Patents Assigned to Merge CAD Inc.
  • Patent number: 8150192
    Abstract: A system to collect and analyze medical image data is applicable for multi-modality medical imaging systems, such as x-ray, MRI, and the like. Medical image data is collected and analyzed to determine one or more regions of interest. A selected region of interest is further analyzed to determine morphological characteristics. A feature library, which may be in the form of a data base, is used to analyze the image on a pixel-by-pixel basis to determine the degree to which the region of interest matches selected morphological characteristics, such as shape or margin. The resultant data is used to generate a map indicating a continuum over which the region of interest matches the morphological characteristics. A display receives the map data and applies it to the video image to thereby provide the user with a visualization of the degree to which the region of interest matches the morphological characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Merge Cad Inc.
    Inventors: Tanya L. Niemeyer, Paul V. Budak, Brian W. Epps, James J. Boisseranc
  • Patent number: 8107700
    Abstract: A system provides methods to significantly improve the efficiency of reading medical image data. The workflow panel provides a grouping of tasks for reviewing and comparing medical images. Tablets are created for each task, consolidating the tools and associated hanging protocols to efficiently perform the actions for that task. The 3D navigation point keeps the current spatial focus point within the field of view as the user transitions between series, orientations, hanging protocols, and zoom levels. The spatial zoom method provides consistent zooming of series with varying fields of view and spatial resolution. Having the ability to overlay the parametric map on any series, regardless of its orientation or field of view, allows the user to correlate the parametric map with features on the non-temporal series. Integrating all of these methods with the workflow panel allows users to quickly step through the tasks in a workflow with minimal user actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Merge CAD Inc.
    Inventors: Shawni L. Daw, Brian W. Epps
  • Patent number: 7787927
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an adaptive medical image registration procedure includes a motion estimation procedure involving estimating or determining an amount of patient or tissue motion along a set of axes; an evaluation procedure involving evaluating an estimated amount of motion relative to a correction threshold; and a correction procedure involving performing a two dimensional image resampling, a three dimensional image resampling, or possibly avoiding an image resampling based upon a relationship between an estimated amount of motion and the correction threshold. Axes considered by a motion estimation procedure may include an axis of lowest image resolution, and the correction threshold may have a value given by a fraction of a lowest image resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Merge CAD Inc.
    Inventors: Chris H. Wood, Tanya L. Niemeyer