method for medical images such as digital mammograms

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25