Normal and abnormal tissue identification system and method for medical images such as digital mammograms
US6310967A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 29, 1998 |
| Grant date | Oct 30, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 29, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06T7/0012
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system and method for analyzing a medical image to determine whether an abnormality is present, for example, in digital mammograms, includes the application of a wavelet expansion to a raw image to obtain subspace images of varying resolution. At least one subspace image is selected that has a resolution commensurate with a desired predetermined detection resolution range. A functional form of a probability distribution function is determined for each selected subspace image, and an optimal statistical normal image region test is determined for each selected subspace image. A threshold level for the probability distribution function is established from the optimal statistical normal image region test for each selected subspace image. A region size comprising at least one sector is defined, and an output image is created that includes a combination of all regions for each selected subspace image. Each region has a first value when the region intensity level is above the threshold and a second value when the region intensity level is below the threshold. This permits the localization of a potential abnormality within the image.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.