1. A computer-implemented method of creating a shape collage, the method comprising:
receiving a shape specification signal which specifies at least one desired shape, each desired shape having at least one shape boundary and a shape area;
receiving image data which represents a plurality of images; and
processing the signal and the data to obtain a shape collage of the images which at least partially covers and conforms to the area of the at least one desired shape so that the collage resembles the at least one desired shape, wherein the step of processing includes the steps of:
creating a tree structure of the images wherein images are represented by tree nodes, the tree nodes corresponding to sub-areas in or near the shape area;
processing the tree structure to determine locations for the images based on their position in the tree structure;
evaluating by utilizing at least one coverage predicate whether each image is to be treated as being either within or outside the shape area based on its determined location, removing or hiding at least one image that is evaluated as being outside the shape area and leaving a placeholder node at the location of the at least one removed or hidden image to preserve the tree structure; and
inserting the at least one removed or hidden image back into a portion of the area evaluated as being within the area by finding a tree node in the tree structure that is within the shape area and inserting the at least one removed or hidden image into an adjacent position in the tree structure.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising calculating the at least one coverage predicate and comparing each calculated coverage predicate with a threshold.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one desired shape is non-rectangular.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the images in the shape collage are non-overlapping.
5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein borders between adjacent images in the shape collage are substantially the same.
6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the area of the at least one desired shape is fully covered with the images.
7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of processing includes the step of cropping any images that are positioned outside the at least one desired shape to achieve a more visually defined outline of the at least one desired shape.
8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the images are photographic images.
9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shape specification signal specifies a plurality of desired shapes.
10. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising receiving a command signal to locate a user-specified image essentially or proximately at a desired location in the collage and processing the command signal and the shape collage to create a finished shape collage having the user-specified image essentially or proximately at the desired location to increase visual appeal of the finished shape collage to the user.
11. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising receiving a command signal to resize a user-specified image from an initial size in the collage to a desired size and processing the command signal and the collage to create a finished shape collage having the user-specified image with the desired size to increase visual appeal of the finished shape collage to the user.
12. A system for creating a shape collage, the system comprising:
means for receiving a shape specification signal which specifies at least one desired shape, each desired shape having at least one shape boundary a shape area;
means for receiving image data which represents a plurality of images; and
at least one processor for processing the signal and the image data to obtain a shape collage of the images which at least partially covers and conforms to the area of the at least one desired shape so that the collage resembles the at least one desired shape, wherein the at least one processor creates a tree structure of the images wherein images are represented by tree nodes the tree nodes corresponding to sub-areas in or near the shape area; the at least one processor processes the tree structure to determine locations for the images based on their position in the tree structure; the at least one processor evaluates whether each image is to be treated as within or outside the shape area based on its determined location utilizing at least one coverage predicate and either removes or hides at least one image that is evaluated to be outside the shape area and leaves a placeholder node at the location of the at least one removed or hidden image to preserve the tree structure; and
the at least one processor inserts the at least one removed or hidden image into a portion of the area evaluated as being within the area by finding a tree node in the tree structure that is within the shape area and inserting the at least one removed or hidden image into an adjacent position in the tree structure.
13. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the at least one processor calculates the at least one coverage predicate and compares each calculated coverage predicate with a threshold.
14. The system as claimed in claim 12, further comprising means for receiving a command signal to locate a user-specified image to essentially or proximately at a desired location in the shape collage, the at least one processor processing the command signal and the shape collage to create a finished shape collage having the user-specified image essentially or proximately at the desired location to increase visual appeal of the finished shape collage to the user.
15. The system as claimed in claim 12, further comprising means for receiving a command signal to resize a user-specified image from an initial size in the collage to a desired size, the at least one processor processing the command signal and the shape collage to create a finished shaped collage having the user-specified image with the desired size to increase visual appeal of the finished shape collage to the user.
16. A computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium that stores a set of instructions including instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform steps comprising:
receiving a shape specification signal which specifies at least one desired shape, each desired shape having at least one shape boundary a shape area;
receiving image data which represents a plurality of images; and
processing the shape specification signal and the image data to obtain a shape collage of the images which at least partially cover and conform to the area of the at least one desired shape so that the collage resembles the at least one desired shape, wherein the step of processing includes the steps of:
creating a tree structure of the images wherein images are represented by tree nodes, the tree nodes corresponding to sub-areas in or near the shape area;
processing the tree structure to determine locations for the images based on their position in the tree structure;
evaluating utilizing at least one coverage predicate whether each image is to be treated as within or outside the shape area based on its determined location, removing or hiding at least one image that is evaluated to be outside the shape area and leaving a placeholder node at the location of the at least one removed or hidden image to preserve the tree structure; and
inserting at least one removed or hidden image back into a portion of the area evaluated as being within the area by finding a tree node in the tree structure that is within the shape area and inserting the at least one removed or hidden image into an adjacent position in the tree structure.
17. The medium as claimed in claim 16, wherein the steps further comprise calculating the at least one coverage predicate and comparing each calculated coverage predicate with a threshold.
18. The medium as claimed in claim 16, wherein the steps further comprise receiving a command signal to locate a user-specified image essentially or proximately at a desired location in the shape collage and processing the command signal and the shape collage to create a finished shape collage having the user-specified image essentially or proximately at the desired location to increase visual appeal of the finished shape collage to the user.
19. The medium as claimed in claim 16, wherein the steps further comprise receiving a command signal to resize a user-specified image from an initial size in the collage to a desired size and processing the command signal and the collage to create a finished shape collage having the user-specified image with the desired size to increase visual appeal of the finished shape collage to the user.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An apparatus for percutaneous cardiac ventricular restoration, comprising:
a balloon constructed in size and shape which permit said balloon to be delivered percutaneously to an interior of a ventricle in an unexpanded state, and expanded into an expanded state once said balloon has been delivered to the interior of the ventricle;
a basket integrated with said balloon, said basket adapted to apply an expansion force to said balloon to bias said balloon into said expanded state; and
an anchoring device coupled to said balloon, said anchoring device adapted to anchor said balloon to a ventricular apex without coupling said balloon to a ventricular septum or a ventricular wall.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
said balloon includes a longitudinal axis, and said anchoring device is provided along said longitudinal axis.
3. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
a delivery device having structure which permits it to deliver said balloon in the unexpanded state percutaneously through a blood vessel to the interior of the ventricle.
4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:
said delivery device includes a distal end, said basket is coupled to said distal end of said delivery device, and said delivery device is operable to expand said basket and release said basket from said distal end of said delivery device.
5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
said anchoring device is structured to penetrate at least partially through an apical wall of the heart.
6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
said anchoring device is structured to penetrate completely through an apical wall of the heart.
7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
said balloon is longitudinally asymmetrical when in the expanded state.
8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein:
said balloon is rotationally asymmetrical when in the expanded state.
9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
said balloon is rotationally asymmetrical when in the expanded state.
10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
said basket is self-expanding to the expanded state.
11. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
said interior of said balloon is evacuated when said balloon is in said expanded state.
12. An apparatus for cardiac ventricular restoration of a heart having a ventricular septum, a ventricular wall and a ventricular apex therebetween, comprising:
a delivery device having an inflation lumen, a user-operated proximal end and a distal end;
a rotationally asymmetrical balloon releasably coupled to said distal end of said delivery device, said balloon constructed in a size and shape which permit said balloon to be delivered to an interior of the ventricle in an unexpanded state and being constructed to permit said balloon to be expanded once said balloon has been delivered to the interior of the ventricle;
said balloon having a valve and a coupling device, said coupling device for attachment relative to said inflation lumen for inflating said balloon, and said valve automatically closing to seal said balloon in a fluid-tight manner when said balloon is uncoupled from said distal end of said delivery device; and
an anchoring device coupled to said balloon and having structure adapted to anchor said balloon to the ventricular apex, such that when said delivery device releases said balloon at the interior of the ventricle and said anchoring device is anchored to the ventricular apex, said balloon remains anchored within the ventricle with said valve sealing said balloon in the fluid-tight manner.
13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein:
said structure of said anchoring device anchors said balloon to the ventricular apex without anchoring said balloon to a ventricular septum or ventricular wall.
14. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein:
said balloon in an unexpanded state is sized to be delivered percutaneously into the heart.
15. An apparatus for cardiac ventricular restoration of a heart having a ventricular septum, a ventricular wall and a ventricular apex therebetween, comprising:
an asymmetrical balloon constructed in a size and shape which permit said balloon to be delivered percutaneously to an interior of the ventricle in an unexpanded state and being constructed to permit said balloon to be expanded once said balloon has been delivered to the interior of the ventricle;
an expandable basket to expand the balloon after said balloon is in the interior of the ventricle;
a delivery device having a distal end to which said balloon is releasably coupled, said delivery device able to deliver said balloon in the unexpanded state percutaneously to the ventricular apex; and
an anchoring device coupled to said balloon and having structure adapted to anchor said balloon to the interior of the ventricle at the ventricular apex,
wherein once said balloon is anchored, said delivery device can be operated to release said balloon from said distal end of said delivery device.
16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein:
said structure of said anchoring device permits said balloon to be anchored at the ventricular apex without being anchored to the ventricular septum or the ventricular wall.
17. An apparatus for percutaneous cardiac ventricular restoration, comprising:
a balloon having an interior and constructed in size and shape which permit said balloon to be delivered percutaneously to an interior of a ventricle in an unexpanded state, and expanded into an expanded state once said balloon has been delivered to the interior of the ventricle, said balloon being evacuated of fluid at said interior of said balloon when in the expanded state; and
an anchoring device coupled to said balloon and having structure adapted to anchor said balloon to a ventricular apex without coupling said balloon to a ventricular septum or a ventricular wall.
18. An apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising:
a delivery device having structure which is adapted to deliver said balloon in said unexpanded state percutaneously through a blood vessel to the interior of the ventricle.