Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B6/00—Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis; Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis combined with radiation therapy equipment
  • A61B6/52—Devices using data or image processing specially adapted for radiation diagnosis
  • A61B6/5205—Devices using data or image processing specially adapted for radiation diagnosis involving processing of raw data to produce diagnostic data
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B6/00—Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis; Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis combined with radiation therapy equipment
  • A61B6/52—Devices using data or image processing specially adapted for radiation diagnosis
  • A61B6/5294—Devices using data or image processing specially adapted for radiation diagnosis involving using additional data, e.g. patient information, image labeling, acquisition parameters
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B6/00—Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis; Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis combined with radiation therapy equipment
  • A61B6/48—Diagnostic techniques
  • A61B6/481—Diagnostic techniques involving the use of contrast agents
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B6/00—Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis; Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis combined with radiation therapy equipment
  • A61B6/50—Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis; Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis combined with radiation therapy equipment specially adapted for specific body parts; specially adapted for specific clinical applications
  • A61B6/504—Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis; Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis combined with radiation therapy equipment specially adapted for specific body parts; specially adapted for specific clinical applications for diagnosis of blood vessels, e.g. by angiography
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B6/00—Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis; Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis combined with radiation therapy equipment
  • A61B6/52—Devices using data or image processing specially adapted for radiation diagnosis
  • A61B6/5211—Devices using data or image processing specially adapted for radiation diagnosis involving processing of medical diagnostic data
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B6/00—Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis; Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis combined with radiation therapy equipment
  • A61B6/52—Devices using data or image processing specially adapted for radiation diagnosis
  • A61B6/5258—Devices using data or image processing specially adapted for radiation diagnosis involving detection or reduction of artifacts or noise
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
  • G06T—IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL
  • G06T5/00—Image enhancement or restoration
  • G06T5/90—Dynamic range modification of images or parts thereof
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G16—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SPECIFIC APPLICATION FIELDS
  • G16H—HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA
  • G16H30/00—ICT specially adapted for the handling or processing of medical images
  • G16H30/40—ICT specially adapted for the handling or processing of medical images for processing medical images, e.g. editing
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G16—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SPECIFIC APPLICATION FIELDS
  • G16H—HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA
  • G16H50/00—ICT specially adapted for medical diagnosis, medical simulation or medical data mining; ICT specially adapted for detecting, monitoring or modelling epidemics or pandemics
  • G16H50/20—ICT specially adapted for medical diagnosis, medical simulation or medical data mining; ICT specially adapted for detecting, monitoring or modelling epidemics or pandemics for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
  • G06T—IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL
  • G06T2207/00—Indexing scheme for image analysis or image enhancement
  • G06T2207/10—Image acquisition modality
  • G06T2207/10116—X-ray image
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
  • G06T—IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL
  • G06T2207/00—Indexing scheme for image analysis or image enhancement
  • G06T2207/30—Subject of image; Context of image processing
  • G06T2207/30004—Biomedical image processing
  • G06T2207/30101—Blood vessel; Artery; Vein; Vascular

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a device for image contrast enhancement of an X-ray image of a vascular structure, to a system with a such device, to a method for image contrast enhancement of an X-ray image of a vascular structure, to a computer program element for controlling such a device and to a computer readable medium having stored the program element.
• contrast enhancement In X-ray images, contrast enhancement (CE) is provided to improve image quality for the viewer. Contrast enhancement may be realized in the framework of frequency decomposition. For example, the image is decomposed into a certain number of frequency sub-bands, for instance, with a so-called Laplacian Pyramid. The anatomical or interventional details one is willing to enhance are spread across several of those frequency sub-bands. Gains, which may depend on the local intensity are then applied to the content of those sub- bands, before the total spectrum is re-composed, thus leading to an enhancement.
• a simulation image is calculated and the operator can virtually optimize the imaging parameters online and modify them.
• US 9 008 759 B2 a model descriptive of propagation of a fluid within patient is provided and parameters for the injection procedure are determined to generate desired levels of enhancement. However, it has been shown that contrast enhancement is still not always leading to sufficient results.
• a device for image contrast enhancement of an X-ray image of a vascular structure.
• the device comprises an input unit and a processing unit.
• the input unit is configured to provide an acquired X-ray image of a vascular structure with a contrast injection.
• the contrast injection is performed with a current contrast injection setting having at least one contrast injection parameter.
• the input unit is configured to provide a generic vascular structure.
• the input unit is configured to provide the current contrast injection setting.
• the processing unit is configured to determine an assessed contrast parameter for the generic vascular structure based on the current contrast injection setting.
• the processing unit is configured to determine an adapted image contrast
• the processing unit is also configured to apply the adapted image contrast enhancement to the acquired X-ray image in order to generate a contrast-enhanced X-ray image.
• the current injection setting is read-in in the processing unit.
• the generic vascular structure is read-in in the processing unit.
• the generic vascular structure is provided at least for the targeted vascular structure for which an image is to be captured.
• contrast injection can also be referred to as delivery or supply of a contrast agent, for example with a device which transmits the contrast dilution into an object.
• the term "generic vascular structure” can also be referred to as a theoretical model of the human's vessels.
• the term "assessed contrast parameter" can also be referred to as an estimation or prediction of a contrast parameter, such as a distribution and/or concentration of contrast agent in the vascular structure.
• the assessed contrast parameter may represent an estimate of a contrast of at least part of the vascular structure in a contrast-enhanced X-ray image, and may depend on certain properties of the contrast medium such as the current injection setting.
• the adapted image contrast enhancement could also be referred to as an enhancement parameter for improving the image quality.
• the adapted image contrast enhancement can also be referred to as a dynamic contrast enhancement, or predicted dynamic contrast enhancement.
• the processing unit is also configured to determine if the assessed contrast parameter is below, equal or above a predetermined threshold.
• the processing unit performs an algorithm for determining adapted image contrast enhancement for the generic vascular structure based on the assessed contrast parameter.
• the adapted contrast image enhancement can be applied by a contrast enhancement procedure or program operating on the processing unit.
• an image processing algorithm may be provided involving boosting or tuning of certain image features.
• the input unit reads-in the current contrast injection setting.
• the volume of the iodine concentration is preferably reduced, e.g. because of patient's kidney disease, and hence, a respective adapted contrast injection setting is applied.
• This assessed contrast parameter for the generic vascular structure is to be predicted to be below or at least different of another value, which can be defined by the determination of the assessed contrast parameter. Based on this information, one can deduce the contrast of vessels to be captured by X-ray prior to vessel boosting or contrast enhancement.
• the adapted contrast enhancements relies on information to improve the image quality based on the current injection setting.
• the adapted image contrast enhancement is a dynamic boosting of images, e.g. the applied contrast enhancement procedure is determined by the current injection settings, which may in turn depend on patient specifics (e.g. kidney disease).
• the iodine concentration may need to be lowered compared to other patients without this disease.
• the boosting of the to be captured image of the vessels of the patient can be adapted by considering this adaptation of this injection parameter.
• the adapted image contrast enhancement for the generic vascular structure based on the assessed contrast parameter is performed by an enhancement algorithm.
• the assessed contrast parameter for the main vessels of a vascular structure is used to scale look-up-tables and gains that are applied on the content of the relevant frequency sub-bands of an X-ray image, such as a current X-ray image or a simulated X-ray image of the generic vascular structure.
• an image contrast enhancement factor determined based on the current contrast injection setting may have, for instance, a value of 2.
• the vessel contrast enhacement that is applied to an acquired X-ray image could be boosted with a factor of 2.
• improved and stable contrast enhancement applied to X-ray images can be achieved, e.g. optimized opacification and delineation in the anatomy, including lesions, can be achieved.
• the device further comprises an output unit.
• the output unit is configured to provide the dynamically contrast enhanced X-ray image.
• the output unit is, for example a display unit or monitor.
• the output unit can also be referred to as an output interface, such as a graphical user output interface.
• the output unit transmits modified image data after applying the adapted image enhancement on the to be captured image.
• an X-ray imaging system comprises an X-ray imaging device, a contrast injection arrangement and a device for image contrast enhancement of an X-ray image of a vascular structure.
• the X- ray imaging device is configured to acquire the X-ray image of a vascular structure with a contrast injection.
• the contrast injection arrangement is adapted to perform the contrast injection with the current contrast injection setting having at least one contrast injection parameter.
• the contrast injection arrangement can also be referred to as injector or contrast injector.
• the contrast injection arrangement is configured to vary and/or adapt the current contrast injection setting.
• the contrast injection arrangement is configured to transmit the current contrast injection setting to the processing unit via the input interface.
• the data transmission can be a wireless connection to the processing unit or other type of data transmission, e.g. via cable connection.
• the contrast injection setting comprises a contrast injection parameter of at least one of the group of: delivered iodine concentration, injection timing, injection volume, injection speed, viscosity of iodine concentration, and injection real-time pressure curve.
• a method for image contrast enhancement of an X-ray image of the vascular structure comprises the following steps.
• an acquired X-ray image of a vascular structure with a contrast injection is provided.
• the contrast injection is performed with a current contrast injection setting having at least one contrast injection parameter.
• an assessed contrast parameter is determined for at least part of the generic vascular structure based on the current contrast injection setting.
• an adapted image contrast enhancement is determined for the generic vascular structure based on the assessed contrast parameter .
• the adapted image contrast enhancement is applied to the acquired X-ray image of the patient's vascular structure in order to generate a contrast enhanced X-ray image.
• step d) the assessing of the contrast parameter is performed at least for a targeted vascular structure for which the image of the patient's vascular structure is captured.
• steps a) to e) are arranged in a different order.
• step bl) and/ or b2) could be operated before step a).
• the contrast enhancement is done dynamically. For example, when an image is captured for a thicker patient, the adapted contrast enhancement parameter is adapted to a higher level than for a thinner patient.
• Fig. 1 shows an example of a device for image contrast enhancement of an X- ray image of a vascular structure
• Fig. 2 shows an example of an X-ray imaging system with such a device
• Fig. 3 illustrates an example of a method for image contrast enhancement of an X-ray image of a vascular structure
• Fig. 4 illustrates another example of such a method.
• Fig. 1 shows a device 10 for image contrast enhancement of an X-ray image of a vascular structure.
• the device 10 comprises an input unit 12 and a processing unit 14.
• the input unit 12 is configured to provide an acquired X-ray image of a vascular structure with a contrast injection (as shown in Fig. 2).
• the contrast injection is performed with a current contrast injection setting having at least one contrast injection parameter.
• the input unit 12 is configured to provide a generic vascular structure.
• the input unit 12 is also configured to provide the current contrast injection setting.
• the processing unit 14 is configured to determine an assessed contrast parameter for the generic vascular structure based on the current contrast injection setting.
• the processing unit 14 is also configured to determine an adapted image contrast enhancement for the generic vascular structure based on the assessed contrast parameter.
• the processing unit 14 is further configured to apply the adapted image contrast enhancement to the acquired X-ray image in order to generate a contrast-enhanced X-ray image.
• an output unit (as shown in Fig. 2) is provided.
• the output unit is configured to provide the contrast enhanced X-ray image.
• the output unit is a display unit for displaying the contrast enhanced X-ray image.
• Fig. 2 shows an X-ray imaging system 20.
• the X-ray imaging system 20 comprises an X-ray imaging device 22, a contrast injection arrangement 24 and one of the examples of the device 10 for image contrast enhancement of an X-ray image of a vascular structure as described above and below.
• the X-ray imaging device is configured to acquire the X-ray image of a vascular structure with a contrast injection 28.
• the contrast injection arrangement is adapted to perform the contrast injection 28 with the current contrast injection setting having at least one contrast injection parameter.
• the contrast injection arrangement 24 is adapted to perform the contrast injection 28 with the current contrast injection setting having at least one contrast injection parameter.
• the current contrast injection setting is transmitted to the device 10 (shown by connection line).
• the acquired X-ray image is transmitted to the device 10, as shown by connection line 32.
• Fig. 2 further shows a patient 34 lying on a table 36 during the acquisition of the X-ray image.
• the acquisition of the X-ray image is operated in parallel to the injection of contrast dilution agent.
• the current contrast injection setting is transmitted to the device in parallel to the acquisition of the X-ray image.
• the current, i.e. applied contrast injection setting is transmitted after acquisition of the X-ray image.
• the contrast injection arrangement 24 is movable.
• the contrast injection setting comprises a contrast injection parameter of at least one of the group of: delivered iodine concentration, injection timing, injection volume, injection speed, viscosity of iodine concentration, and real-time pressure curve.
• Fig. 3 shows a method 300 for image contrast enhancement of an X-ray image of the vascular structure.
• the method comprises the following steps.
• a first step 302 also referred to step as step a
• an acquired X-ray image of a vascular structure with a contrast injection is provided.
• the contrast injection is performed with a current contrast injection setting having at least one contrast injection parameter.
• a generic vascular structure is provided in a next step 304, also referred to as step bl.
• the current injection setting is provided in a further next step 306, also referred to step b2).
• a next step 308, also referred to step c) an assessed contrast parameter for the generic vascular structure based on the current contrast injection setting is determined.
• step 310 also referred to step d
• step 310 an adapted image contrast enhancement for the generic vascular structure based on the assessed contrast parameter is determined.
• step 312 also referred to step e
• step 302 it is provided the step of acquiring the X-ray image of a vascular structure with a contrast injection, wherein the contrast injection is performed with the current contrast injection setting having at least one contrast injection parameter.
• the X-ray image is acquired at least almost in parallel to the transmission of the current injection setting.
• the contrast injection setting comprises a contrast injection parameter of at least one of the group of: delivered iodine concentration, injection timing, injection volume, injection speed, viscosity of iodine concentration, and real-time pressure curve of at least one vessel of the vasculature structure.
• step a) it is further provided the step of injecting contrast agent with a contrast injection setting.
• an adapted vascular structure is provided relating to a current specific vascular structure of a current patient in step bl).
• the assessed contrast parameter can be determined even more precisely.
• the specific vascular structure can be obtained from previous measurements, e.g. other imaging procedures.
• the adapted image contrast enhancement is determined and applied. If the contrast parameter is above the pre-determined threshold, the adaptive image contrast enhancement is not applied.
• the threshold can be deduced or defined by previous measurements or investigations.
• Fig. 4 shows another exemplary embodiment of a method 400.
• a generic vascular structure such as a vessel model of the targeted vascular structure is provided.
• a specific vessel model can be made as a refinement.
• the refinement may include a patient model.
• step 404 the characteristics of the injected contrast medium, that is, the so called current settings for one or more contrast injection parameters like dilution, volume speed, real-time pressure curve, viscosity, type of contrast medium, multi-head injector setting, or multi-syringe selection, are transmitted to the device.
• the so called current settings for one or more contrast injection parameters like dilution, volume speed, real-time pressure curve, viscosity, type of contrast medium, multi-head injector setting, or multi-syringe selection
• step 402 and 404 one can deduce or assess the contrast for the vessel model prior to boosting in step 406.
• step 408 based on the estimation in step 406, an image contrast enhancement can be determined according to the assessment, which may then be applied to an acquired X-ray image.
• a dynamic contrast enhancement for X-ray images whereby the contrast is dynamically adapted using a prediction of a contrast of at least the main vessels of a vascular structure.
• the prediction is based on an assessment of the contrast that would be obtained in an X-ray image of a general model of these vessels when injected with contrast agent in accordance with a current contrast injection setting.
• the contrast agent may be a diluted or a non-diluted contrast agent.
• a computer program or a computer program element is provided that is characterized by being adapted to execute the method steps of the method according to one of the preceding embodiments, on an appropriate system.
• the computer program element might therefore be stored on a computer unit, which might also be part of an embodiment of the present invention.
• This computing unit may be adapted to perform or induce a performing of the steps of the method described above. Moreover, it may be adapted to operate the components of the above described apparatus.
• the computing unit can be adapted to operate automatically and/or to execute the orders of a user.
• a computer program may be loaded into a working memory of a data processor.
• the data processor may thus be equipped to carry out the method of the invention.
• This exemplary embodiment of the invention covers both, a computer program that right from the beginning uses the invention and a computer program that by means of an up-date turns an existing program into a program that uses the invention.
• the computer program element might be able to provide all necessary steps to fulfil the procedure of an exemplary embodiment of the method as described above.
• a computer readable medium such as a CD-ROM
• the computer readable medium has a computer program element stored on it which computer program element is described by the preceding section.
• a computer program may be stored and/or distributed on a suitable medium, such as an optical storage medium or a solid-state medium supplied together with or as part of other hardware, but may also be distributed in other forms, such as via the internet or other wired or wireless telecommunication systems.
• the computer program may also be presented over a network like the
• World Wide Web can be downloaded into the working memory of a data processor from such a network.
• a medium for making a computer program element available for downloading is provided, which computer program element is arranged to perform a method according to one of the previously described embodiments of the invention.

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• 2017
  • 2017-06-29 EP EP17305821.5A patent/EP3420906A1/en not_active Withdrawn
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