US6434262B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Computer-aided diagnosis system and method
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 2001-03-02
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Granted: 2002-08-13
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Expires: 2021-03-02
Abstract
Abstract An x-ray system acquires an initial low-contrast, wide latitude (G=2.5, or G=2 or less) x-ray image of a breast. A processing system automatically finds suspected abnormalities in the breast by processing the low contrast initial image, and then automatically converts the initial x-ray image to a high-contrast, narrow latitude image at the locations of the found abnormalities to thereby facilitate diagnosis and patient care. The technology includes effective ways to produce, process and display the various images, and can be extended to other types of images.
Inventors
- 👤 Shih-Ping Wang
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 02:09
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T7/00; G06T7/0002; G06T7/0012; G06T5/00; G06T5/40; G06T5/50; G06T5/90; G06T5/92; G16; G16H; G16H15/00; G16H30/00; G16H30/40; G16H40/00; G16H40/60; G16H40/63; G16H50/00; G16H50/20; H; H05; H05G; H05G1/00; H05G1/08; H05G1/60; G06T2207/00; G06T2207/10; G06T2207/10116; G06T2207/30; G06T2207/30004; G06T2207/30068
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A method comprising the steps of: acquiring a low-contrast, wide-latitude x-ray film image characterized by a contrast gradient G of 2 or less using a medical imaging modality; converting the film image to a low-contrast, wide-latitude digital image; processing the low-contrast, wide-latitude digital image by computer to automatically identify suspected abnormalities therein; using information regarding suspected abnormalities identified in the processing step to automatically find a relatively narrow exposure range that includes an exposure range related to at least one of the abnormalities; converting the low-contrast, wide-latitude digital image to a high-contrast, narrow-latitude version display image conforming to said relatively narrow exposure range; and displaying the display image on a display device.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
112 words
A method comprising the steps of: acquiring a low-contrast, wide-latitude x-ray film image characterized by a contrast gradient G of 2 or less using a medical imaging modality; converting the film image to a low-contrast, wide-latitude digital image; processing the low-contrast, wide-latitude digital image by computer to automatically identify suspected abnormalities therein; using information regarding suspected abnormalities identified in the processing step to automatically find a relatively narrow exposure range that includes an exposure range related to at least one of the abnormalities; converting the low-contrast, wide-latitude digital image to a high-contrast, narrow-latitude version display image conforming to said relatively narrow exposure range; and displaying the display image on a display device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as in claim 1 in which said displaying comprises printing said high-contrast, narrow-latitude image on photographic film.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as in claim 1 in which said displaying comprises displaying said high-contrast, narrow-latitude image on an electronic monitor.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
120 words
A system comprising: a medical imaging unit acquiring a film image having a relatively low contrast and relatively wide exposure range characterized by a contrast gradient G of 2 or less and converting the film image to a low-contrast, wide latitude digital image; a programmed computer processing the low-contrast, wide-latitude digital image to automatically identify suspected abnormalities therein and to automatically find at least one relatively narrow exposure range that includes an exposure range related to at least one of the abnormalities and converting the low-contrast, wide-latitude digital image to a display image that is high-contrast in at least one narrow latitude related to said at least one narrow exposure range; and a display device for displaying said display image.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
120 words
A system comprising: a medical imaging unit acquiring a film image having a relatively low contrast and relatively wide exposure range characterized by a contrast gradient G of 2 or less and converting the film image to a low-contrast, wide latitude digital image; a programmed computer processing the low-contrast, wide-latitude digital image to automatically identify suspected abnormalities therein and to automatically find at least one relatively narrow exposure range that includes an exposure range related to at least one of the abnormalities and converting the low-contrast, wide-latitude digital image to a display image that is high-contrast in at least one narrow latitude related to said at least one narrow exposure range; and a display device for displaying said display image.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system as in claim 4 in which said display device comprises a film printer printing said display image on photographic film.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system as in claim 4 in which said display device comprises an electronic monitor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system as in claim 4 in which said medical imaging unit acquires a film image having an exposure range characterized by a contrast gradient of less than 2.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system as in claim 4 in which the display image is characterized by a contrast gradient G of at least 3 in said narrow latitude.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system as in claim 4 in which the display device displays a latitude exposure range of less than about 25.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
A system as in claim 4 in which: the medical imaging unit is a mammography unit; the computer identifies suspected speculated lesion and microcalcification cluster type abnormalities and produces information for an annotated map comprising symbols identifying the type and location of the abnormalities; and the display image includes the annotated map.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
117 words
A method comprising the steps of: producing a low-contrast, wide-latitude digital x-ray image characterized by a contrast gradient G of 2 or less using a medical imaging modality; processing the digital image by computer to identify suspected abnormalities therein; finding, through computer processing that does not require window and/or level selection by an operator, a relatively narrow exposure range which includes at least one exposure range related to at least one of the abnormalities; computer-generating a high-contrast, narrow-latitude version of said image conforming to said at least one relatively narrow exposure range, using information regarding said relatively narrow exposure range provided without operator intervention; and displaying said high-contrast, narrow-latitude version of said image on a display device.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
117 words
A method comprising the steps of: producing a low-contrast, wide-latitude digital x-ray image characterized by a contrast gradient G of 2 or less using a medical imaging modality; processing the digital image by computer to identify suspected abnormalities therein; finding, through computer processing that does not require window and/or level selection by an operator, a relatively narrow exposure range which includes at least one exposure range related to at least one of the abnormalities; computer-generating a high-contrast, narrow-latitude version of said image conforming to said at least one relatively narrow exposure range, using information regarding said relatively narrow exposure range provided without operator intervention; and displaying said high-contrast, narrow-latitude version of said image on a display device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as in claim 11 in which said displaying comprises printing said high-contrast, narrow-latitude version of said image on photographic film.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as in claim 11 in which said displaying comprises displaying said high-contrast, narrow-latitude version of said image on an electronic monitor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 11 in which said acquiring comprises acquiring a digital image that has a latitude exposure range of more than about 25.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 11 in which said acquiring comprises acquiring a digital image that has a latitude exposure range of more than about 100.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 11 in which said displaying comprises displaying an image that has a latitude exposure range of less than about 25.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
113 words
A system comprising: a medical imaging unit acquiring a low-contrast, wide-latitude digital x-ray image characterized by a density gradient G no greater than 2.5; a programmed computer processing the digital image to automatically identify suspected abnormalities therein and to find at least one relatively narrow exposure range which includes an exposure range of at least one of the abnormalities; said programmed computer further using information regarding at least one of said abnormalities to automatically, without requiring window and/or level selection by an operator, convert the digital image to a high-contrast, narrow latitude display image that includes said at least one relatively narrow exposure range; and a display device for displaying said display image.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
113 words
A system comprising: a medical imaging unit acquiring a low-contrast, wide-latitude digital x-ray image characterized by a density gradient G no greater than 2.5; a programmed computer processing the digital image to automatically identify suspected abnormalities therein and to find at least one relatively narrow exposure range which includes an exposure range of at least one of the abnormalities; said programmed computer further using information regarding at least one of said abnormalities to automatically, without requiring window and/or level selection by an operator, convert the digital image to a high-contrast, narrow latitude display image that includes said at least one relatively narrow exposure range; and a display device for displaying said display image.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system as in claim 17 in which said display device comprises a film printer printing said display image on photographic film.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system as in claim 17 in which said display device comprises an electronic monitor displaying said display image.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
64 words
A system as in claim 17 in which: the medical imaging unit is a mammography unit; the computer identifies suspected speculated lesion and microcalcification cluster type abnormalities and produces information for an annotated map comprising symbols identifying the type and location of the abnormalities; said display image comprises a mammogram; and the display device displays the annotated map in addition to displaying said mammogram.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-08-12 | 2006-02-11 | 2006-08-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-08-12 | 2010-02-11 | 2010-08-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-08-12 | 2014-02-11 | 2014-08-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |