Method and device for medical imaging for representing a 3D volume containing at least one introduced foreign object
Inventors
König, Thomas • Hörndler, Klaus • Ilg, Eva-Maria • Fleischmann, Christof • Hillebrand, Lars
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-11776154-B2
Publication Date
2023-10-03
Expiration Date
Abstract
Medical imaging systems and methods for representing a 3D volume containing at least one foreign object introduced into a tissue. Imaging methods may include provision of a 3D volume containing voxels of at least one foreign object and voxels of tissue surrounding the at least one foreign object, identification of the voxels of the at least one foreign object by application of a processing rule, segmentation of the voxels of the at least one foreign object from the voxels of the tissue surrounding the at least one foreign object while maintaining the 3D volume, generation of a synthetic volume from a residual volume and the volume of the at least one foreign object, and representation of the synthetic volume on a display device using a windowing system.
Core Innovation
The disclosed medical imaging method represents a 3D volume containing at least one foreign object introduced into a tissue, where the foreign object comprises at least one individual foreign object and each individual foreign object comprises at least one individual foreign object component. The method provides a 3D volume containing voxels of the foreign object(s) and voxels of tissue surrounding the foreign object(s), identifies the foreign-object voxels by application of a processing rule, and segments the foreign-object voxels from the surrounding tissue voxels while maintaining the 3D volume.
The method continues by segmenting the at least one foreign object into its individual foreign objects in a second segmentation step, and then segmenting the individual foreign objects into their individual foreign object components in a third segmentation step. In at least one of the second segmentation step and the third segmentation step, two or more contiguous groups of voxels are segmented based on calculation of a structure tensor.
After segmentation, the method generates a synthetic volume from a residual volume and the volume of the at least one foreign object, and represents the synthetic volume on a display device. The disclosure includes visualization support for identifying and presenting foreign-object information in the 3D volume, including representing and highlighting foreign objects, individual foreign objects, and individual foreign object components, with boundary marking and relative position or orientation overview.
The synthetic volume representation is controlled by a windowing system, where a windowing function determines brightness and contrast based on data-based strategies using percentiles and optionally ignores less relevant absorbing structures.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim covers a full imaging workflow with three inventive features. It includes processing-rule-based identification and segmentation of foreign-object voxels, hierarchical segmentation into individual objects and components with structure-tensor-based segmentation of contiguous voxel groups, and generation and display of a synthetic volume.
Foreign-object voxel identification and tissue-separated segmentation in a maintained 3D volume
A method providing a 3D volume containing voxels of at least one foreign object and voxels of tissue surrounding the at least one foreign object, identifying the voxels of the at least one foreign object by application of a processing rule, and segmenting the voxels of the at least one foreign object from the voxels of the tissue surrounding the at least one foreign object while maintaining the 3D volume.
Multi-step segmentation into individual objects and components using structure tensor for contiguous voxel groups
Segmenting, in a second segmentation step, the at least one foreign object into its individual foreign objects, and segmenting, in a third segmentation step, the individual foreign objects of the at least one foreign object into the individual foreign object components of the individual foreign objects, wherein at least one of the second segmentation step and the third segmentation step comprises segmenting two or more contiguous groups of voxels based on calculation of a structure tensor.
Synthetic volume generation from residual volume and foreign-object volume and display representation
Generating a synthetic volume from a residual volume and the volume of the at least one foreign object, and representing the synthetic volume on a display device.
Overall claim coverage centers on processing-rule-based identification and segmentation of foreign-object voxels from surrounding tissue within a maintained 3D volume, hierarchical segmentation of foreign objects into individual objects and then into components, including structure-tensor-based segmentation of contiguous voxel groups, and generating and displaying a synthetic volume derived from a residual volume and the foreign-object volume.
Stated Advantages
Enables representation of a 3D volume with foreign objects introduced into tissue by segmenting foreign-object voxels, individual foreign objects, and individual foreign object components.
Supports controlling synthetic-volume display through a windowing system based on selected data strategies, including percentile-based approaches with optional ignoring of less relevant absorbing structures.
Supports visualization of individual foreign objects and their components, including boundary marking and relative position or orientation overview.
Documented Applications
Spinal imaging and visualization including screws, rods, and cement, with recognition of foreign-object components such as screw head, shank, and thread.
Component recognition in reconstructed 3D volumes with segmentation into individual foreign objects and individual foreign object components.
Synthetic MPR generation and representation using adjustable 3D view and MPR sectional planes for highlighting foreign objects.
Interested in licensing this patent?