Method and system for assigning analysis of regions of interest in an image set
A system includes an image set including at least one image. An assignment module is configured to assign a diagnosis region within the image set to a first diagnostician for analysis, to define a region of interest within the diagnosis region and to assign the region of interest to a second diagnostician for analysis. An annotation module is configured to define, via the first diagnostician, at least one first diagnostician annotation within the region of interest, the at least one first diagnostician annotation being assigned to the second diagnostician for review along with the region of interest and to define, via the second diagnostician, at least one second diagnostician annotation within the region of interest. A reporting module is configured to report the analyzed region of interest having the at least one second diagnostician annotation to the first diagnostician.
1 . A computer-implemented method performed by one or more processors executing instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the method comprising:
acquiring an image set including at least one image;
assigning a diagnosis region within the image set to a first diagnostician for analysis;
defining a region of interest within the diagnosis region and generating a data structure associated with the region of interest, the data structure including (i) geometric parameters defining the region of interest, (ii) an assignee identifier, and (iii) at least one first diagnostician annotation field;
defining, via the first diagnostician, at least one first diagnostician annotation within the region of interest and storing the at least one first diagnostician annotation in the first diagnostician annotation field of the data structure;
assigning the region of interest and the at least one first diagnostician annotation to a second diagnostician for analysis by transmitting the data structure to a computer system accessible to the second diagnostician;
preventing post-transmission alteration of the geometric parameters, the assignee identifier, and the first diagnostician annotation stored in the data structure to maintain integrity of the data structure throughout a chain of interaction between the first diagnostician and the second diagnostician;
granting the second diagnostician view-only permission for image data of the diagnosis region located outside of the region of interest to prevent the second diagnostician from defining annotations outside of the region of interest while the image data outside of the region of interest remains viewable by the second diagnostician;
defining, via the second diagnostician, at least one second diagnostician annotation within the region of interest; and,
reporting the analyzed region of interest having the at least one second diagnostician annotation to the first diagnostician.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining whether further analysis is required, and if further analysis is required, then,
defining at least one additional first diagnostician annotation within the region of interest and storing the additional first diagnostician annotation in a further field of the data structure without altering the first diagnostician annotation, the assignee identifier, or the geometric parameters previously stored in the data structure;
assigning the region of interest with the at least one additional first diagnostician annotation to the second diagnostician for review; and,
defining, via the second diagnostician, at least one additional second diagnostician annotation within the region of interest.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one first diagnostician annotation is selected by the first diagnostician from a first predetermined list of template annotations.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the at least one second diagnostician annotation is selected by the second diagnostician from a second predetermined list of template annotations, wherein the content of the second predetermined list of template annotations is determined by the specific template annotation selected by the first diagnostician as the at least one first diagnostician annotation, such that a first template annotation selected by the first diagnostician yields a different second predetermined list than a second template annotation selected by the first diagnostician.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the image set includes a three-dimensional volumetric image.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein defining the region of interest of the image set to be reviewed includes:
outlining, within a bounding box, a three-dimensional region of the volumetric image having the region of interest therein.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the region of interest is a component of a collaborative digital infrastructure accessible by both the first diagnostician and the second diagnostician and assigning the region of interest to the second diagnostician for review is done within the collaborative digital infrastructure.
8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
assigning a sub-region of the region of interest to at least one supplementary diagnostician for analysis;
wherein the first diagnostician and the second diagnostician retain view access to the sub-region and to annotations entered by the supplementary diagnostician within the sub-region.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein assigning the sub-region is by one of the first diagnostician and the second diagnostician.
10 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
reporting the analyzed sub-region to at least one of the first diagnostician and the second diagnostician.
11 . A system comprising: one or more processors and a non-transitory computer-readable memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to:
acquire an image set including at least one image;
assign a diagnosis region within the image set to a first diagnostician for analysis;
define a region of interest within the diagnosis region and generate a data structure associated with the region of interest, the data structure including (i) geometric parameters defining the region of interest, (ii) an assignee identifier, and (iii) at least one first diagnostician annotation field;
define, via the first diagnostician, at least one first diagnostician annotation within the region of interest and store the at least one first diagnostician annotation in the first diagnostician annotation field of the data structure;
assign the region of interest and the at least one first diagnostician annotation to a second diagnostician for analysis by transmitting the data structure to a computer system accessible to the second diagnostician;
prevent post-transmission alteration of the geometric parameters, the assignee identifier, and the first diagnostician annotation stored in the data structure, to maintain integrity of the data structure throughout a chain of interaction between the first diagnostician and the second diagnostician;
grant the second diagnostician view-only permission for image data of the diagnosis region located outside of the region of interest to prevent the second diagnostician from defining annotations outside of the region of interest while the image data outside of the region of interest remains viewable by the second diagnostician;
define, via the second diagnostician, at least one second diagnostician annotation within the region of interest; and,
report the analyzed region of interest having the at least one second diagnostician annotation to the first diagnostician.
12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the system to determine whether further analysis is required, and if further analysis is required, then to define at least one additional first diagnostician annotation within the region of interest and store the additional first diagnostician annotation in a further field of the data structure without altering the first diagnostician annotation, the assignee identifier, or the geometric parameters previously stored in the data structure, assign the region of interest with the at least one additional first diagnostician annotation to the second diagnostician for analysis, define, via the second diagnostician, at least one additional second diagnostician annotation within the region of interest, and report the analyzed region of interest having the at least one additional second diagnostician annotation within the region of interest to the first diagnostician.
13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one first diagnostician annotation is selected by the first diagnostician from a first predetermined list of template annotations.
14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one second diagnostician annotation is selected by the second diagnostician from a second predetermined list of template annotations, wherein the content of the second predetermined list is determined by the specific template annotation selected by the first diagnostician as the at least one first diagnostician annotation, such that a first template annotation selected by the first diagnostician yields a different second predetermined list than a second template annotation selected by the first diagnostician.
15 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the image set includes a three-dimensional volumetric image.
16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the system to outline, within a bounding box, a three-dimensional region of the volumetric image having the region of interest of the image set to be reviewed therein.
17 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the region of interest is a component of a collaborative digital infrastructure accessible by both the first diagnostician and the second diagnostician and assigning the region of interest to the second diagnostician for review is done within the collaborative digital infrastructure.
18 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the system to assign a sub-region of the region of interest to at least one supplementary diagnostician for analysis; wherein the first diagnostician and the second diagnostician retain view access to the sub-region and to annotations entered by the supplementary diagnostician within the sub-region.
19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the system to report the analyzed sub-region to at least one of the first diagnostician and the second diagnostician.
20 . The system of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first diagnostician and the second diagnostician is an automated diagnostician.