Methods and devices useful for analyzing color medical images

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method that includes comparing a subject color medical image to normal color medical image data; and identifying abnormal pixels from the subject color medical image. Another embodiment includes a computer readable medium comprising machine readable instructions for implementing one or more steps of that method. Another embodiment includes a device that has a field programmable gate array configured to perform one or more of the steps of that method. Another embodiment includes a device that has an application specific integrated circuit configured to perform one or more of the steps of that method.

1 . A method comprising:
 comparing a subject color medical image to normal color medical image data; and   identifying abnormal pixels from the subject color medical image.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 acquiring the subject color medical image using an endoscope.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , where the subject color medical image has been converted from an image that is acquired initially in gray scale. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 acquiring the subject color medical image data in a device dependent color space; and   converting the device dependent color space to a device independent color space.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , where the abnormal pixels are abnormal in terms of saturation. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , where the abnormal pixels are abnormal in terms of hue. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , where the identification of abnormal pixels from the subject color medical image includes providing a variable threshold for determining whether a pixel from the subject color medical image is abnormal in terms of hue or saturation. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 displaying a histogram that includes (i) saturation information about the subject color medical image and (ii) saturation information about the normal color medical image data.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , where the displaying comprises displaying a histogram that includes (i) a saturation distribution of pixels from the subject color medical image and (ii) a saturation distribution of pixels from the normal color image data. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 displaying the subject color medical image and highlighting areas of the subject color medical image that have a saturation that is greater than normal.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 displaying a histogram that includes (i) hue information about the subject color medical image and (ii) hue information about the normal color medical image data.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , where the displaying comprises displaying a histogram that includes (i) a hue distribution of pixels from the subject color medical image and (ii) a hue distribution of pixels from the normal color image data. 
   
   
       13 . A computer readable medium comprising machine readable instructions for implementing one or more of the steps of the method of any of  claims 1 - 12 . 
   
   
       14 . A method comprising:
 displaying a subject color medical image;   comparing the subject color medical image to normal color medical image data to identify abnormal pixels from the subject color medical image; and   highlighting abnormal pixels on the displayed subject color medical image.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , where the subject color medical image has been converted from an image that is acquired initially in gray scale. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 acquiring the subject color medical image in a device dependent color space; and   converting the device dependent color space to a device independent color space.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14 , where the highlighting includes highlighting areas of the displayed subject color medical image that have a saturation that is greater than normal. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 14 , where the comparing includes providing a variable threshold for determining whether a pixel from the subject color medical image is abnormal in terms of hue or saturation. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 displaying a histogram that includes (i) saturation information about the subject color medical image and (ii) saturation information about the normal color medical image data.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , where the displaying comprises displaying a histogram that includes (i) a saturation distribution of pixels from the subject color medical image and (ii) a saturation distribution of pixels from the normal color image data. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 displaying a histogram that includes (i) hue information about the subject color medical image and (ii) hue information about the normal color medical image data.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , where the displaying comprises displaying a histogram that includes (i) a hue distribution of pixels from the subject color medical image and (ii) a hue distribution of pixels from the normal color image data. 
   
   
       23 . A computer readable medium comprising machine readable instructions for implementing one or more of the steps of the method of any of  claims 14 - 22 . 
   
   
       24 . A method comprising:
 acquiring a subject color medical image using an endoscope;   displaying a region of interest from the subject color medical image;   comparing the region of interest to normal color medical image data to identify abnormal pixels from the region of interest; and   highlighting abnormal pixels on the displayed region of interest.   
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , where the subject color medical image has been converted from an image that is acquired initially in gray scale. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 1 , where the subject color medical image is acquired in a device dependent color space, and further comprising:
 converting the device dependent color space to a device independent color space.   
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 24 , where the highlighting includes highlighting areas of the displayed region of interest that have a saturation that is greater than normal. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 24 , where the comparing includes providing a variable threshold for determining whether a pixel from the region of interest is abnormal in terms of hue or saturation. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 displaying a histogram that includes (i) saturation information about the region of interest and (ii) saturation information about the normal color medical image data.   
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29 , where the displaying comprises displaying a histogram that includes (i) a saturation distribution of pixels from the region of interest and (ii) a saturation distribution of pixels from the normal color image data. 
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 displaying a histogram that includes (i) hue information about the region of interest and (ii) hue information about the normal color medical image data.   
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31 , where the displaying comprises displaying a histogram that includes (i) a hue distribution of pixels from the region of interest and (ii) a hue distribution of pixels from the normal color image data. 
   
   
       33 . A computer readable medium comprising machine readable instructions for implementing one or more of the steps of the method of any of  claims 24 - 32 .