Patent Publication Number: US-2015067599-A1

Title: Smart and early workflow for quick vessel network detection

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the invention relate generally to a method and apparatus for imaging processing, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus that provide easy and efficient ways to create and visualize vasculature partitioning. 
     Computerized analysis of medical imaging data is becoming an increasingly important and acceptable method of working with vast amounts of data produced by modern medical diagnostic equipment—such as computed tomography, magnetic resonance, ultrasound, and x-ray imaging systems. The reliability of the results produced by the computerized analysis of the medical data is very important, as the reliability and the robustness of computerized analysis systems makes it either efficient or useless in a real medical world scenario. 
     In general, existing medical imaging data analysis tools do not provide a fully automatic solution and instead rely on the user&#39;s judgment concerning the quality of the result. As a result, these types of analysis tools assume a significant amount of user interaction, and thus, reserve the image understanding to the human operator. Other systems that fall into the category of computer aided detection/diagnosis (CAD) tools are becoming more prevalent, and are usually more automatic and do include computerized image understanding, reasoning, and decision making. 
     One example of where such computerized analysis is of great benefit is when analyzing cross sectional images of an anatomical structure to create and visualize vasculature partitioning (i.e., to create and map blood vessel networks)—as such computerized analysis can aid in detection, diagnosis, and treatment of blood vessel pathologies. However, existing medical imaging data analysis tools used for blood vessel mapping/vasculature partitioning—and the algorithms and workflows provided therein—are prone to errors and are not intuitive to operators, reducing efficiency and reliability in diagnosis. Additionally, editing results using the existing medical imaging data analysis tools is very time consuming and generates dissatisfaction for first time users. 
     It is also recognized that existing CAD tools lack the ability to allow exploration of a vessel network by an operator in real-time prior to a validation of vessels in the vessel network—such as by providing a preview of a vessel cross-section to an operator before any validation or clicking. Such real-time exploration is highly desirable, as it enables an operator to view a vessel path detection in real time through several visualizations—thereby providing better upfront control of resulting measurements and displays so as to reduce errors and increase efficiency and reliability in diagnosis. 
     It would therefore be desirable to have a system and method capable of automatically detecting and proposing vessel networks in medical images, coupled with an efficient workflow and interactive context-sensitive tools to build vessel networks quickly and intuitively. It would also be desirable for such a system and method to enable real-time exploration of vascular networks prior to any vessel validation requirements—such as by displaying vessel previews and vessel data/measurements in real-time responsive to operator commands/input—so as to provide better upfront control of measurements and displays that can increase efficiency and reliability in diagnosis. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the invention are a directed method and apparatus that provide for real-time exploration of a vessel network from a source or computed image. The real-time exploration of the vessel network may be performed prior to any vessel validation requirements and enables the displaying of vessel previews and vessel data/measurements in real-time responsive to operator commands/input. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a non-transitory computer readable medium has thereon a computer program comprising instructions, which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to access medical image data of a region of interest (ROI), cause a medical image of the ROI to be displayed based on the medical image data and enable real-time exploration of vessels of a vessel network on the medical image based on received operator input. In enabling real-time exploration of the vessels of the vessel network, the instructions further cause the computer to perform at least one of generating and displaying a vessel curve preview of a vessel on the medical image based on an operator initiated positioning of a cursor in the medical image, generating and displaying a highlighted vessel curve of a vessel on the medical image based on an operator initiated input, and generating and displaying one or more parameters associated with a vessel based on an operator initiated input. The real-time exploration of vessels of the vessel network may be performed with or without any prior vessel validation or construction in the vessel network. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method for detecting and displaying a vessel network that includes a plurality of vessel paths includes causing a processor to access one or more medical images of a region of interest (ROI), cause the one or more medical images of the ROI to be displayed on a display and generate and display vessel path previews on the one or more medical image responsive to an operator initiated mouse positioning, with a respective vessel path preview being generated and displayed when the mouse is at a corresponding position. The method also includes causing the processor to validate a respective vessel path preview based on an operator initiated selection of vessel path preview so as to generate a validated vessel path, build and display the vessel network on the one or more medical images from validated vessel paths, enable operator selection of objects of interest in the vessel network and display a context sensitive menu on the medical image that comprises a plurality of selectable action icons upon operator selection of an object of interest in the vessel network, the menu providing for editing of an object of interest selected by the operator. 
     In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, a digital imaging apparatus includes a user-accessible workstation comprising a display and a computer operably coupled to the display so as to cause images to be viewable on the display, wherein the computer is programmed to access medical images data stored on a data device, cause a medical image of a region of interest (ROI) to be displayed on the display, and generate and display a vessel curve preview on the medical image in real-time responsive to an operator initiated positioning of a cursor in the medical image, the vessel curve preview being displayed prior to any validation of the vessel curve being previewed. The computer is also programmed to determine a connection status of the vessel curve preview to previously detected vessel curves in a vessel network, wherein determining the connection status further includes merging the vessel curve preview with a previously detected vessel curve in the vessel network if a point of intersection is identified via one of a bifurcation between the vessel curve preview and a previously detected vessel curve or an extension of a previously validated vessel curve to connect to the vessel curve preview or creating a new vessel network with the vessel curve preview if no point of intersection is identified. The computer is further programmed to validate the vessel curve preview based on an operator initiated cursor excitation so as to generate a newly validated vessel curve and build and display one or more vessel networks based on all validated vessel curves and the merging thereof to all previously validated vessel curves. 
     Various other features and advantages will be made apparent from the following detailed description and the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The drawings illustrate preferred embodiments presently contemplated for carrying out the invention. 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a pictorial view of a CT imaging system. 
         FIG. 2  is a block schematic diagram of the system illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an example of a vessel network that can be created by embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a technique for creating and displaying a vessel network on a medical image according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a screenshot of a vessel network created by the technique of  FIG. 4 , including a vessel curve preview (i.e., temporary vessel curve), according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a technique for generating and displaying a vessel curve preview in the technique of  FIG. 4  according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a screenshot of a vessel network created by the technique of  FIG. 4 , including a validated vessel curve, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a screenshot of a vessel network created by the technique of  FIG. 4 , including a visually differentiated vessel curve and a vignette display of a vessel curve context, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a screenshot of a vessel network created by the technique of  FIG. 4 , including a context relevant menu, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Embodiments of the invention provide an improved workflow for easy and efficient creation and displaying of vessel networks from medical images. This is done through a combination of workflow, algorithm, and display tools presented to the operator that enable real-time exploration of the vessel network—with such real-time exploration being enabled absent any vessel validation requirements. The operating environment of the invention is described with respect to a computed tomography (CT) system. However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention is equally applicable for use with other imaging modalities and digital imaging apparatuses, such as magnetic resonance (MR) imaging systems, ultrasound imaging systems, x-ray systems, etc. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a computed tomography (CT) imaging system  10  is shown as including a gantry  12  representative of a “third generation” CT scanner. Gantry  12  has an x-ray source  14  that projects a beam of x-rays toward a detector assembly or collimator  18  on the opposite side of the gantry  12 . Referring now to  FIG. 2 , detector assembly  18  is formed by a plurality of detectors  20  and data acquisition systems (DAS)  32 . The plurality of detectors  20  sense the projected x-rays  16  that pass through a medical patient  22 , and DAS  32  converts the data to digital signals for subsequent processing. Each detector  20  produces an analog electrical signal that represents the intensity of an impinging x-ray beam and hence the attenuated beam as it passes through the patient  22 . During a scan to acquire x-ray projection data, gantry  12  and the components mounted thereon rotate about a center of rotation  24 . 
     Rotation of gantry  12  and the operation of x-ray source  14  are governed by a control mechanism  26  of CT system  10 . Control mechanism  26  includes an x-ray controller  28  that provides power and timing signals to an x-ray source  14  and a gantry motor controller  30  that controls the rotational speed and position of gantry  12 . An image reconstructor  34  receives sampled and digitized x-ray data from DAS  32  and performs high speed reconstruction. The reconstructed image is applied as an input to a computer  36  which stores the image in a mass storage device  38 . 
     Computer  36  also receives commands and scanning parameters from an operator via console  40  that has some form of operator interface, such as a keyboard, mouse, voice activated controller, or any other suitable input apparatus. An associated display  42  allows the operator to observe the reconstructed image and other data from computer  36 —with these components collectively forming what may be referred to as a “digital imaging apparatus”. The operator supplied commands and parameters are used by computer  36  to provide control signals and information to DAS  32 , x-ray controller  28  and gantry motor controller  30 . In addition, computer  36  operates a table motor controller  44  which controls a motorized table  46  to position patient  22  and gantry  12 . Particularly, table  46  moves patients  22  through a gantry opening  48  of  FIG. 1  in whole or in part. 
     While  FIG. 2  illustrates only a single computer  36  coupled to mass storage device  38 , it is to be understood that a plurality of computer workstations may be configured to remotely access mass storage device  38  to view the reconstructed images stored therein. Each of these computer workstations may similarly comprise a console  40  having an operator interface, as well as a display  42  to allow the remote operator to observe the reconstructed image of a region of interest (ROI) of the patient and other data stored in mass storage device  38 . In this way, an operator (e.g., a medical professional) may view and manipulate reconstructed images captured via CT imaging system  10  from any computer workstation coupled to mass storage device  38 . 
     According to embodiments of the invention, computer  36  (or another similar computer coupled to mass storage device  38 ) includes medical diagnosis software stored thereon that provides for the creation and visualization a vessel network (i.e., blood vessel network or tree) from any set of medical images (and the medical image data from which the images are reconstructed), such as medical images stored on mass storage device  38 . The computer  36  thus accesses images stored on mass storage device  38  and functions to create and display vessel network(s) on the medical images in an efficient, user friendly manner—which is achieved through a combination of workflow, algorithm, and display tools presented to the operator. The workflow, algorithm, and display tools enable real-time exploration of the vessel network—with such real-time exploration being enabled absent any vessel validation requirements, as will be explained in greater detail below. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the major components of a vessel network  100 , such as could be created by computer  36  (i.e., by the medical diagnosis software stored thereon) are shown according to an embodiment of the invention. The vessel network  100  originates at a root point  102 , located at the ascending extremity of a vessel curve  104 , with the root point  102  being the point of convergence of all of the vessel curves  104  that are included in the vessel network  100 . Each of the plurality of vessel curves  104  included in vessel network  100  is connected between two endpoints, with the endpoints being in the form a root point  102 , a bifurcation point  106 , or an extremity point  108 . A plurality of vessel curves  104  intersect at a bifurcation point  106  that interconnects at least two vessel curves  104  together. As shown in  FIG. 3 , a complex vessel network  100  may contain a plurality of bifurcation points  106 , with an extremity point  108  being located at the descending extremity of each respective vessel curve  104 . Each of the root point  102 , vessel curves  104 , bifurcation points  106 , and extremity points  108  are recognized as being an “object of interest”  110  in the vessel network, each of which is separately identifiable and addressable by an operator for purposes of closer inspection and/or editing thereof, as will be explained in greater detail below. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , and with continued reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a computer-implemented technique  112 —such as could be implemented by computer  36  and the medical diagnosis software stored thereon—that enables real-time creation, exploration and visualization a vessel network  100  in/on a medical image is shown according to an embodiment of the invention. In initiating technique  112  at STEP  114 , medical image data of a region of interest (ROI) corresponding to one or more acquired medical images are first accessed or loaded by computer  36 , such as from mass storage device  38 . One or more medical images of the ROI are then displayed at STEP  114 , such as on display  42  for example. Once the medical image(s) has been displayed, the technique  112  is able to monitor positioning and movement of a cursor on the medical image, which according to an exemplary embodiment is performed via the movement of a mouse by an operator. The technique  112  monitors the positioning and movement of the cursor in order to determine the next steps to be performed regarding the generation and display of the vessel network—thereby enabling real-time exploration of the vessel network. In monitoring the positioning and movement of the cursor on the medical image, the technique  112  provides for the establishing of a root point  102  of the vessel network  100  at STEP  115 . The root point  102  may be established responsive to a mouse click by an operator—and is positioned at a desired location on the medical image by way of an operator positioning the cursor for performing the mouse click. 
     Upon establishing of the root point  102  at STEP  115 , the technique  112  continues to monitor the positioning and movement of the cursor in order to determine the next steps to be performed regarding the generation and display of the vessel network. More specifically, a next step of technique  112  is performed by determining whether the cursor is positioned in a stationary manner at a location that has been identified as an object of interest (OOI), i.e., a vessel curve, bifurcation, extremity point, or root, as indicated at STEP  116 . That is, after the cursor is positioned and stationary, the technique compares the cursor location with a list of locations of objects of interest  110  that have been already/previously been identified. 
     It is recognized that initially—when only the root point  102  has been established—that no objects of interest will have yet been identified, and thus it will be determined that the cursor is not positioned over an object of interest, as indicated at  117 . The technique thus continues by creating and displaying a vessel curve preview (i.e., temporary vessel curve) in real-time based on the cursor location position on the medical image, as indicated at STEP  118 . Such a vessel curve preview is illustrated in  FIG. 5 , with the vessel curve preview  120  being shown extending from a root  102  based on the positioning of the cursor  122 . As can be seen in  FIG. 5 , the vessel curve preview  120  is displayed on the medical image(s)  123  as a centerline of the vessel curve (i.e., a “centerline preview”), and it is contemplated the temporary vessel curve  120  may be generated by determining vessel lumen through a centerline computation of the medical image data, in combination with other imaging algorithms. 
     With regard to the creating and displaying of a vessel curve preview  120  that is performed at STEP  118 , it is recognized that a subroutine is performed in creating and displaying a vessel curve preview  120  at STEP  118 . Such a subroutine is illustrated in  FIG. 6  according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. As shown in  FIG. 6 , in performing STEP  118 , the subroutine begins at STEP  124  when the cursor  122  is positioned on the medical image  123  at a location where a vessel is present. A determination is then made at STEP  126  as to whether at least a portion of an already identified object of interest  110 , i.e., part of an existing vessel network  100 , is located within a pre-determined proximity of the cursor  122  position—with the proximity value being set in the software settings. If an object of interest  110  does exist within the pre-determined proximity, as indicated at  128 , the technique continues at STEP  130  by generating a temporary vessel curve  120  between the previously identified object of interest  110  (e.g., vessel curve  104 ) and the cursor  136  position. 
     In generating the temporary vessel curve  120 , the appropriate connection to the closest vessel network  100  must first be determined/calculated—with this determination/calculation being performed at STEP  132 . The appropriate connection may be formed by either creating a new bifurcation point  106  on a vessel curve  104 , forming an interconnection with an existing bifurcation point  106 , or by extending an existing vessel curve  104 —and is made by selecting the nearest “interconnection point” (see  133  in  FIG. 5 ) to which temporary vessel curve  120  can be can be connected—based on which existing vessel curve  104  is intersected first by the vessel curve preview  120 . 
     If an appropriate interconnection point  133  to the existing vessel network  100  can be found, a connection (e.g., bifurcation point) is then employed to merge the temporary vessel curve  120  and the existing vessel curve  104 . In merging the temporary vessel curve  120  with an existing vessel curve  104 , the vessel curves  104 ,  120  may be merged together at an extremity point  108 , thus erasing the extremity point  108  and creating a new extremity point  108  at the unconnected end of the merged vessel curves  104 . If, however, an appropriate interconnection point to the existing vessel network  100  cannot be found, a path learning routine can be implemented at STEP  132 —whereby an existing vessel curve  104  of the vessel network  100  is extended to a location of the cursor  122  in order to merge the vessel curve preview  120  with the previously validated vessel curve  104 . Upon a calculation/determination regarding how the vessel curve preview  120  is to be merged to the existing vessel network  100 , the vessel curve preview  132  is displayed at STEP  134 . 
     Referring back to STEP  126 —if it is determined that a vessel network  100  does not exist within the pre-determined proximity of the cursor  122  position, as indicated at  136 , it is determined that a temporary vessel curve  120  should not be generated that connects to an existing vessel network—but that instead a new vessel network should be created from/including the vessel at the location of the cursor  122 . Thus, responsive to a cursor excitation (i.e., mouse click), a new root point  102  is created at the position of cursor  122  at STEP  138 , thereby creating a new vessel network from which a new vessel curve preview  132  can be generated when the cursor  136  is positioned within a proximity to the new root point. The root point of the new vessel network may be displayed at STEP  139 . 
     Referring back again to  FIG. 4 , after the creation and display of the vessel curve preview  120  at STEP  118 , it is next determined at STEP  140  whether a cursor excitation is performed (such as via a mouse click by the operator) while the cursor  122  is still positioned in a stationary manner over a currently displayed vessel curve preview  120 . If a cursor excitation is performed while the cursor  122  is still positioned in a stationary manner over a currently displayed vessel curve preview  120 , as indicated at  142 , then the technique validates the vessel curve preview at STEP  144  and displays a validated vessel curve  145  ( FIG. 7 ) on the medical image(s)  123 , with the newly validated vessel curve  145  being merged/connected to vessel network  100 . The newly validated vessel curve  145  is displayed differently from the vessel curve preview  120 , such that the validated vessel curve  145  can be visually differentiated from the vessel curve preview  120 . For example, the validated vessel curve  145  may be bolded as compared to the vessel curve preview  120 , as indicated in  FIG. 7 . In validating the vessel curve at STEP  144  responsive to the cursor excitation, an object of interest  110  is also created at STEP  144 . That is, the newly detected/validated vessel curve  145  is identified as an object of interest in the vessel network  100 , and extremity and bifurcation points  108 ,  106  associated with the vessel curve  145  are also added to the vessel network  100  and displayed on the medical image(s)  123 . 
     Referring back to STEP  140 , if a cursor excitation is not performed while the cursor  122  is still positioned in a stationary manner over a currently displayed vessel curve preview  120 , as indicated at  146 , but instead the cursor  122  is moved off of the displayed vessel curve preview  120  by the operator, the vessel curve preview  120  will be erased/removed, leaving the vessel network  100  and all objects of interest  110  as they were before the vessel curve preview process began at STEP  118 . Thus, upon either the validation and display of a vessel curve at STEP  144  or the moving of the cursor  122  off of the displayed vessel curve preview  120  and the removal of the vessel curve preview from the medical image(s)  123  (at determination  146 ), the technique  112  will loop back to STEP  116  and restart with the determination performed thereat. 
     Referring back again now to the determination regarding whether the cursor is positioned in a stationary manner at a location that has previously been identified as an object of interest, i.e., a vessel curve, bifurcation, extremity point, or root, that is performed at STEP  116 —if it is determined that the cursor  122  is positioned over at least a portion of an object of interest  110  (e.g., a previously validated vessel curve  104 / 145 ), as indicated at  148 , the technique then continues at STEP  150  by providing a visual indicator associated with the object of interest  110  to the operator (e.g., alternating the color, highlighting, etc.)—indicating the cursor  122  is positioned over the object of interest  110 —and by generating a vignette  153  of the detected vessel curve. The vignette  153  may be displayed in any of a number of suitable locations respective to the medical image(s)  123 , such as being overlaid on the medical image, positioned outside of the medical image, or positioned next to a border of the medical image, with the location of the vignette  153  being defined in the configuration settings of the software. An exemplary positioning and display of a vignette  153  is illustrated in  FIG. 8 , according to an embodiment of the invention. 
     In a next step of technique  112 , a cursor excitation is detected at STEP  152  while the cursor  122  is positioned over the object of interest  110  such that, when the cursor excitation has occurred, a context sensitive menu is displayed to the operator allowing manual editing of the object of interest  110 . An exemplary context sensitive menu  148  is illustrated in  FIG. 8 , where the context sensitive menu  148  is shown displayed proximate the cursor  122  position, with the menu providing a list of available action icons  150  that allow the operator to manually edit the object of interest  110  located below the positioned cursor  122 . Contemplated action icons  150  include a rename icon  152 , a delete icon  154 , a start bridge icon  156 , and a new start point icon  158 . The rename action icon  152  allows the operator to change a name associated with the existing object of interest  110 . The delete action icon  154  allows the operator to delete the existing object of interest  110  from the vessel network  100 . The start bridge action icon  156  allows the operator to dissect a portion of a first vessel network  100  and associate the network  100  with a second vessel network through a root point  102 , bifurcation point  106 , or extremity point  108 —with a created “bridge” joining the vessel networks. The new start point action icon  158  allows the user to create a new vessel curve  104  from the object of interest  110 . Starting from the object of interest  110 , the user can reposition the cursor  122  on the medical image  123  and cause cursor excitation, so as to generate a new vessel curve  160  between the object of interest  110  and the positioned cursor  122  that is the shortest distance between the two points. In addition, the software implemented technique  112  chooses the appropriate connection to the object of interest  110 , and further creates an extremity point  108  at the end of the new vessel curve  160 , and is positioned under the cursor  122 . The menu  148  thus provides a quick and efficient way to specifically tailor the objects of interest  110  of vessel networks, allowing operators to quickly create accurate vessel networks. 
     A technical contribution for the disclosed method and apparatus is that it provides for a computer implemented technique for automatically detecting and displaying vessel networks in medical images. The technique provides an efficient workflow for creating and displaying the vessel networks by providing interactive context-sensitive tools to build vessel networks quickly and intuitively. 
     One skilled in the art will appreciate that embodiments of the invention may be interfaced to and controlled by a computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program. The computer readable storage medium includes a plurality of components such as one or more of electronic components, hardware components, and/or computer software components. These components may include one or more computer readable storage media that generally stores instructions such as software, firmware and/or assembly language for performing one or more portions of one or more implementations or embodiments of a sequence. These computer readable storage media are generally non-transitory and/or tangible. Examples of such a computer readable storage medium include a recordable data storage medium of a computer and/or storage device. The computer readable storage media may employ, for example, one or more of a magnetic, electrical, optical, biological, and/or atomic data storage medium. Further, such media may take the form of, for example, floppy disks, magnetic tapes, CD-ROMs, DVD-ROMs, hard disk drives, and/or electronic memory. Other forms of non-transitory and/or tangible computer readable storage media not list may be employed with embodiments of the invention. 
     A number of such components can be combined or divided in an implementation of a system. Further, such components may include a set and/or series of computer instructions written in or implemented with any of a number of programming languages, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. In addition, other forms of computer readable media such as a carrier wave may be employed to embody a computer data signal representing a sequence of instructions that when executed by one or more computers causes the one or more computers to perform one or more portions of one or more implementations or embodiments of a sequence. 
     Therefore, according to one embodiment of the invention, a non-transitory computer readable medium has thereon a computer program comprising instructions, which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to access medical image data of a region of interest (ROI), cause a medical image of the ROI to be displayed based on the medical image data and enable real-time exploration of vessels of a vessel network on the medical image based on received operator input. In enabling real-time exploration of the vessels of the vessel network, the instructions further cause the computer to perform at least one of generating and displaying a vessel curve preview of a vessel on the medical image based on an operator initiated positioning of a cursor in the medical image, generating and displaying a highlighted vessel curve of a vessel on the medical image based on an operator initiated input, and generating and displaying one or more parameters associated with a vessel based on an operator initiated input. The real-time exploration of vessels of the vessel network may be performed with or without any prior vessel validation or construction in the vessel network. 
     According to another embodiment of the invention, a method for detecting and displaying a vessel network that includes a plurality of vessel paths includes causing a processor to access one or more medical images of a region of interest (ROI), cause the one or more medical images of the ROI to be displayed on a display and generate and display vessel path previews on the one or more medical image responsive to an operator initiated mouse positioning, with a respective vessel path preview being generated and displayed when the mouse is at a corresponding position. The method also includes causing the processor to validate a respective vessel path preview based on an operator initiated selection of vessel path preview so as to generate a validated vessel path, build and display the vessel network on the one or more medical images from validated vessel paths, enable operator selection of objects of interest in the vessel network and display a context sensitive menu on the medical image that comprises a plurality of selectable action icons upon operator selection of an object of interest in the vessel network, the menu providing for editing of an object of interest selected by the operator. 
     According to yet another embodiment of the invention, a digital imaging apparatus includes a user-accessible workstation comprising a display and a computer operably coupled to the display so as to cause images to be viewable on the display, wherein the computer is programmed to access medical images data stored on a data device, cause a medical image of a region of interest (ROI) to be displayed on the display, and generate and display a vessel curve preview on the medical image in real-time responsive to an operator initiated positioning of a cursor in the medical image, the vessel curve preview being displayed prior to any validation of the vessel curve being previewed. The computer is also programmed to determine a connection status of the vessel curve preview to previously detected vessel curves in a vessel network, wherein determining the connection status further includes merging the vessel curve preview with a previously detected vessel curve in the vessel network if a point of intersection is identified via one of a bifurcation between the vessel curve preview and a previously detected vessel curve or an extension of a previously validated vessel curve to connect to the vessel curve preview or creating a new vessel network with the vessel curve preview if no point of intersection is identified. The computer is further programmed to validate the vessel curve preview based on an operator initiated cursor excitation so as to generate a newly validated vessel curve and build and display one or more vessel networks based on all validated vessel curves and the merging thereof to all previously validated vessel curves. 
     This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.