TECHNICAL FIELD

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to medical image processing, and more particularly to systems and methods for visualizing placement of a medical tube or line.

BACKGROUND

Medical imaging may be utilized to visualize medically placed tubes or lines (e.g., chest tube, a nasogastric tube, endotracheal tube, vascular line, a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC), a catheter, etc.). However, it may be difficult for medical personnel (e.g., doctor, radiologist, technician, etc.) to visualize these medically placed tubes or lines. In addition, the medical personnel may be untrained or inexperienced, which may hinder their ability to identify the medically placed tube or line and to determine if it is properly placed. Further, medical personnel may have to manually make measurements (which may be time consuming) to determine if a medically placed tube or line is properly placed. However, if a medically placed tube or line is misplaced, fast intervention is needed to move the tube or line to the appropriate location for patient safety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

A summary of certain embodiments disclosed herein is set forth below. It should be understood that these aspects are presented merely to provide the reader with a brief summary of these certain embodiments and that these aspects are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. Indeed, this disclosure may encompass a variety of aspects that may not be set forth below.

In accordance with an embodiment, an image processing system is provided. The image processing system includes a display, a processor, and a memory. The memory stores processor-executable code that when executed by the processor causes receiving an image of a region of interest of a patient with a medical tube or line disposed within the region of interest, detecting the medical tube or line within the image, generating a combined image by superimposing a first graphical marker on the image that indicates an end of the medical tube or line, and displaying the combined image on the display.

In accordance with another embodiment, a method for medical image processing is provided. The method includes receiving, via a processor, an image of a region of interest of a patient with a medical tube or line disposed within the region of interest, detecting, via the processor, the medical tube or line within the image, generating, via the processor, a combined image by superimposing a first graphical marker on the image that indicates an end of the medical tube or line, and causing, via the processor, display of the combined image on a display.

In accordance with a further embodiment, a non-transitory, computer-readable medium is provided. The computer-readable medium includes processor-executable code configured to receive an image of a region of interest of a patient with a medical tube or line disposed within the region of interest, detect the medical tube or line within the image and a reference landmark within the region of interest within the image, generate a combined image by superimposing a first graphical marker on the image that indicates an end of the medical tube or line and a second graphical marker on the image that indicates the reference landmark, and display the combined image on a display.

