Synchronizing Prone and Supine CT Colonography Landmarks

The patent introduces a computer-based landmark synchronization system as an intermediary between the prone and supine image sets. The system automatically identifies corresponding anatomical landmarks in both image sets and establishes spatial relationships, serving as a mediator that guides the interpreter's attention to relevant areas without requiring manual comparison of all images. This reduces interpretation time while maintaining or improving polyp detection accuracy.

The patent creates a virtual copy of the prone image set's spatial relationships and overlays it onto the supine image set through landmark-based registration. By copying the anatomical landmark positions and spatial configurations from one view to another, the system enables rapid comparison without requiring the interpreter to manually examine each image, thereby reducing time loss while improving detection precision.

The patent performs preliminary landmark identification and spatial relationship establishment during the image acquisition and preprocessing phase. By pre-identifying key anatomical landmarks and calculating their spatial relationships before the actual polyp detection task, the system reduces the complexity of the main detection process. The landmark synchronization is prepared in advance, allowing the interpreter to benefit from precise alignment without dealing with the computational complexity during interpretation.

The patent implements an automated landmark detection and synchronization system that performs the complex alignment task without requiring manual intervention. The system automatically identifies anatomical landmarks, establishes correspondences between prone and supine views, and adjusts image registration based on detected landmark positions. This self-service approach handles the complexity internally while presenting a simplified interface to the user.