The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 05, 2000
Filed:
Nov. 14, 1997
Alan W Rego, Woodbury, CT (US);
Trex Medical Corporation, Danbury, CT (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for displaying a digital image of at least a portion of an object displayed in a film transparency having object identifying indicia thereon is provided. The apparatus uses a position sensitive panel having a surface for supporting the film transparency and further having an output for providing an output signal corresponding to the two dimensional spatial position of a selected point of interest on the panel. The apparatus is further provided with an object identifying indicia reader having an output for providing an output signal corresponding to object identifying indicia on the film transparency. In one embodiment, a digital image of the object depicted on a film transparency can be displayed by simply touching the transparency which causes an associated computer controller to identify the transparency through the indicia thereon and recall corresponding digital image data. In another embodiment, a digital image of a selected point of interest on the film transparency can be displayed by touching the transparency at the desired location. The coordinates of the point touched on the panel together with the information contained in the indicia are provided to the associated computer controller to create the digital image display. The apparatus and method is particularly useful for fast screening of medical images with the added benefit of digital image enhancement capabilities when needed.