Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for segmenting a left ventricular endocardium in a magnetic resonance image. Image shape, size, gradients, intensity, and connectivity are used to locate the endocardial boundary. Specifically, a series of dilations and refinements to a mask corresponding to acquired data is performed. Variations in intensity, representing the endocardial boundary, are detected, and the endocardial boundary may then be clearly identified in the MR image.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for producing a smooth closed curve from a binary mask such as the type produced when segmenting various parts of a human body. Points defining the segmentation boundary are transformed into a set of polar coordinates. The set of coordinates is thresholded and averaged, and then smoothed using a window smoothing technique. The resulting boundary points are curve fit to produce the smooth closed curve.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for segmenting a left ventricular epicardium in a magnetic resonance image. Image shape, gradients, and intensity are used to locate the epicardial boundary. Specifically, an intensity map corresponding to acquired data is produced and refined so as to produce a classification map having variations in intensity. The variations, representing the epicardial boundary, are detected and the epicardial boundary may then be clearly identified in the MR image.

Abstract: The present invention, in one form, is a system for simultaneously displaying an image object generated from an imaging system and a graphical object so that each object is fully visible. More specifically, after generating the image object, a graphical object is generated having a partial opacity value. The image object and graphical object are then sorted and combined so that the graphical object is in front of, or overlays, the image object without blocking or obscuring the information included in the image object. Particularly, a final image is generated by combining a destination value for components of each object.

Abstract: A method for processing partial lines of image data from a detector, each partial line of data representing a portion of an image pixel matrix, includes: (a) communicating partial lines of image data over a network from an imaging system to a remote facility; (b) receiving partial lines of image data in a first sequence; (c) assigning to each partial line of image data in a first series a position in a second sequence by reference to a plurality of base addresses; (d) altering the base addresses; and (e) assigning to each partial line of image data in a second series a position in the second sequence by reference to the altered base addresses.

Abstract: A graphic workstation receives digitized medical images and the user creates textual information that is to be displayed on the images. Instead of overlaying the text, the text data is blended with the image data such that the text appears semi-transparent and when displayed the underlying image data may be seen. The medical image may be fully restored from the blended image by a calculation based upon the blended image, the text data and alpha.

Abstract: A graphic workstation receives digitized medical images and the user creates textual information that is to be displayed on the images. The text along with associated properties are packaged as a data structure along with a set of properties, and the data structure is passed through a pipeline having a series of formatters. The formatters are easily configured by the user to modify the properties of the text data structures as they flow through the pipeline prior to being rendered on a display.

Abstract: Partial lines of data representative of adjacent pixels in an image pixel matrix are reordered to facilitate reconstitution of a scanned image. The partial lines are received by a signal processing circuit and are assigned unique addresses by reference to base address and offset values. Each partial line is then stored in a memory address corresponding to the assigned address. The values of the base addresses and offsets may be altered to accommodate different image matrix sizes and scanning patterns.