Dynamic graphical user interfaces for medical workstations cross-reference to related applications

1. A method, comprising:

providing a first image;

selecting an anatomical object in the first image;

overlaying a second image on at least a portion of the first image to create a series of images transitioning between the first image and a predetermined perspective of the anatomical object in the second image; and

displaying the series of images such that the predetermined perspective of the anatomical object establishes a link to its origin in the first image.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising a third image, and wherein the selecting step comprises selecting the anatomical object in the first or third image, and wherein the overlaying step comprises overlaying the second image on at least a portion of the first image and moving the second image to stand apart from the first and third images.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the displaying step comprises displaying the series of images in the second image, starting with the first image and ending with the second image.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the series of images are displayed in the second image starting with the first image and ending with the second image.

5. A method of visualizing on a medical workstation different views of an image dataset from a 3D volume for an anatomical object, comprising:

selecting a site on a first global view of the anatomical object displayed by the workstation;

selecting a first local view of the anatomical object to be displayed by the workstation;

superimposing the first local view on at least a portion of the first global view to create a series of images transitioning between the first global view and the first local view; and

displaying the series of images via a graphical window containing the first local view that is superimposed on at least a portion of the first global view.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the first global view is one of either an axial view of the anatomical object or a 3D model view of the anatomical object.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the first local view is a cross-sectional view of the anatomical object.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the cross-sectional view is an oblique cross-sectional view of the anatomical object.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the cross-sectional view is a lengthwise cross-sectional view of the anatomical object.

10. The method of claim 5 , wherein the transition between the two views begins with visualizing the origins of the first local view with respect to the first global view.

11. The method of claim 5 , wherein the series of images present an animation of images starting with the first global view, continuing with intermediate views, and ending with the first local view.

12. A method of providing a dynamic graphical user interface for analyzing anatomical airway imaging, comprising:

selecting an airway path of the airway from one of either an axial view or a 3D tree model view of the airway as the origin view, the airway path comprised of a series of consecutive branches that form a continuous path;

straightening the consecutive branches along the continuous path into a length-wise cross-sectional view of the selected airway path to create a series of views transitioning between the origin view and an image of the lengthwise cross-section; and

displaying the series of views such that the image of the lengthwise cross-section establishes a link to its point of origin in the origin view.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the displaying step comprises transforming the selected airway path into the image of the lengthwise cross-section.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the displaying step comprises transforming the selected airway path into the image of the lengthwise cross-section and displaying an image of the lengthwise cross-section in a view separate from the origin view.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the transforming step comprises displaying a series of transitional images that unfold the selected airway path into the image of the lengthwise cross-section.

16. A system comprising:

an image database;

an imager configured to acquire and store image data of anatomical structures in the image database;

a processor connected to the image database and configured to manipulate the image data in response to a selection of an anatomical object of a first image of the image data by creating a series of transitional images between the first image and a predetermined perspective of the anatomical object in a second image, the series of transitional images establishing a link to the predetermined perspective point of origin in the first image; and

displaying the series of transitional images via a display.