Method for processing unenhanced medical images

Abstract

A method for distributing digital medical images between an capture device and a image display device remote from the capture device when a user desires to reprocess an enhanced digital medical image at the image display device. The user initiates a request from the image display device for the unenhanced digital medical image stored at the image capture device, and the request from the image display device is transmitted to the image capture device. The unenhanced digital medical image is then transmitted from the image capture device to the image display device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of the embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily to scale relative to each other.

FIG. 1A is a diagrammatic illustration showing a digital medical imaging system, suitable for practicing the present invention, comprised of capture devices, a communications network, archive, and an image display device, such as a diagnostic viewing workstation.

FIG. 1B generally illustrates the operation of a computed radiography device.

FIG. 1C generally illustrates the operation of a digital radiography device.

FIG. 1D more particularly illustrates the image archive of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration showing a digital capture device transferring enhanced digital medical images to a PACS.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration showing a query initiated by a diagnostic workstation for an unenhanced copy of a digital medical image from the device that originally captured the image.

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary display of the diagnostic workstation.

FIG. 5 shows a diagrammatic illustration of the method of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for distributing digital medical images between an image capture device and image display device remote from the image capture device, comprising the steps of: accessing an enhanced digital medical image at the image display device, the enhanced digital medical image being generated by applying a first image processing to an unenhanced digital medical image acquired by and stored at the image capture device;allowing a user to initiate a request from the image display device for the unenhanced digital medical image;transmitting the request from the image display device to the image capture device; andtransmitting the unenhanced digital medical image from the image capture device to the image display device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: applying a second processing to the unenhanced digital medical image at the image display device to generate a modified enhanced digital medical image; anddisplaying the modified enhanced digital medical image on the image display device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: at the image display device, displaying a plurality of processing candidates;allowing a user to select at least one of the plurality of processing candidates;processing the unenhanced digital medical image at the image display device to generate a modified enhanced digital medical image representative of the selected processing candidate; anddisplaying the modified enhanced digital medical image on the image display device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of allowing a user to initiate the request is accomplished by providing selection means on the image display device, which when selected, transmits the request.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting the request from the image display device to the image capture device is accomplished by the step of: directly transmitting the request from the image display device to the image capture device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting the request from the image display device to the image capture device is accomplished by the steps of: transmitting a first request from the image display device to an image archive; andtransmitting a second request from the image archive to the image capture device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting the request from the image display device to the image capture device is accomplished by the steps of: transmitting a first request from the image display device to an image archive; andtransmitting a DICOM query provider request from the image archive to the image capture device, wherein the image capture device is a DICOM query provider.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of; at the image display device, displaying a plurality of processing candidates;allowing a user to select at least one of the plurality of processing candidates;processing the unenhanced digital medical image at the image display device to generate a modified enhanced digital medical image; anddisplaying the modified enhanced digital medical image on the image display device.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said image capture device is one of a computed radiography device and a direct digital radiography device.

10. The method of claim 3 including replacing the enhanced digital medical image with the modified enhanced digital medical image in storage.

11. A method for processing a digital medical image for computer aided analysis, comprising the steps of: accessing an enhanced digital medical image at an image display device or other computer on a network including the image display device and other computer, the enhanced digital medical image being generated by applying a first image processing to an unenhanced digital medical image acquired by an image capture device, the image capture device being remote from the image display device;analyzing the enhanced digital medical image to determine if the enhanced digital medical image includes predetermined image attribute values;if the enhanced digital medical image includes the predetermined image attribute values, then automatically requesting the unenhanced digital medical image from the image capture device;transmitting the unenhanced digital medical image from the image capture device to the image display device or other computer;applying an algorithm to the unenhanced digital medical image to generate a modified digital medical image and/or a report; anddisplaying the modified digital medical image and/or the report on the image display device or other computer.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of applying an algorithm generates a modified digital medical image which aids the user in interpreting the digital medical image.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the applied algorithm generates a report which aids a user in interpreting abnormalities of a body part presented by the original or the modified digital medical image.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the report can be one or more of textual or graphical information, such as circles or arrows, that draw attention to a possible bodypart abnormality.