Semi-transparent medical image overlays
AssigneeGE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC
InventorsWilliam M. Stoval, III, Matthew W. Turek
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention, in one form, is a system for simultaneously displaying an image object generated from an imaging system and a graphical object so that each object is fully visible. More specifically, after generating the image object, a graphical object is generated having a partial opacity value. The image object and graphical object are then sorted and combined so that the graphical object is in front of, or overlays, the image object without blocking or obscuring the information included in the image object. Particularly, a final image is generated by combining a destination value for components of each object.
Claims25
A method of displaying objects on medical images generated by an imaging system, said method comprising the steps of:
- generating at least one medical image object using the imaging system;
- receiving data from a user regarding a selection of an area of the generated medical image;
- generating at least one graphical object based on the received data, each graphical object having a determined opacity value;
- and
- sorting the objects, and
- generating a composite image of the objects, wherein said generating a composite image of the objects comprises the step of blending of each image object and each graphical object, wherein said blending each image object and each graphical object comprises the steps of:
- determining a source scale factor;
- and
- determining a destination scale factor for a component Cd, in accordance with:
- C d = min ( k A , Cs * ( A s k A ) + C d - 1 ( 1 - A s k A ) ) ,
- where:
- As equals an alpha value for a source;
- kA equals 2Mc−1, where Mc equals a number of bitplanes in an alpha component;
- Cs is a source value of a single component of the graphical object;
- and
- Cs and Cd−1 are from the same component as Cd.
A computer system for displaying objects generated by a medical imaging system, the medical imaging system configured to generate at least one image object, said computer system configured to:
- receive data from a user regarding a selection of an area of the generated medical image;
- generate at least one graphical object based on the received data, each graphical object having a determined opacity value, and
- sort the objects;
- and
- generate a composite image of the objects, wherein to generate a composite image of the objects, said computer further configured to blend each image object and each graphical object, wherein to blend each image object and each graphical object, said computer further configured to:
- determine a source scale factor;
- and
- determine a destination scale factor for a component Cd, in accordance with:
- C d = min ( k A , Cs * ( A s k A ) + C d - 1 ( 1 - A s k A ) ) ,
- where:
- As equals an alpha value for a source;
- kA equals 2Mc−1, where Mc equals a number of bitplanes in an alpha component;
- Cs is a source value of a single component of the graphical object;
- and
- Cs and Cd−1 are from the same component as Cd.
An imaging system for generating medical images, said imaging system comprising a computer, said computer programmed to:
- generate at least one image object, each said image object comprising a medical image;
- receive data from a user regarding a selection of an area of the generated medical image;
- generate at least one graphical object based on the received data, each said graphical object having a determined opacity value;
- and
- sort the objects in a back to front order;
- and
- generate a composite image of the objects, wherein to generate a composite image of the objects, said computer further configured to blend each image object and each graphical object, wherein to blend each image object and each graphical object, said computer further configured to:
- determine a source scale factor;
- and
- determine a destination scale factor for a component Cd, in accordance with:
- C d = min ( k A , Cs * ( A s k A ) + C d - 1 ( 1 - A s k A ) ) ,
- where:
- As equals an alpha value for a source;
- kA equals 2Mc−1, where Mc equals a number of bitplanes in an alpha component;
- Cs is a source value of a single component of the graphical object, and
- Cs and Cd−1 are from the same component as Cd.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.