| US 7,483,919 B2 | ||
| Object based image retrieval | ||
| Michael Galperin, Vista, Calif. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Almen Laboratories, Vista, Calif. (US) | ||
| Filed on Dec. 07, 2004, as Appl. No. 11/7,062. | ||
| Application 11/007062 is a continuation in part of application No. 09/370366, filed on Aug. 09, 1999, granted, now 6,941,323. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2005/0149360 A1, Jul. 07, 2005 | ||
| This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer. | ||
| Int. Cl. G06F 17/30 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 707—104.1 [707/3; 707/6] | 5 Claims |
| 1. A method of analyzing digital images produced by a data source having an output defined by a collection of digital values
forming a single dimensional or multi-dimensional image so as to verify a suspected biological, medical, chemical, physical
or clinical condition of a patient comprising:
processing a first image of a portion of a first human body having a suspected biological, medical, chemical, physical or
clinical condition with one or more filter functions so as to modify at least some pixel intensity values and so as to define
at least one separated portion of said first image, wherein said separated portion comprises a first set of object pixels
distinguished from background pixels, and wherein said first set of object pixels is associated with a physical structure
in said first human body potentially related to said suspected biological, medical, chemical, physical or clinical condition;
parameterizing said separated portion of said first image to produce a corresponding parameter set associated with said separated
portion of said first image, said parameter set including at least one parameter selected from area, perimeter, maximum diameter,
minimum diameter, form factor, equivalent circular diameter, aspect ratio, optical density, integrated density, relief, and
homogeneity;
processing a second image of a portion of a second human body having a known biological, medical, chemical, physical or clinical
condition with substantially the same one or more filter functions so as to define at least one separated portion of said
second image, wherein said separated portion comprises a second set of object pixels distinguished from background pixels,
and wherein said second set of object pixels is associated with a physical structure in said second human body related to
said known biological, medical, chemical, physical or clinical condition;
parameterizing said separated portion of said second image to produce a corresponding parameter set associated with said separated
portion of said second image, said parameter set including at least one parameter selected from area, perimeter, maximum diameter,
minimum diameter, form factor, equivalent circular diameter, aspect ratio, optical density, integrated density, relief, and
homogeneity;
comparing the content of a parameter set associated with at least one separated portion of said first image with the content
of a parameter set associated with at least one separated portion of said second image so as to produce a measure of similarity
between the structure in the first human body having the suspected biological, medical, chemical, physical or clinical condition
and the structure in the second human body having a known biological, medical, chemical, physical or clinical condition; and
alerting a user that said suspected biological, medical, chemical, physical or clinical condition is likely actually present
in said first human body.
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