Abstract: According to one embodiment, workflow templates are stored, each including a predefined sequence of workflow stages associated with a particular type of medical diagnosis or process. Each workflow stage defines one or more image processing operations to be performed. At least one workflow stage generates metadata specifying a parameter to be used by another workflow stage for processing a corresponding medical image. In response to medical image data received, at least one of the image processing operations defined by the workflow stages is performed on the medical image data. A scene is generated for each of the workflow stages representing an image view representing the medical image data. In response to a save or validate command received from a user, the scene associated with each of the workflow stages is stored in a persistent storage, which can be used to recreate a corresponding medical image view subsequently.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a cloud server receives over a network a request for accessing three-dimensional (3D) medical image data from a first user, where the cloud server provides image processing services to a plurality of users using a plurality of image processing tools provided by the cloud server. The cloud server determines user privileges of the users for accessing the 3D medical image data, where the user privileges are related to the 3D medical image data. The 3D medical image data was captured by a medical imaging device and stored in a storage associated with the cloud server. The availability of the image processing tools is limited to the user to process the 3D medical image data based on the user privileges.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, at least a portion of medical information of a patient is displayed within MRCS executed within a local device, the medical information including medical treatment history of the patient. At least a portion of the displayed medical information of the patient is transmitted to a medical imaging processing server over a network, where the transmitted medical information includes a patient identifier (ID) of the patient. Both the at least a portion of patient medical information and one or more medical images are displayed within the MRCS, where the medical images are associated with the patient and rendered by the medical image processing server. A set of icons representing a set of image processing tools is displayed within the MRCS, which when activated by a user, allow an image to be manipulated by the imaging processing server.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, workflow templates are stored, each including a predefined sequence of workflow stages associated with a particular type of medical diagnosis or process. Each workflow stage defines one or more image processing operations to be performed. At least one workflow stage generates metadata specifying a parameter to be used by another workflow stage for processing a corresponding medical image. In response to medical image data received, at least one of the image processing operations defined by the workflow stages is performed on the medical image data. A scene is generated for each of the workflow stages representing an image view representing the medical image data. In response to a save or validate command received from a user, the scene associated with each of the workflow stages is stored in a persistent storage, which can be used to recreate a corresponding medical image view subsequently.

Abstract: Some embodiments of a workflow management system to process medical image data generated by a medical imaging device have been presented. In one embodiment, a user selects a workflow template with a predefined set of image processing stages, and applies the workflow template to the medical image data. Each of the predefined set of image processing stages in the workflow template includes one or more image processing operations. Each of the image processing operations is capable of generating metadata for processing the medical image data. The medical image data is then processed through each of the predefined image processing stages. The result of processing is a collection of metadata. Each metadata in the collection can be applied to the medical image data to generate a medical image view.

Abstract: A system is provided wherein data processing devices are connected to a high-speed picture archiving and communications system (PACS) server network that archives and transmits medical image data. As part of a diagnostic process, medical images are processed at the data processing devices and image processing parameter (IPP) sets are created. The image processing parameters are attached to image diagnosis reports and can be used to recreate the processing of key images that are referenced in the image diagnosis reports. Users of the diagnostic reports can send the IPP sets to the PACS server network to recreate and retrieve key diagnostic images. The image data can be compressed for transmission over low bandwidth networks.

Abstract: In a system in which data processing devices are set up in the vicinity of or directly connected to data archiving devices of a plurality of medical image systems, image data and image processing parameters are specified from user terminal devices connected to the network. Image data specified by data processing devices is acquired, specified image processing operations are performed and the results of the image processing are sent to user terminal devices. The user terminal devices receive results of image processing from multiple data processing devices, image processing operations such as superimposition and fusion are conducted, and the results are displayed. Image processing operations therefore can be applied to image data stored in data archiving devices of multiple facilities for medical treatment using data processing devices in the vicinity without acquisition through the network.

Abstract: A three-dimensional medical image display system comprises a pre-processing device that includes data analysis device and a data processing device. The pre-processing device inputs a set of medical image data created by a scan performed by a medical imaging device. The data analysis device determines a set of analytic protocols for processing the image data by analyzing the image data. The data processing device processes the image data according to a protocol and a corresponding set of parameters identified by the data analysis device.

Abstract: An imaging device accesses projection data collected by a medical imaging system during a scan of a body. The imaging device uses the projection data directly to render an image of a region of interest of the body.

Abstract: A system to create and review reports enables interactive manipulation of the displaying of two-dimensional and three-dimensional images associated with image diagnosis reports, at user terminals connected to a medium- or low-speed network. High-speed image processing devices are set up near the network of a PACS server which archives and transmits medical image data, and parameter sets are attached which serve to recreate reference images in diagnosis reports. When users at a requesting department review the reports at user terminals, parameter sets are added to the reports and transmitted to image processing devices. The image processing devices obtain image data from the PACS server based on these parameter sets. Image processing is performed, and the image data is then sent to user terminals.

Abstract: A method of three-dimensional image processing includes storing a set of compressed image data in a memory, the image data usable for creating three-dimensional images, identifying and decoding portions of the set of compressed image data stored in the memory based on requests sequentially issued by an image processing engine according to a progress of image processing, and providing the decoded portions of the set of compressed image data to the image processing engine.

Abstract: Multiple objects having the same physical property within a subject are displayed as distinct three-dimensional images in one or more views. Projection data obtained by scanning the subject with electromagnetic radiation are used to create a spatial distribution of absorption values for the subject that is displayed as an image on an image display unit. The spatial distribution is also stored as a series of voxels representing a three-dimensional image of the subject. Particular spatial regions within the image are defined as objects, with each object comprising a set of voxels. The objects are grouped into one or more views using a set selection panel on the image display unit. A density, gradient and color for each object in a view are determined based on properties input through the a series of object property setting panels on the image display unit. Each object in a particular view is associated with one of the property setting panels.

Abstract: A three-dimensional image processing system enables multiple users at distant locations employing ordinary personal computers to construct and observe three-dimensional images simultaneously. In a network environment, a three-dimensional image processing device acquires image data and incorporates it into three-dimensional voxels based on instructions from the computers. The device operates on the three-dimensional voxels using object space domain, opacity and color parameters to construct three-dimensional data and operates on the three-dimensional data using projection processing parameters to construct three-dimensional images. The system sets projection processing parameters for constructing three-dimensional images from three-dimensional data and displays three-dimensional images which may be routed to the various computers via the network.

Abstract: A volume data set composed of voxels is rendered onto an image plane composed of pixels by casting a ray through each pixel of the image plane. A surface of the volume data set is selected as a base plane. Sample points are defined along each ray so that the sample points lie in planes parallel to the base plane. Voxels adjacent to each sample point are sampled to determine a sample value for each sample point, and the sample values of each ray are combined to determine a pixel value for each pixel.

Abstract: A method renders a volume data set as an image in a volume rendering system. The volume data set includes a plurality of voxels stored in a memory. The volume rendering system includes a plurality of parallel processing pipelines. The image includes a plurality of pixels stored in the memory. A set of rays are cast through the volume data set. The volume data set is partitioned into a plurality of sections aligned with the sets of rays. Voxels along each ray of each set are sequentially interpolated voxels in only one of the plurality of pipelines to generate samples only as long as the samples contribute to the image.

Abstract: A method corrects opacity values of samples in a rendering pipeline. The method partitions a range of uncorrected alpha values into a plurality of segments in a low to high order. Corrected alpha values for uncorrected alpha values in the highest segment are determined by direct table look-up. Corrected alpha values for uncorrected alpha values in all but the highest segment are determined by linear interpolation.

Abstract: A system to create and review reports enables interactive manipulation of the displaying of two-dimensional and three-dimensional images associated with image diagnosis reports, at user terminals connected to a medium- or low-speed network. High-speed image processing devices are set up near the network of a PACS server which archives and transmits medical image data, and parameter sets are attached which serve to recreate reference images in diagnosis reports. When users at a requesting department review the reports at user terminals, parameter sets are added to the reports and transmitted to image processing devices. The image processing devices obtain image data from the PACS server based on these parameter sets. Image processing is performed, and the image data is then sent to user terminals.

Abstract: A plurality of identical rendering pipelines are connected in parallel to read an array of voxels and to write an array of pixels. Each pipeline processes one voxel in one processing cycle of the pipelines. Each pipeline includes a plurality of serially connected different stages. The stages can include interpolation, classification, gradient estimation, illumination, and compositing stages. Interfaces connect identical stages in adjacent pipelines as one-way rings to communicate information associated with spatially adjacent voxels, and delay buffers connected parallel to particular stages communicate information associated with temporally adjacent voxels.

Abstract: A volume rendering integrated circuit includes a plurality of interconnected pipelines having stages operating in parallel. The stages of the pipelines are interconnected in a ring, with data being passed in only one direction around the ring. The volume integrated circuit also includes a render controller for controlling the flow of volume data to and from the pipelines and for controlling rendering operations of the pipelines. The integrated circuit may further include interfaces for coupling the integrated circuit to various storage devices and to a host computer.

Abstract: A volume rendering processor renders a two-dimensional image from a volume data set of voxels constituting a three-dimensional representation of an object. Voxel memory interface logic retrieves the voxels from a voxel memory in a scanned order with respect to X, Y and Z coordinate axes, the Z axis being the axis most nearly parallel to a predefined viewing direction. The set of voxels having equal Z coordinate values are referred to as a “slice” of voxels. Interpolation logic calculates a sequence of samples from the retrieved voxels such that (i) each sample lies along a corresponding imaginary ray extending through the object parallel to the viewing direction, (ii) each sample results from interpolating the eight voxels surrounding the sample in the XYZ coordinate system. “Supersampling” in the Z dimension is performed such that the number of samples calculated for each ray is greater than the number of slices of voxels in the volume data set.