Abstract: A method of imaging comprises performing a scout image of an object and aligning major regions of interest within the object by comparing the scout image with a pre-determined atlas image. In a further embodiment, a method of imaging using a computed tomography (CT) scanner is provided and comprises performing a scout image of a subject and aligning major anatomical regions of interest within the subject by comparing the scout image with a pre-determined atlas image.

Abstract: A method and system for segmenting structures such as lesions in an image is provided. The method comprises selecting one seed inside a lesion in an image either by a user or automatically. The method further includes deriving a directionally statistical model based on a background region or a foreground region of the lesion and determining candidate voxels along a radial direction. The candidate voxels represent the lesion. The method further includes segmenting the lesion using the candidate voxels.

Abstract: A method for detecting, quantifying, staging, reporting, and/or tracking of a disease includes providing analysis software configured to detect, quantify, stage, report, and/or track a disease utilizing images of a patient. The analysis software is executable on a personal computer of a patient. Patients are then imaged utilizing a medical imaging apparatus and medical images of the patient produced by the imaging apparatus are downloaded to the personal computer of the patient. The imaging and downloading are repeated a plurality of times at intervals selected to provide the analysis software with sufficient images to detect, quantify, stage, report, and/or track the disease in the patient.

Abstract: A method and system for measuring disease relevant tissue changes for use in quantifying, diagnosing and predicting a given disease are provided. The method comprises applying at least one segmenting process to the image data to generate a plurality of segmented regions of interest, extracting features relevant for a given disease from the segmented regions to generate extracted features, and mathematically modeling the features for use in one of diagnosing, quantifying and predicting changes indicative of the given disease. The system comprises an imaging device for acquiring the image data and an image process configured to segment, extract and mathematically model disease relevant features.

Abstract: A method for measuring tubular anatomical structures, for example lung airways, comprises isolating by at least one segmentation process a given tubular anatomical structure of interest and measuring at least one attribute of the structure of interest. A system for measuring lung airways using acquired image data is provided. The system comprises an imaging device for acquiring the image data and an image processing device coupled to the imaging device. The imaging processing device is configured for isolating by at least one segmentation process a given airway of interest, fitting an inner ellipse to an inner boundary of the given airway and an outer ellipse to an outer boundary of the airway structure using statistical techniques at a given point in the airway, and further configured for generating measurements of the given airway using the inner and outer ellipses.

Abstract: A volume imaging system which progressively constructs, analyzes, and updates three dimensional models while acquiring cross-sectional data is described. The system constructs and displays three-dimensional renderings, and performs quantitative calculations in real time during the imaging system data collection process, displays interactive three-dimensional renderings in a traditional post-data collection process, as well as prescribes, archives, films, and transmits rendering procedures, parameters, renderings, measurements, and processed data, during data collection and post-acquisition.

Abstract: A method for detecting, quantifying, staging, reporting, and/or tracking of a disease includes providing analysis software configured to detect, quantify, stage, report, and/or track a disease utilizing images of a patient. The analysis software is executable on a personal computer of a patient. Patients are then imaged utilizing a medical imaging apparatus and medical images of the patient produced by the imaging apparatus are downloaded to the personal computer of the patient. The imaging and downloading are repeated a plurality of times at intervals selected to provide the analysis software with sufficient images to detect, quantify, stage, report, and/or track the disease in the patient.

Abstract: Apparatus (10) for determining the leading edge (E) of an airfoil (A) includes a first light source (S1) illuminating a portion of the airfoil including its leading edge and a first camera (M1) acquiring an image of the illuminated portion of the airfoil. A second light source (S2), spaced apart from the first light source, also illuminates a portion of the airfoil including its leading edge. A second camera (M2) acquires an image of the portion of the airfoil illuminated by the second light source. The location (N2) of the second light source and the first camera are coincident in space as are the location (N1) of the first light source and the second camera. An image processor (P) processes the respective images obtained from the two cameras to locate the leading edge of the object. In doing so, the processor utilizes similarities in illumination of the airfoil by the respective light sources and occlusion boundaries of the respective illuminated portions of the airfoil.

Abstract: A method and system for measuring disease relevant tissue changes for use in quantifying, diagnosing and predicting a given disease are provided. The method comprises applying at least one segmenting process to the image data to generate a plurality of segmented regions of interest, extracting features relevant for a given disease from the segmented regions to generate extracted features, and mathematically modeling the features for use in one of diagnosing, quantifying and predicting changes indicative of the given disease. The system comprises an imaging device for acquiring the image data and an image process configured to segment, extract and mathematically model disease relevant features.

Abstract: A method for measuring tubular anatomical structures, for example lung airways, comprises isolating by at least one segmentation process a given tubular anatomical structure of interest and measuring at least one attribute of the structure of interest. A system for measuring lung airways using acquired image data is provided. The system comprises an imaging device for acquiring the image data and an image processing device coupled to the imaging device. The imaging processing device is configured for isolating by at least one segmentation process a given airway of interest, fitting an inner ellipse to an inner boundary of the given airway and an outer ellipse to an outer boundary of the airway structure using statistical techniques at a given point in the airway, and further configured for generating measurements of the given airway using the inner and outer ellipses.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward providing interactive haptic collision detection between a stationary and a moving object in a virtual reality environment. A user grasps the arm of a haptic device and manipulates an object as viewed on a virtual reality display. As any portion of the manipulated object comes too close to the surface of the stationary object, the haptic device imposes feedback forces against the user's efforts that increase in magnitude as the user manipulates the object beyond a force boundary proximate to the surface of the stationary object. The feedback forces are applied directionally in line with the shortest path between the surfaces at risk of collision. Several measures can be implemented by the user to reduce the computation load involved in constantly comparing the distances between points on the surface of the movable object and points on the surface of the stationary object without seriously compromising the collision detection and avoidance functions of the system.

Abstract: Apparatus (10) for determining the leading edge (E) of an airfoil (A) includes a first light source (S1) illuminating a portion of the airfoil including its leading edge and a first camera (M1) acquiring an image of the illuminated portion of the airfoil. A second light source (S2), spaced apart from the first light source, also illuminates a portion of the airfoil including its leading edge. A second camera (M2) acquires an image of the portion of the airfoil illuminated by the second light source. The location (N2) of the second light source and the first camera are coincident in space as are the location (N1) of the first light source and the second camera. An image processor (P) processes the respective images obtained from the two cameras to locate the leading edge of the object. In doing so, the processor utilizes similarities in illumination of the airfoil by the respective light sources and occlusion boundaries of the respective illuminated portions of the airfoil.

Abstract: A method for determining the axis of rotation (AR) of an object (12) mounted to a rotary stage or platform (10) in a gauge measurement system by estimating a transformation (&dgr;) between multiple views or measurements of the object (12) obtained at different poses.

Abstract: A method and system for creating three-dimensional models comprises the steps of generating a three-dimensional object model from a plurality of digital images of an object, creating three-dimensional coordinates from the plurality of images, identifying coordinates on a CAD model of a part which correspond to the three-dimensional coordinates, calculating a transformation matrix between the three-dimensional coordinates and the coordinates on the CAD model, and applying the transformation matrix to the CAD model to position, scale, and orient the CAD model in the object model, thus creating a composite model.