Patents by Inventor Lawrence A. Ray

Lawrence A. Ray has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Multimodal image registration using compound mutual information
    Patent number: 7639896
    Abstract: In a digital image registration method, a second digital image is transformed to be more like a first digital image using a modification function, resulting in a modified second digital image. A set of first features of each of the first and modified second digital images is determined. Zones are specified in each of the first and modified second digital images. A set of zonal features, of each of the zones is determined. Compound mutual information is computed from the first and zonal features. The modification function is altered. The transforming, determining, specifying, determining, computing, and altering are iterated until the compound mutual information is maximized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Carestream Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhaohui Sun, Lawrence A. Ray
  • System and method for classifying in vivo images according to anatomical structure
    Patent number: 7623690
    Abstract: A system for identifying anatomical structure depicted in an in vivo image, that includes an examination bundlette having a captured in vivo image; and a gastrointestinal atlas that includes a list of individual anatomical structures and characterization data of the individual anatomical structures. A classification engine analyzes the examination bundlette and the gastrointestinal atlas to identify the anatomical structure depicted in the captured in vivo image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Carestream Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan D. Cahill, Marvin M. Goodgame, Shoupu Chen, Lawrence A. Ray
  • STATISTICS COLLECTION FOR LESION SEGMENTATION
    Publication number: 20090279755
    Abstract: A method of collecting information regarding an anatomical object of interest includes displaying an image characterized by a first region and a second region, wherein the first and second regions are mutually exclusive and the object is displayed within the second region, selecting first and second points spanning the object in the displayed image, at least one of the points being within the first region, and extracting a plurality of statistical values from image voxels, lying on a line segment between the first and second points, that correspond to the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Inventors: Edward B. Gindele, Lawrence A. Ray, Richard A. Simon
  • METHOD FOR EDITING 3D IMAGE SEGMENTATION MAPS
    Publication number: 20090279756
    Abstract: A digital image editing method includes receiving a three-dimensional volume image of an anatomical object of interest, wherein the volume image is characterized by first and second mutually exclusive segmentation classes. The method also includes deriving a two-dimensional slice image from the volume image, selecting a single point on the slice image within the second segmentation class, and defining a plane in response to the selection of the single point, the plane dividing the second segmentation class into a target portion corresponding to the object and a remainder portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Inventors: Edward B. Gindele, Lawrence A. Ray, Richard A. Simon
  • METHOD FOR INTERACTIVELY DETERMINING A BOUNDING SURFACE FOR SEGMENTING A LESION IN A MEDICAL IMAGE
    Publication number: 20090279754
    Abstract: A method of bounding an anatomical object of interest in a 3-dimensional volume image includes displaying an image of at least a portion of the object, selecting a plurality of points in the displayed image, at least a first and second point of the plurality of points spanning the object, forming a non-rectilinear surface bounding the plurality of points, identifying a seed point within the surface and extracting a plurality of statistical values corresponding to image voxels disposed proximate the seed point, and classifying image voxels within the surface into a first class and a second class based on the plurality of statistical values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Inventors: Edward B. Gindele, Lawrence A. Ray, Richard A. Simon
  • Face detecting camera and method
    Patent number: 7583294
    Abstract: A method for determining the presence of a face from image data utilizes at least first and second algorithms. The first algorithm prescreens the image data, by determining a plurality of face candidates utilizing a pattern matching technique that identifies image windows likely to contain faces based on color and shape information. The second algorithm processes the face candidates determined by the first algorithm, and uses a posterior probability function classifier to determine the presence of the face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Ray, Henry Nicponski
  • METHOD FOR LUNG LESION LOCATION IDENTIFICATION
    Publication number: 20090185731
    Abstract: A method and a system are disclosed for labeling an anatomical point associated with a lesion in an organ such as a lung. The method includes: a segmentation of a vessel tree anatomical structure starting from an autonomously determined initial image point; labeling the vessel segments of the vessel tree segmentation with segment labels based on a priori anatomical knowledge, thereby creating an individualized anatomical model; receiving a user-specified image point having a location from a user and locating a nearby vessel structure; tracking along the vessel structure in a direction towards a root of a parent vessel tree until a prior labeled vessel segment is encountered in the anatomical model, and assigning the label of the encountered prior labeled vessel segment from the anatomical model as an anatomical location label of the user-specified image point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Ray, Richard A. Simon, Henry Nicponski, Edward B. Gindele
  • Construction clip
    Patent number: 7543420
    Abstract: A clip for securing metal plates in walls constructed using masonry blocks. The clip includes a plate portion and a block portion. The block portion has members that form an opening that fits over a member of a masonry block. The plate portion also has members that form an opening that receives and secures a metal plate. When the block portion is placed on the member of a masonry block, the clip holds a metal plate in a fixed position relative to the masonry block. The clip can include notches on an edge of one of the members to more securely hold the clip on the masonry block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Trico Masonry Products, LLC
    Inventor: Lawrence Ray Holt
  • METHOD FOR SEGMENTATION OF LESIONS
    Publication number: 20090129673
    Abstract: A method of image segmentation includes receiving a set of voxels, segmenting the set of voxels into a foreground group and a background group, and classifying voxels of the foreground group as either lesion voxels or normal anatomy voxels. The method also includes blocking the normal anatomy voxels and performing a second segmentation on voxels of the background group and the lesion voxels, the second segmentation forming a stage two foreground group comprising the lesion voxels and a portion of the voxels of the background group. The method further includes classifying voxels of the stage two foreground group as either stage two lesion voxels or stage two normal anatomy voxels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventors: Richard A. Simon, Edward B. Gindele, Lawrence A. Ray
  • Method and system for face detection in digital images
    Patent number: 7508961
    Abstract: A digital image processing method for detecting faces in a digital color image comprises the steps of: providing a distributed face detection system having complementary classifiers, wherein the classifiers are complementary in a frequency domain; selecting classifier parameters for the complementary classifiers from a plurality of different parameter generating sources, at least one of which is controllable by human input; reconfiguring the complementary classifiers in the distributed face detection system according to the selected classifier parameters; and detecting faces using the distributed face detection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Shoupu Chen, Henry Nicponski, Lawrence A. Ray
  • LINE STRUCTURE DETECTION AND ANALYSIS FOR MAMMOGRAPHY CAD
    Publication number: 20090041326
    Abstract: A method for image linear structure detection in medical imaging. The method includes locating microcalcification (mcc) candidate spots in a mammographic image; forming candidate clusters; assigning ranks to the candidate clusters; identifying linear structures in the neighborhood where the candidate clusters reside; and altering the ranks of the candidate clusters for which linear structures have been identified in the neighborhood.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Inventors: Shoupu Chen, Daoxian Heidi Zhang, Yajie Sun, Yong Chu, Lawrence A. Ray, Yang Zheng, Yue Shen
  • PINCH-RESISTANT MAGNETIC MASSAGE WANDS
    Publication number: 20080319357
    Abstract: The invention is for a pair of pinch-resistant magnetic massage wands that have handles with a magnet disposed in a central bore of each handle. The magnet is oriented along a centerline of the handle so that a first end of the magnet is contained within the handle and a second end of the magnet is protruding from a top ridge of the handle. Each end of the magnet corresponds to a pole of the magnet. The magnets are oriented in the handles so that the same poles of each magnet protrude from the handle top ridge. When the massage wands are brought in close proximity of one another, the magnets exert opposing forces on one another to prevent a massage therapist from inadvertently pinching a patient with the massage wands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventor: Lawrence Ray Hey
  • Real-time target confirmation for radiation therapy
    Patent number: 7453984
    Abstract: A method for radiation therapy with target recognition has a first target identification system for obtaining first target characteristics within a patient's body. A second target identification system obtains second target characteristics within the body aided by the first target characteristics. A computation means for calculation of three-dimensional coordinates of the target region with respect to a three-dimensional radiotherapy system uses the second target characteristics. Irradiation means for radiotherapy mode adaptation is used in response to the second target characteristics and the calculation of three-dimensional coordinates of the target region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Carestream Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Shoupu Chen, Jay S. Schildkraut, Lawrence A. Ray
  • Radiation therapy method with target detection
    Patent number: 7453983
    Abstract: A method for delivering radiation therapy to a patient using a three-dimensional planning image for radiation therapy of the patient wherein the planning image includes a radiation therapy target. The method includes the steps of: determining desired image capture conditions for the capture of at least one two-dimensional radiographic image of the radiation therapy target using the three-dimensional planning image; detecting a position of the radiation therapy target in the at least one captured two-dimensional radiographic image; and determining a delivery of the radiation therapy in response to the radiation therapy target's detected position in the at least one captured two-dimensional radiographic image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Carestream Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Jay S. Schildkraut, Nathan D. Cahill, Sreeram Dhurjaty, Lawrence A. Ray
  • METHOD FOR SELECTING AN EMPHASIS IMAGE FROM AN IMAGE COLLECTION BASED UPON CONTENT RECOGNITION
    Publication number: 20080212851
    Abstract: A method for selecting an emphasis image from a collection of images based on facial identification comprises the steps of: (a) obtaining a collection of digital images; (b) detecting image patterns indicative of the presence of one or more faces in the digital images, thereby identifying one or more detected faces for each image in which a face is detected; (c) recognizing one or more faces from the detected faces for each of the images in which a face is detected; and (d) scoring an image based on the relative frequency of occurrence of a recognized face within the collection of images, thereby producing an emphasis image characteristic of the most frequently occurring face in the collection of images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventor: Lawrence A. Ray
  • METHOD FOR SEGMENTATION OF LESIONS
    Publication number: 20080143718
    Abstract: A method of segmenting a lesion (910) from normal anatomy in a 3-dimensional image comprising the steps of: receiving an initial set of voxels (520) that are contained within the lesion to be segmented; growing a region which includes the lesion from the initial set of voxels; identifying a second set of voxels (530) on a surface of the normal anatomy; determining a surface containing the second set of voxels which demarks a boundary (540) between the lesion and the normal anatomy; and classifying voxels which are part of the lesion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Ray, Richard A. Simon
  • ANALYZING LESIONS IN A MEDICAL DIGITAL IMAGE
    Publication number: 20080137921
    Abstract: A method of analyzing a lesion in a medical digital image using at least one point contained within a lesion to be analyzed includes propagating a wave-front surface from the point(s) for a plurality of steps; partitioning the wave-front surface into a plurality of wave-front parts wherein each wave-front part is associated with a different portion of the wave-front surface corresponding to a previous propagation step; and analyzing at least one feature associated with each wave-front part to classify anatomical structures associated with the lesion and normal anatomy within the medical digital image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventors: Richard A. Simon, Edward B. Gindele, Lawrence A. Ray
  • Method for selecting an emphasis image from an image collection based upon content recognition
    Patent number: 7382903
    Abstract: A method for selecting an emphasis image from a collection of images based on facial identification comprises the steps of: (a) obtaining a collection of digital images; (b) detecting image patterns indicative of the presence of one or more faces in the digital images, thereby identifying one or more detected faces for each image in which a face is detected; (c) recognizing one or more faces from the detected faces for each of the images in which a face is detected; and (d) scoring an image based on the relative frequency of occurrence of a recognized face within the collection of images, thereby producing an emphasis image characteristic of the most frequently occurring face in the collection of images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Lawrence A. Ray
  • Optimal templates for image data embedding
    Patent number: 7330561
    Abstract: A method for creating a message template used for embedding hidden messages, the method includes the steps of determining a message template performance metric comprising a dispersal measure having both a spatial domain function and a frequency domain function; developing a numerical optimization algorithm containing the message template performance metric as a basis for optimization; determining the message template geometric configuration comprising: (i) determining a message template capacity; (ii) determining a message template area; and applying the numerical optimization algorithm to the message template geometric configuration which results in an optimal message template.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Lawrence A. Ray
  • Method and system for multiple passes diagnostic alignment for in vivo images
    Patent number: 7319781
    Abstract: A digital image processing method for multiple passes diagnostic alignment of in vivo images, comprising the steps of: acquiring images using an in vivo video camera system; forming an in vivo video camera system examination bundlette; transmitting the examination bundlette to proximal in vitro computing device(s); processing the transmitted examination bundlette; automatically identifying abnormalities in the transmitted examination bundlette; and setting off alarm signals to a local site provided that suspected abnormalities have been identified for each pass forming a registration bundle; selecting identification elements of an image from the registration bundle of one pass; and retrieving corresponding images from another pass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Carestream Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Shoupu Chen, Lawrence A. Ray, Nathan D. Cahill, Marvin M. Goodgame