Patent ID: 7251363
Filing Date: 2007-07-31
Classification: G06T

Abstract:
1. A method for creating a mask isolating a region of interest in an image and deleting information in said image peripheral to said region of interest, comprising the steps of: a) obtaining a digital first image containing said region of interest, said region of interest represented by pixels having pixel values; b) defining a first closed curve forming a perimeter around said region of interest in said first image; c) creating a second image comprising a plurality of pixels, said second image having a boundary corresponding to at least a portion of said first image, wherein the first closed curve around said region of interest in said first image is represented in said second image as a matching second closed curve within said boundary in said second image; d) assigning all pixels in said second image on said boundary and peripheral to said second closed curve with a first pixel value and assigning all pixels in said second image within the region bounded by said second closed curve a second pixel value, and e) saving said second image with the pixel values assigned as in step (d) as a mask, and f) applying the mask to the digital first image in a logical operation wherein application of said mask to said first image via the logical operation deletes areas peripheral to said region of interest and leaves pixel values for said region of interest undisturbed.