Office Action 2: Notice of Allowance (2025-02-24)

CLAIMS:
CLAIMS

Claim Listing Summary

Claims pending

\* Before this Response: Claims 1-26\* After this Response: Claims 1-7, 9-20, and 22-26 Non-Elected, Canceled, or Withdrawn claims: 8 and 21 Amended claims: 1-2, 5, 9-13, 16, 19, 22-23, and 25 New claims: None

What is claimed is:

1\. (Currently Amended) A method for imaging a region of interest of a patientfor-a medical procedure performed thereon, wherein the method comprises, under the control of a computing device :
acquiring, by the computing device, a luminescence image of a field of view containing \[\[a\]\]the region of interes, the region of interest comprising at least one target body of the medical procedure containing a luminescence substance, and one or more foreign objects different from the region of interest, the luminescence image comprising a plurality of luminescence values representative of a luminescence light being emitted by the luminescence substance at corresponding luminescence locations of the field of view,
acquiring, by the computing device, an auxiliary image of the field of view, the auxiliary image comprising a plurality of auxiliary values representative of an auxiliary light, different from the luminescence light, being received from corresponding auxiliary locations of the field of view,
segmenting, by the computing device, the auxiliary values of the auxiliary image semantically into at least one region of interest class defining an auxiliary informative region epresentative of the region of interest without the foreign objects and one or more foreign object classes defining a non-informative region representative of the foreign objects, identifying, by the computing device, the luminescence values of the luminescence image defining a luminescence informative region corresponding

to the auxiliary values of the auxiliary informative region of the auxiliary image, generating, by the computing device, a processed luminescence image by processing the luminescence image limited to the luminescence informative region, the processing of the processed luminescence image comprising a plurality of processed luminescence values being based on the luminescence values of the luminescence informative region, wherein the processed luminescence image provides for facilitating an identification of a further representation of the target body thereinfacilitating an identification thereof, and
outputting, by the computing device, an output image based on the processed luminescence image.

2\. (Currently Amended) The method according to claim 1, wherein the medical procedure is a surgical procedure , said outputting the output image comprising:
displaying, by the computing device, the output image substantially in real-time with said acquiring the luminescence image.

3\. (Previously Presented) The method according to claim 2, wherein the region of interest is a surgical cavity of the patient.

4\. (Previously Presented) The method according to claim 1, wherein at least part of the foreign objects overlaps the region of interest.

5\. (Currently Amended) The method according to claim 1, wherein the foreign objects comprise one or more medical implements, one or more hands, one or more body-parts of the patient not of interest for the medical procedure and/or background materials.

6\. (Previously Presented) The method according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary image is a reflectance image, the auxiliary light is a visible light and the auxiliary values are representative of the visible light being reflected by the corresponding auxiliary locations of the field of view illuminated by a white light.

7\. (Previously Presented) The method according to claim 1, wherein the luminescence substance is a luminescence agent being pre-administered to the patient before performing the

method.

8\. Cancelled.

9\. (Currently Amended) The method according to claim g1, wherein said segmenting the auxiliary values of the auxiliary image comprises:
segmenting, by the computing device, the auxiliary values of the auxiliary image semantically with a neural network.

10\. (Currently Amended The method according to claim 8L wherein said segmenting the auxiliary values of the auxiliary image comprises:
determining, by the computing device, one or more feature maps for corresponding features of the auxiliary values of the auxiliary image, each of the feature maps comprising corresponding feature values of the auxiliary locations, and
segmenting, by the computing device, the auxiliary values of the auxiliary image semantically by applying a classification algorithm to the feature values of the feature maps.

11\. (Currently Amended) The method according to claim 1, wherein said segmenting the auxiliary values of the auxiliary image comprises, when the auxiliary image comprises one or more disconnected portions completely surrounded by the auxiliary informative region:
assigning, by the computing device, the disconnected portions to the auxiliary informative region.

12\. (Currently Amended) The method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises:
pre-processing, by the computing device, the auxiliary image before said segmenting the auxiliary values of the auxiliary image by applying a histogram equalization to the auxiliary values of the auxiliary image in response to a brightness indicator of the auxiliary image being comprised between a darkness threshold, indicative of a feasibility of said segmenting the auxiliary values of the auxiliary image, and a brightness threshold, higher than the darkness threshold.

13\. (Currently Amended) The method according to claim 1, wherein said segmenting the auxiliary values of the auxiliary image comprises:
identifying, by the computing device, the auxiliary informative region further according to a the luminescence values of the luminescence image.

14\. (Previously Presented) The method according to claim 1, wherein said generating the processed luminescence image comprises:
auto-scaling, by the computing device, the luminescence informative region according to the luminescence values of the luminescence informative region.

15\. (Previously Presented) The method according to claim 14, wherein said auto-scaling the luminescence informative region comprises:
determining, by the computing device, a luminescence range of the luminescence values of the luminescence informative region, and
converting, by the computing device, the luminescence values of the luminescence informative region according to a mapping function mapping the luminescence range to a display range for displaying the luminescence image.

16\. (Currently Amended) The method according to claim 1: wherein said generating the processed luminescence image comprises:thresholding, by the computing device, the luminescence informative region according to the luminescence values of the luminescence informative region thereby partitioning the luminescence informative region into a target segment representative of the target body and a non-target segment representative of a rest of the region of interest different from the target body, and wherein said outputting the output image comprises:
outputting, by the computing device, the output image by highlighting the target segment with respect to the non-target segment.

17\. (Previously Presented) The method according to claim 16, wherein said thresholding the luminescence informative region comprises:
determining, by the computing device, a threshold value according to a statistical distribution of the luminescence values of the luminescence informative, and
assigning, by the computing device, each of the luminescence locations of the luminescence

informative region to the target segment or to the non-target segment according to a comparison of the corresponding luminescence value with the threshold value.

18\. (Previously Presented) The method according to claim 16, wherein said thresholding the luminescence informative region comprises:
calculating, by the computing device, one or more target statistical parameters of the luminescence values of the target segment and/or one or more non-target statistical parameters of the luminescence values of the non-target segment, and
updating, by the computing device, the luminescence values of the target segment each according to the target statistical parameters and/or the non-target statistical parameters.

19\. (Currently Amended) The method according to claim 1:
wherein the method comprises:determining, by the computing device, corresponding optical values, of at least one optical parameter relating to the luminescence light, for the auxiliary locations of the auxiliary image limited to the auxiliary informative region according to a content thereof, and
wherein said generating the processed luminescence image comprises:equalizing, by the computing device, the luminescence values of the luminescence informative region according to the optical values.

20\. (Previously Presented) The method according to claim 1, wherein the luminescence substance is a fluorescence substance, the luminescence image being a fluorescence image and the luminescence values being representative of a fluorescence light emitted by the fluorescence substance at the corresponding luminescence locations illuminated by an excitation light thereof.

21\. Cancelled.

22\. (Currently Amended) A computer program product comprising one or more non- transitory computer readable storage media having program instructions collectively stored on the readable storage media, the program instructions readable by a computing device to cause the computing device to perform a method for imaging a region of interest

of a patient for a medical procedure performed thereon, wherein the method comprises:
acquiring a luminescence image of a field of view containing the region of interest, the region of interest comprising at least one target body of the medical procedure containing a luminescence substance, and one or more foreign objects different from the region of interest, the luminescence image comprising a plurality of luminescence values representative of a luminescence light being emitted by the luminescence substance at corresponding luminescence locations of the field of view,
acquiring an auxiliary image of the field of view, the auxiliary image comprising a plurality of auxiliary values representative of an auxiliary light, different from the luminescence light, being received from corresponding auxiliary locations of the field of view,
segmenting the auxiliary values of the auxiliary image semantically into at least one region of interest class defining an auxiliary informative region representative of the region of interest without the foreign objects and one or more foreign object classes defining a non-informative region representative of the foreign objects,
identifying the luminescence values of the luminescence image defining a luminescence informative region corresponding to the auxiliary values of the auxiliary informative region of the auxiliary image,
generating a processed luminescence image by processing the luminescence image limited to the luminescence informative region, the processed luminescence image comprising a plurality of processed luminescence values being based on the luminescence values of the luminescence informative region, wherein the processed luminescence image provides a further representation of the target body facilitating an identification thereof, and
outputting an output image based on the processed luminescence image.

23\. (Currently Amended) A computing device for imaging a region of interest of a patient for a medical procedure performed thereon, wherein the computing device comprises :
a luminescence drive for acquiring a luminescence image of a field of view containing the region of interest, the region of interest comprising at least one target body of the medical procedure containing a luminescence substance, and one or more foreign

objects different from the region of interest, the luminescence image comprising a plurality of luminescence values representative of a luminescence light being emitted by the luminescence substance at corresponding luminescence locations of the field of view,
an auxiliary drive for acquiring an auxiliary image of the field of view, the auxiliary image comprising a plurality of auxiliary values representative of an auxiliary light, different from the luminescence light, being received from corresponding auxiliary locations of the field of view,
a segmenter for segmenting the auxiliary values of the auxiliary image semantically into at least one region of interest class defining an auxiliary informative region representative of the region of interest without the foreign objects and one or more foreign object classes defining a non-informative region representative of the foreign objects,
an adapter for identifying the luminescence values of the luminescence image defining a luminescence informative region corresponding to the auxiliary values of the auxiliary informative region of the auxiliary image,
a processor for generating a processed luminescence image by processing the luminescence image limited to the luminescence informative region, the processed luminescence image comprising a plurality of processed luminescence values being based on the luminescence values of the luminescence informative region, wherein the processed luminescence image provides a further representation of the target body facilitating an identification thereof, and
an output drive for outputting an output image based on the processed luminescence image.

24\. (Previously Presented) An imaging system comprising:
the computing device ofthe computing device of
an illumination unit for applying an excitation light adapted to exciting the luminescence substance to the field of view, and
an acquisition unit for acquiring the luminescence image and the auxiliary image.

25\. (Currently Amended) A medical procedure for performingon a patient, the medical procedure comprising:

acquiring, by a computing device, a luminescence image of a field of view containing the region of interest, the region of interest comprising at least one target body of the medical procedure containing a luminescence substance, and one or more foreign objects different from the region of interest, the luminescence image comprising a plurality of luminescence values representative of a luminescence light being emitted by the luminescence substance at corresponding luminescence locations of the field of view,
acquiring, by the computing device, an auxiliary image of the field of view, the auxiliary image comprising a plurality of auxiliary values representative of an auxiliary light, different from the luminescence light, being received from corresponding auxiliary locations of the field of view,
segmenting, by the computing device, the auxiliary values of the auxiliary image semantically into at least one region of interest class defining an auxiliary informative region representative of the region of interest without the foreign objects and one or more foreign object classes defining a non-informative region representative of the foreign objects,
identifying, by the computing device, the luminescence values of the luminescence image defining a luminescence informative region corresponding to the auxiliary values of the auxiliary informative region of the auxiliary image,
generating, by the computing device, a processed luminescence image by processing the luminescence image limited to the luminescence informative region, the processed luminescence image comprising a plurality of processed luminescence values being based on the luminescence values of the luminescence informative region, wherein the processed luminescence image provides a further representation of the target body facilitating an identification thereof, outputting, by the computing device, an output image based on the processed luminescence image, and
performing the medical procedure with an assistance of the output image.

Atty/Agent: Bryan A. Santarelli

26\. (Original) The medical procedure according to claim 25, wherein the medical procedure comprises:
administering a luminescence agent containing the luminescence substance to the patient.

OFFICE ACTION:
DETAILED ACTION
This office action is in response to the communication received on 01/21/2025 concerning application no. 17/801,218 filed on 08/19/2022.
Notice of Pre-AIA  or AIA  Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
EXAMINER’S AMENDMENT
An examiner’s amendment to the record appears below. Should the changes and/or additions be unacceptable to applicant, an amendment may be filed as provided by 37 CFR 1.312. To ensure consideration of such an amendment, it MUST be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee.
Authorization for this examiner’s amendment was given in an interview with Bryan Santarelli (Reg. No. 39,564) on 02/05/2025.
Claim 1, in its entirety, has been amended as follows:
A method for imaging a region of interest of a patient fora medical procedure performed thereon, wherein the method comprises, under the control of a computing device:
acquiring, by the computing device, a luminescence image of a field of view containing the region of interest, the region of interest comprising at least one target body of the medical procedure containing a luminescence substance, and one or more foreign objects different from the region of interest, the luminescence image comprising a plurality of luminescence values representative of a luminescence light being emitted by the luminescence substance at corresponding luminescence locations of the field of view,
acquiring, by the computing device, an auxiliary image of the field of view, the auxiliary image comprising a plurality of auxiliary values representative of an auxiliary light, different from the luminescence light, being received from corresponding auxiliary locations of the field of view,
segmenting, by the computing device, the auxiliary values of the auxiliary image semantically into at least one region of interest class defining an auxiliary informative region representative of the region of interest without the foreign objects and one or more foreign object classes defining a non-informative region representative of the foreign objects,
identifying, by the computing device, the luminescence values of the luminescence image defining a luminescence informative region corresponding to the auxiliary values of the auxiliary informative region of the auxiliary image,
generating, by the computing device, a processed luminescence image by processing the luminescence image limited to the luminescence informative region, the processed luminescence image comprising a plurality of processed luminescence values being based on the luminescence values of the luminescence informative region, wherein the processed luminescence image provides a further representation of the target body facilitating an identification thereof, and
displaying, by the computing device an output image base on the processed luminescence image substantially in real-time with said acquiring the luminescence image.
Claim 2, in its entirety, has been amended as follows:
The method according to claim 1, wherein the medical procedure is a surgical procedure
Claim 16, in its entirety, has been amended as follows:
The method according to claim 1:
wherein said generating the processed luminescence image comprises:
thresholding, by the computing device, the luminescence informative region according to the luminescence values of the luminescence informative region thereby partitioning the luminescence informative region into a target segment representative of the target body and a non-target segment representative of a rest of the region of interest different from the target body, and
wherein said displaying
displaying
Claim 22, in its entirety, has been amended as follows:
A computer program product comprising one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media having program instructions collectively stored on the readable storage media, the program instructions readable by a computing device to cause the computing device to perform a method for imaging a region of interest of a patient for a medical procedure performed thereon, wherein the method comprises:
acquiring a luminescence image of a field of view containing the region of interest, the region of interest comprising at least one target body of the medical procedure containing a luminescence substance, and one or more foreign objects different from the region of interest, the luminescence image comprising a plurality of luminescence values representative of a luminescence light being emitted by the luminescence substance at corresponding luminescence locations of the field of view,
acquiring an auxiliary image of the field of view, the auxiliary image comprising a plurality of auxiliary values representative of an auxiliary light, different from the luminescence light, being received from corresponding auxiliary locations of the field of view,
segmenting the auxiliary values of the auxiliary image semantically into at least one region of interest class defining an auxiliary informative region representative of the region of interest without the foreign objects and one or more foreign object classes defining a non-informative region representative of the foreign objects,
identifying the luminescence values of the luminescence image defining a luminescence informative region corresponding to the auxiliary values of the auxiliary informative region of the auxiliary image,
generating a processed luminescence image by processing the luminescence image limited to the luminescence informative region, the processed luminescence image comprising a plurality of processed luminescence values being based on the luminescence values of the luminescence informative region, wherein the processed luminescence image provides a further representation of the target body facilitating an identification thereof, and
displaying substantially in real-time with said acquiring the luminescence image.
Claim 23, in its entirety, has been amended as follows:
A computing device for imaging a region of interest of a patient for a medical procedure performed thereon, wherein the computing device comprises:
a luminescence drive for acquiring a luminescence image of a field of view containing the region of interest, the region of interest comprising at least one target body of the medical procedure containing a luminescence substance, and one or more foreign objects different from the region of interest, the luminescence image comprising a plurality of luminescence values representative of a luminescence light being emitted by the luminescence substance at corresponding luminescence locations of the field of view,
an auxiliary drive for acquiring an auxiliary image of the field of view, the auxiliary image comprising a plurality of auxiliary values representative of an auxiliary light, different from the luminescence light, being received from corresponding auxiliary locations of the field of view,
a segmenter for segmenting the auxiliary values of the auxiliary image semantically into at least one region of interest class defining an auxiliary informative region representative of the region of interest without the foreign objects and one or more foreign object classes defining a non-informative region representative of the foreign objects,
an adapter for identifying the luminescence values of the luminescence image defining a luminescence informative region corresponding to the auxiliary values of the auxiliary informative region of the auxiliary image,
a processor for generating a processed luminescence image by processing the luminescence image limited to the luminescence informative region, the processed luminescence image comprising a plurality of processed luminescence values being based on the luminescence values of the luminescence informative region, wherein the processed luminescence image provides a further representation of the target body facilitating an identification thereof, and
an output drive for displaying substantially in real-time with said acquiring the luminescence image.
Claim 25, in its entirety, has been amended as follows:
A medical procedure for performing on a patient, the medical procedure comprising:
acquiring, by a computing device, a luminescence image of a field of view containing the region of interest, the region of interest comprising at least one target body of the medical procedure containing a luminescence substance, and one or more foreign objects different from the region of interest, the luminescence image comprising a plurality of luminescence values representative of a luminescence light being emitted by the luminescence substance at corresponding luminescence locations of the field of view,
acquiring, by the computing device, an auxiliary image of the field of view, the auxiliary image comprising a plurality of auxiliary values representative of an auxiliary light, different from the luminescence light, being received from corresponding auxiliary locations of the field of view,
segmenting, by the computing device, the auxiliary values of the auxiliary image semantically into at least one region of interest class defining an auxiliary informative region representative of the region of interest without the foreign objects and one or more foreign object classes defining a non-informative region representative of the foreign objects,
identifying, by the computing device, the luminescence values of the luminescence image defining a luminescence informative region corresponding to the auxiliary values of the auxiliary informative region of the auxiliary image,
generating, by the computing device, a processed luminescence image by processing the luminescence image limited to the luminescence informative region, the processed luminescence image comprising a plurality of processed luminescence values being based on the luminescence values of the luminescence informative region, wherein the processed luminescence image provides a further representation of the target body facilitating an identification thereof,
displaying substantially in real-time with said acquiring the luminescence image, and
performing the medical procedure with an assistance of the output image.
Reasons for Allowance
Claims 1-7, 9-20, and 22-26 are allowed over the prior art.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
With regard to independent claims 1, 22-23, and 25, the prior art fails to anticipate and/or render obvious, either solely or in combination, a method and corresponding non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, computing device, and medical procedure for the acquiring of a luminescence image field of view that includes a region of interest with a target body that has a luminescence substance that defines luminescence values into the luminescence image, acquiring an auxiliary image that is operably different from the luminescence image and is segmented to classes for the segmentation of region of interest and foreign objects, identifying the luminescence values in the luminescence image to correspond to auxiliary values in the auxiliary image, generating a processed luminescence that has the processed luminescence for the representation of the target body for further identification, and the display of the output image substantially in real time and based on the processed luminescence image.
Paragraphs 0026-29 of the specification specifically describe the system’s consideration of luminescence to be with respect to fluorescence that is generated based on fluorophores and acquired by a fluorescence camera. Paragraph 0026 teaches that “these foreign objects may comprise one or more surgical instruments 115 (such as a scalpel), one or more hands 118 (such as of the surgeon), one or more surgical tools 121 (such as a gauze), one or more surrounding body-parts 124 (such as skin around the surgical cavity 109) and/or one or more background materials 125 (such as an operating table).”
Etsuro et al. (JP 2020156860) teaches the superimposition of fluorescent and visible image data for the highlighting of a region of interest. However, the reference is silent regarding segmenting the auxiliary image according to classifying of the region of interest and foreign objects.
Claims 2-7, 9-20, 24, and 26 are allowed at least by virtue of their dependency upon an allowable base claim.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee.  Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Conclusion

APPLICANT REBUTTAL: REMARKS
After entry of this Response, claims 1-7, 9-20, and 22-26 are pending in the patent application. Claims 8 and 21 have been cancelled without prejudice or disclaimer, claims 1- 2, 5, 9-13, 16, 19, 22-23, and 25 are currently amended, and no claims have been newly added. Applicant's attorney respectfully requests reconsideration of, and favorable action regarding, claims 1-7, 9-20, and 22-26 in view of this Response, which adds no new matter to the patent application.
Claim Interpretation of "Illumination Unit" and "Ac
q
uisition Unit" Under 35 U.S.C.
112(f)
Claim 24
Not only is the examiner's interpretation of "an illumination unit" as a "generic
placeholder that is coupled with functional language without reciting sufficient structure to perform the recited function and the generic placeholder is not preceded by a structural modifier" incorrect, but Applicant does not understand how the examiner can so interpret "an illumination unit" in view of the structural description of "an illumination unit" in the patent application. FIG. 1 and paragraph [0028] of the patent application, which paragraph the examiner cited and quoted only partially, recites:
[0028] Starting from the imaging probe 127, it has an illumination unit (for
illuminating the field of view 103) and an acquisition unit for acquiring
images in the field of view (103) that comprise the following components. In
the illumination unit, an excitation light source 133 and a white light source
136 generate an excitation light and a white light, respectively. The excitation
light has wavelength and energy suitable to excite the fluorophores of the fluorescence agent (such as of Near Infra-Red, or NIR, type), whereas the
white light appears substantially colorless to the human eye (such as
containing all the wavelengths of the spectrum that is visible to the human eye at equal intensity). Corresponding delivery optics 139 and delivery optics 142 deliver the excitation light and the white light, respectively, to the (same) field
of view 103.
"Illumination unit" by itself recites sufficient structure to avoid a "means plus
function" interpretation because the recitation of "for applying an excitation light adapted to exciting the luminescence substance" inherently describes a light (structure) for generating a specified type of light (a light that can excite the luminescence substance).
But even assuming, arguendo, that "illumination unit," by itself, does not recite
sufficient structure to avoid a "means plus function" interpretation, paragraph [0028] of the patent application discloses structural "components" (e.g., excitation light source 133, white light source 136, delivery optics 139 and delivery optics 142) of the "illumination unit" sufficient to avoid a means-plus-function interpretation of "illumination unit" under 35 U.S.C. § 112(f).
A similar analysis and reasoning applies to the claim-24 term "acquisition unit,"
which is in FIG. 1 of the patent application, and about which paragraph [0028] of the patent application states:
In the acquisition unit, collection optics 145 collect light from the field of view
103 (in an epi-illumination geometry).
In view of the preceding analysis and reasoning, Applicant requests the examiner to interpret the claim-24 terms "illumination unit" and "acquisition unit" under standard claim- interpretation guidelines, not under 35 U.S.C. § 112(f).
Rej
ection of Claim 23 Under 35 U.S.C.
&
112(a)
Without acquiescing to the propriety of this rejection, Applicant has amended claim 23 in a manner that overcomes this rejection as set forth below.
The examiner rejected claim 23 as allegedly failing to recite a combination of elements supporting the claimed function.
Claim 23 has been amended to remove "means," and to specify the elements used to perform the corresponding steps of claim 1 (see claim 1 as amended, "A method for imaging a region of interest of a patient for a medical procedure performed thereon, wherein the method comprises, under the control of a computing device," see the patent application, p. 11, lines 16-22, "With reference now to FIG.3, the main software components are shown that may be used to implement the solution according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. ... The software components 300 are typically stored in the mass memory and loaded (at least in part) into the working memory of the central unit of the imaging system when the programs are running," and see the patent application p. 44, lines 16-17, "However, the computing device may be of any type (for example, a central unit of an imaging system, a separate computer and so on).").
Particularly, claim 23 has been amended to recite "a luminescence drive for ..." (see the patent application, p. 11, line 29 through page 12, line 2, "A fluorescence drive 305 drives a fluorescence unit of the imaging system (comprising the excitation light source and the fluorescence camera) dedicated to acquiring the fluorescence images of the field of view suitable illuminated for this purpose," and see the patent application, p. 33, lines 1-5, "However, the luminescence substance may be of any extrinsic/intrinsic or exogenous/endogenous type (for example, any luminescence agent, any natural luminescence component, based on any luminescence phenomenon, such as fluorescence, phosphorescence, chemiluminescence, bio-luminescence, induced Raman-radiation, and so on).").
Claim 23 has been amended further to recite "an auxiliary drive for ..." (see the
patent application, p. 12, lines 12-15, "Likewise, a reflectance drive 315 drives a reflectance unit of the imaging system (comprising the white light source and the reflectance camera) dedicated to acquiring the reflectance images of the field of view suitable illuminated for this purpose," and p. 34, lines 1-3, "the auxiliary light may be of any type different from the luminescence light of the luminescence image (for example, visible light, IR light, Ultra- Violet (UV) light, other luminescence light at different wavelength and so on).").
Claim 23 has been amended also to recite "a segmenter for ..." (see the patent
application, p. 13, lines 2-4, "A segmenter 335 segments the prepared reflectance images (semantically) into their informative regions and non-informative regions;").
Claim 23 has been amended to recite "an adapter for ..." (see the patent application, p. 13, line 31 through page 14, line 2, "An adapter 355 optionally adapts the reflectance segmentation masks and the reflectance equalization maps to the fluorescence images, so as to equalize their sizes and to synchronize them.").
Claim 23 has been amended to recite "a processor for ..." (see the patent application, p. 14, lines 17-19, "A processor 370 (post-)processes the fluorescence images limited to their informative regions for facilitating the identification of the representation of the tumor therein (for example, by auto-scaling and/or thresholding them).").
Claim 23 has been amended further to recite "an output drive for ..." (see the patent application, p. 15, lines 6-8, "A monitor drive 390 drives the monitor of the imaging system to display the output images (substantially in real-time during the surgical procedure)," and see the patent application, p. 35, lines 14-18, "However, the output image may be of any type (for example, the same processed luminescence image, the processed luminescence image
combined/overlaid with the reflectance image, and so on) and it may be output in any way (for example, displayed, printed, transmitted remotely, in real-time or off-line, and so on).").
Rej
ection of Claims 1-26 Under 35 U.S.C.
&
112(b)
Without acquiescing to the propriety of this rejection, Applicant has amended some of claims 1-26 in a manner that overcomes this rejection for all of claims 1-26.
The examiner rejected claim 1 as allegedly being indefinite with respect to the identifications specified in section 11 of the Office Action.
Claim 1 has been amended to recite
"wherein the processed luminescence ima
ge
provides
for facilitating an id
enti
fication of
a
f
urther
representation of the target body
there
in
facilitatin
g
an identification thereo
f,
"
so as to clarify that the processed luminescence image provides a further representation of the target body different from the one in the luminescence image, for example, resulting from its auto-scaling (see the patent application, p. 9, line 26 through p. 10, line 20) or thresholding (see p. 10, line 21 through p. 11, line 8) and then the target body is identified in this further representation thereof.
The examiner rejected claim 2 as being indefinite with respect to the "surgical procedure."
Claim 2 has been amended to recite "wherein
t
he me
thod is for assisting
the medical procedure is
a surgical procedure
on t
he
pati
e
nt,
" (see the patent application, p. 32, lines 2-4, "However, the method may be used for assisting any medical procedure (for example, a surgical procedure, a diagnostic procedure, a therapeutic procedure and so on).").
The examiner rejected claim 5 as allegedly being indefinite with respect to the "medical tools."
Claim 5 has been amended to recite "wherein the foreign objects comprise one or more medical
inst
rume
nts
im
p
lements
,
one or more hands,
on
e
or mor
e me
dical tools,
" so as to use a common word for both instruments and tools (see Gemini, "What is an implement? An implement is a tool or instrument used to carry out a task or achieve a specific purpose.").
The examiner rejected claim 21 as being indefinite with respect to the "computing device."
This rejection has been rendered moot by the cancellation of claim 21.
The examiner rejected claim 22 as allegedly being indefinite with respect to the "computing device."
Claim 22 has been amended to clarify the presence of a single computing device (see the patent application, p. 11, lines 16-22, "With reference now to FIG.3, the main software components are shown that may be used to implement the solution according to an embodiment of the present disclosure... The software components 300 are typically stored in the mass memory and loaded (at least in part) into the working memory of the central unit of the imaging system when the programs are running," and p. 44, lines 16-17, "However, the computing device may be of any type (for example, a central unit of an imaging system, a separate computer and so on).").
The examiner objected to claim 23 as allegedly being indefinite with respect to the "computing device."
Claim 23 has been amended to clarify the presence of a single computing device (see above).
The examiner objected to claim 25 as being indefinite with respect to features recited in claim 1.
Claim 25 has been amended to clarify the presence of a single instance of each feature.
Rej
ection of Claims 1-26 Under 35 U.S.C.
Without acquiescing to the propriety of this rejection, Applicant has amended some of claims 1-26 in a manner that overcomes this rejection for all of claims 1-26.
The examiner rejected claim 21 as allegedly being directed to a non-statutory subject matter.
This rejection has been rendered moot by the cancellation of claim 21.
The examiner rejected claim 22 as allegedly being directed to a non-statutory subject matter as encompassing a transitory form of signal transmission.
Claim 22 has been amended to recite "A computer program product comprising one or more
non-transitor
y
computer readable storage media" (see the patent application, p. 43, lines 24-26, "The storage medium is any tangible medium (different from transitory signals per se) that may retain and store instructions for use by the computing device.").
The examiner rejected claim 1 as allegedly being directed to an abstract idea due to at least some recitations of claim 1 allegedly being capable of being performed in the human mind.
Claim 1 has been amended to recite "A method for
assisting
imaging
a
region of interest of a patient for
a medical procedure
performed thereon
,
wherein the method comprises, under the control of a computing device: acquiring, by the computing device, a luminescence image of a field of view containing the region of interes
t for th
e
medical proc
e
dure of the pati
en
t,
" (see the patent application, p. 15, lines 15-16, "Starting from FIG.4A-FIG.4B, their activity diagram represents an exemplary process that may be used to imaging a patient with a method 400.").
This amendment clarifies that claim 1, as a whole, integrates all the recited features in a practical application (i.e., medical imaging) that is not directed to a judicial exception.
In addition, claim 1 has been amended to recite "
id
entify
ings
egmenting,
by the
computing device,
the auxiliar
y
values of the auxiliar
y
image semantically into at least one region of interest class defining
an auxiliary informative region
of th
e
auxiliary image
representative of the region of interest without the foreign objects
according to a content of the auxilia
r
y image
and one or more foreign ob
j
ect classes defining a
non-informative region representative of
the
foreign objects
,
"
(see the patent application, p. 18, lines 7-11, "In this specific case, the semantic segmentation is aimed at partitioning the reflectance image into the informative region representing the surgical cavity without the foreign objects and the non-informative region representing the foreign objects (i.e., surgical instruments, hands, surgical tools, surrounding body-parts and/or background materials)").
Claim 1 has been amended further to recite "identifying, by the computing device,
the
luminescence values of the luminescence image defining
a luminescence informative region
of the luminescence image
corresponding to
the auxiliar
y
values of
the auxiliary informative region
of
the auxiliar
y
image
,
"
(see the patent application, p. 21, lines 8-12, "In any case, the adapter adds the fluorescence segmentation mask and the fluorescence equalization map (equal to the reflectance segmentation mask and to the reflectance equalization map, respectively, possibly adapted to the fluorescence image) to the corresponding repositories.").
Claim 1 also has been amended to recite "the
processing of th
ep
rocessed
luminescence image
comprising a plurality of
processed luminescence values
being based on the luminescence values of the luminescence informative regions" (see the patent application, p. 22, line 25 through page 23, line 10, "If the label is asserted (meaning that the pixel belongs to the informative region), the processor at block 442 converts the corresponding
pixel value by applying the informative mapping function and adds it to the same cell of a (new) auto-scaled fluorescence image (in a corresponding temporary variable)" and p. 23, lines 13-31, "If the label is asserted (meaning that the pixel belongs to the informative region), the processor at block 454 compares the corresponding pixel value with the threshold value. If the pixel value is (possibly strictly) higher than the threshold value (i.e., it belongs to the target segment), the processor at block 456 copies it to the same cell of a (new) thresholded fluorescence image (in a corresponding temporary variable). Conversely, if the pixel value is (possibly strictly) lower than the threshold value (i.e., it belongs to the non-target segment), the processor at block 458 resets the pixel value in the same cell of the thresholded fluorescence image to zero (so as to mask it).").
Claims 22-23 and 25 have been amended in a similar manner.
The remaining claims are directed to statutory subject matter by virtue of their dependencies from an independent claim directed to statutory subject matter.
Claim Re
j
ections under
102 and
The examiner rejected claims 1, 5-7, 13, and 20-26 under 35 U.S.C. § 102(a)(1) as allegedly being anticipated by U.S. 2019/0046041 to Kishima.
The examiner rejected claims 2-3 under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as allegedly being unpatentable over Kishima in view of U.S. 2010/0056928 to Zuzak.
The examiner rejected claim 4 under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as allegedly being unpatentable over Kishima in view of U.S. 2004/0010192 to Benaron.
The examiner rejected claim 8 under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as allegedly being unpatentable over Kishima in view of U.S. 2020/0237445 to Snyder.
The examiner rejected claims 9-10 under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as allegedly being unpatentable over Kishima in view of Snyder further in view of U.S. 2019/0231249 to Dascalu.
The examiner rejected claim 11 under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as allegedly being unpatentable over Kishima in view of U.S. 2019/0247126 to Ikehara.
The examiner rejected claim 12 under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as allegedly being unpatentable over Kishima in view of U.S. 2007/0058862 to Meier.
The examiner rejected claims 14-15 under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as allegedly being unpatentable over Kishima in view of U.S. 2017/0055822 to Dana.
The examiner rejected claims 16-18 under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as allegedly being unpatentable over Kishima in view of U.S. 2011/0006220 to Kishima (Kishima '220).
The examiner rejected claim 19 under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as allegedly being unpatentable over Kishima in view of U.S. 2017/0237958 to Themelis.
Regarding claim 1, Kishima et al. proposes acquiring and storing a fluorescence
image of an entire surgical field SA in which an operator is not interested, for example, for confirming complete removal of a cancer (see Kishima's paragraph 0009, "there is a need to confirm, during or after the surgery, whether or not cancer cells that have not been removed exist") or for a possible medical malpractice suit (see Kishima's paragraph 0059 "Therefore, it is possible to prepare for a market of countermeasures against a medical malpractice suit, for example"); however, an ROI area of the fluorescence image in which the operator is actually interested is enlarged (by digital zooming) and the ROI area is then displayed (see Kishima's paragraph 0059, "The fluorescence navigation surgery system according to this embodiment is capable of enlarging an image of the area ROI in which the operator is interested by digital zooming in response to a user's request and displaying the image, and capturing and storing an image of the entire surgical filed SA with a pixel resolution in which a tumor is not missed. Therefore, it is possible to capture an image of an area in which the operator is not interested, which is not captured in the typical system, and to store the image."). The fluorescence image shows only a fluorescence area FA wherein a fluorescent contrast medium collects (see Kashima's paragraph 0048, "As shown in FIG. 2, on the monitor for fluorescence image observation 16, the area ROI including the fluorescence area FA, in which the operator is interested, is enlarged and displayed, for example"). At the same time, a visible light image of the surgical field SA is acquired (see Kashima's paragraph 0032, "The video camera for surgical field observation 1 is capable of capturing an image of the entire surgicalfield SA"), wherein the fluorescence area FA is instead not visible (see Kashima's paragraph 0033, "the fluorescence area FA is not displayed on the monitor for surgicalfield observation 3").
In a first embodiment of Kishima, the fluorescence image (of the ROI area) is
displayed on a monitor 16 (see Kishima's paragraph 0047, "display a fluorescence image of only the area ROI ... on the monitor for fluorescence image observation 16") and the visible light image (of the surgical field SA) is displayed on another monitor 3 (see Kishima's paragraph 0033, "the entire surgical field SA is displayed on the monitor for surgical field
observation 3"). In a second embodiment, the visible light image of the ROI area is captured by digital zooming (see Kishima's paragraph 0076, "performing optical zooming with the optical zoom lens 2 to capture an image of only the area ROI in which the operator is interested"); the fluorescence image and the visible light image (both of them of the ROI area) are then superimposed and displayed on a single monitor 16B (see Kishima's paragraph 0073, "two images are superimposed and the superimposed image is observed on a monitor in the second embodiment. It should be noted that the second embodiment is the same as the first embodiment in that the area ROI in which the operator is interested is displayed"). A
third embodiment simply differs in that the fluorescence image and the visual light image are captured from the same optical axis (see Kishima's paragraph 0085, "the image is captured from the same optical axis direction").
In contrast, claim 1 is directed to the computing device automatically segmenting the auxiliary image into the auxiliary informative region (representative of the region of interest without the foreign objects) and the non-informative region (representative of the foreign objects).
Conversely, in Kishima et al. the ROI area is selected manually by the operator (see Kishima's paragraph 0021, "cause a user to select at least a partial area of the observation target area and to capture a visible light image of the selected area as a ROI area"). In any case, to the contrary of the subject matter recited in claim 1, in Kishima et al. the ROI area is expressly selected to comprise the foreign objects as well (see Kishima's paragraph 0032, "the video camera for surgical field observation 1 needs to capture an image of the operator's handling of a needle accurately").
Moreover, claim 1 is directed to the computing device generating the processed luminescence image by processing the luminescence image limited to the luminescence informative region, so as to provide a different representation of the target body, thus facilitating its identification.
Conversely, in Kishima et al., the fluorescence image and the visual light image are simply aligned and then superimposed (see Kishima's paragraph 0021, "generate a superimposed image by aligning a position of the visible light image with a position of the cut fluorescence image and superimposing the images"). Therefore, the representation of the fluorescence area FA remains the same as in the fluorescence image.
Starting from Kishima et al. and even taking into account Snyder at al. (being cited by the examiner against claim 8, the subject matter of which is now substantially incorporated into claim 1) it is not possible to attain the proposed solution.
In fact, Snyder et al. simply mentions the use of segmentation for identifying corresponding elements in images.
However, Snyder et al. is completely silent about any identification of a luminescence informative region of a luminescence image corresponding to an auxiliary informative region of an auxiliary image (resulting from its segmentation), let alone the generation of any processed luminescence image by processing the luminescence image limited to the luminescence informative region so as to provide a different representation of the target body facilitating its identification.
In any case, Snyder et al. teaches away from the subject matter recited in claim 1. In fact, in relation to claim 1, the auxiliary informative region (determined on the auxiliary image to represent the region of interest without the foreign objects) is transferred to the luminescence image so as to process it by taking into account only the representation of the region of interest for the medical procedure (i.e., the surgical cavity), instead disregarding the representation of the foreign objects around and/or overlapping it (comprising the surgical instruments/tools).
Conversely, Snyder et al. is aimed at tracking instruments/tools (see Snyder's
paragraph 0055, "According to various embodiments, the navigation system 26 can be used to track the instrument 68 relative to the patient 30") used during a surgical procedure (see Snyder's paragraph 0038, "The tool 68 may be any appropriate tool such as a drill, forceps, or other tool operated by the user 72"). Therefore, contrary to the subject matter recited in claim 1 and in other claims, in Snyder et al. it is the instruments/tools that are displayed (see Snyder's paragraph 0042, "When navigating the instrument 68, a position of the instrument 68 can be illustrated relative to image data acquired of the patient 30 on a display device 84").
Claims 22-23 and 25 are patentable for reasons similar to those set forth above in conjunction with claim 1, and the dependent claims are patentable at least by virtue of the dependencies from an independent claim.
Conclusion


CITED REFERENCE SUMMARIES: Ref JP2020156860: Claims:
An image input unit that inputs an image captured from the surgical field from the imaging device, An image processing unit that recognizes the vessels reflected in the captured image based on the input captured image, and It includes an image output unit that generates a composite image in which the recognized information for teaching the vessel is superimposed on the captured image and outputs the generated composite image to a monitor. Vascular recognition device. The image output unit generates a vascular image projection instruction including the position information of the vascular in the captured image and the information for teaching the vascular, and sends it to the projector. The vessel recognition device according to claim 1. The vascular recognition device according to claim 1 or 2. The image processing unit recognizes the vessel based on the visible light image. The vessel recognition device according to claim 3. The vessel recognition device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The vessel recognition device according to claim 5. The vessel recognition device according to any one of claims 1 to 6. The vessel recognition device according to any one of claims 1 to 6. In the image output unit, both the fluorescence image of the tumor portion based on the imaging of the fluorescence and the vessel are recognized in the captured image of the surgical field, and a part of the fluorescence image and the position of the vessel are recognized. When a part of a circular region having a predetermined diameter centered on the image overlaps, the circular region image centered on the position of the vessel blinks by using the complementary color of the background color of the captured image. Display the image on the monitor, The vessel recognition device according to any one of claims 1 to 8. In the image output unit, both the fluorescence image of the tumor portion based on the imaging of the fluorescence and the vessel are recognized in the captured image of the surgical field, and a part of the fluorescence image and the position of the vessel are recognized. When a part of a circular region having a predetermined diameter centered on is overlapped, an image of a predetermined color is displayed in a region excluding a part of the fluorescent image around the position of the vessel. The vessel recognition device according to any one of claims 1 to 8. The captured image of the surgical field from the imaging device is input, and Based on the input image, the vessel reflected in the image is recognized. A composite image in which the recognized information for teaching the vessel is superimposed on the captured image is generated. Output the generated composite image to the monitor. Vascular recognition method. The vessel recognition device is The captured image of the surgical field from the imaging device is input, and Based on the input image, the vessel reflected in the image is recognized. A composite image in which the recognized information teaching the vessel is superimposed on the captured image is generated, and the generated composite image is output to the monitor. Vascular recognition system.
An image input unit that inputs an image captured from the surgical field from the imaging device, An image processing unit that recognizes the vessels reflected in the captured image based on the input captured image, and It includes an image output unit that generates a composite image in which the recognized information for teaching the vessel is superimposed on the captured image and outputs the generated composite image to a monitor. Vascular recognition device.
The image output unit generates a vascular image projection instruction including the position information of the vascular in the captured image and the information for teaching the vascular, and sends it to the projector. The vessel recognition device according to claim 1.
The vascular recognition device according to claim 1 or 2.
The image processing unit recognizes the vessel based on the visible light image. The vessel recognition device according to claim 3.
The vessel recognition device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
The vessel recognition device according to claim 5.
The vessel recognition device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.
In the image output unit, both the fluorescence image of the tumor portion based on the imaging of the fluorescence and the vessel are recognized in the captured image of the surgical field, and a part of the fluorescence image and the position of the vessel are recognized. When a part of a circular region having a predetermined diameter centered on the image overlaps, the circular region image centered on the position of the vessel blinks by using the complementary color of the background color of the captured image. Display the image on the monitor, The vessel recognition device according to any one of claims 1 to 8.
In the image output unit, both the fluorescence image of the tumor portion based on the imaging of the fluorescence and the vessel are recognized in the captured image of the surgical field, and a part of the fluorescence image and the position of the vessel are recognized. When a part of a circular region having a predetermined diameter centered on is overlapped, an image of a predetermined color is displayed in a region excluding a part of the fluorescent image around the position of the vessel. The vessel recognition device according to any one of claims 1 to 8.
The captured image of the surgical field from the imaging device is input, and Based on the input image, the vessel reflected in the image is recognized. A composite image in which the recognized information for teaching the vessel is superimposed on the captured image is generated. Output the generated composite image to the monitor. Vascular recognition method.
The vessel recognition device is The captured image of the surgical field from the imaging device is input, and Based on the input image, the vessel reflected in the image is recognized. A composite image in which the recognized information teaching the vessel is superimposed on the captured image is generated, and the generated composite image is output to the monitor. Vascular recognition system.
Ref APP-17_801218: Claims:
A method for imaging a region of interest of a patient fora medical procedure performed thereon, wherein the method comprises, under the control of a computing device: acquiring, by the computing device, a luminescence image of a field of view containing the region of interest, the region of interest comprising at least one target body of the medical procedure containing a luminescence substance, and one or more foreign objects different from the region of interest, the luminescence image comprising a plurality of luminescence values representative of a luminescence light being emitted by the luminescence substance at corresponding luminescence locations of the field of view, acquiring, by the computing device, an auxiliary image of the field of view, the auxiliary image comprising a plurality of auxiliary values representative of an auxiliary light, different from the luminescence light, being received from corresponding auxiliary locations of the field of view, segmenting, by the computing device, the auxiliary values of the auxiliary image semantically into at least one region of interest class defining an auxiliary informative region representative of the region of interest without the foreign objects and one or more foreign object classes defining a non-informative region representative of the foreign objects, identifying, by the computing device, the luminescence values of the luminescence image defining a luminescence informative region corresponding to the auxiliary values of the auxiliary informative region of the auxiliary image, generating, by the computing device, a processed luminescence image by processing the luminescence image limited to the luminescence informative region, the processed luminescence image comprising a plurality of processed luminescence values being based on the luminescence values of the luminescence informative region, wherein the processed luminescence image provides a further representation of the target body facilitating an identification thereof, and displaying, by the computing device an output image base on the processed luminescence image substantially in real-time with said acquiring the luminescence image.
wherein the method comprises, under the control of a computing device:
acquiring, by the computing device, a luminescence image of a field of view containing the region of interest, the region of interest comprising at least one target body of the medical procedure containing a luminescence substance, and one or more foreign objects different from the region of interest, the luminescence image comprising a plurality of luminescence values representative of a luminescence light being emitted by the luminescence substance at corresponding luminescence locations of the field of view,
acquiring, by the computing device, an auxiliary image of the field of view, the auxiliary image comprising a plurality of auxiliary values representative of an auxiliary light, different from the luminescence light, being received from corresponding auxiliary locations of the field of view,
segmenting, by the computing device, the auxiliary values of the auxiliary image semantically into at least one region of interest class defining an auxiliary informative region representative of the region of interest without the foreign objects and one or more foreign object classes defining a non-informative region representative of the foreign objects,
identifying, by the computing device, the luminescence values of the luminescence image defining a luminescence informative region corresponding to the auxiliary values of the auxiliary informative region of the auxiliary image,
generating, by the computing device, a processed luminescence image by processing the luminescence image limited to the luminescence informative region, the processed luminescence image comprising a plurality of processed luminescence values being based on the luminescence values of the luminescence informative region, wherein the processed luminescence image provides a further representation of the target body facilitating an identification thereof, and
displaying, by the computing device an output image base on the processed luminescence image substantially in real-time with said acquiring the luminescence image.
The method according to claim 1, wherein the medical procedure is a surgical procedure.
The method according to claim 2, wherein the region of interest is a surgical cavity of the patient.
The method according to claim 1, wherein at least part of the foreign objects overlaps the region of interest.
The method according to claim 1, wherein the foreign objects comprise one or more medical implements, one or more hands, one or more body-parts of the patient not of interest for the medical procedure and/or background materials.
The method according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary image is a reflectance image, the auxiliary light is a visible light and the auxiliary values are representative of the visible light being reflected by the corresponding auxiliary locations of the field of view illuminated by a white light.
The method according to claim 1, wherein the luminescence substance is a luminescence agent being pre-administered to the patient before performing the method.
The method according to claim 1, wherein said segmenting the auxiliary values of the auxiliary image comprises: segmenting, by the computing device, the auxiliary values of the auxiliary image semantically with a neural network.
segmenting, by the computing device, the auxiliary values of the auxiliary image semantically with a neural network.
The method according to claim 1, wherein said segmenting the auxiliary values of the auxiliary image comprises: determining, by the computing device, one or more feature maps for corresponding features of the auxiliary values of the auxiliary image, each of the feature maps comprising corresponding feature values of the auxiliary locations, and segmenting, by the computing device, the auxiliary values of the auxiliary image semantically by applying a classification algorithm to the feature values of the feature maps.
determining, by the computing device, one or more feature maps for corresponding features of the auxiliary values of the auxiliary image, each of the feature maps comprising corresponding feature values of the auxiliary locations, and
segmenting, by the computing device, the auxiliary values of the auxiliary image semantically by applying a classification algorithm to the feature values of the feature maps.
The method according to claim 1, wherein said segmenting the auxiliary values of the auxiliary image comprises, when the auxiliary image comprises one or more disconnected portions completely surrounded by the auxiliary informative region: assigning, by the computing device, the disconnected portions to the auxiliary informative region.
assigning, by the computing device, the disconnected portions to the auxiliary informative region.
The method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises: pre-processing, by the computing device, the auxiliary image before said segmenting the auxiliary values of the auxiliary image by applying a histogram equalization to the auxiliary values of the auxiliary image in response to a brightness indicator of the auxiliary image being comprised between a darkness threshold, indicative of a feasibility of said segmenting the auxiliary values of the auxiliary image, and a brightness threshold, higher than the darkness threshold.
pre-processing, by the computing device, the auxiliary image before said segmenting the auxiliary values of the auxiliary image by applying a histogram equalization to the auxiliary values of the auxiliary image in response to a brightness indicator of the auxiliary image being comprised between a darkness threshold, indicative of a feasibility of said segmenting the auxiliary values of the auxiliary image, and a brightness threshold, higher than the darkness threshold.
The method according to claim 1, wherein said segmenting the auxiliary values of the auxiliary image comprises: identifying, by the computing device, the auxiliary informative region further according to the luminescence values of the luminescence image.
identifying, by the computing device, the auxiliary informative region further according to the luminescence values of the luminescence image.
The method according to claim 1, wherein said generating the processed luminescence image comprises: auto-scaling, by the computing device, the luminescence informative region according to the luminescence values of the luminescence informative region.
auto-scaling, by the computing device, the luminescence informative region according to the luminescence values of the luminescence informative region.
The method according to claim 13, wherein said auto-scaling the luminescence informative region comprises: determining, by the computing device, a luminescence range of the luminescence values of the luminescence informative region, and converting, by the computing device, the luminescence values of the luminescence informative region according to a mapping function mapping the luminescence range to a display range for displaying the luminescence image.
determining, by the computing device, a luminescence range of the luminescence values of the luminescence informative region, and
converting, by the computing device, the luminescence values of the luminescence informative region according to a mapping function mapping the luminescence range to a display range for displaying the luminescence image.
The method according to claim 1: wherein said generating the processed luminescence image comprises: thresholding, by the computing device, the luminescence informative region according to the luminescence values of the luminescence informative region thereby partitioning the luminescence informative region into a target segment representative of the target body and a non-target segment representative of a rest of the region of interest different from the target body, and wherein said displaying the output image comprises: displaying, by the computing device, the output image by highlighting the target segment with respect to the non-target segment.
wherein said generating the processed luminescence image comprises:
thresholding, by the computing device, the luminescence informative region according to the luminescence values of the luminescence informative region thereby partitioning the luminescence informative region into a target segment representative of the target body and a non-target segment representative of a rest of the region of interest different from the target body, and
wherein said displaying the output image comprises: displaying, by the computing device, the output image by highlighting the target segment with respect to the non-target segment.
displaying, by the computing device, the output image by highlighting the target segment with respect to the non-target segment.
The method according to claim 15, wherein said thresholding the luminescence informative region comprises: determining, by the computing device, a threshold value according to a statistical distribution of the luminescence values of the luminescence informative, and assigning, by the computing device, each of the luminescence locations of the luminescence informative region to the target segment or to the non-target segment according to a comparison of the corresponding luminescence value with the threshold value.
determining, by the computing device, a threshold value according to a statistical distribution of the luminescence values of the luminescence informative, and
assigning, by the computing device, each of the luminescence locations of the luminescence informative region to the target segment or to the non-target segment according to a comparison of the corresponding luminescence value with the threshold value.
The method according to claim 15, wherein said thresholding the luminescence informative region comprises: calculating, by the computing device, one or more target statistical parameters of the luminescence values of the target segment and/or one or more non-target statistical parameters of the luminescence values of the non-target segment, and updating, by the computing device, the luminescence values of the target segment each according to the target statistical parameters and/or the non-target statistical parameters.
calculating, by the computing device, one or more target statistical parameters of the luminescence values of the target segment and/or one or more non-target statistical parameters of the luminescence values of the non-target segment, and
updating, by the computing device, the luminescence values of the target segment each according to the target statistical parameters and/or the non-target statistical parameters.
The method according to claim 1: wherein the method comprises: determining, by the computing device, corresponding optical values, of at least one optical parameter relating to the luminescence light, for the auxiliary locations of the auxiliary image limited to the auxiliary informative region according to a content thereof, and wherein said generating the processed luminescence image comprises: equalizing, by the computing device, the luminescence values of the luminescence informative region according to the optical values.
wherein the method comprises: determining, by the computing device, corresponding optical values, of at least one optical parameter relating to the luminescence light, for the auxiliary locations of the auxiliary image limited to the auxiliary inform
[Truncated to input limit]