Systems and methods for imaging of an anatomical structure

Abstract

Systems and method for optical imaging of an animal include a body conforming animal mold, which is shaped and sized to hold an animal in an immobilized and geometrically defined position and a gantry, which can include multiple optical mirrors to provide for simultaneous imaging of multiple different views of an animal within a body conforming animal mold.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A system for providing reproducible imaging results indicative of an in vivo experimental result, the imaging results for presentation via a display unit, the system comprising:
 an image receiver configured to receive first image data and second image data;   a data store including a plurality of position definitions, wherein a first position definition identifies, for an animal subject imaged at a first time while in a first position, a first location for an anatomical feature at the first time, and wherein a second position definition identifies, for an animal subject imaged at a second time while in a second position, a second location for the anatomical feature at the second time;
 a position detector configured to:
 identify the first position definition for processing the first image data based on the first image data; and 
 identify the second position definition for processing the second image data, based on the second image data; and 
 
 an image processor configured to:
 receive a processing protocol identifying a comparison for image data and an associated result based thereon, the comparison indicating one or more locations of input image data to compare and how to compare the indicated input image data, the associated result indicating an output imaging result to provide for a comparison result; 
 extract a portion of the first image data from the first location of the first image data; 
 extract a portion of the second image data from the second location of the second image data; 
 generate comparison data according to the comparison identified in the processing protocol using image data at the one or more locations identified by the comparison from the first portion of the first image data and the second portion of the second image data; 
 generate an imaging result according to the processing protocol using the comparison data; and 
 cause presentation of the imaging result via the display unit. 
 
   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the image receiver is further configured to receive the first image data from a first sensing device. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the image receiver is further configured to receive the second image data from a second sensing device. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the animal subject imaged at the first time is an animal test subject, and wherein the animal subject imaged at the second time is the animal test subject. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the first location identifies one or more pixel locations for the anatomical feature shown in the first image data,   the second location identifies one or more pixel locations for the anatomical feature shown in the second image data, and   the one or more locations of input image data indicated by the comparison comprise one or more pixel locations.   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the image processor is further configured to generate the imaging result by comparing, using the processing protocol, first pixel values at the one or more pixel locations of the anatomical feature shown in the first image data with second pixel values at the one or more pixel locations of the anatomical feature shown in the second image data. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the first location identifies one or more voxel locations for the anatomical feature shown in the first image data, wherein the second location identifies one or more voxel locations for the anatomical feature shown in the second image data, and wherein the one or more locations of input image data indicated by the comparison comprise one or more voxel locations. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the image processor is further configured to generate the imaging result by comparing, using the processing protocol, first voxel values at the one or more voxel locations of the anatomical feature shown in the first image data with second voxel values at the one or more voxel locations of the anatomical feature shown in the second image data. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the position detector is further configured to identify the first position by detecting, within the first image data, an identifiable mark associated with the first position. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the identifiable mark is identified on a mold in which the animal subject was placed to capture the first image data, at least a portion of the mold being shown in the first image data. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising an imaging controller configured to:
 receive, from an imaging device, information at a third time identifying the animal subject to be imaged;   identify a third position definition for the animal subject, the third position definition identifying, for the animal subject imaged while in a third position, a third location for the anatomical feature;   generate a configuration command indicating sensor parameters for imaging the animal subject using the third position definition and the processing protocol; and   transmit the configuration command to the imaging device.   
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the imaging controller is further configured to generate the configuration command using imaging results for the animal subject stored before the third time. 
     
     
         33 . An image processing system comprising:
 an image receiver configured to receive image data from an imaging device;   a data store including a plurality of position definitions, wherein each position definition identifies, for a given subject imaged while in a position, a location for an anatomical feature of the subject;   a position detector configured to identify, using the image data received from the imaging device, the position definition for the image data; and   an image processor configured to generate an imaging result using a portion of the image data at the location for the anatomical feature identified by the position definition.   
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein:
 the image data comprises first image data and second image data,   the plurality of position definitions comprises:
 a first position definition that identifies, for a given subject imaged at a first time while in a first position, a first location for an anatomical feature at the first time, and 
 a second position definition that identifies, for a given subject imaged at a second time while in a second position, a second location for the anatomical feature at the second time, 
   the first location identifies one or more pixel locations for the anatomical feature shown in the first image data,   the second location identifies one or more pixel locations for the anatomical feature shown in the second image data, and the image processor is further configured to generate the imaging result by comparing first pixel values at the one or more pixel locations of the anatomical feature shown in the first image data with second pixel values at the one or more pixel locations of the anatomical feature shown in the second image data.   
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein:
 the image data comprises first image data and second image data,   the plurality of position definitions comprises:
 a first position definition that identifies, for a given subject imaged at a first time while in a first position, a first location for an anatomical feature at the first time, and 
 a second position definition that identifies, for a given subject imaged at a second time while in a second position, a second location for the anatomical feature at the second time, 
   the first location identifies one or more voxel locations for the anatomical feature shown in the first image data,   the second location identifies one or more voxel locations for the anatomical feature shown in the second image data, and the image processor is further configured to generate the imaging result by comparing, using the processing protocol, first voxel values at the one or more voxel locations of the anatomical feature shown in the first image data with second voxel values at the one or more voxel locations of the anatomical feature shown in the second image data.   
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the position detector is further configured to identify the position by detecting, within the image data, an identifiable mark associated with the position. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the identifiable mark is identified on a positioning assembly in which the given subject was placed to capture the image data, at least a portion of the positioning assembly being shown in the image data. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the image data comprises non-optical image data. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the imaging device is configured to capture image data of the given subject while the given subject is positioned within an optically transparent animal mold. 
     
     
         40 . A computer implemented method comprising:
 receiving a plurality of position definitions, wherein a position definition identifies, for a given subject imaged while in a position, a location for an anatomical feature of the subject;   receiving image data from an imaging device;   identifying, using the image data received from the imaging device, the position definition for the image data; and   generating an imaging result using a portion of the image data at the location for the anatomical feature identified by the position definition.