Abstract: A method for clavicle suppression in a chest x-ray image. The method identifies the lung fields in the x-ray image and detects at least one portion of a clavicle ridge that lies outside the lung fields. Edges of a clavicle on each side of the detected clavicle ridge are detected, edge detection extended for the clavicle edges into the lung fields, and the clavicle defined within the x-ray image according to the edge detection. The clavicle is suppressed within the x-ray image to generate a clavicle-suppressed x-ray image and the clavicle-suppressed x-ray image is displayed, stored, or transmitted.

Abstract: A method for obtaining a digital chest x-ray image of a patient, executed at least in part by a computer system, acquires a standard dose radiographic image and a reduced dose radiographic image, wherein the standard dose radiographic image and reduced dose radiographic images are obtained at peak kilovoltage values that differ by at least 10 kVp. A bone-enhanced image is formed by combining data from the standard dose radiographic image and reduced dose radiographic images and bone structure is segmented from the bone-enhanced image. A processed image is formed by suppressing bone contrast from the standard dose radiographic image according to the segmented bone structure. The processed image is displayed, stored, or transmitted.

Abstract: A method for rib suppression in a chest x-ray image of a patient. The method detects and labels one or more ribs in a region of interest in the x-ray image that includes a lung region. The method obtains a rib model for one or more ribs of the image and modifies detection results for the one or more ribs by applying the rib model in the region of interest. A conditioned x-ray image is formed by suppressing rib content according to the modified detection results. The conditioned x-ray image is stored, displayed, or transmitted.

Abstract: A networked system for rendering diagnostic image data for display has at least one diagnostic imaging apparatus that obtains digital image data for a patient and is in communication with a computer network. At least one consistency control module executes at a networked processor and is operatively responsive to a set of programmed instructions for accessing and detecting the type of image, for identifying one or more control points in the obtained digital image data, for mapping the input code values of the one or more control points to corresponding predetermined code values, for mapping additional input code values to output values according to the mapping of the one or more control points, and for providing rendered image data as output. A DICOM destination in networked communication with the at least one consistency control module stores or displays the rendered image data.

Abstract: A method for estimating the location of an anatomical structure in an x-ray image of a patient obtains the x-ray data in digital format. The method estimates the location of at least a first benchmark feature within the x-ray image according to the obtained digital x-ray data and defines a region of interest within the image according to the estimated location of at least the first benchmark feature. A region of interest for the anatomical structure is searched using a template. The location of the anatomical structure on a display according to the template searching results is highlighted.

Abstract: A method for obtaining a digital chest x-ray image of a patient. The method includes providing a default set of technique settings for the chest x-ray, wherein the default set is selectable by an operator command and includes using a peak kilovoltage exposure setting that is below 90 kVp with beam filtration of the x-ray, and applying a rib contrast suppression algorithm to the digital chest x-ray image data acquired from the exposure.

Abstract: A method for determining a candidate lesion region in a digital ultrasound medical image of anatomical tissue. The method includes the steps of: accessing the digital ultrasound medical image of anatomical tissue; applying an anisotropic diffusion filter to the ultrasound image to generate a filtered ultrasound image; performing a normalized cut operation on the filtered ultrasound image to partition the filtered ultrasound image into a plurality of regions; and selecting, from the plurality of regions, at least one region as a candidate lesion region.

Abstract: A method for displaying a radiographic image identifies a region of interest in a portion of the radiographic image, suppresses background image content within the identified region of interest, and enhances contrast of the image within the region of interest to form an enhanced region of interest. The enhanced region of interest is displayed within the remaining portion of the radiographic image.

Abstract: A method for rib suppression in a chest x-ray image detects and labels one or more ribs in a region of interest and detects rib edges of the one or more detected ribs. Cross rib profiles are generated along the detected ribs. The original x-ray image is conditioned according to at least one of the detected rib edge and cross rib profiles. The conditioned x-ray image can be stored, displayed, or transmitted.

Abstract: A method for rendering a mammography image. Mammography image data is obtained and stored in a computer-readable electronic memory. A mapping transforms the data to an output data space by estimating a relative amount of dense tissue from the image data; identifying at least a first control point that delineates tissue from non-tissue image content and a second control point that delineates a fatty from a dense tissue region; allocating output image data values in the output data space for the identified fatty and dense tissue content according to the estimated relative amount of dense tissue; and mapping image data values to the allocated output image data values according to the first and second control points. The mammography image is rendered on a display according to the mapping.

Abstract: A method for estimating the location of an anatomical structure in an x-ray image of a patient obtains the x-ray data in digital format. The method estimates the location of at least a first benchmark feature within the x-ray image according to the obtained digital x-ray data and defines a region of interest within the image according to the estimated location of at least the first benchmark feature. A region of interest for the anatomical structure is searched using a template. The location of the anatomical structure on a display according to the template searching results is highlighted.

Abstract: A method for detecting tubing in a radiographic image of a patient, executed at least in part by a control logic processor, obtains a radiographic image data for a patient and detects one or more possible tube segments in the image. At least one tubing candidate is formed by growing at least one detected tube segment or merging two or more detected tube segments.

Abstract: A method for enhancing a radiographic image. The method includes obtaining image data for the radiographic image, generating conditioned image data by increasing differences between neighboring portions of at least a relatively uniform area of the radiographic image, generating an enhanced image by applying contrast limited adaptive histogram equalization to the conditioned image data, applying interpolation to the enhanced image, and displaying, storing, or transmitting the enhanced image.

Abstract: A method for mapping radiological image data from a source imaging system to a target imaging system obtains sensitometric response data for both the source and the target imaging systems and identifies an anchor point that relates a specified source signal value to a specified target signal value. A transform is applied to map a range of source signal values to a corresponding range of target signal values, wherein the transform is defined according to the sensitometric response data obtained for both the source and the target imaging systems and according to the identified anchor point.

Abstract: A method for estimating the location of an anatomical structure in a diagnostic image of a patient obtains the x-ray data in digital format and detects a first benchmark feature within the x-ray image. A second benchmark feature within the x-ray image is detected. An intersection is located between a first line that extends along the length of the first benchmark feature and a second line that extends from a central point related to the curvature of the second benchmark feature and that intersects with the first line at an angle that is within a predetermined range of angles. The location of the anatomical structure is identified relative to the intersection.

Abstract: A method of processing a digital radiographic medical image. The digital radiographic medical image is accessed and a plurality of regions of interest is determined. For each of the plurality of regions of interest, steps are performed: determining at least one candidate region of interest (ROI) disease; identifying one ROI disease from the at least one candidate region of interest; determining a processing method appropriate to the identified one ROI disease; and applying the determined processing method to the region of interest to generate a disease enhanced region of interest. The digital radiographic medical image and one or more of the disease enhanced regions of interest can then be displayed.

Abstract: A method for consistent rendering of two or more diagnostic images according to a region of interest. Image data as input code values are obtained for each of the two or more diagnostic images. The background image content is segmented from tissue image content for each of the two or more diagnostic images. Corresponding structures are identified within the tissue image content, and the region of interest is identified within the tissue image content for each of the two or more diagnostic images. The input code values are remapped to output code values for each of the two or more diagnostic images.

Abstract: A method to process medical images for a desired global and local contrast enhancement. A digital image is accessed and segmented, and a first histogram of the digital image is generated. An overall contrast enhanced histogram is generated using the first histogram. A local contrast enhanced histogram is generated using the first histogram. A combined histogram is generated using the overall contrast enhanced histogram and the local contrast enhanced histogram. A contrast-enhanced digital image is generated using the combined histogram.

Abstract: A method for detecting tubing in a radiographic image of a patient, executed at least in part by a control logic processor, obtains a radiographic image data for a patient and detects one or more possible tube segments in the image. At least one tubing candidate is formed by growing at least one detected tube segment or merging two or more detected tube segments.

Abstract: A method for identifying the orientation of a radiographic image of a patient generates a reduced-scale image having a smaller number of pixel elements than the original radiographic image and generates a reduced bit-depth image from the reduced-scale image. The method determines whether the image has portrait or landscape orientation by sectioning either the reduced-scale image or the reduced bit-depth image into at least two sections and calculating at least one value related to relative symmetry for each of the at least two sections.