System for producing consistent medical image data that is verifiably correct
A system produces medical images that are calibrated using a calibration slate. A subject is photographed with a calibration slate shown in the image. The calibration slate includes printed colors. The printed colors shown in the captured image can be compared against standard colors associated with the slate to color calibrate the image. Various types of medical images such as images showing wounds or other skin conditions may be color calibrated using the system.
1 . A method of calibrating an image related to the medical field, said method comprising the steps of:
capturing an image on an image recording device, wherein the captured image includes a calibration slate appearing in the captured image, wherein the calibration slate has a print run number that identifies a batch of printed calibration slates which includes the calibration slate appearing in the captured image, a unique identifier that individually identifies the calibration slate appearing in the captured image, and a color chart comprising at least one color;
reading the unique identifier and validating the calibration slate based on the unique identifier;
measuring a numeric color value from the at least one color in the color chart of the calibration slate appearing in the captured image;
reading the print run number;
associating the print run number with the batch of printed calibration slates which includes the calibration slate appearing in the image, wherein each calibration slate in the batch is substantially similar, wherein the measured numeric color value has a corresponding known numeric color value associated with the batch of calibration slates;
comparing the measured numeric color value to the corresponding known numeric color value;
calculating a variance between the measured numeric color value and the corresponding known numeric color value;
calculating a calibration factor based on the variance between the measured numeric color value and the corresponding known numeric color value; and
color calibrating the captured image by adjusting the colors of the captured image to produce a calibrated image, wherein the colors of the captured image are adjusted by applying the calibration factor to numeric color values measured from the captured image; and
embedding in the calibrated image: the measured numeric color value, the corresponding known numeric color value, the variance, the calibration factor, an adjusted numeric color value of one or more of the colors adjusted in the color calibrating step, or any combination thereof.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the unique identifier is machine-readable.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of validating the calibration slate comprises verifying if the calibration slate was previously used for calibrating an image.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of determining the scale of objects relating to a subject and appearing in the captured image based on known measurements of one or more objects printed on the calibration slate appearing in the captured image.
5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
consecutively capturing one or more additional images of a subject, wherein the subject is the same subject in each of the one or more additional captured images, wherein each of the one or more additional captured images includes a calibration slate appearing in each of the one or more additional captured images, respectively,
independently color calibrating each of the one or more additional captured images to produce one or more additional calibrated images, and
comparing each of the one or more additional calibrated images to the preceding calibrated image to determine how the subject has changed over time.
6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
measuring a plurality of corresponding numeric color values directly from a plurality of respective calibration slates within the batch of printed calibration slates, and
calculating the variance between the plurality of numeric color values measured from the plurality of respective calibration slates to verify that all slates within the batch are substantially similar.
7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of graphically attaching a second color chart to the captured image including the calibration slate, wherein the second color chart comprises a set of colors having known numeric color values, wherein each color in the set of colors on the second color chart is substantially similar to a respective corresponding color associated with the batch of calibration slates.
8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of attaching the calibration slate to a subject using an adhesive attached to the calibration slate before capturing the image that includes the calibration slate.
9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of associating the calibration slate appearing in the captured image with a patient based on patient identification information included on the calibration slate.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the patient identification information is machine-readable, wherein the method further comprises the step of reading the patient identification information.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the calibration slate appearing in the captured image further includes a focus chart comprising concentrically arranged shapes, wherein the focus chart is configured such that it can be used for grading the focus of the captured image, wherein the method further comprises the step of focusing the captured image using the focus chart before capturing the image.
12 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of embedding a visible or invisible security mark in the calibrated image, wherein the security mark is configured to indicate whether the calibrated image has been altered.
13 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: embedding a visible or invisible machine-readable unique number in the calibrated image that indicates that the calibrated image is certified, and certifying the calibrated image by reading the unique number.
14 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of embedding a visible or invisible mark in the calibrated image, wherein the mark is configured to indicate whether the calibrated image has been calibrated such that one or more of the colors adjusted in the color calibrating step has an adjusted numeric color value that is within a defined margin of error from the corresponding known numeric color value.
15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising the steps of: calculating a differential between the adjusted numeric color value and the defined margin of error, and embedding the differential in the calibrated image.
16 . A method of calibrating an image of a patient's wound or skin condition, said method comprising the steps of:
positioning a calibration slate in a location adjacent to a wound or skin condition on a patient, wherein the calibration slate has a print run number that identifies a batch of printed calibration slates which includes the calibration slate positioned in a location adjacent to the wound or skin condition on the patient, a unique identifier that individually identifies the calibration slate positioned in a location adjacent to the wound or skin condition on the patient, and a color chart comprising at least one color;
capturing an image that includes the wound or skin condition and the calibration slate using an image recording device;
reading the unique identifier and validating the calibration slate based on the unique identifier;
measuring a numeric color value from the at least one color in the color chart of the calibration slate as the calibration slate appears in the captured image;
reading the print run number;
associating the print run number with the batch of printed calibration slates which includes the calibration slate appearing in the captured image, wherein each calibration slate in the batch is substantially similar, wherein the measured numeric color value has a corresponding known numeric color value associated with the batch of calibration slates;
comparing the measured numeric color value to the corresponding known numeric color value;
calculating a variance between the measured numeric color value and the corresponding known numeric color value;
calculating a calibration factor based on the variance between the measured numeric color value and the corresponding known numeric color value; and
color calibrating the captured image by adjusting the colors of the captured image to produce a calibrated image, wherein the colors of the captured image are adjusted by applying the calibration factor to numeric color values measured from the captured image.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the unique identifier is machine-readable.
18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the step of validating the calibration slate comprises verifying if the calibration slate was previously used for calibrating an image.
19 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising the step of determining the scale of objects relating to a subject and appearing in the captured image based on known measurements of one or more objects printed on the calibration slate appearing in the captured image.
20 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising the steps of:
consecutively capturing one or more additional images of a subject, wherein the subject is the same subject in each of the one or more additional captured images, wherein each of the one or more additional captured images includes a calibration slate appearing in each of the one or more additional captured images, respectively,
independently color calibrating each of the one or more additional captured images to produce one or more additional calibrated images, and
comparing each of the one or more additional calibrated images to the preceding calibrated image to determine how the subject has changed over time.
21 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising the steps of:
measuring a plurality of corresponding numeric color values directly from a plurality of respective calibration slates within the batch of printed calibration slates, and
calculating the variance between the plurality of numeric color values measured from the plurality of respective calibration slates to verify that all slates within the batch are substantially similar.
22 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising the step of graphically attaching a second color chart to the captured image including the calibration slate, wherein the second color chart comprises a set of colors having known numeric color values, wherein each color in the set of colors on the second color chart is substantially similar to a respective corresponding color associated with the batch of calibration slates.
23 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising the step of attaching the calibration slate to a subject using an adhesive attached to the calibration slate before capturing the image that includes the calibration slate.
24 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising the step of associating the calibration slate appearing in the captured image with a patient based on patient identification information included on the calibration slate.
25 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the patient identification information is machine-readable, wherein the method further comprises the step of reading the patient identification information.
26 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the calibration slate appearing in the captured image further includes a focus chart comprising concentrically arranged shapes, wherein the focus chart is configured such that it can be used for grading the focus of the captured image, wherein the method further comprises the step of focusing the captured image using the focus chart before capturing the image.
27 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising the step of embedding a visible or invisible security mark in the captured image, wherein the security mark is configured to indicate whether the captured image has been altered.
28 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising the steps of: embedding a visible or invisible machine-readable unique number in the calibrated image that indicates that the calibrated image is certified, and certifying the calibrated image by reading the unique number.
29 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising the step of embedding a visible or invisible mark in the calibrated image, wherein the mark is configured to indicate whether the calibrated image has been calibrated such that one or more of the colors adjusted in the color calibrating step has an adjusted numeric color value that is within a defined margin of error from the corresponding known numeric color value.
30 . The method of claim 29 , further comprising the steps of: calculating a differential between the adjusted numeric color value and the defined margin of error, and embedding the differential in the calibrated image.
31 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising the step of embedding in the calibrated image: the measured numeric color value, the corresponding known numeric color value, the variance, the calibration factor, an adjusted numeric color value of one or more of the colors adjusted in the color calibrating step, or any combination thereof.