Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing testing a computer aided diagnosis (CAD)-based system comprising receiving radiological image of a patient acquired using at least one piece of radiological equipment at least partially controlled by a technologist, the patient being controlled by the technologies relative to the radiological equipment in acquiring said radiological image.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for facilitating temporal comparison of medical images is provided, with one exemplary application being for breast mammograms. In one embodiment, prior and subsequent mammographic images of a breast acquired using at least partially different mammogram acquisition systems are displayed for simultaneous viewing on a same mammogram display at an identical tissue distance per unit display distance without requiring a scale-adjusting viewer input. Also described are other embodiments for optimally scaling, windowing and/or otherwise advantageously processing and/or displaying prior and subsequent mammographic image sets in manners that facilitate temporal comparison therebetween.

Abstract: A method and system for computer-aided detection of abnormal lesions in digital mammograms is described, wherein digital films are processed using an automated and computerized method of detecting the order and orientation of a set of films. In one embodiment, anatomic features are used to detect the order, orientation and identification of a film series. In another embodiment of the invention, a technologist feeds films into the system in any order and orientation. After processing, the system provides an output on a display device to a radiologist that is in an order and orientation preferred by the radiologist. In yet another embodiment of the invention, films from one case are distinguished from films of another case. In this manner and through the use of a bulk loader, a large number of films can be stacked together and fed into the system at one time.

Abstract: Managing a patient worklist in a radiology environment is described, the patient worklist identifying a plurality of medical imaging cases to be reviewed at a radiology review workstation. For each case, a set of CAD-computed metrics is received, the CAD-computed metrics being derived from an operation of a CAD processing algorithm on that case. According to a preferred embodiment, the cases in the patient worklist are sorted according to at least one of the CAD-computed metrics. The reviewing radiologist is provided with greater insight into, and control over, patient workflow at the radiology review workstation. Also described is a graphical user interface for easy user customization of the case sorting criteria. Examples of case sorting criteria include a number of CAD markers per case metric, a maximum suspiciousness metric, and an anatomical complexity metric.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing an independent display system for a computer aided detection (CAD) system that analyzes medical images. The independent display system comprises a screen to display a medical image including any marked regions of interest and a plurality of icons to interact with the screen. For one embodiment, the screen is a touch screen, such that the independent display system does not require a keyboard or cursor controller.

Abstract: Display and navigation for multiple computer-aided detection (CAD) detections is described. A medical image is displayed to a viewer, and a request is received to instantiate CAD-assisted viewing. A timewise presentation sequence for the CAD detections is automatically computed according to a predetermined sequencing criterion. For each CAD detection, an expanded presentation window is displayed for its associated location in the medical image, the expanded presentation windows being displayed according to the timewise presentation sequence. Also described is a navigational tool comprising a plot of an operating curve onto which a computed feature associated with the CAD algorithm can be mapped, the operating curve characterizing an application of the CAD algorithm to a reference database of mammographic cases having known diagnoses.

Abstract: A method and system for computer-aided detection of abnormal lesions in digital mammograms is described, wherein digital films are processed using an automated and computerized method of detecting the order and orientation of a set of films. In one embodiment, anatomic features are used to detect the order, orientation and identification of a film series. In another embodiment of the invention, a technologist feeds films into the system in any order and orientation. After processing, the system provides an output on a display device to a radiologist that is in an order and orientation preferred by the radiologist. In yet another embodiment of the invention, films from one case are distinguished from films of another case. In this manner and through the use of a bulk loader, a large number of films can be stacked together and fed into the system at one time.

Abstract: A review workstation for facilitating interpretation of a medical image by a user is described. The review workstation comprises a display device displaying the medical image to the user, and an input device receiving a graphical identification of a region of interest (ROI) in the medical image that is interesting to the user. Responsive to the identification of the ROI, a content-based image comparison is performed between the ROI and a resource database, the resource database comprising a collection of resource images previously analyzed by human interpreters and textual information associated with those previous analyses. The content-based image comparison comprises identifying a subset of the resource images similar to the ROI with respect to a preselected set of computed features. The display device subsequently displays to the user at least one of the identified subset of resource images and its associated textual information simultaneously with the ROI.

Abstract: A system, method, and related computer program products for processing mammographic data are described. A digitizer receives a plurality of film cases arranged in a film case sequence, each film case comprising at least one mammographic film, the digitizer scanning each film case for generating a digitized version thereof. A processor processes the digitized versions according to at least one computer-aided detection (CAD) algorithm for detecting anatomical abnormalities therein. A display coupled to the processor displays a graphical status indicator comprising a plurality of film case icons, each film case icon corresponding to one of the film cases, wherein the film case icons are spatially ordered according to the film case sequence, and wherein each film case icon is configured to graphically communicate a current state of the scanning/processing for its corresponding film case.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for analyzing a medical image obtained from one of a plurality of modalities, the method comprising normalizing the medical image to create a uniform display quality regardless of the original modality of the image.

Abstract: A method, system, and method of doing business in a standards-based medical imaging environment is described in relation to the communication of computer-aided detection (CAD) results among devices, with one embodiment relating to the DICOM standard. CAD results are fixably integrated into the pixels of a secondary image derived from a source image, and the secondary image is transferred using a DICOM Secondary Capture Image Information Object Instance (SCI-IOI). The DICOM SCI-IOI is transferred to a viewing workstation, whereby a clinician can open, manipulate, and view the secondary image in a side-by-side comparison with the source image or derivative images thereof. Advantageously, CAD results are communicated to the clinician in a DICOM-conforming manner independent of whether the viewing workstation supports standard DICOM accommodations, such as CAD Structured Report Information Object Instances (CAD SR-IOIs), for the type of CAD results that need to be presented.

Abstract: A method, system, and method of doing business in a standards-based medical imaging environment is described in relation to the communication of computer-aided detection (CAD) results among devices, with one embodiment relating to the DICOM standard. CAD results are fixably integrated into the pixels of a secondary image derived from a source image, and the secondary image is transferred using a DICOM Secondary Capture Image Information Object Instance (SCI-IOI). The DICOM SCI-IOI is transferred to a viewing workstation, whereby a clinician can open, manipulate, and view the secondary image in a side-by-side comparison with the source image or derivative images thereof. Advantageously, CAD results are communicated to the clinician in a DICOM-conforming manner independent of whether the viewing workstation supports standard DICOM accommodations, such as CAD Structured Report Information Object Instances (CAD SR-IOIs), for the type of CAD results that need to be presented.

Abstract: A method, system, and method of doing business in a standards-based medical imaging environment is described in relation to the communication of computer-aided detection (CAD) results among devices, with one embodiment relating to the DICOM standard. CAD results are fixably integrated into the pixels of a secondary image derived from a source image, and the secondary image is transferred using a DICOM Secondary Capture Image Information Object Instance (SCI-IOI). The DICOM SCI-IOI is transferred to a viewing workstation, whereby a clinician can open, manipulate, and view the secondary image in a side-by-side comparison with the source image or derivative images thereof. Advantageously, CAD results are communicated to the clinician in a DICOM-conforming manner independent of whether the viewing workstation supports standard DICOM accommodations, such as CAD Structured Report Information Object Instances (CAD SR-IOIs), for the type of CAD results that need to be presented.

Abstract: The present invention is methods for processing medical images so as to remove certain effects of the physical characteristics of the object being imaged and/or of the apparatus used to form the images. The invention further provides for the formation of a standardized image from the processed image and for the use of the standardized image or the processed image in the training of computer-aided detection/diagnosis algorithms. These algorithms may then be used to detect abnormalities in other standardized or processed images derived from any of a variety of image acquisition systems.

Abstract: A computer-aided diagnostic (CAD) method and system provide image annotation information that can include an assessment of the probability, likelihood or predictive value of the CAD-detected suspected abnormalities as an additional aid to the radiologist. More specifically, probability values, in numerical form and/or analog form, are added to the locational markers of the CAD-detected suspected abnormalities. The task of a physician using a CAD system is believed to be made easier by displaying two different markers representing different probability thresholds. An additional threshold can be used to display “extra view markers” as an additional aid or guide to the radiologic technician to take extra views of a patient before the patient is released or discharged. A control device is added to allow the user to select and vary the probability threshold for the display of locational markers.

Abstract: An EPDM rubber composition useful for producing a tack-free crosslinked EPDM rubber product which composition consists of:i) at least one EPDM terpolymer;ii) at least one silicone-modified EPDM elastomer;iii) an organic peroxide; andiv) optionally, at least one tack-neutral additive.

Abstract: A user interface for facilitating the input of films into a computer-aided diagnosis system is disclosed. The user interface includes a scanner which receives and scans the film-based images, and a film feeder which holds and transports them to the scanner. A touch sensitive display screen is provided to display status information to and receive instructions from an operator. The display screen displays miniature images of the films having color-coded borders so that the operator monitors the processing of the films. The interface also includes a bar code reader and allow the operator to conduct procedures for testing the scanner.