# US 8,751,961 B2 · Selection of presets for the visualization of image data sets

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- Number: US 8,751,961 B2
- Document ID: US8751961B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/361,003
- Filed: 2012-01-30
- Published: 2013-08-01
- Granted: 2014-06-10
- Earliest claimed: 2012-01-30
- Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba; Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
- Applicants: Ian Douglas Bird; Colin John Roberts
- Inventors: Ian Douglas Bird; Colin John Roberts
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8751961B2

## CPC

- A61B 6/563: {involving image data transmission via a network}
- A61B 5/7425: {Displaying combinations of multiple images regardless of image source, e.g. displaying a reference anatomical image with a live image}
- A61B 5/7435: {Displaying user selection data, e.g. icons in a graphical user interface}
- A61B 5/748: {Selection of a region of interest, e.g. using a graphics tablet}
- A61B 6/465: {adapted to display user selection data, e.g. graphical user interface, icons or menus}
- A61B 8/465: {adapted to display user selection data, e.g. icons or menus}
- A61B 5/0013: {Medical image data (A61B1/00011, A61B6/56, A61B8/56 take precedence)}
- A61B 6/032: {Transmission computed tomography [CT]}
- G16H 30/20: for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA

## Abstract

A computer-automated image visualization method for displaying images from an image data set comprising a plurality of image elements, each image element having an associated image value, including providing a visualization application with a library of presets, each preset defining a mapping between image values and their representation in a graphical user interface; loading an image data set from a data file containing the image data set; displaying an initial representation of the loaded image data set on a graphical user interface; receiving user input from a location in the representation to indicate a region of interest in the image data set; determining properties of image elements in the region of interest; making a list of potentially suitable presets from the library of presets based on the determined properties of the region of interest; and presenting the potentially suitable presets to the user for selection.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A computer-automated image visualization method for displaying images from an image data set comprising a plurality of image elements, each image element having an associated image value, the method comprising:
a) providing a visualization application with a library of presets, each preset defining a mapping between image values and their representation in a graphical user interface;
b) loading an image data set from a data file containing the image data set;
c) displaying an initial representation of the loaded image data set on a graphical user interface;
d) receiving user input from a location in the representation to indicate a region of interest in the image data set;
e) determining properties of image elements in the region of interest;
f) making a list of potentially suitable presets from the library of presets based on the determined properties of the region of interest; and
g) presenting the potentially suitable presets to the user for selection;
wherein the image data set is a volume data set having voxels as its image elements, each voxel has an associated voxel value as its associated image value, and the property of voxels used for the determination comprises statistical fluctuation in voxel value in said group of voxels.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising: making the list based also on header information stored in the data file.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the header information used in making the list is selected from the group including:
a) modality information;
b) contrast agent information;
c) anatomical information defining the imaged body portion;
d) medical information specific to the diagnostic purpose of the image data set;
e) medical information specific to the clinical position of the user.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising:
making the list based also on segmentation data providing anatomical information about the region of interest.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the list comprises a subset of the presets contained in the library.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the list is sorted according to potential suitability.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein presets determined to be most suitable are listed first.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the list comprises a subset of the presets contained in the library sorted according to potential suitability with presets determined to be most suitable listed first.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the potentially suitable presets are presented on the graphical user interface adjacent to the location where the user input is received.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising:
storing the list of potentially suitable presets in header information of the data file.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising:
receiving the user selection from among the potentially suitable presets; and
displaying a representation of the volume data set using the selected preset.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein, if the list consists solely of one potentially suitable preset, the method proceeds directly to display a representation of the image data set using that preset instead of step g).

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
storing the user selected preset in header information of the data file.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the region of interest includes a group of voxels defined by proximity to a point identified by the user input.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the region of interest includes a group of voxels defined by a segmentation seeded from a point identified by the user input.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

A non-transitory computer program product bearing machine readable instructions for carrying out the method of claim 1.

### Claim 17

A computer system loaded with and operable to execute machine readable instructions for carrying out a computer-automated image visualization method for displaying images from an image data set comprising a plurality of image elements, each image element having an associated image value, the computer system comprising:
a first memory unit storing a data file containing an image data set;
a second memory unit storing a visualization application with a library of presets, each preset defining a mapping between image values and their representation in a graphical user interface;
an image processing unit operable to load an image data set from the data file;
a display unit operable to display an initial representation of the loaded image data set on a graphical user interface;
a user input device operable to receive user input from a location in the representation to indicate a region of interest in the image data set;
the image processing unit being further operable to:
i. determine properties of image elements in the region of interest;
ii. make a list of potentially suitable presets from the library of presets based on the determined properties of the region of interest; and
iii. present the potentially suitable presets to the user for selection on the display unit;
wherein the image data set is a volume data set having voxels as its image elements, each voxel has an associated voxel value as its associated image value, and the property of voxels used for the determination comprises statistical fluctuation in voxel value in said group of voxels.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

An image acquisition device loaded with and operable to execute machine readable instructions for carrying out the method of claim 1.