System and method for facilitating assessment of the bowel course and facilitation of transition point detection on cross-sectional radiologic digital images by elimination of air-fluid levels during image post-processing.
Novel application of pre-existing flood-fill and thresholding algorithms to radiologic images for the purposes of facilitating and accelerating the task of visual radiologic evaluation of the gastrointestinal tract is presented. This invention facilitates evaluation, in a manner that is useful in the contexts of finding a bowel transition point in cases of suspected bowel obstruction, and for facilitating determination of prior unknown surgical bowel alteration (such as Roux-en-Y, Billroth procedures). The invention processes the radiologic 3D or 4D image set, and aims to eliminate or suppress air-fluid or air-contrast levels within the bowel, thereby presenting the radiologist with bowel lumen that is nearly uniform in shade throughout its course, facilitating tracking along the length of the bowel.
