Complementary color flashing for multichannel image presentation
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Publication Number
US-10278586-B2
Publication Date
2019-05-07
Expiration Date
Abstract
Methods are provided for the highlighting of features in composite images through the alternating of images having complementary colors. An image having a feature of interest is used to generate one or more pseudo color images. A series of a pseudo color images and one or more additional pseudo color or original color images are then alternately displayed so that the differently colored regions among the series of images are easily recognizable to an operator. The differently colored regions differ in having hues that are complementary to one another. The methods are particularly useful for the display of information using two or more imaging modalities and channels, such as is the case for some medical applications in which a natural-light image of pink or light-red tissue with deeper red or blue vasculature is overlaid with another functional image. In these cases, a feature present in the functional image can be more easily perceived when displayed in a composite overlay with an underlying image from another imaging modality or channel.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a method of displaying composite images using complementary-color flashing for multimodal and multichannel image presentation. A first image with original color is used to generate false-color variants by replacing the original color with a first false color having a first hue and with a second false color having a second hue that is complementary to the first hue.
In composite display embodiments, the method overlays the generated false-color images with a second image to construct overlay images. The method alternately displays the overlay images, and this alternation is described in terms of visual system dynamics and photoreceptor refreshment concepts to support the alternately displayed complementary overlays.
The disclosed approach is applied to medical imaging overlays, including fluorescence on reflected-light image overlays and PET/SPECT over anatomical imaging. The document further discusses embodiments with minimum/maximum color value range constraints for false-color values, as well as optional operator control over parameters including frequency and viewpoint.
Claims Coverage
The document includes three independent claims, each centered on generating complementary false-color variants of an original-color first image and alternately displaying the resulting images, with some claims additionally covering overlay composition with a second image.
Alternating complementary false-color overlays for composite images
Receiving a first image comprising an original color and representing a view from a viewpoint; acquiring a second image representing a view from the viewpoint; generating a third image by replacing the original color of the first image with a first false color having a first hue; producing a fourth image by replacing the original color of the first image with a second false color having a second hue that is complementary to the first hue; rendering a fifth image by overlaying the third image and the second image; constructing a sixth image by overlaying the fourth image and the second image; and alternately displaying the fifth and sixth images.
Alternating complementary false-color images
Receiving a first image comprising an original color and representing a view from a viewpoint; generating a second image by replacing the original color of the first image with a first false color having a first hue; producing a third image by replacing the original color of the first image with a second false color having a second hue that is complementary to the first hue; and alternately displaying the second and third images.
Alternating complementary false-color overlays with original-color overlay
Receiving a first image comprising an original color having a first hue and representing a view from a viewpoint; acquiring a second image representing a view from the viewpoint; generating a third image by replacing the original color of the first image with a false color having a second hue that is complementary to the first hue; rendering a fourth image by overlaying the third image and the second image; constructing a fifth image by overlaying the first image and the second image; and alternately displaying the fourth and fifth images.
Across the independent claims, the core claim coverage is the use of complementary hues by generating false-color variants from an original-color first image and alternately displaying images constructed from complementary false-color overlay combinations, optionally with overlaying a second image and with dependent claim refinements for color value range constraints, frequency, and operator input for frequency and viewpoint.
Stated Advantages
Improves operator perception.
Reduces interpretive errors.
Documented Applications
Medical imaging overlays, including fluorescence on reflected-light image overlays.
Medical imaging overlays including PET/SPECT on anatomical imaging.
Multimodal and multichannel composite image presentation.
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