System and method for image registration

Abstract

A system and method for providing processable data associated with anatomical images may provide a user interface including a pivot and stem tool via which to align multiple images, a flashlight bar for viewing portions of an overlaid image, and/or user-movable markers for establishing a location of one or more anatomical landmarks with regions of one or more images.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method for providing a user interface for at least one of showing and setting relative positions of objects, the method comprising:
 displaying a flashlight object in a display area;   displaying a first portion of a first object in a first region of the display area that extends in a predefined manner from the flashlight object; and   displaying a first portion of a second object in one or more second regions of the display area that do not extend in the predefined manner from the flashlight object.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein (a) positions of the first and second objects relative to each other, and (b) the portion of one of the first and second object being displayed in the display area, are modifiable in response to a same user interaction within the display area. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the modifiability of the relative positions is at least one of rotational and translational. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a size of the flashlight object is user-modifiable, the size modification correspondingly modifying a size of the first region, an amount of the first object that is displayed in the display area, and an amount of the second object that is displayed in the display area. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein graphical protrusions extending from opposite edges of the flashlight object are user-shiftable towards a center of the flashlight object and away from the center of the flashlight object, for, respectively, decreasing the size of the flashlight object and increasing the size of the flashlight object. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first region is a column that extends from an edge of the flashlight object. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second objects are different images of a same anatomical region. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the different images are of different imaging modalities. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein a first one of the images is of one type selected from a group of imaging types consisting of magnetic resonance (MR), computed tomography (CT), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), positron emission tomography (PET), and Fluoroscopy, and a second one of the images is of another type selected from the group of imaging types. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein a first one of the images is a first type of magnetic resonance (MR) image and a second one of the images is a second type of MR image. 
     
     
         11 . A system for providing a user interface for at least one of showing and setting relative positions of objects, the system comprising:
 a computer processor configured to:
 display a flashlight object in a display area; 
 display a first portion of a first object in a first region of the display area that extends in a predefined manner from the flashlight object; and 
 display a first portion of a second object in one or more second regions of the display area that do not extend in the predefined manner from the flashlight object. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the flashlight object is user-shiftable to shift the first region, thereby responsively:
 bringing into view a second portion of the first object;   removing from view at least a part of the first portion of the first object;   bringing into view a second portion of the second object; and   removing from view at least a part of the first portion of the second object.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein (a) positions of the first and second objects relative to each other, and (b) the portion of one of the first and second object being displayed in the display area, are modifiable in response to a same user interaction within the display area. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the modifiability of the relative positions is rotational and translational. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein a size of the flashlight object is user-modifiable, the size modification correspondingly modifying a size of the first region, an amount of the first object that is displayed in the display area, and an amount of the second object that is displayed in the display area. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein graphical protrusions extending from opposite edges of the flashlight object are user-shiftable towards a center of the flashlight object and away from the center of the flashlight object, for, respectively, decreasing the size of the flashlight object and increasing the size of the flashlight object. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the first region is a column extending from an edge of the flashlight object. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second objects are different images of a same anatomical region. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the different images are of different imaging modalities. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein a first one of the images is of one type selected from a group of imaging types including magnetic resonance (MR), computed tomography (CT), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), positron emission tomography (PET), and Fluoroscopy, and second one of the images is of another type selected from the group of imaging types. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein a first one of the images is a first type of magnetic resonance (MR) image and a second one of the images is a second type of MR image. 
     
     
         22 . A system for associating a region with a predefined landmark, the system comprising:
 at least one computer processor configured to:
 display a first two-dimensional plane of a three-dimensional object; 
 display a second two-dimensional plane of the three-dimensional object; 
 display a first user-selectable and shiftable marker associated by the processor with a landmark; and 
 responsive to a user-shift of the first marker to a region of the first two-dimensional plane:
 display a second marker associated with the landmark in a region of the second two-dimensional plane that corresponds to the region of the first two-dimensional plane; and 
 record an association of the landmark with each of the regions.