METHOD FOR NAVIGATION THROUGH DISPLAYED MEDICAL IMAGE INFORMATION

Abstract

In a method for navigation through medical image information, upon selection of a second operating mode, slice images from different slices within a slice image set can be selected by a movement of a control device in the y-direction and slice images from further slice image sets acquired at different acquisition times can be selected by a movement in the x-direction.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a mode of operation of the inventive method.

FIG. 2 shows an example of navigation using the computer mouse in accordance with the invention.

Claims

1. A method for navigating through medical image information upon display of a portion of said medical information on a display screen in an image plane having a first axis and a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, said medical image information comprising a plurality of slice image sets each comprising multiple successively-acquired slice images, said slice image sets being respectively acquired during different time intervals and the respective slice images in the slice image sets corresponding to each other in position from said slice image set-to-slice image set, said method comprising the steps of: with a user-operable control device that moves a pointer element on said screen selecting a first mode of operation and, in said first mode of operation, effecting a displacement movement of said pointer element to cause one of said slice image sets to be displayed at said screen with the multiple slice images thereof shown in a sequence of acquisition along a direction appearing perpendicularly to said first axis and said second axis;via said control device selecting a second mode of operation and, in said second mode, effecting a movement of the pointer element on the screen in a first direction parallel to the first axis to select one of said slice images in the displayed slice image set for individual display at said screen; andin said second mode, effecting movement of said pointer element on said screen in a second direction parallel to said second axis to select the slice image, corresponding to the individually displayed slice image, from one of the non-displayed plurality of slice image sets, for individual display at said screen.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising, in said second mode of operation effecting movement of said pointer element on said screen in a direction having components along both of said first direction and said second direction to simultaneously select a slice image in the displayed set of slice images for individual display and the corresponding slice image in said one of said non-displayed slice image set.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising selecting said second mode of operating a depressible button at said control device.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising employing a device as said control device selected from the group consisting of a computer mouse, a joystick and a trackball.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first axis is the y-axis of the image plane.

6. A computer-readable medium encoded with a data structure, said medium being loadable into a computer for navigation through medical image information upon display of a portion of said medical information on a display screen of said computer in an image plane having a first axis and a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, said medical image information comprising a plurality of slice image sets each comprising multiple successively-acquired slice images, said slice image sets being respectively acquired during different time intervals and the respective slice images in the slice image sets corresponding to each other in position from said slice image set-to-slice image set, said data structure causing said computer to: respond to movement of a user-operable control device that moves a pointer element on said screen to select a first mode of operation and, in said first mode of operation, respond to a displacement movement of said pointer element to cause one of said slice image sets to be displayed at said screen with the multiple slice images thereof shown in a sequence of acquisition along the z-direction;respond to said control device to select a second mode of operation and, in said second mode, respond to a movement of the pointer element on the screen in a first direction parallel to the first axis to select one of said slice images in the displayed slice image set for individual display at said screen; andin said second operating mode, respond to movement of said pointer element on said screen in a second direction parallel to said second axis to select the slice image, corresponding to the individually displayed slice image, from one of the non-displayed plurality of slice image sets, for individual display at said screen.