IP Library Granted Patent US 8,295,564
Granted Patent B2
US 8,295,564 · App. 11/945,192 · Granted Oct 23, 2012

Marking a location in a medical image

Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,295,564
App. No.
11/945,192
Granted
Oct 23, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and apparatus provide for marking a location in a medical image, including: providing a first marker within a first medical image, which shows an object, at a first location, determining a second location, which corresponds to the first location, within a second medical image showing the same object, marking the second location with a second marker, which is different to the first marker, and presenting the first medical image, the first marker, the second medical image and the second marker.

Claims (23)

1. A marking apparatus for marking a location in a medical image, comprising:

a providing unit for providing a first marker within a first medical image, which shows an object, at a first location,

a location determination unit for determining a second location, which corresponds to the first location, within a second medical image showing the same object,

an uncertainty determining unit for determining an uncertainty of the correspondence of the first location and the second location,

a marking unit for marking the second location with a second marker, which is different in appearance to the first marker, wherein the marking unit is adapted for providing the appearance of the second marker in dependence on the determined uncertainty,

a presenting unit for presenting the first medical image, the first marker, the second medical image and the second marker.

2. The marking apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the marking unit is adapted for providing the second marker as a broad marker.

3. The marking apparatus as defined in claim 2 , wherein the second marker is a circle or a sphere.

4. The marking apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the marking unit is adapted for providing the second marker as a broad marker, wherein the broadening depends on the determined uncertainty.

5. The marking apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the uncertainty determining unit is adapted for determining the uncertainty in different directions and wherein the marking unit is adapted for providing the second marker as a broad marker, wherein the broadening in different directions depends on the uncertainty in these directions.

6. The marking apparatus as defined in claim 1 , further comprising a selection unit for allowing a user to select the first and/or second marker, wherein the presenting unit is adapted for showing the selected first or second marker, respectively, within the first or second medical image, respectively.

7. A marking method for marking a location in a medical image, comprising following steps:

providing a first marker within a first medical image, which shows an object, at a first location,

determining a second location, which corresponds to the first location, within a second medical image showing the same object,

determining an uncertainty of the correspondence of the first location and the second location,

marking the second location with a second marker, which is different in appearance to the first marker, wherein the appearance of the second marker is provided in dependence on the determined uncertainty,

presenting the first medical image, the first marker, the second medical image and the second marker.

8. A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium containing a computer program for marking a location in a medical image, wherein the computer program comprises program code for causing a computer to carry out the steps of:

providing a first marker within a first medical image, which shows an object, at a first location,

determining a second location, which corresponds to the first location, within a second medical image showing the same object,

determining an uncertainty of the correspondence of the first location and the second location,

marking the second location with a second marker, which is different in appearance to the first marker, wherein the appearance of the second marker is provided in dependence on the determined uncertainty,

presenting the first medical image, the first marker, the second medical image and the second marker.

Assignments (3)
MERGER Recorded Jul 29, 2011
From: MEVIS RESEARCH GMBH
To: FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FOERDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG E.V.
Reel/Frame 026674/0540 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 27, 2008
From: HAHN, HORST
To: MEVIS RESEARCH GMBH
Reel/Frame 021000/0947 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 4, 2008
From: HAHN, HORST
To: MEVIS RESEARCH
Reel/Frame 020319/0886 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20090136097A1 · May 28, 2009