Medical image management system
Medical image management system to allow any conventional Internet browser to function as a medical workstation. The system may be used to convert medical images from a plurality of image formats to browser compatible format. The Invention also relates to methods to manipulate digital medical images in such a way that multiple imaging modalities from multiple different vendors can be assembled into a database of Internet standard web pages without loss of diagnostic information.
1. A method of managing medical information comprising:
receiving at least one digital medical image in a format that is incompatible with viewing in an Internet web browser;
predetermining without user input at least one image display setting of the at least one digital medical image to permit medical diagnosis by the user of the at least one digital medical image having the at least one image display setting applied thereto;
converting the at least one digital medical image using the predetermined at least one image display setting,
wherein the converted at least one digital medical image is compatible with viewing in an Internet web browser and retains its original resolution.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein predetermining the at least one image display setting comprises
determining a region of interest of the at least one digital medical image; and
cropping the at least one digital medical image around the region of interest.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising determining at least one of a brightness and a contrast of the region of interest to form at least one cropped and adjusted image.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising displaying a plurality of cropped and adjusted images side by side in the Internet web browser.
5. The method of claim 2 , further comprising grouping a plurality of cropped images to form a cropped movie.
6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising determining at least one of the brightness and the contrast of the plurality of cropped images to form a cropped and adjusted movie.
7. The method of claim 5 , further comprising determining a frame speed of the cropped movie to simulate real-time motion of an organ.
8. The method of claim 5 , further comprising displaying a plurality of cropped movies side by side in the Internet web browser.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein predetermining the at least one image display setting comprises determining a magnification of the at least one digital medical image.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein predetermining the at least one image display setting comprises determining at least one of a brightness and a contrast of the at least one digital medical image to form at least one adjusted image.
11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising displaying a plurality of adjusted images side by side in the Internet web browser.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein predetermining the at least one image display setting comprises grouping a plurality of digital medical images to form a movie.
13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising determining at least one of the brightness and the contrast of the plurality of digital medical images to form an adjusted movie.
14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising determining a frame speed of the movie to simulate real-time motion of an organ.
15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising displaying a plurality of movies side by side in the Internet web browser.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one digital medical image originates from a plurality of medical devices manufactured by a plurality of manufacturers.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one digital medical image comprises one of a plurality of medical imaging modalities.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of medical imaging modalities is associated with at least one of magnetic resonance imaging, echocardiographic imaging, nuclear scintigraphic imaging, positron emission tomography, and x-ray imaging.
19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the format comprises a plurality of formats wherein each of the plurality of formats is associated with a predetermined one of a plurality of medical diagnostic imaging devices.
20. The method of claim 1 , further comprising storing the converted at least one digital medical image in a database.
21. The method of claim 1 , further comprising posting the converted at least one digital medical image for viewing in the Internet web browser.
22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the step of posting the converted at least one digital medical image comprises embedding image tags in World Wide Web compatible pages, wherein the image tags reference the converted at least one digital medical image.
23. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying the converted at least one digital medical image in the Internet web browser on a remote computer in response to a request from the remote computer.