General Electric Company

Ge Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC

Richard Jon Warp

Matthew Aaron Halsmer

Renuka Uppaluri

Vianney Pierre Battle

Kenneth Scott Kump

Stephen Wayne Metz

Matthew A Halsmer

Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a test image including a plurality of bands and a plurality of markers in each band. Each band includes a plurality of pixels of the same pixel value. Each marker contrasts with the plurality of pixels in the band. The markers are adapted to allow a user to determine a feature of an image display system.

Systems and methods for an interactive PACS image display test image

The present invention provides a method and associated system for processing a digital medical image. The method includes defining a plurality regions of an initial digital medical image, wherein the initial digital medical image is a combined initial digital medical image formed from the digital pasting of a plurality of individual initial digital medical images, and wherein the initial digital medical image is an exposure-normalized initial digital medical image; measuring an intensity for each of the plurality of regions of the initial digital medical image; deriving an intensity weighting function using the intensity measured for each of the plurality of regions of the initial digital medical image; and applying the intensity weighting function to the initial digital medical image to form a final digital medical image.

Enhanced image processing method for the presentation of digitally-combined medical images

A method includes obtaining a first image of a subject at a first position, changing a position between the detector and the subject, obtaining a second image, and pasting the first and images to obtain a composite image. The first image and the second image may have an amount of overlap equal to no more than about 30 percent of a field of view of the detector in a direction of movement between the first image and the second image, and, according to some embodiments, may have an overlap of about 4 percent to about 16 percent. This may, in some embodiments, amount to an amount of overlap of about 1.5 cm to about 6.5 or 12 cm. In some embodiments, the span of overlap of the images is at least about 30 cm. The geometry of the images may be used to help paste the images together appropriately.

Image pasting system using a digital detector

An x-ray system is controlled to obtain a view of an area of a patient that is larger than a field of view of an x-ray detector. Individual images are obtained of portions of the area of the subject that, when combined, can be used to get a view of the area of the subject. Positions of individual images are determined. The positions are preferably calculated to avoid placing structures that tend to move or that are dose sensitive in an area of overlap of the individual images. Also, the positions are preferably calculated to reduce overall exposure to a subject, especially by reducing unnecessary double exposure.

Methods and apparatus for multiple image acquisition on a digital detector

A device for use in image pasting is described. The device includes a digital x-ray detector capable of automatic digital imaging without the use of an image intensifier; the detector preferably being a flat-panel detector. Additionally, an image pasting system using a solid-state detector is described. The system can connect the detected images to a display via a network (such as a WAN, a LAN, or the internet). Further, an image geometry measurement device for use in pasting x-ray images is disclosed. The geometry measurement device helps determine the relative position of two images to be used in image pasting. This information can be used alone, or in connection with an image pasting algorithm. Still further, methods of forming composite images are disclosed using a flat-panel detector and using the geometry of the images. The disclosed devices and systems can be integrated with other digital image pasting technology.

Growing community of inventors

Waukesha, WI, United States of America

Richard Jon Warp