X-ray Film Analysis (e.g., Radiography) Patents (Class 382/132)
  • Patent number: 8977049
    Abstract: A method for estimating signal-dependent noise includes defining a plurality of pixel groups from among the image pixels. The method further includes computing, for one or more signal levels of the image, a difference value between two pixel groups, whereby a respective one or more difference values are computed collectively. The method determines an estimated noise response of the image as a function of the one or more computed difference values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventors: Timo Aila, Samuli Laine
  • Patent number: 8977020
    Abstract: An image processing device 100 divides a hollow organ 50 extracted from a volume image 40 using a plurality of planes 20 including an arbitrary eye vector 23 or a plurality of planes along the centerline of the hollow organ 50, transforms the coordinates of a point inside the hollow organ 50 along a predetermined convex surface set outside the hollow organ 50 on each plane 20, and gives a pixel value of an original position to a corresponding point after the coordinate transformation. Then, a folded volume image is generated by combining the respective planes 20 in a reverse procedure of the division procedure, and a shaded folded three-dimensional image 90 is generated by projecting the folded volume image to a projection surface from the arbitrary viewing direction and is displayed on a display device 107.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Medical Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Goto
  • Patent number: 8977025
    Abstract: A system and method includes data representing a sequence of X-ray images of a portion of patient anatomy acquired over a time interval and signal data representing electrical activity of the heart of the patient over the time interval, determination of a score value for each image of said sequence of X-ray images, selection of a set of images from said sequence of X-ray images based on the determined score values, the set of images excluding one or more images of said sequence of X-ray images, and generation of an averaged image from said set of images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventor: John Baumgart
  • Patent number: 8977023
    Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products for managing frequency domain optical coherence tomography (FDOCT) image resolution. A spectrum used to acquire an image of a subject is calibrated and default dispersion correction parameters are set. Default dispersion management parameters associated with a region of the image of the subject are also set. The image of the subject is acquires after setting the default dispersion correction parameters and the default dispersion management parameters. A quality of the acquired image is compared to a quality metric for the acquired image. The dispersion correction parameters are adjusted if the quality of the acquired image does not meet or exceed the quality metric for the acquired image. The acquired image is reprocesses based on the adjusted dispersion correction parameters. The steps of comparing, adjusting and reprocessing are repeated until the acquired image meets or exceeds the quality metric for the acquired image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Bioptigen, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric L. Buckland
  • Patent number: 8976222
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image processing command input section to receive image processing commands for image data written into a memory by units of one line, a line number deriving section to derive a number of lines of the image data required to execute image processing operations based on the image processing commands received by the image processing command input section, a line number indicating section to output a numerical value indicating the number of lines of the image data derived by the line number deriving section, a read timing controlling section to control read timing from the memory in response to the numerical value output from the line number indicating section, a parameter indicating section to output parameters used for the image processing operations, and an image processing section to execute the image processing operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yohsuke Kawamura, Kohji Oshikiri
  • Publication number: 20150063671
    Abstract: A system includes a detector and a processing module. The detector includes pixels configured to detect an event corresponding to energy from a radiopharmaceutical. The processing module is configured to receive a request for each pixel that detects energy during a reading cycle. The processing module is configured to determine an energy level for each requesting pixel. For each requesting pixel, the processing module is configured to count the event when the energy level corresponds to an energy of the radiopharmaceutical, and to determine a combined energy level of the pixel and at least one adjacent pixel when the energy level does not correspond. The processing module is configured to count the event when the combined energy level corresponds to the energy of the radiopharmaceutical, and to disregard the event when the combined energy level does not correspond to the energy of the radiopharmaceutical.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Arie Shahar, Eliezer Traub, Peter Rusian, Yaron Glazer, Danny Magal, Zeev Gerber
  • Publication number: 20150063541
    Abstract: An X-ray image processing apparatus according to an embodiment includes a specifying unit and a decision unit. The specifying unit processes a first X-ray image based on an output signal from an X-ray detector influenced by the action of an electromagnetic field, and specifies noise characteristics unique to noise components which are contained in the first X-ray image and originate from the action of the electromagnetic field on the X-ray detector. The decision unit decides filter characteristics for reducing the noise components which are contained in the first X-ray image and originate from the action of the electromagnetic field on the X-ray detector based on the specified noise characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshimasa KOBAYASHI, Shumpei OHASHI
  • Patent number: 8971608
    Abstract: A method includes obtaining image data generated by an imaging system (100), generating data indicative of a degree to which each of a plurality of voxels of the image data corresponds to one or more predetermined geometrical features, wherein each geometrical feature is assigned a different color, generating a signal indicative of a single color value for each of the plurality of voxels based on the degree and the colors, generating a volumetric rending of the image data based on the signal, generating a link between voxels of the volumetric rendering and voxels of the image data, and visually presenting the image data and the volumetric rendering concurrently. The geometrical features represent local shape features which are determined by ray casting with the rays being used for the computation of a quadric represented by a matrix and with the eigenvalues of said matrix determine the degree to which voxels correspond to some local geometric shape features (i.e. blobness, tubularness).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: Rafael Wiemker
  • Patent number: 8971996
    Abstract: A medical imaging method and associated device for generating an image data record of a recording region of a patient, which region is influenced by a cyclical cardiac motion, in which an EKG signal is used to derive a series of recording pulses matched to the cardiac motion, by which pulses the imaging is actuated in a pulsed fashion. In at least one embodiment, a time window of a future recording pulse is calculated taking into account at least one dispersion parameter characterizing the variation in the cycle duration and a location parameter characterizing the expected value of the cycle duration, wherein the dispersion parameter is included into the calculation of the time window using a weighting determined on the basis of the location parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Thomas Flohr
  • Patent number: 8970618
    Abstract: Computer implemented methods and data processing apparatus are described for displaying virtual slide images. Images of a plurality of slides are automatically displayed in a first region of a display device at a first magnification. The slides comprise all the slides including material from a same specimen. An image of at least one of the slides is displayed in a second region at a second magnification greater than the first magnification. At least the image displayed in the second region is changed responsive to receiving user input. Methods for automatically determining a slide layout pattern and methods for virtually melding glass slide images into a single image are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignees: University of Leeds, The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
    Inventors: Roy Ruddle, Darren Treanor
  • Publication number: 20150055842
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for image segmentation are provided herein. A method includes creating an anatomical model from training data comprising one or more imaging modalities, generating one or more simulated images in a target modality based on the anatomical model and one or more principles of physics pertaining to image contrast generation, and comparing the one or more simulated images to an unlabeled input image of a given imaging modality to determine a simulated image of the one or more simulated images to represent the unlabeled input image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Noel C. Codella, John R. Smith
  • Publication number: 20150055849
    Abstract: A system and method for analyzing medical images of a subject includes acquiring the medical images of the subject and texture images. A computer system determines, using the medical images and the texture feature images, a plurality of segmentation surfaces by iteratively adjusting a relationship between a region growing algorithm that selects a region of interest (ROI) to determine a given segmentation surface and cost function for evaluating the given segmentation surface. The computer system generates a report using the plurality of segmentation surfaces indicating at least boundaries between anatomical structures with functional differences in the medical images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Paulina E. Galavis, Bhudatt Paliwal, James Holden, Robert Jeraj
  • Publication number: 20150055843
    Abstract: Systems and articles of manufacture for image segmentation are provided herein, and include creating an anatomical model from training data comprising one or more imaging modalities, generating one or more simulated images in a target modality based on the anatomical model and one or more principles of physics pertaining to image contrast generation, and comparing the one or more simulated images to an unlabeled input image of a given imaging modality to determine a simulated image of the one or more simulated images to represent the unlabeled input image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Noel C. Codella, John R. Smith
  • Patent number: 8965081
    Abstract: A method for acquiring hair characteristic data includes an image acquiring step and a data acquiring step. The image acquiring step acquires a cross-sectional image of a human hair 50, in which plural types of fibrous tissues (ortho cell 52a, para cell 52b) constituting cortex cells 52 contained in the human hair 50 are visualized so as to be distinguishable from each other. The data acquiring step acquires numerical information indicating a distribution state of the visualized plural types of fibrous tissues (ortho cell 52a, para cell 52b) from the cross-sectional image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Shinobu Nagase, Yusuke Ezawa, Akira Mamada
  • Patent number: 8965085
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a correcting unit. The correcting unit identifies, based on an observation value of a residual contrast material component that is injected to a subject before a predetermined timing and remains in the subject, the residual contrast material component and a new contrast material component that is newly injected to the subject after the predetermined timing regarding a contrast material component that is included in an image, and corrects an observation value of the contrast material component included in the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignees: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation, Fujita Health University, The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Takuya Sakaguchi, Takashi Ichihara, Jingwu Yao, Richard T. George, Jeff Trost, Omair Khwaja Yousuf, Joao A. C. Lima
  • Patent number: 8965083
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed to automatically detect vertebrae boundaries in a spine image. A method to detect a vertebra in a spine image is described, the method comprising generating a rectangle approximation of a reference vertebra. The method also including identifying a mask similar to the rectangle approximation and labeling a mask region in the mask. The method also including comparing the mask region to the rectangle approximation and detecting a vertebra in the spine image based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignees: General Electric Company, London Health Sciences Centre
    Inventors: Ismail Ben Ayed, Kumaradevan Punithakumar, Sukhdeep Gill, Gregory John Garvin
  • Patent number: 8965094
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for processing a set of multiple serially acquired magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) free induction decay (FID) frames from a multi-frame MRS acquisition series from a region of interest (ROI) in a subject, and for providing a post-processed MRS spectrum. Processing parameters are dynamically varied while measuring results to determine the optimal post-processed results. Spectral regions opposite water from chemical regions of interest are evaluated and used in at least one processing operation. Frequency shift error is estimated via spectral correlation between free induction decay (FID) frames and a reference spectrum. Multiple groups of FID frames within the acquired set are identified to different phases corresponding with a phase step cycle of the acquisition. Baseline correction is also performed via rank order filter (ROF) estimate and a polynomial fit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Nocimed, LLC
    Inventors: James Clayton Peacock, III, John Patrick Claude, Paul Henry Kane, Ricardo Dario Pradenas
  • Patent number: 8963919
    Abstract: A method for generating time-resolved 3D medical images of a subject by imparting temporal information from a time-series of 2D medical images into 3D images of the subject. Generally speaking, this is achieved by acquiring image data using a medical imaging system, generating a time-series of 2D images of a ROI from at least a portion of the acquired image data, reconstructing a 3D image substantially without temporal resolution from the acquired image data, and selectively combining the time series of 2D images with the 3D image. Selective combination typically involves registering frames of the time-series of 2D images with the 3D image, projecting pixel values from the 2D image frames “into” the 3D image, and weighting the 3D image with the projected pixel values for each frame of the time-series of 2D images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignees: Mistretta Medical, LLC, CMS Medical, LLC
    Inventors: Charles A. Mistretta, Charles M. Strother
  • Patent number: 8965077
    Abstract: Methods and systems determine a correspondence of two sets of data, each data set represents an object. A weighted graph is created from each data set, and a Laplacian is determined for each weighted graph, from which spectral components are determined. The spectral components determine a coordinate of a node in a weighted graph. Nodes of a weighted graph are weighted with a quantified feature related to anode. A coordinate related to a quantified feature of a node is added to the coordinate based on the spectral components. Spectral components related to a weighted graph are reordered to a common ordering. Reordered spectral components related to the first and second data set are aligned and a correspondence is determined. An object may be a brain and a feature may be a sulcal depth. Other objects for which a correspondence may be determined include an electrical network, an image and a social network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignees: Siemens Corporation, The General Hospital Corporation
    Inventors: Leo Grady, Herve Jun Alfred Lombaert, Jonathan Rizzo Polimeni, Farida Cheriet
  • Publication number: 20150049935
    Abstract: Provided is a region extraction system that uses an image data analysis process, which has overcome the problem of false positives in region extraction and assists in more accurate region extraction. A luminance distribution-analyzing unit (105) is used to determine a parameter of unknown quantity for extracting a region of interest. The luminance distribution-analyzing unit (105) searches a luminance distribution management database (106) for a region, which has a luminance distribution similar to the region of interest and is easily extracted, as a similar area. The region of the similar area is extracted using a region extraction pre-processing unit (107) and the value of the parameter of unknown quantity is determined on the basis of an image feature value calculated from the region extraction results.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuntaro Yui, Kazuki Matsuzaki, Junichi Miyakoshi
  • Patent number: 8958624
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for stitching a plurality of images. The method includes capturing a first image and a second image; variably setting a position and size of a template for image stitching with respect to the captured first image or the captured second image, and determining stitch positions of the first image and the second image, based on the template that is variably set. In addition, the method includes stitching the first image and the second image, based on the determined stitch positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-sung Lee, Jae-chool Lee, Hae-kyung Jung
  • Patent number: 8958625
    Abstract: An image analysis embodiment comprises generating a bulge mask from a digital image, the bulge mask comprising potential convergence hubs for spiculated anomalies, detecting ridges in the digital image to generate a detected ridges map, projecting the detected ridges map onto a set of direction maps having different directional vectors to generate a set of ridge direction projection maps, determining wedge features for the potential convergence hubs from the set of ridge direction projection maps, selecting ridge convergence hubs from the potential convergence hubs having strongest wedge features, extracting classification features for each of the selected ridge convergence hubs, and classifying the selected ridge convergence hubs based on the extracted classification features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Vucomp, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Wehnes, David S. Harding
  • Patent number: 8958619
    Abstract: A method of reconstructing tomograms from a polychromatic X-ray transmission image and an image processing apparatus using the same. An image of a target is reconstructed in consideration of a fact that an X-ray has a polychromatic X-ray spectrum and the target is dependent upon energy of the X-ray transmitted through the target, and thus an image without any beam hardening artifacts may be generated. In addition, measurement data for X-rays with respect to all wavelengths is used to reconstruct an image, thereby reconstructing an accurate image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kwang-eun Jang, Young-hun Sung, Jong-ha Lee, Kang-eui Lee
  • Publication number: 20150045605
    Abstract: A medical image processing apparatus includes: a receiver which receives target image data that is including a first perspective image and a second perspective image, photographing an object from different directions; a first acquirer which acquires positional information of a specified point on the first perspective image; a second acquirer which acquires positional information of a candidate point on the second perspective image, the candidate point corresponding to the specified point; and a generator which generates a first enlarged image obtained by enlarging a part of the first perspective image neighboring the specified point and a second enlarged image obtained by enlarging a part of the second perspective image neighboring the candidate point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Ryusuke HIRAI, Yukinobu SAKATA, Yasunori TAGUCHI, Kyoka SUGIURA, Atsushi YAGUCHI
  • Patent number: 8953865
    Abstract: Provided is, for example, a medical image display device which automatically create and display an image suitable for radiographic image interpretation of interosseous tissue or a 3-dimensional image of a vertebral body separated one by one with high precision. A medical image processing device (1) creates a first conversion image (in step (S1)), extracts a first intervertebral disc region from the first conversion image (in step (S2)), and specifies two coordinates (P1, P2) from among the pixels included in the first intervertebral disc region (in step (S3)). Next, the medical image processing device (1) creates a second conversion image (in step (S4)), extracts a second intervertebral disc region (in step (S5)), and specifies two coordinates (Q1, Q2) from the second intervertebral disc region (in step (S6)).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Medical Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Goto
  • Patent number: 8950938
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for reducing image artifacts in X-ray image data includes dividing pixels of X-ray image data into a plurality of pixel value regions based on a pixel value of each pixel, wherein each pixel value region has a different range of pixel values. The method also includes generating calibrated X-ray image data for each pixel value region, wherein the respective calibrated X-ray image data for each pixel value region is generated using a different dose of radiation. Further, the method includes calculating a gain slope for each pixel value region based on the calibrated X-ray image data, and calculating a pixel gain correction for the pixels of the X-ray image data based on at least one of the calculated gain slopes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: James Zhengshe Liu
  • Publication number: 20150036911
    Abstract: A method for motion correcting molecular breast imaging (MBI) images includes obtaining a plurality of two-dimensional (2D) images of a breast using a MBI system, selecting a reference image from the plurality of 2D images, selecting a feature of interest in the reference image, determining a location of the feature of interest in the reference image, calculating a correction value based on a difference in the location of the feature of interest in the reference image and a location of the feature of interest in a plurality of non-reference images, and aligning the non-reference 2D images with the reference image based on the calculated correction value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Reuven Brenner, Osnat Zak, Avi Bar-Shalev, Nurit Rivka Warski
  • Publication number: 20150036910
    Abstract: Dual-energy absorptiometry is used to estimate intramuscular adipose tissue metrics and display results, preferably as related to normative data. The process involves deriving x-ray measurements for respective pixel positions related to a two-dimensional projection image of a body slice containing intramuscular adipose tissue as well as subcutaneous adipose tissue, at least some of the measurements being dual-energy x-ray measurements, processing the measurements to derive estimates of metrics related to the intramuscular adipose tissue in the slice, and using the resulting estimates. Processing the measurements includes an algorithm which places boundaries of regions, e.g., a large region and a smaller region. The regions are combined in an equation that is highly correlated with intramuscular adipose tissue measured by quantitative computed tomography in order to estimate intramuscular adipose tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: HOLOGIC, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas L. Kelly, Kevin E. Wilson
  • Patent number: 8948472
    Abstract: A device and method for capturing images of a specific part of an anatomical structure using a series of images, wherein an image is taken of the anatomical structure and is compared to a database of information is order to determine and optimize the imaging conditions used for taken subsequent images of the specific part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Brainlab AG
    Inventors: Richard Wohlgemuth, Gregor Tuma
  • Patent number: 8948842
    Abstract: Methods, and apparatuses are provided that include a first imaging element configured to generate a first observation of a first object, the first observation of the first object being generated at a first time, wherein the first object is associated with a volume of interest (VOI). The system further includes a second imaging element configured to generate a first observation of a second object, wherein the first observation of the second object is generated at a second time, and the second object is associated with the VOI. A first positioning of the VOI is determined based on the first observation of the first object and the first observation of the second object, a third time for the first imaging element is determined based on a positioning parameter associated with the first positioning of the VOI, and a second observation of the first object is generated at the third time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Headwater Partners II LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Raleigh, Jose Tellado, Alireza Raissinia
  • Patent number: 8948488
    Abstract: Methods and systems for digitally enhancing an initial image of a material to which a plurality of stains were previously applied, that generally comprise: unmixing the image into a plurality of individual reconstructed images, each individual image corresponding to one of the stains; estimating a residual image corresponding to the difference between the original image and the reconstructed images; adjusting one or more components of the individual images; mixing the adjusted components using one or more estimated mixing coefficients; and adding the residual image to the mixed adjusted components to generate an enhanced image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ali Can, Cemal Cagatay Bilgin, Jens Rittscher, Robert John Filkins
  • Patent number: 8948486
    Abstract: A method to process radiological images is provided. The method comprises partitioning a radiological image of a region to be treated into a superimposition of layers, the region to be treated comprising at least one first structure and a second structure, wherein one layer solely comprises part of the first structure to be isolated from the remainder of the image, the layer solely comprising that part of the first structure to be isolated from the remainder of the image being determined by means of a parametric model of the first structure. The method further comprises determining an image of the region to be treated from the layering thus obtained, in which the isolated part of the first structure is omitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Vincent Bismuth, Regis Vaillant
  • Patent number: 8948485
    Abstract: In order to generate a three-dimensional tomographic image in which the visibility of specific tissue that an examiner wants is enhanced, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 100 of the present invention includes: an offset calculating section 16 which increases or decreases the brightness value of each voxel according to the brightness value of each voxel of a three-dimensional tomographic image volume data. The amount of increase or decrease in the brightness value of each voxel of the offset calculating section is adjustable through a control panel 26, and a tomographic image volume rendering section generates the three-dimensional tomographic image on the basis of a three-dimensional tomographic image volume data in which the brightness value is offset by the offset calculating section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Medical Corporation
    Inventor: Takehiro Tsujita
  • Patent number: 8948482
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides computing device implemented methods, computing device readable media, and systems for motion compensation in a three dimensional scan. Motion compensation can include receiving three-dimensional (3D) scans of a dentition, estimating a motion trajectory from one scan to another, and calculating a corrected scan by compensating for the motion trajectory. Estimating the motion trajectory can include one or more of: registering a scan to another scan and determining whether an amount of movement between the scans is within a registration threshold; determining an optical flow based on local motion between consecutive two-dimensional (2D) images taken during the scan, estimating and improving a motion trajectory of a point in the scan using the optical flow; and estimating an amount of motion of a 3D scanner during the scan as a rigid body transformation based on input from a position tracking device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Adi Levin
  • Patent number: 8948471
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for registering images from two medical imaging modalities in a six-degree-of-freedom coordinate space, for the purpose of providing real time registered imagery for optimization of medical procedures. The system and method uses fiducial that is visible to the first imager and in a fixed position and orientation relative to the second imager. The first imager may be an X-ray device such as a C-arm fluoroscope, and the second imager may be a Transrectal Ultrasound (TRUS) device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignees: The John Hopkins University, Acoustic MedSystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gabor Fichtinger, Ameet Jain, Tabish Mustufa, Keenan Wyrobek, Greg Chirikjian, Yu Zhou, Everette C. Burdette
  • Patent number: 8948502
    Abstract: Included are (a) performing processes on second training data items stored in a training database to generate third training data items each obtained through a corresponding one of the processes, (b) selecting, from among the third training data items generated in step (a), a selection data item having a highest similarity to a feature data item of the input image, (c) generating a high-frequency data item by: determining (i) the second training data item used in generating the selection data item and (ii) a first process performed on the second training data item to generate the selection data item; and performing the first process on the first training data item that is paired with the determined second training data item; and (d) generating an output image by adding an image indicated by the high-frequency data item to the input image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Corporation of America
    Inventors: Kenji Takita, Tokuzo Kiyohara, Tadanori Tezuka, Masao Hamada, Satoshi Sakaguchi, Toru Matsunobu
  • Patent number: 8948543
    Abstract: A console of an X-ray imaging system functions as a query receiver and a retrieval section to support decision on an exposure condition. The query receiver receives a retrieval query such as an exposed body portion and an exposure direction. The retrieval section refers to an exposure date of image files having the same patient ID number, and calculates an exposure interval between a pair of prior and subsequent image files the exposure dates of which are the nearest to each other. The exposure interval is compared with a threshold value. If the exposure interval is less than the threshold value, neither image file is assigned as a model image file. If the exposure interval is the threshold value or more, the subsequent image file is assigned as the model image file. The retrieval section retrieves the image file matching the retrieval query out of the model image files.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Takeshi Koishi
  • Patent number: 8948487
    Abstract: A method for non-rigid registration of digital 3D coronary artery models with 2D fluoroscopic images during a cardiac intervention includes providing a digitized 3D centerline representation of a coronary artery tree that comprises a set of S segments composed of QS 3D control points, globally aligning the 3D centerline to at least two 2D fluoroscopic images, and non-rigidly registering the 3D centerline to the at least two 2D fluoroscopic images by minimizing an energy functional that includes a summation of square differences between reconstructed centerline points and registered centerline points, a summation of squared 3D registration vectors, a summation of squared derivative 3D registration vectors, and a myocardial branch energy. The non-rigid registration of the 3D centerline is represented as a set of 3D translation vectors rs,q that are applied to corresponding centerline points xs,q in a coordinate system of the 3D centerline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Hari Sundar
  • Publication number: 20150030229
    Abstract: Methods for updating a 2D/3D registration between a three-dimensional image data set corresponding to a target area subjected to a movement and a plurality of two-dimensional projection images of the target area include: selecting a plurality of contour points along a contour, the contour being visible in a first projection image and a three-dimensional image data set registered therewith, the plurality of contour points being associated with a rigid object in the target area; determining a displacement of each contour point of the plurality of contour points between the first projection image and a successively captured second projection image; obtaining movement information for each contour point of the plurality of contour points based on the determined displacement, the movement information describing a movement of the rigid object; and updating the registration based on the obtained movement information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Anja Borsdorf, Benno Heigl, Jian Wang
  • Publication number: 20150030228
    Abstract: A method for the reduction of artifacts based on an unequal representation of the same material classes in various locations, in particular of cupping artifacts, in a three-dimensional image data set, reconstructed from two-dimensional x-ray projection images is provided. An image datum, describing an attenuation value, is allocated respectively to a voxel, wherein at least two material class regions are located in a post-processing step, which receive, in particular, image data, which is homogeneously distributed and lies in an expected material class interval of the attenuation values, and, considering at least one characteristic of the material class regions, calculates a smooth homogenization function, which is to be applied to the image data of the entire image data set and is applied to the image data of the image data set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Christoph Köhler, Bernd Schreiber
  • Publication number: 20150030130
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for reducing image artifacts in X-ray image data includes dividing pixels of X-ray image data into a plurality of pixel value regions based on a pixel value of each pixel, wherein each pixel value region has a different range of pixel values. The method also includes generating calibrated X-ray image data for each pixel value region, wherein the respective calibrated X-ray image data for each pixel value region is generated using a different dose of radiation. Further, the method includes calculating a gain slope for each pixel value region based on the calibrated X-ray image data, and calculating a pixel gain correction for the pixels of the X-ray image data based on at least one of the calculated gain slopes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventor: James Zhengshe Liu
  • Patent number: 8942451
    Abstract: The current invention provides a method of identifying a ischemic lesion. The method includes loading perfusion imaging data into an electronic memory element and deriving perfusion maps from the perfusion imaging data, where the perfusion maps include a cerebral blood volume (CBV) map and an arterial delay time (DT) map, which utilize arterial delay and dispersion effects. Ischemic pixels are determined from the perfusion imaging data, where the DT is greater than a predetermined first threshold value and the CBV is below a second threshold value and the infarct portion of the ischemic lesion is determined, where DT is greater than a predetermined third threshold value and/or the CBV is below a forth threshold value. A cluster analysis is applied to all of the determined ischemic lesion and infarct pixels and the penumbra is then determined, where mismatch regions between the ischemic lesion and the infarct core define the penumbra.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Apollo Medical Imaging Technology Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Qing Yang
  • Patent number: 8942457
    Abstract: The present invention relates to navigating an interventional device. In particular, the invention relates to a system for navigating an interventional device within a tubular structure of an object, a method for navigating an interventional device within a tubular structure of an object as well as a computer program element and a computer-readable medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Raoul Florent, Gert Antonius Franciscus Schooenenberg, Bram Antonius Philomena Van Rens
  • Patent number: 8942444
    Abstract: An imaging system includes an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert an analog pixel value into a first digital pixel value. The imaging system also includes an index value source configured to receive the first digital pixel value from the analog-to-digital converter and to generate a digital index value based on a comparison of the first digital pixel value to a digital reference value. In addition, the imaging system includes a transmitter in communication with the index value source and configured to transmit the digital index value. Further, the imaging system includes an image processing component configured to receive the digital index value and to generate a second digital pixel value based at least in part on the received digital index value and a lookup table of the image processing component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Zhengshe Liu, Richard Larry Anderton, Brian James Grekowicz, Bela Janos Kiraly
  • Publication number: 20150023580
    Abstract: An analysis of a digitized image is provided. The digitized image is repeatedly convolved to form first convolved images, which first convolved images are convolved a second time to form second convolved images. Each first convolved image and the respective second convolved image representing a stage, and each stage represents a different scale or size of anomaly. As an example, the first convolution may utilize a Gaussian convolver, and the second convolution may utilize a Laplacian convolver, but other convolvers may be used. The second convolved image from a current stage and the first convolved image from a previous stage are used with a neighborhood median determined from the second convolved image from the current stage by a peak detector to detect peaks, or possible anomalies for that particular scale.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Wehnes, James P. Monaco, David S. Harding, James H. Pike, Anbinh T. Ho, Lawrence M. Hanafy
  • Publication number: 20150023579
    Abstract: A diagnosis support apparatus obtains a plurality of images as interpretation targets, selects one item of a plurality of image finding items, sequentially assigns evaluations for the selected image finding item to the plurality of images in accordance with an operation input by a user, and displays an image for which an evaluation is assigned, in accordance with the operation input, in a display area, of a plurality of display areas corresponding to evaluations configured to be assigned for the selected image finding item, which corresponds to the evaluation assigned for the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Koji Fujimoto, Masami Kawagishi, Gakuto Aoyama
  • Patent number: 8938111
    Abstract: A computed tomography imaging process, including: accessing projection data representing two-dimensional projection images of an object acquired using a misaligned tomographic imaging apparatus; and processing the projection data to generate misalignment data representing one or more values that quantify respective misalignments of the tomographic imaging apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: FEI Company
    Inventors: Andrew Maurice Kingston, Adrian Paul Sheppard, Trond Karsten Varslot, Shane Jamie Latham, Arthur Sakellariou
  • Patent number: 8938110
    Abstract: A method includes generating enhanced image data based on lower dose image data and a predetermined image quality threshold, wherein an image quality of the enhanced image data is substantially similar to an image quality of higher dose image data, and a system includes an image quality enhancer (128) that generates enhanced image data based on lower dose image data and a predetermined image quality threshold, wherein an image quality of the enhanced image data is substantially similar to an image quality of higher dose image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Liran Goshen, Kevin M. Brown, Stanislav Zabic, Jens Wiegert, Asher Gringauz
  • Patent number: 8937626
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a determination unit configured to determine whether or not a region having at least one pixel of an image includes a predetermined number of anomalous pixels, and a creation unit configured to create information indicating the determination result for the region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Omi
  • Publication number: 20150016705
    Abstract: The invention provides a fluoroscopy apparatus including an image-capturing device that acquires a fluorescence image of a subject; a sensitivity adjusting portion that sets a sensitivity of the image-capturing device to fluorescence on the basis of a gradation value of the fluorescence image; a notifying portion that extracts a lesion part from the fluorescence image acquired by the image-capturing device with the sensitivity set by the sensitivity adjusting portion and presents it to an operator; and a display switching portion that displays the fluorescence image on a display unit when the sensitivity in the image-capturing device is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold and that presents information showing the existence of the lesion part on the notifying portion when the sensitivity is greater than the predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicants: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP., OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kei KUBO, Yasushige ISHIHARA, Hiromi SHIDA, Satoshi TAKEKOSHI