Abstract: A method is disclosed for using a computer controlled microscope system to provide a reconstructed, seamless image from several contiguous fields of view to show the architecture and spatial relationship of biological material in a specimen. The specimen is scanned with a microscope and a digital scanner to provide digitized titles of contiguous, fields of view at a predetermined magnification, optical resolution and pixel resolution. Preferably, an automated X, Y stage with higher positional spatial resolution than the spatial pixel resolution of the digital scanner is used to acquire the contiguous fields of view and the image registration information which is used to reconstruct and to display on a monitor the reconstructed image formed of the contiguous multiple fields of view. Preferably, a macro image of contiguous image tiles at a low magnification and optical resolution is obtained and the user navigates within the macro image and selects areas.

Abstract: Dynamic control of the processing flow of an image analyzer such as a biological specimen analyzer as processing proceeds. Data collected and processed from a specimen under analysis, such as a biological specimen on a microscope slide, determines the fate of further processing. If there is enough evidence, based on the data collected from a slide, to make a decision with sufficient confidence, the processing of the slide can be stopped and a decision may be rendered. By avoiding unnecessary additional computation system throughput may be enhanced. Otherwise, data collection and computation continues until either certain termination criteria are met or no more data is left to acquire. This slide-dependent control and decision making method flexibly limits the amount of computation required to reach a system decision about a specimen.

Abstract: Children, particularly those younger than 4 years, frequently place foreign objects such as toys and small parts of consumer products in their mouths, nasal cavities and ear canals. These actions not infrequently lead to injury or death. To asses the risk of injury or death in children at the critical stages of child development, accurate computerized and physical models of anatomical areas including the oral cavity, orbit, ear canal and nasal passages that are most often severely injured by foreign body impaction are created. These computer and physical anatomical models are used in combination with computer and physical models of products to assess the possible hazards inherent in a product design and to communicate the risks associated with product design to manufacturers and marketing groups.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus for real-time imaging of cortical intrinsic signals or imaging tumor tissue or the margins, dimensions and grade of tumor tissue, comprising, a means for obtaining analog video images and a means for processing the analog video signals into either an averaged control frame or a subsequent frame, a means for acquiring and analyzing a plurality of subsequent frames and averaged control frame to provide a difference image, wherein the difference image is processed to account for movement and noise and amplify the changes across a dynamic range of the apparatus, and a means for displaying the difference image alone or superimposed over an analog video image.

Abstract: A medical support system includes a patient-side system including patient shooting devices for photographing a patient's body and forming respective images displaying respective parts of the patient's body; a medical-side system located at a position spaced away from the patient-side system and including an image synthesizer for splicing together, at boundary portions, respective adjacent images of the patient's body to produce a composite image displaying an area of the patient's body extending across the respective images, and a display for displaying the composite image produced by the image synthesizer; and a communication link for transmitting information between the medical-side system and the patient-side system and for transferring the images produced by the patient shooting devices to the medical-side system.

Abstract: A computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) method for the automated detection of lung nodules in a digital chest image, a computer programmed to implement the method, and a storage medium which stores a program for implementing the method, wherein nodule candidates are first automatically selected by thresholding the difference image and then classified in six groups. A large number of false positives are eliminated by adaptive rule-based tests applied to the original chest image and in the difference image and an artificial neural network (ANN) applied to remaining candidate nodule locations in the original chest image. Using two hundred PA chest radiographs, 100 normal and 100 abnormal, as the database, the presence of nodules in the 100 abnormal cases was confirmed by two experienced radiologists on the basis of CT scans or radiographic follow-up. The CAD method achieves, on average, the sensitivity of 70% at 1.7 false positives per chest image.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting and displaying clustered microcalcifications in a digital mammogram, wherein a single digital mammogram is first automatically cropped to a breast area sub-image which is then processed by means of an optimized Difference of Gaussians filter to enhance the appearance of potential microcalcifications in the sub-image. The potential microcalcifications are thresholded, clusters are detected, features are computed for the detected clusters, and the clusters are classified as either suspicious or not suspicious by means of a neural network. Thresholding is preferably by sloping local thresholding, but may also be performed by global and dual-local thresholding. The locations in the original digital mammogram of the suspicious detected clustered microcalcifications are indicated. Parameters for use in the detection and thresholding portions of the system are computer-optimized by means of a genetic algorithm.

Abstract: A method for constructive modelling of articles including prostheses and anatomical pathology wherein CT scan data is computed to construct a plurality of two dimensional cross sectional images along one axis and the two dimensional image data is computed to create three dimensional coordinate data sets for the articles to be modelled. The three dimensional data sets are then computed to obtained spaced parallel two dimensional image data sets in a second plane of the article and the reconstructed two dimensional image data sets are employed in a constructive modelling process to produce a three dimensional model of the article or part thereof.

Abstract: A computed tomography system employs an optical communications link to reliably transmit high bandwidth data from the gantry to the associated processor. The communications link comprises an optical emitter, an optical waveguide, an induced radiated wave chamber, and an optical detector. The optical emitter is attached to the gantry of the computed tomography system. The optical waveguide generates a total internal reflection breach in response to an electric field, light energy, magnetic energy, and alternatively, in response to heat produced within a induced radiated wave chamber. The optical emitter generates a high bandwidth optical data signal which travels along the optical waveguide in correspondence with data generated by the detector array on the gantry.

Abstract: A method and system for remotely viewing and configuring output from a medical imager is described. A medical imager having an embedded web server generates an HTML document according to medical images received from various medical modalities. Imaging information is communicated in the HTML document to allow a remote machine to manipulate the images and display the images in a manner that accurately represents their printed output by the imager. The invention thus provides accurate viewing of the medical images from a remote machine and facilitates remote configuration of the medical imager. Other advantages include the ability to easily select conversion mechanisms best suited for specific requirements of the hospital's medical modalities without traveling to the hospital and burdening medical staff. The present invention also allows for remote monitoring of operation statistics such as usage of imaging media and other supplies.

Abstract: The area of a three-dimensional lesion on a cervix is determined from a two-dimensional image of the cervix. A transparent area fixation probe is used to flatten the lesion just prior to photography. The image is analyzed using a personal computer and dedicated imaging software program that calculates the cosine of the slant angle of the planar defining platform of the area fixation probe. This is accomplished by determining the apparent minor to major axis ratio of a standardization circular icon present on the planar defining platform. The lesion itself is outlined by using a mouse pointing device and the number of pixels within the outlined region are counted. The inverse of the cosine of the slant angle is then used as a correction factor to obtain the true area of the lesion by multiplying the number of pixels within the region by the correction factor.

Abstract: An MRI system performs a real-time scan in which image frames are produced as the image is moved to different locations in the patient. The location at which each set of image data is acquired is compared, and image data acquired at the same location are combined to improve image quality. An autonex feature enables averaging of successive image data acquisitions and a frame rate feature enables combining of partial NEX acquisitions.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining optimal locations for placing radioactive seeds at a cancerous site. After a plurality of cross-sectional images of the cancerous site are obtained, a contour of an area on each cross-sectional image of the cancerous site is defined and transferred to a three-dimensional coordinate system. Then, a population of locations within each area of each cross-sectional image of the cancerous site where radioactive seeds can be placed is identified. A genetic algorithm is then implemented to determine the optimal number of locations within the cancerous site to place the radioactive seeds.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for computer-aided detection of suspicious lesions in digital mammograms is described, wherein single-view feature vectors from a first digital mammogram are processed in a classification algorithm along with information computed from a plurality of related digital mammograms to assign an overall probability of suspiciousness to potentially suspicious lesions in the first digital mammogram. In one preferred embodiment, a greater probability of suspiciousness is determined where there are similar corresponding lesions in the first digital mammogram and in an alternate digital mammogram view of the same breast. In another preferred embodiment, a lesser probability of suspiciousness is found where there are symmetric lesions or structures located in the first digital mammogram and a digital mammogram of the opposite breast.

Abstract: Cross-correlation between a first magnetic resonance image as a reference image and a second magnetic resonance image to be adjusted relative to the first magnetic resonance image is taken, deviation of the second magnetic resonance image to the first magnetic resonance image as correction values is calculated, and the second magnetic resonance image based on the correction values is corrected.

Abstract: A system and a method for remote monitoring of a designated user utilize an integrated scale that is able to measure the body weight of a current user and determine whether the current user is the designated user. The identification of the current user is accomplished by measuring a preselected length of the current user by reflecting sound waves at location(s) that defines the preselected length and comparing the measured length to a corresponding length of the designated user that is stored in the integrated scale. When the current user is identified as the designated user, the integrated scale transmits the measured body weight to a remote monitoring device. The preselected length may be the distance from the bottom of a foot to the knee joint. Alternatively, the preselected length may be the length of a tibia or femur, or the skeletal height.

Abstract: An adjunct device and system which works in tandem with existing diagnostic imaging tools such as for medical diagnosis to enhance reliability of diagnosis with guidance for appropriate treatment or imaging devices for machinery (or other objects) and guidance for repair. The adjunct device initially analyzes an input image and either automatically or semi-automatically (with input from a grid of organ and anomalies) provides matching images for adjacent viewing and comparison. Where relevant, the device provides weighted possible diagnoses with advisory pathways for treatment or additional testing. The device and system include computer elements with stored medical data appropriate to the diagnostic tool being used and the body part(s) or objects, being diagnosed to provide the appropriate comparative image.

Abstract: A method for transforming a bone image data set representing at least a partial image of a long bone to a robotic coordinate system, comprising: generating the bone image data set from a bone image; registering a bone digitizer arm to the robotic coordinate system; generating a digitized bone data set by taking bone surface position measurements with the digitizer arm; and transforming the bone image data set into the robotic coordinate system by performing a best-fit calculation between coordinates of the bone image data set and corresponding coordinates of the digitized bone data set.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for thermal imaging is disclosed which enables a clinician to obtain visual images reflecting metabolic activity within a patient's body. A scanning system is configured to scan an area on the patient's body to obtain infrared intensity data. The data is digitized and processed prior to being displayed. The data processing includes a "slicing" function in which infrared intensity values are assigned color values in accordance with an output window. By redefining the mapping of the output window to the color spectrum, the data can be manipulated such that the visual display reflects metabolic activity within the patient's body under the scanning area.

Abstract: MXA Scan analysis in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention can be viewed as a process of placing points on the lateral morphometry image at the anterior, mid, and posterior positions of the inferior and superior endpoints for each vertebral body in the spinal region of interest. These point locations are then used to calculate the anterior, mid, and posterior heights of the vertebral bodies. These heights are then compared to one another and to known normal values for the heights and ratios of the heights for each vertebral body and among vertebral bodies to quantify the degree of vertebral deformity.

Abstract: A system for use in Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) radiotherapy planning where a biological distribution is calculated using a combination of conversion factors and a previously calculated physical distribution. Conversion factors are presented in a graphical spreadsheet so that a planner can easily view and modify the conversion factors. For radiotherapy in multi-component modalities, such as Fast-Neutron and BNCT, it is necessary to combine each conversion factor component to form an effective dose which is used in radiotherapy planning and evaluation. The Dose Factor Entry and Display System is designed to facilitate planner entry of appropriate conversion factors in a straightforward manner for each component. The effective isodose is then immediately computed and displayed over the appropriate background (e.g. digitized image).

Abstract: A computer-assisted diagnostic (CAD) method and apparatus are described for the enhancement and detection of suspicious regions in digital X-ray images, with particular emphasis on early cancer detection using digital mammography. An objective is to improve the sensitivity of detection of suspicious areas such as masses, while maintaining a low false positive detection rate, and to classify masses as benign or malignant. A modular CAD technique has been developed as a potentially automatic and/or second-opinion method for mass detection and classification in digital mammography that may in turn be readily modified for application with different digital X-ray detectors with varying gray-scale and resolution characteristics. The method consists of using a plurality of CAD modules to preprocess and enhance image features in the gray-level, the directional texture, and the morphological domains.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for registering two dimensional fluoroscopic images with a three dimensional model of a surgical tissue of interest.

Abstract: Data from a nuclear medicine study is classified in real time into categories which include image data relating to image pixels which are essential covarient. The results of the classification process permit a determination of, e.g., whether the camera is properly positioned at an early stage of the study and long before the study is completed. It is then possible to reposition the camera so as to obtain data which will be useful. As a result, it is unnecessary to wait until the end of a prolonged study in order to determine whether the study was taken under appropriate conditions.

Abstract: A computerized system is disclosed for performing various medical diagnostic tests and evaluating the results thereof. In one form, image data generated from an imaging device, such as a CAT, PET, or MRI scanner, is analyzed by computer and compared with coded information defining past images of the same patient and/or standard images in order to assess the patient's condition. The system may incorporate various types of both imaging and non-imaging modalities for providing data inputs which are stored in a database for analysis. In one particular embodiment, a computer automatically controls the performance of certain tests in accordance with its evaluation of the current input data.

Abstract: A suite of tests and parameter monitoring methods for at least five major subsystems that are found in most automated image processing systems, as well as calibration routines for three major system functions. The five areas of subsystem verification include processing quality, illumination quality, image collection quality, autofocus quality, and position quality. An automated biological specimen analysis system uses self measures of system parameters to provide a system status. The system status is reported to the user.

Abstract: A method of processing digital angiographic images which enables automatic detection of stenoses includes a tracking step for the identification of pixels or points situated on the central lines of vessels, and a step for the detection of stenoses by measurement of the intensity of pixels along the central lines of the vessels. The stenoses detection step includes a sub-step for deciding whether a pixel zone is a potential stenosis zone when the intensity of its pixels exhibits a local variation so as to assume an intermediate value between the intensity of the pixels to both sides of this zone and the intensity of the pixels of the image background, a sub-step for defining an icon around potential stenosis zones, and a sub-step for the extraction of the pixels of edges of the vessel segments in the icons.

Abstract: A method for planning surgery on a body portion is provided in the steps of gathering image data, storing the image data, reading the image data into a computer, generating a three-dimensional computer model of the body portion from the image data, identifying anatomical features relevant to the surgery, and defining at least one desired correction to anatomical structures to be accomplished by the surgery. Also, a method for performing surgery on a body portion is provided in the steps of loading surgical plan data into a computer, registering a three-dimensional computer model of the body portion stored in the surgical plan data to the body portion, providing at least one surgical tool, positioning the surgical tool relative to the body portion and performing the surgery. Further, a jig assembly is provided in the form of a femoral docking jig, a femoral contouring jig, and a tibial jig.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for internally delivering a therapeutic agent to a patient under the automatic control of a computer. A diagnostic imaging modality, such as a CAT or MRI scanning system, generates one or more images of the patient's anatomy showing an anatomical region into which it is desired to deliver the cellular transplants. For each such image, location coordinates with respect to a patient support means are calculated by the computer for each individual pixel making up the image. Location coordinates are then defined for a select body region corresponding to pixels of the anatomical image(s) designated by a user of the system to receive the therapeutic agent. The computer then operates a manipulator arm in order to position an injection tool such as an injection needle or catheter mounted on the arm adjacent to the select body region.

Abstract: MXA Scan analysis in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention can be viewed as a process of placing points on the lateral morphometry image at the anterior, mid, and posterior positions of the inferior and superior endpoints for each vertebral body in the spinal region of interest. These point locations are then used to calculate the anterior, mid, and posterior heights of the vertebral bodies. These heights are then compared to one another and to known normal values for the heights and ratios of the heights for each vertebral body and among vertebral bodies to quantify the degree of vertebral deformity.

Abstract: The present invention, in one form, corrects any error due to varying z-axis detector cell gains represented in data obtained by a scan in a CT system. In accordance with one form of the present invention, and after correcting the image data for beam-hardening, the data is passed through a highpass filter to remove any data representing relatively slow, or low frequency, changes. Next, the filtered data is clipped and view averaged to remove high frequency data contents due to the objects being imaged. A slope estimate is then created. Using the slope estimate, an error estimate is generated. The error estimate is then subtracted from the beam-hardened corrected data, for example. As a result, errors due to z-axis gain variation of the detector cells are removed from the projection data array.

Abstract: In order to facilitate pathological examination of a lesion in in-vivo tissue, a system and method are provided having a computer system in which both a camera for producing a digital macroscopic picture of the lesion and an imager are coupled to the computer system. The imager is responsive to the computer system and has optics for scanning the lesion to generate images representing microscopic sections of the lesion which provide sufficient information for pathological examination of the lesion. The computer system generates location information, referencing the location in the macroscopic picture of the lesion where the lesion was scanned to the images, and stores data in an electronic file structure which contains at least a representation of the images, a representation of the macroscopic picture, and the location information.

Abstract: A method for transforming the image of a long bone into a system coordinate space, such as robotic system coordinate space, comprises identifying in the image data set directional coordinates representing bone axis and at least one positional coordinate on the bone surface. Corresponding coordinates in the actual bone immobilized in the robotic or other system space are then determined by contacting a probe, such as a probe at the end of a manipulatable arm on a robot, to corresponding locations in the actual bone. The coordinates within the image data set are then registered with the actual coordinates within the immobilized bone to produce a transfer function that can be used to transform the image data set to the coordinate system space.

Abstract: A system for acquisition, processing and display of gated SPECT imaging data for use in diagnosing Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) in nuclear medicine. The present invention provides a physician with two parameters for evaluating CAD: information relating to the distribution of blood flow within the myocardium (perfusion) and information relating to myocardium wall motion (function). One aspect of the present invention provides the physician with a display of functional images representing quantitative information relating to both perfusion and function with respect to selected regions of interest of the subject heart at end-diastole and end-systole segments of the cardiac cycle. The functional display consists of arcs of varied width depending on wall motion and color coded to illustrate degrees of myocardial perfusion for different pie shaped sections of a selected region of interest within a given short axis slice of reconstructed volume data.

Abstract: A computer aided biological specimen screener is responsive to a priori information about biological specimens. An automated slide classifier scans a slide specimen and generates a set of scores. The classification which results from this set of scores depends on a priori information concerning the patient, such as patient age and prior health history and diagnosis. Using the patient information and an appropriate score, the specimen is classified. A normal threshold used for classification is changed over a wide range depending on the specificity appropriate to a particular patient risk category. The sensitivity of the classification is automatically maximized for a predetermined normal specificity.

Abstract: The area of a three-dimensional lesion on a cervix is determined from a two-dimensional image thereof produced by a digital colposcope. A stored reference cervix reflectance map including slant angles and corresponding gray scale intensity levels represents a reference cervix, and is obtained using a shape-assuming target including thereon an array of circular spots of a first reflectivity and a stiff target having thereon a first circular spot of the first reflectivity and a second circular spot of a second reflectivity. An identical stiff target is placed on the cervix, and a two-dimensional image of the lesion and the stiff target is obtained from the digital colposcope. Resulting intensities of the two-dimensional image are calibrated to the gray scale of a standard target reflectance map, and the calibrated intensities of the two-dimensional image are correlated to the intensities of the reference cervix reflectance map to determine slant angles of predetermined points of the cervix.

Abstract: Computer implemented systems and methods for removing bone cement or other material to replace a bone prosthesis is provided. A computer aided method of replacing a bone prosthesis according to the present invention comprises the steps of: receiving as input image data of a bone; identifying bounding contours of material in the image data surrounding a first bone prosthesis for removal; and generating system contours from the bounding contours, the system contours specifying a cavity to be cut in the bone to accommodate a second bone prosthesis.

Abstract: To aid a medical practitioner in positioning a surgical instrument or implant when performing surgery on or examining portions of a patient, patient data is developed which identifies the position and orientation of the portion to which surgical procedures or examinations are to be applied. The position and orientation of the instrument or implant is sensed and instrument data is developed from this sensing. The patient data is converted to objective signals to be displayed on a video display, and the instrument data is converted to instrument signals for presenting the position and orientation of the instrument or implant on the same display. Thus, by watching the display, the medical practitioner is aided in manipulating the insrument or implant relative to the portion.

Abstract: A method for stereolithographic construction of models including prostheses and anatomical pathology wherein CT scan data is computed to construct a plurality of two dimensional cross sectional images along one axis and the two dimensional image data is computed to create three dimensional coordinate data sets for the article to be modelled. The three dimensional data sets are then computed to obtain spaced parallel two dimensional image data sets in a second plane of the article and the reconstructed two dimensional image data sets are employed in a stereolithographic modelling apparatus to produce a three dimensional model of the article or part thereof. A prosthetic implant shaped to correct a defect in an anatomical part as well as a method for surgically implanting the implant using the stereolithographic method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automated measuring of a diameter of a first region enclosed in a second region internal to a living organism, wherein the first and second regions consist of different cellular matter. One embodiment of the invention includes generating a plurality of trial diameters, wherein each trial diameter includes an inner and outer region and has a different length. An ultrasonic measurement is taken of the inner region and the outer region for each trial diameter. The difference is determined for the ultrasonic measurements corresponding to the inner and outer regions of each trial diameter. The trial diameter which most closely corresponds to the diameter of the first region is then selected, wherein the difference of the ultrasonic measurements corresponding to the inner and outer regions is greatest for the trial diameter which most closely corresponds to the diameter of the first region.

Abstract: An apparatus and method enables a precise superimposition of an optical representation with a data field to support the navigation during endoscopic operations. An optical representation is acquired by an endoscope with a camera and displayed on a screen. A sensor is attached to the endoscope or camera to continuously detect its spacial position. A spacial data field is also acquired, from such techniques as X-ray tomography, NMR tomography or ultrasound, and allocated to a body in a certain position. A sensor which is adapted to be attached to the body compensates for any movement of the body. A computer is provided for registering selected points of the data field with respective points of the optical representation by displacement certain points of the data field while superimposed on the optical representation.

Abstract: A method for planning surgery on a body portion is provided in the steps of gathering image data, storing the image data, reading the image data into a computer, generating a three-dimensional computer model of the body portion from the image data, identifying anatomical features relevant to the surgery, and defining at least one desired correction to anatomical structures to be accomplished by the surgery. Also, a method for performing surgery on a body portion is provided in the steps of loading surgical plan data into a computer, registering a three-dimensional computer model of the body portion stored in the surgical plan data to the body portion, providing at least one surgical tool, positioning the surgical tool relative to the body portion and performing the surgery. Further, a jig assembly is provided in the form of a femoral docking jig, a femoral contouring jig, and a tibial jig.

Abstract: A method of radiation treatment planning for radiation systems providing multiple beams of independently adjustable intensities limits the iterative beam weight determination to a set of discrete beam weights avoiding errors in post-optimization truncation of the beam weights, and decreasing the iteration time. Those beams having a greatest effect on the solution are preferentially adjusted and larger changes between discrete values of beam weights are given preference to smaller changes.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for maximizing the number of digital radiological images displayed on a display screen. Digital radiological frames, including radiological images and non-image portions, produced by a computed tomography device, a magnetic resonance imaging device, an ultrasound device or other radiological equipment are first stored. The radiological image portion of the frames are then identified and the non-image portion of the frames are reduced, producing a modified radiological frames. Finally, the modified radiological frames are arranged relative to one another in an area corresponding to the area of a display screen and displayed on a display screen.