Image reporting method and system

A computer implemented method for creating a report pertaining to the diagnostic analysis of image data comprising the steps of:

• displaying an actual image of an object from the image data to a user for analysis of the image contents;
• creating in a computer memory a diagnostic finding comprising the steps of
• a) identifying an object feature shown in the image,
• b) recording in the computer memory a portion of the image containing the identified feature,
• c) associating a description code selected from a list presented to the user with the identified feature representing attribute of the identified feature;
• and
• generating a report comprising the diagnostic finding.

A computer implemented method for analysis of an image comprising the steps of:

• presenting an actual image of an object to a user for analysis of the image contents;
• analyzing the image to identify a selected feature of interest of the object;
• identifying the selected feature using an input device to selectively mark a location on the actual image representing the selected feature;
• associating a position descriptor with the selected feature representing the image coordinates of the selected feature;
• associating a description code with the feature to describe an attribute of the feature, the description code selected from a list presented to the user;
• and
• storing the position descriptor and the description code in a database,
• whereby an image finding is created that comprises the position descriptor and the description code.

A system for the analysis of image data comprising:

• an image database comprising an actual image of an object;
• a display for presenting an image from the image database to a user for analysis of the image contents;
• a position annotator for associating with a selected feature shown in the image a position descriptor representing the image coordinates of the selected feature;
• a location annotator for presenting a list of location-codes to the user and for associating with the feature a location-code denoting the location of the feature relative to a structure depicted in the image in response to a selection by the user of a location-code from the list;
• an attribute annotator for presenting a list of description codes to the user and for associating with the selected feature a description code selected by the user representing an attribute of the selected feature;
• and
• a memory for storing the position descriptor, location-code, and description code in a computer database to create an image finding that comprises the position descriptor, location-code, and description code.

A computer system for analysis of an image comprising:

• an image selector for retrieving an image from a database and for presenting the image to a user for analysis of the image contents;
• a position annotator for associating with a selected feature shown in the image a position descriptor representing the image coordinates of the selected feature;
• an attribute annotator for presenting a list of description codes to the user and for associating with the selected feature a description code selected by the user representing an attribute of the selected feature;
• and
• a memory for storing the position descriptor and the description code in a database to create an image finding that comprises the position descriptor and the description code.

A system for the analysis of image data comprising:

• a display for presenting an image of an object to a user for review;
• a position annotator for associating with a selected feature shown in the image a position descriptor representing the position of the selected feature within the image;
• a location annotator for associating with the feature a location-code denoting the location of the feature relative to a structure depicted in the image;
• a physical property annotator for associating with the selected feature a physical property characteristic representing physical property of the selected feature;
• a memory for storing the position descriptor, location-code, and physical property characteristic in a computer database to create an image finding;
• and
• a finding analyzer for creating a summary of prior findings, wherein the finding analyzer comprises a sorter for arranging the prior findings according to a selected significance of the prior findings wherein the finding analyzer comprises a finding grouper for grouping the prior findings within the summary according to the selected significance.

A computer implemented method for the analysis of image data comprising the steps of:

• presenting an image to a user for review;
• associating a position descriptor with a selected feature of the object, the position descriptor representing the coordinate of the selected feature within the image;
• associating a location-code with the feature, the location-code selected from a list presented to the user and describing the location of the feature relative to a structure depicted in the image;
• associating a description code with the feature to describe an attribute of the feature, the description code selected from a list presented to the user;
• and
• storing the position descriptor, location-code, and property characteristic in a computer database, whereby an image finding is created.

A computer system for analysis of an image comprising:

• a position annotator for associating with a selected feature shown in the image a position descriptor representing the position of the selected feature within the image;
• a physical property annotator for associating with the selected feature a physical property characteristic representing a physical property of the selected feature;
• a memory for storing the position descriptor and the physical property characteristic in a database to create an image finding;
• and
• a finding analyzer for creating a summary of prior findings, the finding analyzer comprises a sorter for arranging the prior findings according to a selected significance of the prior findings wherein the finding analyzer comprises a finding grouper for grouping the prior findings within the summary according to the selected significance.

A computer implemented method for the analysis of image data of a patient comprising the steps of:

• presenting an actual image of a patient to a user for image analysis in an interactive display;
• analyzing the image to identify a feature of interest in the image;
• identifying the feature using an input device to selectively mark a location on the actual image representing the identified feature;
• assigning a position descriptor representing the coordinates of the feature within the image;
• associating with the feature an anatomical code describing the anatomical location of the feature;
• associating a pathology code with the feature representing a pathology of the feature;
• and
• creating an image finding based on the image coordinates, the anatomical code, and the feature pathology.