Patent ID: 8744147

Claim:
A method for graphically representing the condition of an anatomical structure that is the subject of a medical examination, wherein the anatomical structure includes a plurality of anatomical layers, the method comprising: displaying a background image representative of the anatomical structure, the background image including a plurality of image layers such that each anatomical layer in the plurality of anatomical layers corresponds with a respective image layer in the plurality of image layers, wherein displaying the background image includes displaying the plurality of image layers such that a first image layer from the plurality of image layers is superimposed over a second image layer from the plurality of image layers; presenting a plurality of intelligent symbols, each intelligent symbol associated with at least one image layer from the plurality of image layers, each intelligent symbol having a plurality of parameters which determine a rendering condition of the respective intelligent symbol; identifying a selected symbol from the plurality of intelligent symbols; selecting an X-Y position within the background: associating the selected symbol with the X-Y position and an image layer from the plurality of image layers; and rendering the background image, wherein rendering the background image includes rendering the plurality of layers superimposed on the background image based on a physical order of the plurality of anatomical layers, and wherein rendering the plurality of layers includes rendering the selected symbol superimposed on the background image based on a rendering order of the plurality of image layers and the plurality of parameters.