EP0645727A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
An X-ray image diagnosis system and method
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1994-09-29
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2014-09-29
Abstract
Abstract X-ray images are displayed at both high-resolution and high-illumination with annotation superimposed in registration therewith to point out suspected abnormalities identified through a process in which the x-ray images are digitized and the digitized information is subjected to feature extraction processing. For example, the x-ray images are displayed at high resolution and high illumination in the form of x-ray film images displayed on a light box while the annotation information is selectively superimposed on the same image by a separate imaging system co-acting with the light box. In this manner, the radiologist can view either the x-ray film alone, in the conventional manner, or the same x-ray film, at the same position and at the same high resolution and at the same or substantially the same illumination level but with annotation information superimposed and in registration therewith. In addition, alternative ways are disclosed for displaying the high resolution x-ray image and for selectively superimposing the annotation information thereon.
Inventors
- 👤 Shih-Ping Wang
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 10:15
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05G; H05G1/00; H05G1/08; H05G1/60; A; A61; A61B; A61B6/00; A61B6/46; A61B6/461; A61B6/465; G; G06; G06T; G06T5/00; G06T5/50; G16; G16H; G16H15/00; A61B6/50; A61B6/502; G16H30/00; G16H30/20; G16H40/00; G16H40/60; G16H40/63; G16H50/00; G16H50/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
A system comprising: a source of digitized image data representing x-ray images characterized by high spatial resolution: a processor coupled with said source to receive said digitized image data and to generate as a function thereof annotation maps identifying image portions meeting selected criteria; and a display coupled with said processor and displaying selected ones of said x-ray images for viewing at said high spatial resolution and at a high brightness level while selectively superposing thereon annotation maps in registration therewith.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system as in claim 2 in which said source comprises a source of x-ray images in the form of x-ray film images and a digitizer processing said x-ray film images to provide said digitized image data.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system as in claim 2 in which said display comprises a relatively low spatial resolution monitor selectively displaying said annotation maps and serving as a light box for illuminating said x-ray film images.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system as in claim 3 in which said monitor comprises a switch under the control of an observer for selectively turning on and off the display of said annotation maps while retaining the film illumination function of said monitor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
A system as in claim 2 in which said display comprises an x-ray film light box selectively illuminating for viewing x-ray films placed thereon and an annotation map source co-acting with said light box to selectively display said annotation maps in superposition on and registration with the x-ray films being viewed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system as in claim 5 in which said annotation map source comprises a CRT displaying said annotation maps and projection optics coupling optically said CRT and said x-ray films being viewed to selectively superpose said annotation maps thereon.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
A system as in claim 5 in which said x-ray film light box comprises a light source illuminating the x-ray films being viewed and said annotation map source comprises a display screen displaying said annotation maps positioned between the light source and the x-ray films to project the annotation maps for selective superposition on the x-ray films being viewed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system as in claim 7 in which said display screen displaying said annotation maps serves as a diffuser screen of said x-ray film light box.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system as in claim 7 in which said display screen comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
A system as in claim 2 including a transparency printer coupled with said processor to receive said annotation maps therefrom and to print transparencies thereof, and said display comprises a display of composite, superposed images each comprising an x-ray film image and a respective annotation map transparency superposed thereon in registration therewith.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system as in claim 1 in which said source of digitized image data comprises a source of image data derived from x-ray measurements rather than by digitizing x-ray film.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
A system as in claim 1 comprising a bank of display units each comprising a respective display and wherein said processor is coupled with the respective displays to selectively display thereon respective annotation maps in superposition on and in registration with x-ray films being viewed thereon.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
104 words
A computer-aided diagnosis system comprising: a high spatial resolution digitizer which digitizes radiologic images to a resolution of 50 microns or less per pixel for mammographic images or single screen techniques and 100 microns or less per pixel for chest films and double screen techniques; an abnormal anatomic feature detection computer detecting abnormalities from digitized versions of said radiologic images and generating therefrom annotation maps identifying detected abnormalities in said images; a printer coupled with said digitizer and said computer to print said digitized radiologic images on a film medium together with said annotated maps identifying detected abnormalities in the respective digitized radiologic images.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system as in claim 13 in which said printer comprises a printer selectively printing a selected one of said radiologic images and a respective one of said annotation maps superposed and in registration with each other.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
55 words
A method comprising the steps of: generating x-ray images characterized by high spatial resolution; computer-processing said x-ray images to generate respective annotation maps identifying image portions meeting selected criteria; and displaying said x-ray images for viewing at said high spatial resolution and at high brightness level while superposing thereon said annotation maps in registration therewith.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as in claim 15 in which said step of generating x-ray images comprises digitizing x-ray film images to generate digitized image data at a spatial resolution of 100 microns or less per pixel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as in claim 16 in which said step of computer processing comprises generating said annotation maps at a lower spatial resolution than said spatial resolution of 100 microns or less per pixel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as in claim 17 in which said step of displaying comprises illuminating x-ray films with a low spatial resolution monitor which selectively displays said annotation maps in registration with the illuminated x-ray films.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as in claim 17 in which said step of displaying comprises selectively illuminating for viewing x-ray films placed on a light box while selectively projecting said annotation maps on x-ray film being viewed in superposition on and registration with the x-ray films being viewed.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as in claim 15 in which said step of displaying comprises selectively illuminating x-ray films for viewing while selectively overlaying said annotation maps on the x-ray film being viewed in registration with the x-ray films being viewed.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method as in claim 15 in which said step of computer-processing said x-ray images to generate respective annotation maps identifying image portions meeting selected criteria comprises generating measures of confidence levels in the identification of said image portions, and said step of displaying comprises displaying indications of said measures of confidence in said annotation maps.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
51 words
An x-ray image diagnosis system in which an x-ray image of an object captured on film is processed to identify potential abnormalities in the object and indicators are displayed on a display screen such that when the film is registered to the display screen the abnormalities are emphasised by the indicators.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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