Abstract: A method and system is provided for data/process sharing. A decapsulating unit is provided and resides on first system where a first application system resides. The decapsulating unit monitors, on the first system, when encapsulated data from a second application system residing on a second system, is present in the first application system. The encapsulated data, once present on the first system, is decapsulated by the decapsulating unit to obtain a trigger corresponding to the second application system and encapsulated in the encapsulated data. The obtained trigger is analyzed and the second application system is launched on the first system based on the trigger.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method and system for intelligent diagnostic relevant information processing and analysis. Information associated with a patient is processed via an image reading platform. Based on such processed information, a matrix of diagnosis decisions containing diagnostic related information is generated via a matrix of diagnosis decision platform. A diagnostic decision is made based on the diagnostic relevant information. The image reading platform and/or the matrix of diagnosis decision platform encapsulate information and toolkits to be used to manipulate the information.

Abstract: The success of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation mainly depends on the accuracy of the needle insertion, making it possible to destroy the whole tumor, while avoiding damages on other organs and minimizing risks of a local recurrence. This invention presents a simulated 3D environment for user to interactively place a treatment probe to a target position.

Abstract: Methods and system for data/process sharing between different systems. A trigger response unit is deployed on a first system where a first application resides. The trigger response unit is to detect when a representation corresponding to trigger data from a second application is present in the first application. When such a presence is detected, the detected representation corresponding to the trigger data is decoded to obtain a trigger, wherein the representation encodes the trigger corresponding to the second application and information associated with data. Based on the trigger, the first system launches the second application within the first application on the first system by utilizing the trigger data that include a trigger pattern present in a trigger image.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for image segmentation for liver objects. Segmentation is performed to obtain a first set of objects relating to liver. More than one types in association with one of the first set of objects are identified. Landmarks are identified based on the segmented first set of objects or the different types of one of the first set of objects. A second set of objects including liver lobes are segmented based on the landmarks.

Abstract: Disclosed is a graphical user interface, comprising a plurality of main displays, each for displaying an image set, a user interactive system for receiving from a user a first location of an object-of-interest in one of said image sets, and a correlation system for finding and displaying a second location, corresponding to said first location, of a corresponding second volume-of-interest in at least one of said other image sets.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for data/process sharing. A decapsulating unit is provided and resides on first system where a first application system resides. The decapsulating unit monitors, on the first system, when encapsulated data from a second application system residing on a second system, is present in the first application system. The encapsulated data, once present on the first system, is decapsulated by the decapsulating unit to obtain a trigger corresponding to the second application system and encapsulated in the encapsulated data. The obtained trigger is analyzed and the second application system is launched on the first system based on the trigger.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically reducing false-positive nodule candidates associated with airways includes receiving a nodule candidate, testing for airway cavities connected to the candidate, and recognizing the candidate as a false-positive nodule candidate if it is connected to an airway cavity; where the testing may include perpendicular testing for airways that are relatively perpendicular to an examination plane and parallel testing for airways that are relatively parallel to an examination plane.

Abstract: A system and method for appearance-based object detection includes a first portion capable of brightness and contrast normalization for extracting a plurality of training images, finding eigenimages corresponding to the training images, receiving an input image, forming a projection equation responsive to the eigenimages, solving for intensity normalization parameters, computing the projected and normalized images, computing the error-of-fit of the projected and normalized images, thresholding the error-of-fit, and determining object positions in accordance with the thresholded error-of-fit; and optionally includes a second portion capable of forming eigenimages for multiresolution for sub-sampling the training images, forming training images of coarse resolution in accordance with the sub-sampled images, computing eigenimages corresponding to the training images of coarse resolution, interpolating the eigenimages for coarse resolution, performing orthonormalization on the interpolated images by singular valu

Abstract: A method and system provided for interactive liver data processing. A vessel system with a plurality of vessel branches is obtained. Centerlines for the vessel branches are extracted and used to construct a graph representation of the vessel system. Each vessel branch in the vessel system can be labeled based on the graphic representation.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method and system for intelligent diagnostic relevant information processing and analysis. Information associated with a patient is processed via an image reading platform. Based on such processed information, a matrix of diagnosis decisions containing diagnostic related information is generated via a matrix of diagnosis decision platform. A diagnostic decision is made based on the diagnostic relevant information. The image reading platform and/or the matrix of diagnosis decision platform encapsulate information and toolkits to be used to manipulate the information.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically detecting nodules from images include a seed point generation unit for generating a seed point from a plurality of images that define a volume, a volume of interest generation unit for defining a volume of interest comprising the seed point and optionally smoothing the volume of interest with a set of pre-selected scales, a volume projection unit for choosing principal viewing axes within the volume of interest, re-slicing the volume of interest along one of the principal viewing axes and computing volume projection curves of the re-sliced volumes along the principal viewing axes, and a volume projection analysis unit for analyzing the shapes of the volume projection curves, and detecting a nodule in accordance with the analyzed shapes.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for detecting endplates of vertebra, comprising the steps of providing a filtered curvature map derived from filtering an intensity curvature map of a spine image in a direction relative to a spine axis, computing minimum and maximum curvature projections for each point along said spine axis, at a plurality of points on said spine axis, computing a score from said curvature projections, said score indicating the likelihood that the point is located on an endplate, and subjecting said score calculation to at least one of the following constraints (1) that the angle between neighboring endplates not exceed a certain value, and (2) that the variation in height of vertebra of said spine image should satisfy a global model.

Abstract: Segmentation of pulmonary nodules from digital volumetric image includes segmenting, automatically, the pulmonary nodule from attached anatomical structures by analyzing a structure of interest, and providing a template according to an analyzed structure of interest, wherein the template displays a segmentation of a volume of interest including an object of interest. The template can be adjusted according to a one or more adjustable parameters. The method stores values of the parameters according to the object of interest, and stores a segmentation of the object of interest according to the values of the parameters. The segmentation is refined by extracting and labeling surrounding anatomical structures, defining each structure touching a boundary of a volume of interest as an elongated object, determining a size and shape for each structure, and determining a distance of a current structure to the segmentation result, upon determining the distance to be small compared to a threshold.

Abstract: There is provided a computer-assisted diagnosis method for assisting diagnosis of three-dimensional digital image data. The method includes the step of receiving indicia identifying at least one region of interest in a digital medical image. Three-dimensional objects within the at least one region of interest are identified. For a given three-dimensional (3D) object within the at least one region (ROI), an extent, a centroid, and a local spinning axis of the given object are determined. Moreover, a local spinning plane is determined for the given object, the local spinning plane being centered at the centroid and the local spinning axis. The local spinning plane is rotated at least a portion of 360 degrees. The rotating step includes the step of creating a view of the given object at predefined increments of rotation, so as to result in a plurality of views of the given object.

Abstract: A computer-assisted diagnosis method for assisting diagnosis of anatomical structures in a digital volumetric medical image of at least one lung includes identifying an anatomical structure of interest in the volumetric digital medical image. The anatomical structure of interest is automatically segmented, in real-time, in a predefined volume of interest (VOI). Quantitative measurements of the anatomical structure of interest are automatically computed, real-time. A result of the segmenting step and a result of the computing step are displayed, in real-time. A likelihood that the anatomical structure of interest corresponds to a disease or an area warranting further investigation is estimating, in real-time, based on predefined criteria and the quantitative measurements. A warning is generated, in real-time, when the likelihood is above a predefined threshold.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method and system for intelligent diagnostic relevant information processing and analysis. Information associated with a patient is processed via an image reading platform. Based on such processed information, a matrix of diagnosis decisions containing diagnostic related information is generated via a matrix of diagnosis decision platform. A diagnostic decision is made based on the diagnostic relevant information. The image reading platform and/or the matrix of diagnosis decision platform encapsulate information and toolkits to be used to manipulate the information.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for detecting endplates of vertebra, comprising the steps of providing a filtered curvature map derived from filtering an intensity curvature map of a spine image in a direction relative to a spine axis, computing minimum and maximum curvature projections for each point along said spine axis, at a plurality of points on said spine axis, computing a score from said curvature projections, said score indicating the likelihood that the point is located on an endplate, and subjecting said score calculation to at least one of the following constraints (1) that the angle between neighboring endplates not exceed a certain value, and (2) that the variation in height of vertebra of said spine image should satisfy a global model.

Abstract: A system and method for automatic quantitative assessment of myocardial image quality includes a liver-heart artifact quantification unit for providing a sequence of images, detecting the heart position in each image, segmenting non-heart activity relative to the detected heart positions, measuring the liver-heart effect in each image based on the segmentations, fusing the measurements obtained in each image, and determining a quality number for the plurality of images responsive to the fused measurements; and also includes a heart detection unit for receiving the image sequence, generating a region of interest comprising the heart by 1-D pseudo-motion analysis of the image sequence, localizing the heart center by a training-based algorithm, fitting a curve to the localized heart centers of each image in the sequence, refining the heart center positions of localized heart centers falling outside of a tolerance distance from the fitted curve, and determining a bounding circle comprising the heart in accordance

Abstract: An Intelligent Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis (IQQA) system and method is disclosed that allows a user to specify certain identifying information used to search and obtain medically-related information from different sources. The medically-related information may be of different types and may be dynamically fused, when needed, to generate matrices of diagnostic information. Medical decisions such as a diagnostic decision may be made based on such matrices of diagnostic information.