What is claimed is:
1. A method for displaying active symbols in an interactive navigation interface, said method comprising:
displaying a graphic feature on a display element, said graphic feature representing a category;
displaying, on said display element at a first magnification level, a first number of active map items from said category, said first number of active map items being displayed on or proximate to said graphic feature; and
displaying, on said display element at a second magnification level, a second number of active map items from said category, said second number of active map items being displayed on or proximate to said graphic feature.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein:
said second magnification level corresponds to a higher magnification of said graphic feature, relative to said first magnification level; and
said second number of active map items is greater than said first number of active map items.
3. A method according to claim 1, wherein;
said second magnification level corresponds to a higher magnification of said graphic feature, relative to said first magnification level; and
said first number of active map items is a subset of said second number of active map items.
4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising displaying on said display element, on or proximate to said graphic feature, indicia representing said category.
5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:
displaying, on said display element, a map upon which said graphic feature is rendered; and
panning across said map in response to a directional control signal.
6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:
displaying, on said display element, a map upon which said graphic feature is rendered; and
magnifying said map in response to a magnification control signal.
7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:
displaying, on said display element, a map upon which said graphic feature is rendered; and
re-centering a visible portion of said map in response to a centering control signal.
8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:
displaying a second graphic feature on said display element, said second graphic feature representing a second category; and
displaying, on said display element, a number of active map items from said second category, said number of active map items from said second category being displayed on or proximate to said second graphic feature.
9. A method according to claim 1, wherein:
said category represents a programming genre; and
said first number of active map items identify specific providers of content related to said programming genre.
10. A method according to claim 1, wherein:
said category represents a programming genre; and
said first number of active map items identify specific programs related to said programming genre.
11. An interactive navigation interface for displaying a number of active symbols, comprising:
a display element configured to display a plurality of map items;
a first subset of said map items rendered on said display element as active map items at a first hierarchical level; and
a second subset of said map items rendered on said display as active map items at a second hierarchical level; wherein a prioritization metric determines said first and second subsets.
12. An interactive navigation interface according to claim 11, further comprising a subset of said map items rendered on said display element as inactive map items at said first hierarchical level.
13. An interactive navigation interface according to claim 12, wherein said inactive map items are rendered on said display element in a visually distinguishable manner relative to said active map items.
14. An interactive navigation interface according to claim 11, wherein said second subset includes said first subset of map items.
15. An interactive navigation interface according to claim 11, wherein said first subset is a proper subset of said map items.
16. An interactive navigation interface according to claim 11, wherein said first and second hierarchical levels respectively correspond to relatively low and high magnification levels.
17. An interactive navigation interface according to claim 11, wherein said prioritization metric is based on the frequency of selection of said map items by a user.
18. A method for displaying active symbols in an interactive navigation interface, said method comprising:
displaying a graphic feature on a display element, said graphic feature representing a category;
displaying, on said display element, a first number of active map items from said category, said first number of active map items being displayed on or proximate to a first area of said graphic feature, said first area representing a first subcategory; and
displaying, on said display element, a second number of active map items from said category, said second number of active map items being displayed on or proximate to a second area of said graphic feature, said second area representing a second subcategory.
19. A method according to claim 18, further comprising displaying on said display element, on or proximate to said first area of said graphic feature, indicia representing said first subcategory.
20. A method according to claim 18, further comprising:
displaying, on said display element, a map upon which said graphic feature is rendered; and
magnifying said map in response to a magnification control signal.
21. A method according to claim 18, further comprising:
displaying a second graphic feature on said display element, said second graphic feature representing a second category; and
displaying, on said display element, a number of active map items from said second category, said number of active map items from said second category being displayed on or proximate to said second graphic feature.
22. A method according to claim 18, wherein:
said category represents a programming genre;
said first and second subcategories represent first and second programming sub-genres, respectively;
said first number of active map items identify specific providers of content related to said first programming sub-genre; and
said second number of active map items identify specific providers of content related to said second programming sub-genre.
23. A method according to claim 18, wherein:
said category represents a programming genre;
said first and second subcategories represent first and second programming sub-genres, respectively;
said first number of active map items identify specific programs related to said first programming sub-genre; and
said second number of active map items identify specific programs related to said second programming sub-genre.
24. An interactive navigation interface for displaying a number of active symbols, comprising:
a display element;
a graphic feature rendered on said display element, said graphic feature representing a category;
a first number of active map items from said category, said first number of active map items being rendered on said display element on or proximate to a first area of said graphic feature, said first area representing a first subcategory; and
a second number of active map items from said category, said second number of active map items being rendered on or proximate to a second area of said graphic feature, said second area representing a second subcategory.
25. An interactive navigation interface according to claim 24, further comprising:
a second graphic feature rendered on said display element, said second graphic feature representing a second category; and
a number of active map items from said second category, said number of active map items from said second category being rendered on said display element on or proximate to said second graphic feature.
26. An interactive navigation interface according to claim 24, wherein:
said category represents a programming genre;
said first and second subcategories represent first and second programming sub-genres, respectively;
said first number of active map items identify specific providers of content related to said first programming sub-genre; and
said second number of active map items identify specific providers of content related to said second programming sub-genre.
27. An interactive navigation interface according to claim 24, wherein:
said category represents a programming genre;
said first and second subcategories represent first and second programming sub-genres, respectively;
said first number of active map items identify specific programs related to said first programming sub-genre; and
said second number of active map items identify specific programs related to said second programming sub-genre.
28. An interactive navigation interface for displaying a number of active symbols, comprising:
a display element;
a graphic feature rendered on said display element, said graphic feature representing a category;
a first number of active map items from said category, said first number of active map items being rendered on said display element at a first magnification level on or proximate to said graphic feature; and
a second number of active map items from said category, said second number of active map items being rendered on said display element at a second magnification level on or proximate to said graphic feature.
29. An interactive navigation interface according to claim 28, wherein:
said second magnification level corresponds to a higher magnification of said graphic feature, relative to said first magnification level; and
said first number of active map items is a subset of said second number of active map items.
30. An interactive navigation interface according to claim 28, further comprising indicia representing said category, said indicia being rendered on said display element on or proximate to said graphic feature.
31. An interactive navigation interface according to claim 28, further comprising:
a second graphic feature rendered on said display element, said second graphic feature representing a second category; and
a number of active map items from said second category, said number of active map items from said second category being rendered on said display element on or proximate to said second graphic feature.
32. An interactive navigation interface according to claim 28, wherein:
said category represents a programming genre; and
said first number of active map items identify specific providers of content related to said programming genre.
33. An interactive navigation interface according to claim 28, wherein:
said category represents a programming genre; and
said first number of active map items identify specific programs related to said programming genre.
34. An interactive navigation interface for displaying a number of active symbols, comprising:
a display element;
a graphic feature rendered on said display element, said graphic feature representing a category;
a first subcategory identifier rendered on said display element at a first hierarchical level, said first subcategory identifier being displayed on or proximate to a first area of said graphic feature; and
a second subcategory identifier rendered on said display element at a second hierarchical level, said second subcategory identifier being displayed on or proximate to a second area of said graphic feature; wherein
a prioritization metric determines the hierarchical order of display of said first and second subcategory identifiers.
35. A method for displaying active symbols in an interactive navigation interface, said method comprising:
displaying a graphic feature on a display element, said graphic feature representing a category;
displaying a first subcategory identifier on said display element at a first hierarchical level, said first subcategory identifier being displayed on or proximate to a first area of said graphic feature; and
displaying a second subcategory identifier on said display element at a second hierarchical level, said second subcategory identifier being displayed on or proximate to a second area of said graphic feature; wherein
a prioritization metric determines the hierarchical order of display of said first and second subcategories.
36. A method for displaying active symbols in an interactive navigation interface, said method comprising:
displaying a number of active map items on a display element, each of said active map items having at least one variable characteristic associated therewith, and each of said active map items corresponding to an information source;
highlighting a selected active map item in response to a user activation command; and
altering said at least one variable characteristic of said selected active map item in response to current operating conditions related to the information source corresponding to said selected active map item.
37. A method according to claim 36, wherein said highlighting step comprises changing the appearance of said selected active map item.
38. A method according to claim 36, wherein said altering step comprises altering an appearance characteristic of said selected active map item.
39. A method according to claim 38, wherein said altering step comprises altering at least one of a size characteristic, a shape characteristic, a color characteristic, a design characteristic, and an orientation characteristic.
40. A method according to claim 36, wherein:
said information source comprises a content provider that communicates data to a user of said display element; and
said altering step alters said at least one variable characteristic of said selected active map item in response to a current quality of service metric.
41. A method according to claim 36, wherein:
said information source comprises a content provider that communicates data to a user of said display element; and
said altering step alters said at least one variable characteristic of said selected active map item in response to a current broadcasting status of said content provider.
42. A method according to claim 36, wherein:
said information source comprises a content provider that communicates data to a user of said display element; and
said altering step alters said at least one variable characteristic of said selected active map item in response to a service condition associated with said content provider.
43. A method according to claim 36, wherein:
said information source comprises a content provider that communicates data to a user of said display element;
said selected active map item corresponds to a specific program provided by said content provider; and
said altering step alters said at least one variable characteristic of said selected active map item in response to programming information associated with said specific program.
44. A method for displaying active symbols in an interactive navigation interface, said method comprising:
displaying a number of active map items on a display element;
locating, on said display element, a selected active map item; and
displaying, on said display element, a guidance indicator for at least one of said active map items other than said selected active map item.
45. An interactive navigation interface comprising:
a navigation map rendered in a display window, said navigation map comprising a graphic feature representing a category;
a number of active map items rendered on said navigation map, each of said active map items representing content accessible through said interactive navigation interface; and
a number of inactive map items rendered on said navigation map.
46. An interactive navigation interface according to claim 45, further comprising a navigation tool for said navigation map, said navigation tool generating a directional shift request that causes a rendering of said navigation map to shift in accordance with a selected direction.
47. An interactive navigation interface according to claim 45, further comprising a zoom tool for said navigation map, said zoom tool generating a zoom request that causes a rendering of said navigation map to become more or less detailed.
48. An interactive navigation interface according to claim 45, further comprising an activation element that initiates presentment of content represented by a selected one of said active map items.
49. An interactive navigation interface according to claim 45, further comprising a preview element configured to present content represented by a selected one of said active map items.
50. An interactive navigation interface according to claim 45, further comprising a map item information element for said navigation map, said map item information element containing data relating to a currently selected active map item.
51. An interactive navigation interface according to claim 45, further comprising a content description element for said navigation map, said content description element containing data relating to content associated with a currently selected active map item.
52. An interactive navigation interface according to claim 45, further comprising a guidance indicator rendered in conjunction with a currently selected map item, said guidance indicator identifying a neighboring map item, where said neighboring map item can be selected with a directional key corresponding to said guidance indicator.
53. An interactive navigation interface according to claim 45, further comprising a time-shifting element for said navigation map, said time-shifting element generating a time-shifting request that causes a rendering of said navigation map corresponding to a selected time slot.
54. An interactive navigation interface according to claim 53, wherein said time-shifting element comprises a plurality of components representing different time slots.
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. A method of estimating a parameter of physiological significance, the method comprising:
(a) providing one or more images of a tissue in a subject to whom a dose of a contrast agent (CA) has been administered; and
(b) determining, using a computer equipped with image processing software, the concentration or relative concentration of the agent in a region or regions of interest in the tissue, thereby generating concentration data;
(c) describing the time-based behavior of concentrations of CA within the tissue using a pharmacokinetic model that is based on a set of pharmacokinetic model parameters; and
(d) fitting, using computer code, the pharmacokinetic model to the concentration data, varying one or more parameters, wherein the best fit estimates a parameter of physiological significance.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the contrast agent includes a positron- or gamma-emitting isotope.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the positron- or gamma-emitting isotope is 68Ga, 18F, 89Zr, 64Cu, 86Y, 124I, 123I, 99mTc, 125I, 111In, 67Cu, or 177Lu.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the contrast agent comprises paramagnetic or superparamagnetic material.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the paramagnetic or superparamagnetic material is gadolinium, iron oxide, iron platinum, or manganese.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the contrast agent comprises a fluorescent probe.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more images were generated by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), positron emission tomography (PET), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), detecting fluorescence, or a combination thereof.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the pharmacokinetic model for performing the analysis is a distributed model.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the distributed model is based on the Krogh cylinder given by the following equations:
\u2202
C
\u2202
t
=
D
\ue89e
\u2207
2
\ue89e
C
–
k
on
\u025b
\ue8a0
C
\ue8a0
Ag
+
k
off
\ue8a0
B
\u2202
B
\u2202
t
=
k
on
\u025b
\ue8a0
C
\ue8a0
Ag
–
k
off
\ue8a0
B
–
k
e
,
B
\ue8a0
B
\u2202
Ag
\u2202
t
=
R
s
–
k
on
\u025b
\ue8a0
C
\ue8a0
Ag
+
k
off
\ue8a0
B
–
k
e
,
Ag
\ue8a0
Ag
\u2202
I
\u2202
t
=
k
e
B
}
–
k
resid
\ue8a0
I
\u2202
C
\u2202
r
\ue89e
|
r
=
R
=
0
\ue89e
–
D
\ue89e
\u2202
C
\u2202
r
\ue89e
|
r
=
R
cap
=
P
\ue8a0
(
C
p
–
C
\u025b
)
\ue89e
C
\ue89e
|
t
=
0
=
0
\ue89e
B
\ue89e
|
t
=
0
=
0
\ue89e
Ag
\ue89e
|
t
=
0
=
Ag
0
\ue89e
I
\ue89e
|
t
=
0
=
0
wherein \u22002 denotes the Laplacian in cylindrical coordinates, C denotes the free CA concentration, B denotes the bound CAantigen concentration, Ag denotes the unbound antigen concentration, I denotes the concentration of intracellular CA, D denotes the CA diffusion coefficient in tissue, kon denotes the CAantigen association rate constant, koff denotes the CAantigen dissociation rate constant, \u03b5 denotes the CA void fraction in the tissue, ke,B denotes the internalization rate constant of the CAantigen bound complex, ke,Ag denotes the internalization rate constant of the antigen, kresid denotes the rate of release of CA or CA signal from the intracellular compartment, RS denotes the antigen synthesis rate, R denotes the Krogh cylinder radius, Rcap denotes the capillary radius, P denotes the tumor capillary permeability, Ag0 denotes the initial antigen density, and CP denotes the plasma concentration of the contrast agent as a function of time, also sometimes called an arterial input function.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the parameter of physiological significance is the contrast agent affinity KD, the Krogh cylinder radius R, the CAantigen bound complex internalization rate ke,B, and the antigen concentration AgT=Ag+B, wherein KD represents the ratio of the dissociation rate koff to the association rate kon of contrast agentantigen binding, R represents the capillary to capillary half-distance (a measure of tumor vascularity), ke,B represents the internalization rate of CA into the intracellular space, and AgT represents the concentration of target antigen in the tumor.
11. A method detecting a malignant lesion in a subject, the method comprising:
(a) providing one or more images of a subject to whom a dose of contrast agent (CA) has been administered;
(b) identifying a lesion candidate based on the acquired image or images;
(c) determining, using a computer equipped with image processing software, the concentration or relative concentration of the CA in a region of interest in the tissue, thereby generating concentration data;
(d) describing the time-based behavior of concentrations of the CA within the subject using a pharmacokinetic model that is based on a set of pharmacokinetic model parameters;
(e) fitting, using computer code, the pharmacokinetic model to the concentration data, varying one or more parameters wherein the best fit estimates a parameter or parameters of physiological significance; and
(f) determining whether the lesion candidate is a malignant lesion based on the concentration data and the estimated parameter or parameters of physiological significance.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the pharmacokinetic model for performing the analysis is a distributed model.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the distributed model is based on the Krogh cylinder given by the following equations:
\u2202
C
\u2202
t
=
D
\ue89e
\u2207
2
\ue89e
C
–
k
on
\u025b
\ue8a0
C
\ue8a0
Ag
+
k
off
\ue8a0
B
\u2202
B
\u2202
t
=
k
on
\u025b
\ue8a0
C
\ue8a0
Ag
–
k
off
\ue8a0
B
–
k
e
,
B
\ue8a0
B
\u2202
Ag
\u2202
t
=
R
s
–
k
on
\u025b
\ue8a0
C
\ue8a0
Ag
+
k
off
\ue8a0
B
–
k
e
,
Ag
\ue8a0
Ag
\u2202
I
\u2202
t
=
k
e
B
}
–
k
resid
\ue8a0
I
\u2202
C
\u2202
r
\ue89e
|
r
=
R
=
0
\ue89e
–
D
\ue89e
\u2202
C
\u2202
r
\ue89e
|
r
=
R
cap
=
P
\ue8a0
(
C
p
–
C
\u025b
)
\ue89e
C
\ue89e
|
t
=
0
=
0
\ue89e
B
\ue89e
|
t
=
0
=
0
\ue89e
Ag
\ue89e
|
t
=
0
=
Ag
0
\ue89e
I
\ue89e
|
t
=
0
=
0
wherein \u22002 denotes the Laplacian in cylindrical coordinates, C denotes the free CA concentration, B denotes the bound CAantigen concentration, Ag denotes the unbound antigen concentration, I denotes the concentration of intracellular CA, D denotes the CA diffusion coefficient in tissue, kon denotes the CAantigen association rate constant, koff denotes the CAantigen dissociation rate constant, \u03b5 denotes the CA void fraction in the tissue, ke,B denotes the internalization rate constant of the CAantigen bound complex, ke,Ag denotes the internalization rate constant of the antigen, kresid denotes the rate of release of CA or CA signal from the intracellular compartment, RS denotes the antigen synthesis rate, R denotes the Krogh cylinder radius, Rcap denotes the capillary radius, P denotes the tumor capillary permeability, Ag0 denotes the initial antigen density, and CP denotes the plasma concentration of the contrast agent as a function of time, also sometimes called an arterial input function.
14. The method of claim 11, where the parameter of physiological significance is the contrast agent affinity KD, the Krogh cylinder radius R, the CAantigen bound complex internalization rate ke,B, and the antigen concentration AgT=Ag+B, wherein KD represents the ratio of the dissociation rate koff to the association rate kon of contrast agentantigen binding, R represents the capillary to capillary half-distance, which is a measure of tumor vascularity, ke,B represents the internalization rate of CA into the intracellular space, and AgT represents the concentration of target antigen in the tumor.
15. A computer system comprising: a processor; and a program storage device readable by the computer system, embodying a program instructions executable by the processor to perform method steps for performing pharmacokinetic analysis in image(s), the method comprising:
(a) providing one or more images of a subject to whom a contrast agent (CA) has been administered;
(b) identifying a lesion candidate based on the one or more images;
(c) determining, using a computer equipped with image processing software, the concentration or relative concentration of the CA in a region of interest in the tissue, thereby generating concentration data;
(d) describing the time-based behavior of concentrations of CA within the subject using a pharmacokinetic model that is based on a set of pharmacokinetic model parameters; and
(e) fitting, using computer code, the pharmacokinetic model to the concentration data, varying one or more parameters, wherein the best fit estimates a parameter or parameters of physiological significance.
16. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the pharmacokinetic model for performing pharmacokinetic analysis is a distributed model.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the distributed model is based on the Krogh cylinder given by the following equations:
C|t=0=0
B|t=0=0
Ag|t=0=Ag0
I|t=0=0
wherein \u22002 denotes the Laplacian in cylindrical coordinates, C denotes the free CA concentration, B denotes the bound CAantigen concentration, Ag denotes the unbound antigen concentration, I denotes the concentration of intracellular CA, D denotes the CA diffusion coefficient in tissue, kon denotes the CAantigen association rate constant, koff denotes the CAantigen dissociation rate constant, \u03b5 denotes the CA void fraction in the tissue, ke,B denotes the internalization rate constant of the CAantigen bound complex, ke,Ag denotes the internalization rate constant of the antigen, kresid denotes the rate of release of CA or CA signal from the intracellular compartment, RS denotes the antigen synthesis rate, R denotes the Krogh cylinder radius, Rcap denotes the capillary radius, P denotes the tumor capillary permeability, Ag0 denotes the initial antigen density, and CP denotes the plasma concentration of the contrast agent as a function of time, also sometimes called an arterial input function.
18. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the one or more parameters of physiological significance are the contrast agent affinity KD, the Krogh cylinder radius R, the CAantigen bound complex internalization rate ke,B, and the antigen concentration AgT=Ag+B, wherein KD represents the ratio of the dissociation rate koff to the association rate kon of contrast agentantigen binding, R represents the capillary to capillary half-distance, which is a measure of tumor vascularity, ke,B represents the internalization rate of CA into the intracellular space, and AgT represents the concentration of target antigen in the tumor.