Medical image analysis

Abstract

A method of analyzing a medical image, the method comprising making a measurement on a 2D medical image of an organ and correcting the measurement in view of an angle of incidence between an imaging instrument and an imaged organ in the 2D medical image.

1 . A medical imaging apparatus comprising:
 (a) interface circuitry adapted to receive a medical image of an organ, wherein the image is acquired by an imaging instrument;   (b) image processing circuitry adapted to estimate one or more dimensions of the imaged organ at least partially based on an angle of incidence between the imaging instrument and the imaged organ.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the angle of incidence is estimated using reference points on the acquired image. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the organ includes at least one bone. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the organ includes at least one joint. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the medical imaging instrument is an X-ray. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus for estimating an angle of incidence from which a 2D medical image was captured; said apparatus comprising:
 (a) interface circuitry adapted to receive a medical image of an organ, wherein the image is acquired by an imaging instrument; and   (b) image processing circuitry adapted to: (i) acquiring a 2D medical image of an organ from a subject; (ii) comparing the acquired image to at least one angle specific 2D model of the organ; (iii) determining a match score between the image and the angle specific 2D model; and (iv) estimating an angle of incidence to the image based upon the match score.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the image processing logic is adapted to compare at least two separate 2D medical images with one another while considering the estimated angle of incidence of each image. 
     
     
         8 . A apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein said image processing logic if further adapted to compare the contralateral organs with one another while considering the estimated angle of incidence of each organ. 
     
     
         9 . A medical image analysis system comprising: (a) an input module adapted to receive an input image of an organ; (b) a digital memory storing a plurality of angle specific 2D organ models, each model characterized by an angle of incidence; and (c) analytic circuitry adapted to estimate an angle of incidence of the input image by comparing the input image to at least two of the plurality angle specific 2D organ models. 
     
     
         10 . A system according to  claim 9 , wherein the input module comprises an image capture device. 
     
     
         11 . A system according to  claim 9 , wherein the analytic circuitry is adapted to detect at least one discrepancy (D) between the input image and a selected angle specific 2D organ model. 
     
     
         12 . A system according to  claim 11 , wherein D suggests a pathologic condition. 
     
     
         13 . A system according to  claim 9 , further comprising a reporting module adapted to generate a report.