Patent US6901277B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6901277B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Methods for generating a lung report
Assignee: Merative US LP
•
Filing: 2001-07-17
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Granted: 2005-05-31
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Expires: 2021-07-17
Abstract
Abstract Software, methods and user interfaces for viewing and generating a lung report. In exemplary methods, a first baseline image is analyzed to localize lung nodules. The lung nodule information can be stored and used to relocate the previously localized lung nodules in a second, follow-up imaging scan. The follow-up scan can be analyzed—either manually or automatically—to generate statistics for the lung nodules localized in the follow-up scan. Information derived from the baseline scan can be used to ease the localization of the lung nodules in the follow-up scan. In some exemplary methods, both the baseline scan and follow-up scan are displayed and the nodules are selected for comparison. Typically, the graphical user interface can display a third, composite image that displays the change of size of the nodules.
Inventors
- 👤 Leon Kaufman
- 👤 Mikhail Mineyev
- 👤 Shelley Powers
- 👤 David Goldhaber
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 21:32
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B6/00; A61B6/46; A61B6/461; A61B6/463; A61B5/00; A61B5/41; A61B5/411; A61B5/72; A61B5/7271; A61B5/7285; A61B5/7289; A61B5/7292; A61B6/52; A61B6/5288; A61B6/54; A61B6/541; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S128/00; Y10S128/92; Y10S128/922
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 52
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A method of analyzing lung nodules in a body slice image and generating a patient report, the method comprising: providing patient information; displaying a first image along a body slice taken at t 1 ; displaying a second image along the body slice taken at t 2 ; localizing lung nodules in the first image and second image; registering the first image with the second image so that lung nodules in the first image are substantially registered with corresponding lung nodules in the second image; comparing the lung nodules in the first image with the lung nodules in the second image; and generating the patient report using a decision tree or a set of logic steps that combines patient information, and the comparison of selected parameters of the lung nodules and the number of lung nodules in the first image and the second image.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
144 words
A method of analyzing lung nodules in a body slice image and generating a patient report, the method comprising: providing patient information; displaying a first image along a body slice taken at t 1 ; displaying a second image along the body slice taken at t 2 ; localizing lung nodules in the first image and second image; registering the first image with the second image so that lung nodules in the first image are substantially registered with corresponding lung nodules in the second image; comparing the lung nodules in the first image with the lung nodules in the second image; and generating the patient report using a decision tree or a set of logic steps that combines patient information, and the comparison of selected parameters of the lung nodules and the number of lung nodules in the first image and the second image.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 wherein registering comprises automatically registering the first image and second image, wherein the comparing identifies changes in the parameters of the lung nodules and the number of lung nodules.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 1 wherein registering comprises manually panning at least one of the first and second images to align the first image with the second image, wherein the comparing identifies changes in the parameters of the nodules and the number of lung nodules.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 1 wherein registering comprises automatically or semi-automatically panning at least one of the first and second images to register the first image with the second image, wherein the comparing identifies changes in the parameters of the nodules and the number of lung nodules.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 4 wherein registering comprises automatically correcting for differences at acquisition in spatial parameters prior to panning at least one of the first and second images to align the first image with the second image.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein comparing comprises computing a third image which is a subtraction of the first image and second image.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein comparing comprises computing a third image which is an absolute difference of the first image and second image.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein comparing comprises computing a third image which is a sum of the first image and second image.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein registering comprises matching the lung nodules in the first image and second image, wherein matching comprises demanding that at least one voxel be overlapped.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 wherein registering comprises matching the nodule in the first image and second image, wherein matching comprises demanding that the edges of the lung nodule be no more than a fixed number of pixels apart.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 10 wherein nodule in the first image and second image are matched by demanding that the edges of the lung nodule be no more than one pixel apart.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 10 wherein nodules are matched by demanding that the edges of the lung nodule be no more than three pixels apart.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 wherein localizing further comprising logging at least one of the lung nodule number, anatomic position, volume, surface area, roundness, density and standard deviation, major and minor axes of the lung nodule.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 13 wherein density comprises HU in x-ray CT.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 13 where density comprises signal intensity in MRI.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 wherein comparing comprises calculating at least one of a change in size volume, surface area, roundness, density and standard deviation, major and minor axes of the nodule.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising illustrating the lung nodule(s) in the first image in a first color and the lung nodule(s) in the second image in a second color.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising removing surrounding tissues or organs from the first and second images.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 18 wherein removing comprises filtering a range of HU values.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second images are MRI images or CT images.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising selecting a viewing plane of at least one of the first image and second image.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 21 wherein selecting a viewing plane comprises an axial plane, sagittal plane, coronal plane, or an oblique plane.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein generating the patient report comprises posting the report on a secure website.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein generating the patient report comprises electronically transmitting the report to a patient's physician or a patient.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein generating the patient report comprises saving the report on an electronic media or printing a report with a printer.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the patient report comprises at least one of patient data, number of lung nodules, nodule parameters, recommendations, images, and risk information.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising marking the lung nodules in at least one of the first image and second image.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 27 wherein marking comprises displaying a marker, changing the intensity of the lung nodule, or changing the color of the lung nodule.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of generating a customized lung nodule patient report, the method comprising: storing patient information in a memory; providing a first image along a body slice taken at t 1 ; localizing lung nodules in the first image; measuring a plurality of parameters about the lung nodules in the first image; measuring the number of lung nodules in the first image; inputting customization selections into a decision tree or a set of logic steps so as to combine selected patient information with selected parameters of the lung nodules and the number of nodules to generate a customized patient report.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of generating a customized lung nodule patient report, the method comprising: storing patient information in a memory; providing a first image along a body slice taken at t 1 ; localizing lung nodules in the first image; measuring a plurality of parameters about the lung nodules in the first image; measuring the number of lung nodules in the first image; inputting customization selections into a decision tree or a set of logic steps so as to combine selected patient information with selected parameters of the lung nodules and the number of nodules to generate a customized patient report.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 29 further providing physician recommendations based on of the measured parameters of the lung nodule in the first image and the number of nodules in the first image, wherein the customized patient report selections includes the physician recommendations.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 29 wherein the decision tree or set of logic steps generates a risk ranking for selected parameters of the lung nodules.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 29 wherein measuring the plurality of parameters comprises measuring at least one of the anatomic position, volume, surface area, roundness, density and standard deviation, major and minor axes of the lung nodule.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
117 words
The method of claim 29 further comprising: providing a second image along the body slice taken at t 2 ; localizing lung nodules in the second image and registering the first image with the second image so that lung nodules in the first image are substantially registered with corresponding lung nodules in the second image; measuring a plurality of parameters about the localized lung nodules in the second image; comparing parameters of lung nodules in the first image with the lung nodules in the second image to determine a progression of the lung nodules; storing the comparison of parameters in the memory; and using the comparison of parameters to generate a recommendation in the customized patient report.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 33 wherein registering comprises automatically registering the first image and second image.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 33 wherein registering comprises manually panning at least one of the first and second images to align the first image with the second image.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 33 wherein registering comprises automatically or semi-automatically panning at least one of the first and second images to register the first image with the second image.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 36 wherein registering comprises automatically correcting for differences at acquisition in spatial parameters prior to panning at least e first and second images to align the first image with the second image.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 33 wherein comparing comprises computing a third image which is a subtraction of the first image and second image.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 33 wherein comparing comprises computing a third image which is an absolute difference of the first image and second image.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 33 wherein comparing comprises computing a third image which is a sum of the first image an second image.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 33 wherein registering comprises matching the nodule in the first image and second image, wherein matching comprises demanding that at least one voxel be overlapped.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 33 wherein registering comprises matching the nodule in the first image and second image, wherein matching comprises demanding that the edges of the nodule be no more than a fixed number of pixels apart.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 42 wherein nodule in the first image and second image are matched by demanding that the edges of the lesion be no more than one pixel apart.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 43 wherein nodules are matched by demanding that the edges of the lesion be no more than three pixels apart.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 43 wherein nodules are matched by manual input from an operator.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 33 wherein comparing comprises calculating at least one of a change in volume, surface area, roundness, density and standard deviation, major and minor axes of the nodule.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 33 , further comprising illustrating the nodule(s) in the first image in a first color and the nodule(s) in the second image in a second color.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 33 further comprising removing surrounding tissues or organs from the first and second images.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 29 further comprising marking the nodules in at least one of the first image and second image.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 49 wherein marking comprises displaying a marker, changing the intensity of the nodule, or changing the color of the nodule.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2008-05-30 | 2008-11-29 | 2009-05-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-05-30 | 2012-11-29 | 2013-05-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-05-30 | 2016-11-29 | 2017-05-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |