Anterior commissure and posterior commissure segmentation system and method
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Publication Number
US-8270698-B2
Publication Date
2012-09-18
Expiration Date
Abstract
A computer-implemented system and method of determining anterior commissure (AC) and posterior commissure (PC) points in a volumetric neuroradiological image. The method includes determining, by a computer, a mid-sagittal plane estimate to extract a mid-sagittal plane image from the volumetric neuroradiological image, and AC and PC point estimates in the mid-sagittal plane image. The method further includes determining, by the computer, a refined mid-sagittal plane estimate from the AC and PC point estimates to extract a refined mid-sagittal plane image, the AC point from the refined mid-sagittal plane image, and the PC point from the refined mid-sagittal plane image and the AC point.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a computer-implemented pipeline for determining anterior commissure (AC) and posterior commissure (PC) points in a volumetric neuroradiological image. A mid-sagittal plane estimate is determined to extract a mid-sagittal plane image, and AC and PC point estimates are determined in the mid-sagittal plane image.
A refined mid-sagittal plane estimate is then determined from the AC and PC point estimates to extract a refined mid-sagittal plane image. In the refined mid-sagittal plane image, the AC point is determined and the PC point is determined using the refined mid-sagittal plane image and the AC point.
The described system is modular, using a first estimator for a mid-sagittal plane approximation and a second estimator for AC and PC point approximations, followed by a first refining module to identify a mid-sagittal plane using the AC and PC point approximations, and second and third refining modules to identify the AC point and the PC point from the refined mid-sagittal plane and the AC point. The processing is configured for determining AC and PC points and for enabling downstream use of those AC points and PC points.
Claims Coverage
Three independent claims are present. The inventive features center on estimating and refining a mid-sagittal plane, determining AC and PC point estimates from the mid-sagittal plane and then re-determining them from the refined mid-sagittal plane, and corresponding system and non-transitory medium implementations.
Mid-sagittal plane estimation to extract a mid-sagittal plane image
Determining, by a computer, a mid-sagittal plane estimate to extract a mid-sagittal plane image from the volumetric neuroradiological image.
AC and PC point estimation in the mid-sagittal plane image
Determining, by the computer, AC and PC point estimates in the mid-sagittal plane image.
Refined mid-sagittal plane estimation from AC and PC point estimates
Determining, by the computer, a refined mid-sagittal plane estimate from the AC and PC point estimates to extract a refined mid-sagittal plane image.
AC point determination from the refined mid-sagittal plane image
Determining, by the computer, the AC point from the refined mid-sagittal plane image.
PC point determination from the refined mid-sagittal plane image and the AC point
Determining, by the computer, the PC point from the refined mid-sagittal plane image and the AC point.
Estimator and refining-module architecture
A system comprising a first estimator to determine a mid-sagittal plane approximation from the volumetric neuroradiological image; a second estimator to determine AC and PC point approximations from the mid-sagittal plane approximation; a first refining module to identify a mid-sagittal plane using the AC and PC point approximations; a second refining module to identify the AC point from the mid-sagittal plane; and a third refining module to identify the PC point from the mid-sagittal plane and the AC point.
Non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with processor-executable instructions
A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with a plurality of processor executable instructions for identifying anterior commissure (AC) and posterior commissure (PC) points in a volumetric neuroradiological image, the instructions enabling execution of a method comprising determining a mid-sagittal plane estimate; determining AC and PC point estimates; determining a refined mid-sagittal plane from the AC and PC point estimates; determining the AC point from the refined mid-sagittal plane image; and determining the PC point from the refined mid-sagittal plane image and the AC point.
Across the independent claims, the core coverage is the same AC/PC workflow: estimate a mid-sagittal plane, determine AC and PC point estimates in that plane, refine the mid-sagittal plane using the AC/PC estimates, then determine the AC point and the PC point on the refined mid-sagittal plane, with system and medium claims expressing equivalent functionality.
Stated Advantages
Enables a refined determination of AC and PC points by re-determining them on a refined mid-sagittal plane.
Uses a modular system architecture with separate estimators and refining modules.
Produces AC and PC points suitable for downstream use, including as input data for interventional radiological equipment.
Produces AC and PC points suitable for merging images from multiple imaging modalities.
Documented Applications
Interventional radiological equipment using AC points and PC points as input data.
Merging images from multiple imaging modalities using AC points and PC points as input data.
Implementation within a picture archiving and communications system (PACS).
Obtaining a volumetric neuroradiological image from an internet-accessible database.
Use as a component of a segmentation tool kit.
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