The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for evaluating inspiration-level quality of a chest radiographic image, wherein the method includes extracting a lung region from a chest radiographic image, detecting a rib cage from the extracted lung region, analyzing a degree of inspiration when the chest radiographic image is captured, and evaluating quality of the chest radiographic image. It is possible for the present invention to be applied to other embodiments.

The present invention relates to lung measurement. In order to provide enhanced information about a patient that facilitates further assessment steps, 2D X-ray image data of a patient's chest is provided, and the image data is segmented to identify lung structures to provide segmented image data separated from un-segmented areas. Further, spatial lung volume information is extracted from the image data using the segmented image data derived from the image data. Still further, lungs symmetry information is determined using the extracted spatial lung volume information. Finally, the lungs symmetry information is provided to a user. For example, a 2D X-ray image data of a patient's chest is provided (84) and a lungs mask image is formed (86) after the step of segmenting the input image data. Then, the lungs mask image is used to define areas, within which a predetermined adaptation is applied (88) to the original 2D X-ray image data producing a thorax mask image. Next, left and right images are provided (90) showing the left and the right spatial lungs volume information of the regions defined originally by the lungs mask image. Finally, based on the spatial lungs volume information, lungs symmetry information or total lung volumes may be calculated and provided (92).

The present invention relates to lung measurement. In order to provide enhanced information about a patient that facilitates further assessment steps, 2D X-ray image data of a patient's chest is provided, and the image data is segmented to identify lung structures to provide segmented image data separated from un-segmented areas. Further, spatial lung volume information is extracted from the image data using the segmented image data derived from the image data. Still further, lungs symmetry information is determined using the extracted spatial lung volume information. Finally, the lungs symmetry information is provided to a user. For example, a 2D X-ray image data of a patient's chest is provided (84) and a lungs mask image is formed (86) after the step of segmenting the input image data. Then, the lungs mask image is used to define areas, within which a predetermined adaptation is applied (88) to the original 2D X-ray image data producing a thorax mask image. Next, left and right images are provided (90) showing the left and the right spatial lungs volume information of the regions defined originally by the lungs mask image. Finally, based on the spatial lungs volume information, lungs symmetry information or total lung volumes may be calculated and provided (92).

This Invention is directed at the automated analysis of body scanner images. Body scanners are used in airports and other secured facilities to detect weapons, explosives, and other security threats hidden under persons' clothing. These devices use x-rays, millimeter waves and other radiant energy to produce an electronic image of the person's body and any concealed objects. Examination of these images by human analysts is slow, expensive, and subject to privacy concerns. The Invention provides automated analysis of body scanner images by recognizing that human anatomy is bilaterally symmetric to a high degree, while concealed objects are asymmetric. Digital techniques are used to separate the scanned image into its symmetric and asymmetric parts, thereby effectively separating anatomic from non-anatomic image features.

A metrology target may include a first rotationally symmetric working zone with one or more instances of a first pattern and a second rotationally-symmetric working zone with one or more instances of a second pattern, where at least one of the first pattern or the second pattern is a Moiré pattern formed from a first grating structure with a first pitch along a measurement direction on a first sample layer and a second grating structure with a second pitch different than the first pitch along the measurement direction on a second sample layer. Centers of rotational symmetry of the first and second working zones may overlap by design when an overlay error between the first sample layer and the second layer is zero. A difference between the centers of rotational symmetry of the first and second working zones may indicate an overlay error between the first and second sample layers.

Method for locating anomalous features in medical images in which medical images are supplied by an external source. A sequence of specific measurements is executed on the supplied data to obtain image-related metrics. The metrics are compared to corresponding values in a database resulting in an anomalous/not anomalous determination. Anomalous determinations are presented to the test operator for analysis along with supplemental historical data. In application to all types of medical imagery, potential anomalies are located resulting in an efficient and accurate diagnosis. For paired body parts having symmetrical properties, as a pre-screening stage, a line of symmetry between the body parts is determined and symmetric regions of the two body parts on opposite sides of the determined line of symmetry are analyzed for differences. The metric comparison using the database is performed between both symmetric regions only when differences between the symmetric regions of the subject medical image are present.

A method for contact-free axle counting of a vehicle on a road, including a step of reading in first image data and reading in second image data, wherein the first image data and/or the second image data represent image data provided to an interface by an image data recording sensor arranged on a side of the road. The first image data and/or the second image data comprise an image of the vehicle. The first image data and/or the second image data is processed in order to obtain processed first image data and/or processed second image data. By using the first image data and/or the second image data in a substep of detecting, at least one object is detected in the first image data and/or the second image data, and wherein object information is provided representing the object and assigned to the first image data and/or the second image data.

Systems and methods are provided for assessing nasal deviation and symmetry via the processing of facial surface data. Facial surface data may be processed to determine a nasal deviation measure indicative of a lateral deviation between a nasal midline and a facial midplane. The facial surface data may also be processed to determine a measure of nasal symmetry associated with a selected nasal surface region, such as an aesthetic subunit. Nasal deviation and symmetry information based on both measures may then be presented. In some example implementations, a single nasal symmetry measure is generated and present for a given nasal surface region. Reference surface data characterizing a reference symmetrical facial shape and having a defined facial direction relative to a coordinate system may be employed to align the facial surface data prior to the determination of the nasal deviation and nasal symmetry measures.

Systems and methods are provided for assessing nasal deviation and symmetry via the processing of facial surface data. Facial surface data may be processed to determine a nasal deviation measure indicative of a lateral deviation between a nasal midline and a facial midplane. The facial surface data may also be processed to determine a measure of nasal symmetry associated with a selected nasal surface region, such as an aesthetic subunit. Nasal deviation and symmetry information based on both measures may then be presented. In some example implementations, a single nasal symmetry measure is generated and present for a given nasal surface region. Reference surface data characterizing a reference symmetrical facial shape and having a defined facial direction relative to a coordinate system may be employed to align the facial surface data prior to the determination of the nasal deviation and nasal symmetry measures.

Provided is a method of spatially referencing a plurality of images captured from a plurality of different locations within an indoor space by determining the location from which the plurality of images were captured. The method may include obtaining a plurality of distance-referenced panoramas of an indoor space. The distance-referenced panoramas may each include a plurality of distance-referenced images each captured from one position in the indoor space and at a different azimuth from the other distance-referenced images, a plurality of distance measurements, and orientation indicators each indicative of the azimuth of the corresponding one of the distance-referenced images. The method may further include determining the location of each of the distance-referenced panoramas based on the plurality of distance measurements and the orientation indicators and associating in memory the determined locations with the plurality of distance-referenced images captured from the determined location.