Abstract: A method is disclosed for analysing an image to assess a condition of an organ of a patient represented in the image. The method includes initially selecting a spatial resolution for an inspection matrix having a number of inspection regions each delimiting a part of the image. The inspection matrix is applied to the image and the part of the image within each of the inspection regions is analysed to determine a condition thereof. The condition is compared with a predetermined criterion and, if the condition is deemed to satisfy the criterion, the inspection region is identified, e.g. by annotating it with a colour. Finally a quantitative measure of an extent of the condition in the image is provided that is based on a number of the identified or annotated inspection regions.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for automated classification of a medical diagnostic image of a lung according to its deduced probability of relating to a lung of a patient who is suffering from a diffuse parenchymal lung disease such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, or severe asthma, or to a class of patients characterized by the severity of such a condition, or to a class of patients characterized by a prognostic likelihood of developing such a condition or severity of condition.

Abstract: A method of deriving an estimate of the extent of fracture in a vertebra shown in an image of part of A spine is provided. The images of at least two vertebrae are segmented to obtain data representative of the shape and size of each of the vertebrae. An approximation of the shape of a first of the vertebrae is reconstructed by comparing the data obtained for a second of the two vertebrae with a mathematical model of at least the same two vertebrae of an unfractured spine. The unfractured shape of the first vertebra is predicted to enable a comparison of the shape and size of the first vertebra as imaged with the predicted unfractured shape and size. The difference between the respective images is subsequently computed to obtain a result representative of the extent of fracture in the first vertebra.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for automated classification of a medical diagnostic image of a lung according to its deduced probability of relating to a lung of a patient who is suffering from a diffuse parenchymal lung disease such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, or severe asthma, or to a class of patients characterised by the severity of such a condition, or to a class of patients characterised by a prognostic likelihood of developing such a condition or severity of condition.

Abstract: The risk of future fracture or deformity of vertebrae of a spine may be estimated by processing an image of at least one vertebra of a spine to compare data representing the appearance of the at least one vertebra with a statistical model of a corresponding part of a spine, the statistical model being formed from data representing images of spines for which information about the degree of fracture or deformity of each spine at a subsequent time is known, and deriving a measure of the similarity between the at least one vertebra of the spine and the model, which measure is representative of the likelihood that the spine will subsequently sustain a fracture or become deformed.

Abstract: A method of deriving a quantitative measure of a degree of calcification of a blood vessel such as an aorta by processing an image such as an X-ray image of at least a part of the blood vessel containing said calcification comprises: taking a starting set of digital data representative of an image of at least part of a blood vessel containing a calcification set against a background; estimating the boundary of the calcification; using inpainting to replace digital data in said starting set representing the calcification with data extrapolating the boundary of the background to extend over the area of calcification, and so generating an inpainted set of digital data; and computing the difference between the starting set of digital data and the inpainted set of digital data to obtain a quantitative measure of the degree of calcification of the blood vessel.

Abstract: A method of locating a contour of a structure in an image by processing said image including the structure is provided. A starting set of digital data representative of the image including the structure is taken, the structure in said image having annotated on it from three to ten landmark positions. A statistical model of said structure to the landmark positions annotated on the image is fitted and an initial estimate of the contour of the structure made. Using grey level information derived from points adjacent the estimated contour the contour boundary is iteratively moved to produce a final estimate of the contour of the structure.

Abstract: A method of processing data derived from an image of at least part of a spine is provided for estimating the risk of a future fracture in vertebrae of the spine. Position data relating to at least four neighbouring vertebrae of the spine is processed. The curvature of the spine at least two of the neighbouring vertebrae is calculated. The different curvature values are computed to obtain a value representative of the degree of irregularity in curvature of the spine and using the degree of irregularity, an estimate of the risk of a future fracture in vertebrae of the spine is provided. A higher degree of irregularity indicates a higher risk of future fracture.

Abstract: A method of deriving a quantitative measure of a degree of calcification of a blood vessel such as an aorta by processing an image such as an X-ray image of at least a part of the blood vessel containing said calcification comprises: taking a starting set of digital data representative of an image of at least part of a blood vessel containing a calcification set against a background; estimating the boundary of the calcification; using inpainting to replace digital data in said starting set representing the calcification with data extrapolating the boundary of the background to extend over the area of calcification, and so generating an inpainted set of digital data; and computing the difference between the starting set of digital data and the inpainted set of digital data to obtain a quantitative measure of the degree of calcification of the blood vessel.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of processing an image of at least part of a blood vessel to derive a measure indicative of the instability of calcific deposits in the blood vessel, said blood vessel containing at least one calcific deposit, comprises locating and annotating one or more calcific deposits. Using information derived from the annotation of said calcific deposits, the method further comprises calculating a measure reflecting either one or both of a) the aggregate of the deviations from roundness of individual calcific deposits, and b) up to at least a threshold value, the extent to which the separate calcific deposits are spaced from one another.

Abstract: A method of deriving a quantitative measure of a degree of calcification of a blood vessel such as an aorta by processing an image such as an X-ray image of at least a part of the blood vessel containing said calcification comprises: taking a starting set of digital data representative of an image of at least part of a blood vessel containing a calcification set against a background; estimating the boundary of the calcification; using inpainting to replace digital data in said starting set representing the calcification with data extrapolating the boundary of the background to extend over the area of calcification, and so generating an inpainted set of digital data; and computing the difference between the starting set of digital data and the inpainted set of digital data to obtain a quantitative measure of the degree of calcification of the blood vessel.

Abstract: A method of deriving a quantitative measure of a degree of calcification of a blood vessel such as an aorta by processing an image such as an X-ray image of at least a part of the blood vessel containing said calcification comprises: taking a starting set of digital data representative of an image of at least part of a blood vessel containing a calcification set against a background; estimating the boundary of the calcification; using inpainting to replace digital data in said starting set representing the calcification with data extrapolating the boundary of the background to extend over the area of calcification, and so generating an inpainted set of digital data; and computing the difference between the starting set of digital data and the inpainted set of digital data to obtain a quantitative measure of the degree of calcification of the blood vessel.

Abstract: A method of deriving an estimate of the extent of fracture in a vertebra shown in an image of part of A spine is provided. The images of at least two vertebrae are segmented to obtain data representative of the shape and size of each of the vertebrae. An approximation of the shape of a first of the vertebrae is reconstructed by comparing the data obtained for a second of the two vertebrae with a mathematical model of at least the same two vertebrae of an unfractured spine. The unfractured shape of the first vertebra is predicted to enable a comparison of the shape and size of the first vertebra as imaged with the predicted unfractured shape and size. The difference between the respective images is subsequently computed to obtain a result representative of the extent of fracture in the first vertebra.