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:
Aug. 31, 2004
Filed:
Oct. 24, 2000
Jasjit S. Suri, Mayfield Heights, OH (US);
Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V., Eindhoven, NL;
Abstract
A method of digital imaging includes receiving image data and fitting a curve to boundaries within the image data. The curve is fit to the boundaries within the image data by extracting a region of interest from the image data and computing a signed distance transform in a narrow band within the region of interest. Finite difference equations including various variables are solved to determine a rate at which the distance transform changes. The distance transform is then diffused at that rate. The technique is based on region-based diffusion propagation, pixel classification, and mathematical morphology. The method is implemented to run in the narrow band of the region of interest specified by the user and the computations are implemented using a fast marching method in the narrow band. While idealized for distinguishing segments of white matter, gray matter, and cerebral spinal fluid in the brain, the algorithm can applied to find contours in any digital image.