Device and method for the computer-assisted analysis of mammograms
AssigneeImage Diagnost International GmbH
InventorsWilfried Schneider, Peter Heinlein, Marco Blumenthal
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device for the computer-assisted analysis of mammograms. Said device comprises means for detecting a contour line that surrounds an object area of the mammogram, which is defined by an object. The device also comprises a means for positioning and scaling the mammogram. The device is configured to determine the contour line of the object area of the mammogram and to automatically position and scale the mammogram based on the contour line. A method for the computer-assisted analysis of mammograms is also disclosed. The disclosed device and method make it easier for a doctor to comparatively analyze and diagnose mammograms.
Claims15
A method for analyzing mammograms comprising:
- determining, via a processing unit, a contour line that divides an object area from a background area of a mammogram;
- using the contour line to position the mammogram relative to another mammogram and to scale the mammogram to reduce the background area relative to the object area;
- implementing an edge treatment to determine lateral boundary lines of the mammogram;
- reading gray scale values of the mammogram along scan lines positioned perpendicular to an outer edge of the mammogram;
- determining in each case a position of a steepest gradient of the gray scale values along the scan lines;
- and
- determining the lateral boundary line of the mammogram from the positions of the steepest gradients.
A method for analyzing mammograms, the method comprising:
- calculating, via a processing unit, a histogram of a mammogram;
- determining from the histogram at least one threshold and using the at least one threshold for the binarization of the mammogram;
- binarizing the mammogram based on the at least one threshold;
- determining a contour line from the binarized mammogram that divides an object area from a background area of the mammogram;
- and
- using the contour line to position the mammogram relative to another mammogram and to scale the mammogram to reduce the background area relative to the object area.
A method for analyzing mammograms comprising:
- mounting, via a processing unit, radial scan lines via a mounting point of a mammogram;
- reading the mammogram out along the scan lines;
- determining a gradient of the mammogram along the scan lines;
- determining based on the gradient of the mammogram a contour line along each of the scan lines for each scan line respectively;
- and
- further determining the contour line along each of the scan lines based on contour points of the individual scan lines;
- selecting at least one contour line that divides an object area from a background area of a mammogram;
- and
- using the at least one contour line to position the mammogram relative to another mammogram and to scale the mammogram to reduce the background area relative to the object area.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.