Abstract: A method and computer program are provided for segmenting a prostate from a medical image such as an ultrasound image. Each slice in a study is analysed and uses a manual initialization to obtain an initial contour, in which a user selects initial points that are automatically rendered on the image. An automatic refinement stage then snaps the contour to the prostate boundary in the image based on a pre-stored anatomical atlas and edge information obtained from the image. A manual adjustment stage may then be performed and if selected, the contour is automatically propagated to the next image slice to avoid the manual initialization. An auxiliary image slice may be referred to, which indicates how the prostate shape changes from slice to slices e.g. by providing a perpendicular profile.

Abstract: A system and method for enhancing digital images is described. A digital image is transformed into a series of decomposed images in frequency bands, or different resolution grids. A decomposed image is noise suppressed and contrast enhanced. Representative value of signal at each pixel is computed based on contributions to signals from pixels in a neighborhood of the pixel. Lookup tables are applied to pixel values to selectively enhance signal in a predetermined range of signal strength. Another set of lookup tables are applied to pixel values to suppress noise components contained therein. Optionally, operations are applied to decomposed images to suppress quantum noise, enhance object edges or enhance global contrast, among others. These decomposed images, after signal enhancement and noise suppression, are then recombined to result in an enhanced image.

Abstract: A method for removing shutter areas in an image, in particular an x-ray image is provided. Edges are examined in a multi-resolution image pyramid and evaluated to determine potential shutter blade candidates defining the shutter areas. Heuristic rules and/or an automatic classifier such as a Neuronal Network, are applied to distinguish true shutter blades from false positives. The rule set and the classifier are based on a set of features extracted from the potential shutter blade candidates as well as predetermined knowledge of the expected placement of the shutter, human anatomy. Up to four shutter blades are expected to be detected and based on these blades, the bright areas in the image that occur due to the shutters are removed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for generating an 2-D projection directly from a 3-D volume data, the method comprising the steps of determining a viewing direction vector in a viewing frustum, determining a major axis of the direction vector, resampling the volume data in the direction of the major axis, applying a shear factorization to the resampled data; and rendering the factorized data. The method provides a singularly warped image which avoids have to patch images from multiple warp functions which, in turn, improves the quality of the final image. Finally, the image allows a scene to be rendered from within the scene itself. The invention can be applied to medical imaging and enable a surgeon to view an image such as a CT scan with perspective as well as from within the scan itself, providing the surgeon with an invaluable tool.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system of extracting a visual feature from a dataset, comprising a storage means for storing said dataset; retrieval means for retrieving said dataset from said storage means; display means for displaying an image of said retrieval dataset; means for defining a block of voxels corresponding to a selected portion of said displayed dataset, said block containing said visual feature therein; means for removing from said block voxels not containing said visual feature, to generate a feature block; means for generating a mask from said feature block; and means for rendering said dataset using said mask. A method of extracting visual features is also provided.

Abstract: An image processing system and method having a statistical appearance model for interpreting a digital image. The appearance model has at least one model parameter. The system and method comprises a two dimensional first model object including an associated first statistical relationship, the first model object configured for deforming to approximate a shape and texture of a two dimensional first target object in the digital image. Also included is a search module for selecting and applying the first model object to the image for generating a two dimensional first output object approximating the shape and texture of the first target object, the search module calculating a first error between the first output object and the first target object. Also included is an output module for providing data representing the first output object to an output. The processing system uses interpolation for improving image segmentation, as well as multiple models optimised for various target object configurations.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of segmenting an image of a structure stored as a set of spatially related data points representing variations in a predetermined parameter, said method comprising the steps of selecting a seed point within the structure to be segmented, assigning to each of the data points a value of connectivity indicative of the confidence that respective areas of the data points are part of the same structure as said see point, said value of connectivity including a function of the distance of the respective point from said seed point, establishing a threshold value for said level of connectivity and selecting for display data points meeting said threshold value.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for generating an 2-D projection directly from a 3-D volume data, the method comprising the steps of determining a viewing direction vector in a viewing frustum, determining a major axis of the direction vector, resampling the volume data in the direction of the major axis, applying a shear factorization to the resampled data; and rendering the factorized data. The method provides a singularly warped image which avoids have to patch images from multiple warp functions which, in turn, improves the quality of the final image. Finally, the image allows a scene to be rendered from within the scene itself. The invention can be applied to medical imaging and enable a surgeon to view an image such as a CT scan with perspective as well as from within the scan itself, providing the surgeon with an invaluable tool.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for generating an 2-D projection directly from a 3-D volume data, the method comprising the steps of determining a viewing direction vector in a viewing frustum, determining a major axis of the direction vector, resampling the volume data in the direction of the major axis, applying a shear factorization to the resampled data; and rendering the factorized data. The method provides a singularly warped image which avoids have to patch images from multiple warp functions which, in turn, improves the quality of the final image. Finally, the image allows a scene to be rendered from within the scene itself. The invention can be applied to medical imaging and enable a surgeon to view an image such as a CT scan with perspective as well as from within the scan itself, providing the surgeon with an invaluable tool.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system of extracting a visual feature from a dataset, comprising a storage means for storing said dataset; retrieval means for retrieving said dataset from said storage means; display means for displaying an image of said retrieval dataset; means for defining a block of voxels corresponding to a selected portion of said displayed dataset, said block containing said visual feature therein; means for removing from said block voxels not containing said visual feature, to generate a feature block; means for generating a mask from said feature block; and means for rendering said dataset using said mask. A method of extracting visual features is also provided.