Hologic, Inc.

R2 Technology, Inc.

Jimmy R Roehrig

Julian Marshall

Wei Zhang

Alexander Caldwell Schneider

Harlan M Romsdahl

Keith W Hartman

Jiachao Liang

Gabriele Zingaretti

Haili Chui

Sussan Pourjavid

Takeshi Doi

Sandra J Stapleton

Zhong Tao

Xiaolan Zhang

Akira Hasegawa

Shih-Ping Wang

Nico Karssemeijer

Susan Alyson Wood

Guido M Te Brake

Paul Jerome Fehrenbach

John R Johns, Ii

Vincenzo Velocci

Vilim Simcic

A magnetic resonant imaging (MRI) review workstation includes a control processor, and a display integrated or otherwise operatively coupled with the control processor, wherein the control processor is configured to receive and analyze magnetic resonant imaging information pertaining to an imaged volume of tissue, and to cause to be displayed on the display output information that reflects or is otherwise indicative of an absorption rate of a contrast agent in the volume of tissue.

MRI display output reflecting contrast agent concentration as a function of time

Display and navigation for multiple computer-aided detection (CAD) detections is described. A medical image is displayed to a viewer, and a request is received to instantiate CAD-assisted viewing. A timewise presentation sequence for the CAD detections is automatically computed according to a predetermined sequencing criterion. For each CAD detection, an expanded presentation window is displayed for its associated location in the medical image, the expanded presentation windows being displayed according to the timewise presentation sequence. Also described is a navigational tool comprising a plot of an operating curve onto which a computed feature associated with the CAD algorithm can be mapped, the operating curve characterizing an application of the CAD algorithm to a reference database of mammographic cases having known diagnoses. The navigational tool further comprises a plurality of CAD pointer icons spatially distributed therealong according to mappings of the computed feature for the CAD detections onto the operating curve.

Displaying and navigating computer-aided detection results on a review workstation

A method and system for computer-aided detection of abnormal lesions in digital mammograms is described, wherein digital films are processed using an automated and computerized method of detecting the order and orientation of a set of films. In one embodiment, anatomic features are used to detect the order, orientation and identification of a film series. In another embodiment of the invention, a technologist feeds films into the system in any order and orientation. After processing, the system provides an output on a display device to a radiologist that is in an order and orientation preferred by the radiologist. In yet another embodiment of the invention, films from one case are distinguished from films of another case. In this manner and through the use of a bulk loader, a large number of films can be stacked together and fed into the system at one time.

Method and system for automatic identification and orientation of medical images

Facilitating analysis of one or more mammography images on a review workstation is described. A point or region of interest is identified in a first mammography image of a human breast. The distance between the point or region of interest and a point of reference, preferably the breast nipple, on the first mammography image is determined. A locus of points in a second mammography image of the breast is calculated, the locus of points representing potential locations corresponding to the point or region of interest in the first mammography image, and the calculation being based at least in part on the distance between the point or region of interest and the point of reference. The locus of points is then highlighted a user so as to facilitate a determination by the user of one or more locations in the second mammography image corresponding to the point or region of interest in the first mammography image. The locus of points is preferably a circular section arc having a radius corresponding to the point or region of interest to nipple distance, and centered about the nipple in the second mammography image.

Facilitating comparison of medical images

Methods, systems, and computer program products for facilitating temporal comparison of medical images is provided, with one exemplary application being for breast mammograms. In one embodiment, prior and subsequent mammographic images of a breast acquired using at least partially different mammogram acquisition systems are displayed for simultaneous viewing on a same mammogram display at an identical tissue distance per unit display distance without requiring a scale-adjusting viewer input. Also described are other embodiments for optimally scaling, windowing and/or otherwise advantageously processing and/or displaying prior and subsequent mammographic image sets in manners that facilitate temporal comparison therebetween.

Facilitating temporal comparison of medical images

The present invention is methods for processing medical images so as to remove certain effects of the physical characteristics of the object being imaged and/or of the apparatus used to form the images. The invention further provides for the formation of a standardized image from the processed image and for the use of the standardized image or the processed image in the training of computer-aided detection/diagnosis algorithms. These algorithms may then be used to detect abnormalities in other standardized or processed images derived from any of a variety of image acquisition systems.

Facilitating computer-aided detection, comparison and/or display of medical images by standardizing images from different sources

Managing a patient worklist in a radiology environment is described, the patient worklist identifying a plurality of medical imaging cases to be reviewed at a radiology review workstation. For each case, a set of CAD-computed metrics is received, the CAD-computed metrics being derived from an operation of a CAD processing algorithm on that case. According to a preferred embodiment, the cases in the patient worklist are sorted according to at least one of the CAD-computed metrics. The reviewing radiologist is provided with greater insight into, and control over, patient workflow at the radiology review workstation. Also described is a graphical user interface for easy user customization of the case sorting criteria. Examples of case sorting criteria include a number of CAD markers per case metric, a maximum suspiciousness metric, and an anatomical complexity metric.

Patient worklist management in digital radiography review workstations

Facilitating viewer comparison of a plurality of medical images of at least one body part on a softcopy review workstation is described. First and second medical images are displayed such that the second medical image appears as a spatially registered underlay to the first medical image exposed through an aperture therein. The aperture comprises at least one edge that is viewer-manipulable in a back-and-forth manner so that the first and second medical images can be visually compared with minimal eye movement. For a temporal comparison embodiment, the first and second medical images comprise identical views of the same body part acquired at different times. For a cross-modality comparison embodiment, the first and second medical images are acquired substantially concurrently, or at different times, using different medical imaging modalities. For a bilateral comparison embodiment, the first and second images are corresponding views of two laterally corresponding body parts.

Growing community of inventors

Aptos, CA, United States of America

Jimmy R Roehrig