Patent ID: 8044972
Filing Date: 2011-10-25
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A visualization system, comprising: a display and a circuit in communication with the display configured to display in a single viewing application, a reference image view from a reference image data set and a corresponding primary view based on a primary tomosynthesis stack of image data, wherein the reference image data set is acquired at a different time than the primary tomosynthesis stack of image data and a patient's breast tissue can have different image symmetry and tissue densities, and wherein the primary view is electronically automatically selected based on at least one of the following: (a) anatomical and/or geometric position properties of the reference image data set of the patient; (b) properties of a current view of the reference image data set of the patient; or (c) anatomical and/or geometric position properties of a reference image data set and properties of a current view of the reference image data set, wherein the reference image view is rendered from at least one of a 2D X-ray mammogram reference image data set or a reference tomosynthesis stack of image data, and wherein, (a) if the reference image view is rendered from the 2D X-ray mammogram data set, the system is configured to automatically electronically select the slice or slices in the primary tomosynthesis stack for the primary view that corresponds anatomically to the breast tissue shown in the reference image view to render the primary image view of the breast; and (b) if the reference image view is rendered from the reference stack of tomosynthesis image data, the system is configured to automatically electronically connect corresponding anatomical regions in the primary and reference tomosynthesis stacks to generate the primary view based on patient anatomy and/or data set geometric position rather than slice number, and wherein electronic navigation in one stack causes corresponding navigation in the other stack with synchronization between stacks connected to patient anatomy and/or data set geometric position rather than slice number.