Patent US6909795B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6909795B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Communicating computer-aided detection results in a standards-based medical imaging environment
Assignee: Hologic Inc
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Filing: 2003-06-16
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Granted: 2005-06-21
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Expires: 2023-06-16
Abstract
Abstract A method, system, and method of doing business in a standards-based medical imaging environment is described in relation to the communication of computer-aided detection (CAD) results among devices, with one embodiment relating to the DICOM standard. CAD results are fixably integrated into the pixels of a secondary image derived from a source image, and the secondary image is transferred using a DICOM Secondary Capture Image Information Object Instance (SCI-IOI). The DICOM SCI-IOI is transferred to a viewing workstation, whereby a clinician can open, manipulate, and view the secondary image in a side-by-side comparison with the source image or derivative images thereof. Advantageously, CAD results are communicated to the clinician in a DICOM-conforming manner independent of whether the viewing workstation supports standard DICOM accommodations, such as CAD Structured Report Information Object Instances (CAD SR-IOIs), for the type of CAD results that need to be presented. Optionally, an equipment information entity identifier in a CAD SR-IOI and/or the SCI-IOI can be modified to change or shield the identity of the manufacturer of the CAD processing unit.
Inventors
- 👤 Raymond H. Tecotzky
- 👤 Julian Marshall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 21:57
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T7/00; G06T7/0002; G06T7/0012; G16; G16H; G16H30/00; G16H30/20; G16H30/40; G16H50/00; G16H50/50; G16H70/00; G16H70/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for computer-aided detection (CAD) of anatomical abnormalities, comprising: receiving a first medical image of an anatomical part of a human body; processing the first medical image to detect anatomical abnormalities therein; forming a second medical image including at least a portion of the anatomical part, said second medical image having CAD markers fixably integrated therein at pixel locations corresponding to said detected anatomical abnormalities; incorporating said second medical image into a DICOM Secondary Capture Image Information Object Instance; and transferring said DICOM Secondary Capture Image Information Object Instance to a destination device.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for computer-aided detection (CAD) of anatomical abnormalities, comprising: receiving a first medical image of an anatomical part of a human body; processing the first medical image to detect anatomical abnormalities therein; forming a second medical image including at least a portion of the anatomical part, said second medical image having CAD markers fixably integrated therein at pixel locations corresponding to said detected anatomical abnormalities; incorporating said second medical image into a DICOM Secondary Capture Image Information Object Instance; and transferring said DICOM Secondary Capture Image Information Object Instance to a destination device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method of claim 1 , said destination device being a viewing workstation, further comprising: extracting said second medical image from said DICOM Secondary Capture Image Information Object Instance; receiving a third medical image at said viewing workstation, said third medical image being derived from said first medical image; and concurrently displaying said second medical image and said third medical image on said viewing workstation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 2 , said second medical image further comprising CAD annotations fixably integrated into pixels thereof, said CAD annotations including textual annotations.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 3 , wherein said first and third medical images are of diagnostic quality, and wherein said second medical image is of less-than-diagnostic quality.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 4 , further comprising: retrieving a fourth medical image from a reference library database, said reference library database comprising images of anatomical parts of the human body having known diagnoses; and prior to said transferring step, fixably integrating the pixels of said fourth medical image into the pixels of said second medical image.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said destination device is a DICOM-conforming device, and wherein said destination device is selected from the group consisting of: a viewing workstation, an image archiving system, and a hardcopy printer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein said step of transferring is performed over an electronic data communications network using the TCP/IP protocol.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein said step of transferring is performed using a tangible, portable storage medium.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 8 , wherein said storage medium is selected from the group consisting of: a DVD, a CD, an optical storage medium other than a DVD or CD, a magnetic tape, and a portable flash memory device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising: incorporating information relating to said detected anatomical abnormalities into a DICOM Computer Aided Detection Structured Report Information Object Instance; and transferring said DICOM Computer Aided Detection Structured Report Information Object Instance to said destination device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
93 words
The method of claim 10 , said destination device being a viewing workstation, further comprising: extracting said second medical image from said DICOM Secondary Capture Image Information Object Instance; receiving a third medical image at said viewing workstation, said third medical image being derived from said first medical image; receiving said DICOM Computer Aided Detection Structured Report Information Object Instance at said viewing workstation; displaying said second medical image and said third medical image on said viewing workstation; and rendering said DICOM Computer Aided Detection Structured Report Information Object Instance on said workstation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 11 , wherein said second medical image, said third medical image, and said rendering of said DICOM Computer Aided Detection Structured Report Information Object Instance are concurrently displayed on said workstation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 11 , said DICOM Computer Aided Detection Structured Report Information Object Instance including an equipment information entity identifier, said method further comprising setting said equipment information entity identifier to a substitute value not indicative of a manufacturer of a CAD system that performed said processing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said receiving said first medical image comprises receiving a Source Image Information Object Instance from a DICOM-conforming source device, the Source Image Information Object Instance comprising said first medical image.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said step of receiving said first medical image comprises: receiving a film-based image of said anatomical part of the human body; and digitizing said film-based image to form said first medical image.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
114 words
A method for computer-aided detection (CAD) of anatomical abnormalities, comprising: receiving a first medical image of an anatomical part of a human body; processing the first medical image to detect anatomical abnormalities therein; forming a second medical image including at least a portion of the anatomical part, said second medical image having CAD markers fixably integrated therein at pixel locations corresponding to said detected anatomical abnormalities; incorporating said second medical image into a DICOM Secondary Capture Image Information Object Instance (SCI-IOI); incorporating information relating to said detected anatomical abnormalities into a DICOM Computer Aided Detection Structured Report Information Object Instance (CAD SR-IOI); and transferring said SCI-IOI and said CAD SR-IOI to a destination device.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
114 words
A method for computer-aided detection (CAD) of anatomical abnormalities, comprising: receiving a first medical image of an anatomical part of a human body; processing the first medical image to detect anatomical abnormalities therein; forming a second medical image including at least a portion of the anatomical part, said second medical image having CAD markers fixably integrated therein at pixel locations corresponding to said detected anatomical abnormalities; incorporating said second medical image into a DICOM Secondary Capture Image Information Object Instance (SCI-IOI); incorporating information relating to said detected anatomical abnormalities into a DICOM Computer Aided Detection Structured Report Information Object Instance (CAD SR-IOI); and transferring said SCI-IOI and said CAD SR-IOI to a destination device.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
74 words
The method of claim 16 , said destination device being a viewing workstation, further comprising: extracting said second medical image from said SCI-IOI; receiving a third medical image at said viewing workstation, said third medical image being derived from said first medical image; receiving said CAD SR-IOI at said viewing workstation; displaying said second medical image and said third medical image on said viewing workstation; and rendering said CAD SR-IOI on said viewing workstation.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein said second medical image, said third medical image, and said rendering of said CAD SR-IOI are concurrently displayed on said viewing workstation.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 17 , said CAD SR-IOI including an equipment information entity identifier, further comprising setting said equipment information entity identifier to a substitute value not indicative of a manufacturer of a CAD system that performed said processing step.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 17 , said second medical image further comprising CAD annotations fixably integrated into pixels thereof, said CAD annotations including textual annotations.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 20 , wherein said first and third medical images are of diagnostic quality, and wherein said second medical image is of less-than-diagnostic quality.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 16 , wherein said destination device is selected from the group consisting of: a viewing workstation, an image archiving system, and a hardcopy printer.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 16 , wherein said transferring is performed over an electronic data communications network using the TCP/IP protocol.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 16 , wherein said transferring is performed using a tangible, portable storage medium selected from the group consisting of: a DVD, a CD, an optical storage medium other than a DVD or CD, a magnetic tape, and a portable flash memory device.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 16 , wherein said receiving said first medical image comprises receiving a Source Image Information Object Instance from a DICOM-conforming source device, the Source Image Information Object Instance comprising said first medical image.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 16 , wherein said step of receiving said first medical image comprises: receiving a film-based image of said version of said anatomical part of the human body; and digitizing said film-based image to form said first medical image.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2008-06-20 | 2008-12-20 | 2009-06-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-06-20 | 2012-12-20 | 2013-06-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-06-20 | 2016-12-20 | 2017-06-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |