Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for image registration and display of relevant information. The method includes identifying one or more anatomical parts in an acquired image, mapping the acquired image to a reference image based on the one or more anatomical parts, storing anatomy information in relation to the acquired image, and displaying the acquired image based on the anatomy information. The method may also include controlling the displaying of the acquired image based on a voice command related to the anatomy information. Anatomy information may be displayed with the acquired image. Anatomy information may include clinical information, reference information, disease process information, a related image, and/or drug interaction information, for example. The acquired image may be displayed according to a display setting, such as a window level setting and/or other display setting, based on the anatomy information.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for prioritizing medical imaging scans. An image acquisition device, such as a computerized tomography (CT) system, an ultrasound system, an electron beam tomography (EBT) system, a magnetic resonance (MR) system and the like, generates medical imaging scans. A computer aided diagnosis application manager may be used to select a computer aided diagnosis application based on information associated with an imaging scan. The imaging scan may be examined with the computer aided diagnosis application. If the examination of the imaging scan indicates the imaging scan contains urgent findings, the imaging scan may be identified as priority. The indication of the imaging scan as priority may be communicated to a physician so the physician may review the priority imaging scan before non-priority imaging scans.

Abstract: A method to define a curved slab region of interest that includes vessels while maximally excluding surrounding soft tissue and bone is provided. The thickness of the curved slab is automatically adapted to the thickness of the vessel and follows the tortuous vessel(s) so that an increase in tortuousity does not result in a disproportionate increase in the region of interest required to enclose the vessel. A plurality of boundary pairs is determined in the view plane to define a vessel. Vessel-intensities are determined for each one of the boundary pairs. The boundary pairs with associated intensities define the view of the vessel in the projection plane. Context-intensity could be defined in the area surrounding the boundary pairs in the projection and/or transverse plane. The method also includes several steps that will result in a better isolation and removal of non-vessel structures and view of the vessel(s) and its(their) branches.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system for the identification and retrieval of relevant archived medical information. The system includes a user interface component and a processing component. The user interface component is adapted to determine a key, which includes one or more key values. The key values may represent one or more anatomical feature of a patient. The processing component is adapted to aggregate data based at least in part on the key values. The system may also include a searchable database containing relevant archived medical information. The system may also include a display device and a storage device adapted to, respectively, display and store data retrieved from the database.

Abstract: An automated system and method for updating reference materials in a healthcare setting. The automated system may comprise a collection of medical reference materials connected to a network, an exam database connected to the network, and a workstation connected to the network for evaluating data stored in the exam database. The method may comprise the steps of tagging exam data, processing the exam data to extract categorizing information, categorizing the exam data, and storing the exam data in a reference collection.

Abstract: A method to quantify the vascular irregularity of aortoiliac arteries is provided. Inner wall and/or outer wall outlines of a vessel of interest are determined. The cross sectional area is determined for the area outlined by each outline. Using this cross sectional area a shape is selected that has substantially the same area as the outline. Subsequently, the shape is fitted to the outline. In one aspect, the irregularity index is calculated as the ratio of the outline and the outline of the fitted shape. In another aspect, the irregularity index is calculated as the ratio of at least a part of the outline and the outline of the fitted shape that corresponds to the same part of the outline. The irregularity index is visualized using a color scheme, a range of numbers, or a set of labels.

Abstract: A method that allows the quantification of the true mass of a calcium fragment located along a vessel is provided. The method is independent of the level of arterial contrast enhancement, does not require protocol-specific or scanner-specific calibration scans, and allows a detailed analysis of calcium distribution patterns. For each identified calcium fragment, the average intensity and volume is determined as a function of a plurality of intensity thresholds. Using these determined values brightness volume products are calculated for each of the plurality of intensity thresholds. The mass of a calcium segment is subsequently obtained from the calculated brightness volume products extrapolated at zero intensity and reference calcium parameters. The mass and volume of the calcium fragments could be visualized with respect to a vessel in a computer display.

Abstract: A method to quantify the radial endoluminal irregularity of aortoiliac arteries is provided. Radial endoluminal outlines of a vessel of interest are determined. The cross sectional area is determined for the area outlined by each endoluminal outline. Using this cross sectional area a shape is selected that has substantially the same area as the endoluminal outline. Subsequently, the shape is fitted to the endoluminal outline. In one aspect, the irregularity index is calculated as the ratio of the endoluminal outline and the outline of the fitted shape. In another aspect, the irregularity index is calculated as the ratio of at least a part of the endoluminal outline and the outline of the fitted shape that corresponds to the same part of the endoluminal outline. The irregularity index is visualized using a color scheme, a range of numbers, or a set of labels.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for image registration and display of relevant information. The method includes identifying one or more anatomical parts in an acquired image, mapping the acquired image to a reference image based on the one or more anatomical parts, storing anatomy information in relation to the acquired image, and displaying the acquired image based on the anatomy information. The method may also include controlling the displaying of the acquired image based on a voice command related to the anatomy information. Anatomy information may be displayed with the acquired image. Anatomy information may include clinical information, reference information, disease process information, a related image, and/or drug interaction information, for example. The acquired image may be displayed according to a display setting, such as a window level setting and/or other display setting, based on the anatomy information.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a method of coordinating scheduling including: evaluating patient associated information corresponding to a patient having a scheduled examination; evaluating healthcare service provider associated information corresponding to at least one healthcare service provider; predicting an efficiency for one of the at least one healthcare service provider performing the scheduled examination based at least in part on the patient associated information and the healthcare service provider associated information; and adjusting a state of a coordination indicator based at least in part on the efficiency.

Abstract: A method to define a curved slab region of interest that includes vessels while maximally excluding surrounding soft tissue and bone is provided. The thickness of the curved slab is automatically adapted to the thickness of the vessel and follows the tortuous vessel(s) so that an increase in tortuousity does not result in a disproportionate increase in the region of interest required to enclose the vessel. A plurality of boundary pairs is determined in the view plane to define a vessel. Vessel-intensities are determined for each one of the boundary pairs. The boundary pairs with associated intensities define the view of the vessel in the projection plane. Context-intensity could be defined in the area surrounding the boundary pairs in the projection and/or transverse plane. The method also includes several steps that will result in a better boundary outline and view of the vessel.

Abstract: A method for identifying a arteries and veins in a medical image is provided. A start point and endpoints of branches of a segmented tubular tree are identified. Distance maps for each of the endpoints relative to the startpoint are created. Then voxels in between the furthest of the endpoints and the startpoint are identified. This last step is iterated for the subsequent furthest of the endpoints. For each set of identified voxels parameters are identified. Examples of such parameters are cross sectional areas of the branches. The parameters for at least one each set of identified voxels are then used to anatomically label branches the segmented tubular tree, optionally with position information obtained from the image.

Abstract: A method that allows the quantification of the true mass of a calcium fragment located along a vessel is provided. The method is independent of the level of arterial contrast enhancement, does not require protocol-specific or scanner-specific calibration scans, and allows a detailed analysis of calcium distribution patterns. For each identified calcium fragment, the average intensity and volume is determined as a function of a plurality of intensity thresholds. Using these determined values brightness volume products are calculated for each of the plurality of intensity thresholds. The mass of a calcium segment is subsequently obtained from the calculated brightness volume products extrapolated at zero intensity and reference calcium parameters. The mass and volume of the calcium fragments could be visualized with respect to a vessel in a computer display.

Abstract: A method to define a curved slab region of interest that includes vessels while maximally excluding surrounding soft tissue and bone is provided. The thickness of the curved slab is automatically adapted to the thickness of the vessel and follows the tortuous vessel(s) so that an increase in tortuousity does not result in a disproportionate increase in the region of interest required to enclose the vessel. A plurality of boundary pairs is determined in the view plane to define a vessel. Vessel-intensities are determined for each one of the boundary pairs. The boundary pairs with associated intensities define the view of the vessel in the projection plane. Context-intensity could be defined in the area surrounding the boundary pairs in the projection and/or transverse plane. The method also includes several steps that will result in a better isolation and removal of non-vessel structures and view of the vessel(s) and its(their) branches.

Abstract: A method to quantify the vascular irregularity of aortoiliac arteries is provided. Inner wall and/or outer wall outlines of a vessel of interest are determined. The cross sectional area is determined for the area outlined by each outline. Using this cross sectional area a shape is selected that has substantially the same area as the outline. Subsequently, the shape is fitted to the outline. In one aspect, the irregularity index is calculated as the ratio of the outline and the outline of the fitted shape. In another aspect, the irregularity index is calculated as the ratio of at least a part of the outline and the outline of the fitted shape that corresponds to the same part of the outline. The irregularity index is visualized using a color scheme, a range of numbers, or a set of labels.

Abstract: A method to define a curved slab region of interest that includes vessels while maximally excluding surrounding soft tissue and bone is provided. The thickness of the curved slab is automatically adapted to the thickness of the vessel and follows the tortuous vessel(s) so that an increase in tortuousity does not result in a disproportionate increase in the region of interest required to enclose the vessel. A plurality of boundary pairs is determined in the view plane to define a vessel. Vessel-intensities are determined for each one of the boundary pairs. The boundary pairs with associated intensities define the view of the vessel in the projection plane. Context-intensity could be defined in the area surrounding the boundary pairs in the projection and/or transverse plane. The method also includes several steps that will result in a better boundary outline and view of the vessel.

Abstract: A method to quantify the radial endoluminal irregularity of aortoiliac arteries is provided. Radial endoluminal outlines of a vessel of interest are determined. The cross sectional area is determined for the area outlined by each endoluminal outline. Using this cross sectional area a shape is selected that has substantially the same area as the endoluminal outline. Subsequently, the shape is fitted to the endoluminal outline. In one aspect, the irregularity index is calculated as the ratio of the endoluminal outline and the outline of the fitted shape. In another aspect, the irregularity index is calculated as the ratio of at least a part of the endoluminal outline and the outline of the fitted shape that corresponds to the same part of the endoluminal outline. The irregularity index is visualized using a color scheme, a range of numbers, or a set of labels.