Selection of presets for the visualization of image data sets

1. A computer-automated image visualization method for displaying images from an image data set comprising a plurality of image elements, each image element having an associated image value, the method comprising:

a) providing a visualization application with a library of presets, each preset defining a mapping between image values and their representation in a graphical user interface;

b) loading an image data set from a data file containing the image data set;

c) displaying an initial representation of the loaded image data set on a graphical user interface;

d) receiving user input from a location in the representation to indicate a region of interest in the image data set;

e) determining properties of image elements in the region of interest;

f) making a list of potentially suitable presets from the library of presets based on the determined properties of the region of interest; and

g) presenting the potentially suitable presets to the user for selection;

wherein the image data set is a volume data set having voxels as its image elements, each voxel has an associated voxel value as its associated image value, and the property of voxels used for the determination comprises statistical fluctuation in voxel value in said group of voxels.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising: making the list based also on header information stored in the data file.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the header information used in making the list is selected from the group including:

a) modality information;

b) contrast agent information;

c) anatomical information defining the imaged body portion;

d) medical information specific to the diagnostic purpose of the image data set;

e) medical information specific to the clinical position of the user.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

making the list based also on segmentation data providing anatomical information about the region of interest.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the list comprises a subset of the presets contained in the library.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the list is sorted according to potential suitability.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein presets determined to be most suitable are listed first.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the list comprises a subset of the presets contained in the library sorted according to potential suitability with presets determined to be most suitable listed first.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the potentially suitable presets are presented on the graphical user interface adjacent to the location where the user input is received.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

storing the list of potentially suitable presets in header information of the data file.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving the user selection from among the potentially suitable presets; and

displaying a representation of the volume data set using the selected preset.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein, if the list consists solely of one potentially suitable preset, the method proceeds directly to display a representation of the image data set using that preset instead of step g).

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

storing the user selected preset in header information of the data file.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the region of interest includes a group of voxels defined by proximity to a point identified by the user input.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the region of interest includes a group of voxels defined by a segmentation seeded from a point identified by the user input.

16. A non-transitory computer program product bearing machine readable instructions for carrying out the method of claim 1 .

17. A computer system loaded with and operable to execute machine readable instructions for carrying out a computer-automated image visualization method for displaying images from an image data set comprising a plurality of image elements, each image element having an associated image value, the computer system comprising:

a first memory unit storing a data file containing an image data set;

a second memory unit storing a visualization application with a library of presets, each preset defining a mapping between image values and their representation in a graphical user interface;

an image processing unit operable to load an image data set from the data file;

a display unit operable to display an initial representation of the loaded image data set on a graphical user interface;

a user input device operable to receive user input from a location in the representation to indicate a region of interest in the image data set;

the image processing unit being further operable to:

i. determine properties of image elements in the region of interest;

ii. make a list of potentially suitable presets from the library of presets based on the determined properties of the region of interest; and

iii. present the potentially suitable presets to the user for selection on the display unit;

wherein the image data set is a volume data set having voxels as its image elements, each voxel has an associated voxel value as its associated image value, and the property of voxels used for the determination comprises statistical fluctuation in voxel value in said group of voxels.

18. An image acquisition device loaded with and operable to execute machine readable instructions for carrying out the method of claim 1 .