EP1222632A1 - Navigation en imagerie - Google Patents

Navigation en imagerie

Info

Publication number
EP1222632A1
EP1222632A1 EP00962785A EP00962785A EP1222632A1 EP 1222632 A1 EP1222632 A1 EP 1222632A1 EP 00962785 A EP00962785 A EP 00962785A EP 00962785 A EP00962785 A EP 00962785A EP 1222632 A1 EP1222632 A1 EP 1222632A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
pixel
frame
images
dimensional
projected
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP00962785A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Avi Bar-Shalev
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Elgems Ltd
Original Assignee
Elgems Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from IL13226699A external-priority patent/IL132266A0/xx
Application filed by Elgems Ltd filed Critical Elgems Ltd
Publication of EP1222632A1 publication Critical patent/EP1222632A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06T—IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL
    • G06T7/00—Image analysis
    • G06T7/10—Segmentation; Edge detection
    • G06T7/11—Region-based segmentation
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06T—IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL
    • G06T2207/00—Indexing scheme for image analysis or image enhancement
    • G06T2207/10—Image acquisition modality
    • G06T2207/10072—Tomographic images
    • G06T2207/10108—Single photon emission computed tomography [SPECT]
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06T—IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL
    • G06T2207/00—Indexing scheme for image analysis or image enhancement
    • G06T2207/20—Special algorithmic details
    • G06T2207/20112—Image segmentation details
    • G06T2207/20132—Image cropping

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to single proton emission computerized tomography (SPECT) and more particularly to apparatus and methods for locating and displaying various regions of interest (ROI) within the patient being subjected to computerized tomographic imaging.
  • SPECT single proton emission computerized tomography
  • ROI regions of interest
  • SPECT imaging produces two-dimensional tomograms; that is, planar images of the body that are generally oriented either in an axial direction, coronal direction or a sagittal direction.
  • the radiologist or physician in order to locate a particular ROI in three dimensions in the body, such as one containing a lesion, it is necessary for the radiologist or physician to inspect the many parallel images that have been acquired. For example, in a whole body scan it is not unusual to acquire as many as 200 parallel images having one or more of axial, coronal or sagittal orientations. The physician or radiologist in charge of the examination then studies each of the 200 images to determine the location of the lesion in the body. When the location of the lesion is determined, then more detailed scans are undertaken to provide maximum information about the lesion.
  • the operator of the equipment will acquire sagittal and coronal, as well as more axial images in the region of interest, to further examine the lesion, for surgical planning, for example.
  • the physician or radiologist in charge of examination must look for "hot" spots that are on the order of one square centimeter, a very time- consuming job.
  • some of the ways used to lessen the burden of reviewing the large group or set of images of slices include cinematic displays of the slice set, and/or a cinematic display of a volume rendered as a 3-D presentation.
  • the user has to concentrate on the moving presentation in which only one slice is activated at a time.
  • the viewer has to immediately stop the cinematic display and use a cursor to point to the lesion. Then, additional images are taken at the point that the cursor is positioned.
  • the display gathers into one view the 3-D information of the slices.
  • the viewer has to immediately pause the movie and point to the lesion with the cursor. Then, additional views are taken at the cursor location.
  • MIP Maximum intensity projection
  • An aspect of some embodiments of the invention relates to a method for expeditiously locating and displaying particular regions of interest in a patient or object being imaged.
  • a projection "characteristic" image is generated from a stack of images. Associated with each pixel is depth information which defines the depth (or image number) in the stack that includes the characteristic. A user can then indicate the pixel or pixel area that is of interest on the projection image, without having to look through all the images in the stack.
  • the depth information associated with the pixel is used to call up the image whose pixel value was used in the projection image and display that image (and, optionally, images of one or more nearly slices) and optionally sets of images that pass through (and, optionally close to) the pixel and are orthogonal to the stack of images.
  • a method of locating a region of interest (ROI) within a patient from a plurality of parallel frames of two-dimensional intensity data comprising: assembling at least one group of said plurality of parallel frames; generating a two-dimensional projected frame of pixels of a specified characteristic for the parallel frames of the group; determining third dimensional data for each pixel in the group, said third dimension comprising the depth of a frame having the specified characteristic for each pixel in the projected frame; and locating the ROI by selecting a pixel in the two-dimensional projected frame.
  • the specified characteristic is the maximal intensity projected (MIP)
  • the two-dimensional projected frame is an MIP frame.
  • the specified characteristic is a function of the maximal intensity projected.
  • selecting the pixel in the two-dimensional frame comprises selecting a pixel having the highest intensity.
  • selecting the pixel in the two-dimensional frame comprises selecting a pixel that contains a function of the specified characteristic.
  • selecting the pixel in the projected frame comprises selecting a pixel from among a group of pixels with higher than average intensities.
  • the method includes: determining the three dimensions and the intensities of pixels with higher than average intensities in the region of the selected pixel; and displaying the ROI using the determined three dimensions and intensities of the pixels in the region of the selected pixel.
  • determining comprises determining by an imager on which the parallel frames are acquired. Alternatively or additionally, determining includes manually determining.
  • the method includes: storing the third dimensional data; locating a cursor on the selected pixel in the projected image suspected of indicating an
  • ROI clicking on the cursor located on the pixel in the projected image; fetching the data of the two dimensions and intensity from pixels in the vicinity of the cursor located in the projection frame and the stored third dimensional data responsive to the click on the cursor; and generating images using the fetched data.
  • the images generated using fetched data are orthogonal images.
  • the images generated using the fetched data are 3 -dimensional images.
  • the region of interest is a lesion and wherein the cursor is located on a hot spot in the projected image suspected of indicating a lesion.
  • the method includes: causing the patient to ingest a radionuclide; and acquiring the plurality of parallel frames using a gantry including gamma radiation detectors for detecting the gamma radiation emitted by the patient after ingesting the radionuclide.
  • the gantry causes gamma radiation detectors to perform a helical scan of the patient.
  • the gantry causes the gamma ray detectors to perform a plurality of orbital scans.
  • the gantry causes the detectors to perform an orbital scan that is non- circular, maintaining the detectors in close proximity to the patient during the orbital scan.
  • the parallel frames may be coronal views, sagittal views, axial views or oblique views.
  • storing of the third dimensional data comprises storing the data in a virtual frame.
  • the frames are PET images, SPECT images or STET images.
  • Fig. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing an exemplary ECT system for carrying out the invention
  • Fig. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a helical whole-body scan
  • Fig. 3 is a flow chart showing a method according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention
  • Fig. 4A is a collection of images of slices in the axial direction
  • Fig. 4B is a collection of images of slices in the coronal direction
  • Fig. 4C is a collection of images of slices in the sagittal direction
  • Fig. 5 is a two-dimensional coronal MIP frame produced in accordance with an embodiment of the invention
  • Fig. 6 is a virtual frame that defines a third dimension for each of the pixels of the MIP frames in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
  • Figs. 7A-C show axial, coronal, and sagittal planes acquired by clicking on the coronal MIP frame of Fig. 5, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
  • DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS A SPECT system, also sometimes referred to as an emission computerized tomographic (ECT) system 21 of Fig. 1 includes a gantry 22 on which are mounted detectors, such as first detector head 23 and an oppositely-disposed second detector head 24. Within the scope of the invention a single detector head or more than two detector heads can be used. Equipment such as this is well-known in gamma camera nuclear medicine imaging field. It is described in detail in U.S.
  • Detector heads 23 and 24 are mounted, spaced apart from each other, with room therebetween for the insertion for a patient table 26, which may be mounted on its own mobile base 27.
  • Gantry 22 is shown as including a non-rotating stationary gantry base 25.
  • the gantry rotates the detector heads about a central axis 32.
  • the rotation may be accomplished by any well-known means, such as a motor 33A operated in conjunction with gears 34 and 35.
  • the rotating gantry causes detector heads 23 and 24 to rotate about a patient shown at 36.
  • Detector heads 23 and 24 are capable of moving towards and away from the patient through the use of such apparatus as a motor 38 cooperating with gear arrangements 39 and 40.
  • Motor 38, along with gears arrangements 39 and 40 are used to maintain the detector heads proximate to the patient at all times.
  • the detector heads are maintained juxtaposed to the patient in a non-circular orbit.
  • a motor 31 operating in conjunction with a gear box 30 to move table 26 relative to gantry 22.
  • the motor and gear arrangement rotates wheels such as a wheel 33, moving table 26 along a rail 29.
  • the scan does not have to be helical. It can be a plurality of separate orbital scans made while there is no relative longitudinal motion between the patient and the scanner; in which case the bed is moved relative to the scanner in steps prior to each rotation of the scanner about the patient.
  • the scanner shown in Fig. 1 is of the SPECT type, the invention is equally applicable to other 3-D imaging systems such as STET, PET, etc.
  • other constructions of imaging systems known in the art are useful in the practice of the invention, it being understood that the apparatus shown and described in the figures is purely exemplary.
  • Detector heads 23 and 24 detect emitted gamma rays, for example.
  • the gamma rays strike the detectors, which include scintillators which scintillate in response to the impact of the gamma rays.
  • Photo-multiplier tubes are included in the detectors, and convert the light flashes of the scintillators into electrical signals, in the well-known manner of gamma radiation nuclear medicine imaging.
  • the electrical signals are sometimes referred to as beta signals.
  • the beta signals are transmitted by conductors such as conductors 41 , 42 to a control processor 37.
  • the control processor converts the beta signals into images in a well-known manner. The image thus provided is displayed on the image or display monitor 43.
  • the flow diagram of Fig. 3 outlines a method for determining the 3-D position of a lesion (hot spot) in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention.
  • the method in block 46, calls for positioning the patient or object in a scanner such as scanner 21.
  • the scanner is then operated to acquire a set or group of images of slices, as indicated in block 47.
  • the maximum intensity pixel is determined in straight line rays or projections perpendicular to the stack of slices and going through all of the pixels similarly placed in each slice.
  • the maximum intensity pixel two-dimensional location and intensity for each ray is determined and posted in an MIP frame.
  • the determination of the MIP frame is shown in block 48. While finding the maximum intensity pixel along each ray, a determination is also made of the third dimension location of each of the maximum intensity pixels for each pixel in the MIP frame. The determination of the third dimension of each of those pixels is shown in block 49.
  • a two-dimensional maximum intensity projection (MIP) frame 51 is assembled, based on the first and second dimensions, and locations of each of the maximum intensity pixels in the MIP frame.
  • This frame can be considered as a projection image of the stack, with the highest value in the projection shown.
  • the third dimension of each of the pixels that have the maximum intensity along each ray is stored in a virtual frame 52.
  • frame 51 is defined by X and Y coordinates
  • frame 52 would provide a Z value, or a depth measurement of the position in the Z direction of the highest value pixel.
  • the MIP frame assures that it is relatively easy to determine a lesion, since a lesion is hot, and therefore brighter than surrounding pixels; i.e., the pixels of the lesion are brighter than surrounding pixels.
  • the MIP frame is displayed on the monitor as indicated in block 53.
  • the position of the lesion on the MIP frame is determined either automatically or by the operator.
  • a cursor is placed somewhere on the lesion, as indicated by block 54.
  • the cursor on the lesion is clicked, as shown in block 56.
  • This initiates a fetch command.
  • the fetch command indicated by block 57 assembles both the two- dimensional locational values, as shown in block 58 and the third dimension of the virtual frame shown in block 59, plus optionally the intensity of the pixel that the cursor is on.
  • three orthogonal planes can be displayed, as shown at blocks 61 for example for the sagittal frame, 62 for the coronal frame and 63 for the axial frame.
  • each of these images contain the lesion.
  • This enables an automatic display of the lesion in the three orthogonal planes, or a three-dimensional image shown in dashed lines at 64 can be easily developed with the information at hand.
  • any one or two orthogonal slices containing the lesion are shown.
  • several slices around the lesion are shown (for example in a cine mode or side-by-side) to provide a view of the entire lesion and its surroundings.
  • Fig. 4A shows a group of axial slices
  • Fig. 4B shows a group of coronal slices
  • Fig. 4C shows a group of sagittal slices.
  • the slices are arranged side by side as they would be on a standard display or hard copy. Bright spots indicated in the slices are caused by the lesions. The lesion is more clearly depicted in Fig. 5, a coronal MIP. It would also be shown in the sagittal MIP, or an axial MIP.
  • Fig. 6 shows a frame used for storage of depth information for each of the maximum- intensity pixels depicted in the MIP.
  • the virtual frame of Fig. 6 is an X-Z frame
  • Y values will be stored at the X-Z locations, so that when an X-Z location from an MIP is known, the depth value Y is immediately called out in the virtual frame of Fig. 6.
  • Fig. 7A shows the three orthogonal images 7A, 7B and 7C, automatically provided for example by clicking on the lesion.
  • Three orthogonal views at the origin of arrow 66 provides a 3-D location, as emphasized with the hot circle in each of the axial (Fig. 7A), coronal (Fig. 7B) and sagittal (Fig. 7C) images. More particularly, the circles are shown at 67, 68 and 69, in Figs 7A, 7B and 7C.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Vision & Pattern Recognition (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Nuclear Medicine (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un procédé permettant d'utiliser une trame de pixels présentant des caractéristiques spécifiques telles qu'une trame projetée en intensité maximale et une trame 'virtuelle' de positionnement en profondeur pour localiser et imager des régions observées chez des patients
EP00962785A 1999-10-07 2000-09-18 Navigation en imagerie Withdrawn EP1222632A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US572218 1990-07-16
IL13226699A IL132266A0 (en) 1999-10-07 1999-10-07 Image navigation
IL13226699 1999-10-07
US09/572,218 US7024028B1 (en) 1999-10-07 2000-05-17 Method of using frame of pixels to locate ROI in medical imaging
PCT/IL2000/000578 WO2001026052A1 (fr) 1999-10-07 2000-09-18 Navigation en imagerie

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1222632A1 true EP1222632A1 (fr) 2002-07-17

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP00962785A Withdrawn EP1222632A1 (fr) 1999-10-07 2000-09-18 Navigation en imagerie

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Country Link
EP (1) EP1222632A1 (fr)
AU (1) AU7442400A (fr)
WO (1) WO2001026052A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20030097055A1 (en) * 2001-11-21 2003-05-22 Philips Medical Systems(Cleveland), Inc. Method of reviewing tomographic scans with a large number of images
JP4676021B2 (ja) * 2009-04-16 2011-04-27 富士フイルム株式会社 診断支援装置、診断支援プログラムおよび診断支援方法

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5570404A (en) 1994-09-30 1996-10-29 Siemens Corporate Research Method and apparatus for editing abdominal CT angiographic images for blood vessel visualization
JPH08138078A (ja) * 1994-11-09 1996-05-31 Toshiba Medical Eng Co Ltd 画像処理装置
US5832134A (en) * 1996-11-27 1998-11-03 General Electric Company Data visualization enhancement through removal of dominating structures

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO0126052A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU7442400A (en) 2001-05-10
WO2001026052A1 (fr) 2001-04-12

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