Overlay image contrast enhancement

Abstract

A method of creating an image difference overlay comprises identifying a loop of reference images of a subject and identifying a loop of data images of the subject. The loop of image data can be identified after an event, such as the administration of contrast agent to the subject. A reference loop image frame is compared to one or more data loop image frames and the reference loop frame is associated with a data loop image frame which closely resembles the data loop image frame. Each of the associated frames can then be processed and used to create an image difference overlay frame.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 58 . (canceled) 
     
     
         59 . A method of producing an enhanced medical image of a subject, comprising:
 producing a reference set of medical images of the subject or a portion thereof using a medical imaging modality, wherein the reference set of medical images comprises a plurality of reference set images;   creating an area of increased image contrast in the subject; producing a data set of medical images of the subject or a portion thereof using the medical imaging modality, wherein the data set of medical images comprises a plurality of data set images, each data set image comprising data received from the area of increased image contrast;   comparing at least one data set image to a plurality of reference set images;   determining the relative similarity between the data set image and each compared reference set image;   selecting a data-reference image pair, wherein the data-reference image pair comprises a data set image and a reference set image, and wherein the data-reference image pair is based on the reference image's determined relative similarity to the data image; and   processing the data-reference image pair to create the enhanced medical image by removing the areas of substantial similarity between the data image and the reference image of the data-reference image pair.   
     
     
         60 . A system for producing an enhanced medical image of a subject, comprising:
 a medical imaging modality for producing a reference set of medical images of the subject or a portion thereof, wherein the reference set of medical images comprises a plurality of reference set images and wherein the reference medical images comprise data received from the subject's tissue and for producing a data set of medical images, wherein the data set of medical images comprises a plurality of data set images, and wherein the data set of medical images comprises contrast data received from a medical imaging contrast agent administered to the subject and data received from the subject's tissue; and   a processor for comparing at least one data set image to a plurality of reference set images to identify a data-reference image pair, wherein the data-reference image pair is identified based on the similarity of tissue data of the reference image relative to the tissue data of the data image and for subtracting the reference image from the data image of the data-reference image pair to create the enhanced medical image.   
     
     
         61 . The system of  claim 60 , further comprising a computer readable medium having computer readable program code for comparing at least one data set image to a plurality of reference set images to identify a data-reference image pair, wherein the data-reference image pair is identified based on the similarity of tissue data of the reference image relative to the tissue data of the data image and for subtracting the reference image from the data image of the data-reference image pair to create the enhanced medical image. 
     
     
         62 . A system for producing an enhanced medical image of a subject, comprising:
 means for creating an area of increased image contrast in the subject;   a medical imaging modality for producing a reference set of medical images of the subject or a portion thereof, wherein the reference set of medical images comprises a plurality of reference set images and for producing a data set of medical images of the subject or a portion thereof, wherein the data set of medical images comprises a plurality of data set images, each data set image comprising data received from the area of increased contrast; and a processor for comparing at least one data set image to a plurality of reference set images to identify a data-reference image pair, wherein the data-reference image pair comprises the reference set image that has the smallest difference error as to the data set image versus the other compared reference set images and for subtracting the reference image of the data-reference image pair from the data image of the data-reference image pair to create the enhanced medical image.   
     
     
         63 . The system of  claim 62 , further comprising a computer readable medium having computer readable program code for comparing at least one data set image to a plurality of reference set images to identify a data-reference image pair, wherein the data-reference image pair is identified based on the similarity of tissue data of the reference image relative to the tissue data of the data image and for subtracting the reference image from the data image of the data-reference image pair to create the enhanced medical image.