WO2020106092A1

WO2020106092A1 - Method and device for performing simultaneous correction for motion within volume and scan timing during four-dimensional bioimaging

Info

Publication number: WO2020106092A1
Application number: PCT/KR2019/016106
Authority: WO
Inventors: 박해정
Original assignee: 연세대학교 산학협력단
Priority date: 2018-11-23
Filing date: 2019-11-22
Publication date: 2020-05-28
Also published as: KR102054106B1

Abstract

Provided according to an embodiment of the present invention are a medical imaging device and a method using same. The medical imaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a bore unit for acquiring a medical image signal along a target region of a subject; and a data processing unit for processing the medical image signal acquired by the bore unit, so as to generate a first medical image, wherein the data processing unit generates a registered medical image by registering a reference medical image and the first medical image and then acquires voxel group information about each of voxels of the generated registered medical image, generates voxel information about each of the voxels of the registered medical image by using the acquired voxel group information, transforms time information of the generated voxel information into predetermined reference time information while estimating image intensity of each of voxels corresponding to the reference time information by using space information of the voxel information, and generates a volume image corresponding to the reference time information by using the estimated image intensity of each of the voxels corresponding the reference time information.

Description

Method and apparatus for simultaneously correcting movement and measurement time in volume in acquiring a 4D image

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for simultaneously correcting motion and measurement time in a volume in acquiring a living body 4D image.

In general, functional magnetic resonance imaging (functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging, fMRI) is an imaging technique that measures the brain's activation pattern using an MRI device, and blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) in the bloodstream when the brain is active It is a technique that shows the degree of functional activation by measuring repeatedly.

The MRI apparatus may obtain a functional magnetic resonance image by dividing an object (eg, human or animal) into a plurality of slices and stacking segment images corresponding to each slice. However, since the MRI apparatus acquires segment images corresponding to each slice at different viewpoints, when the acquired segment images are stacked according to the acquisition order, visual differences between adjacent segment images may occur. In order to correct the time difference and generate an image of one viewpoint, the MRI apparatus may use a slice timing method. The slice timing method refers to a method in which segment images obtained at different times are corrected as obtained at the same time.

When a functional magnetic resonance image is acquired, when the motion by the object occurs, the acquired image may include noise due to the generated motion. The MRI device may perform motion correction and visual correction on an image in which motion has occurred, in order to correct an image including noise.

In order to perform motion correction and visual correction for an image in which motion has occurred, motion correction for the corresponding image must be performed first. To this end, the MRI device can match the motion-generated image with the reference image. In the case of a functional magnetic resonance image, since each segment volume is acquired at different views, each segment image may be spatially incorrectly aligned during registration. Therefore, in order to accurately align each segmented image spatially, visual correction must be performed. However, in order to perform visual correction, since each segment image of the corresponding image must be accurately spatially aligned, a dilemma is generated by motion correction and visual correction.

Accordingly, there is a need for a method for accurately performing motion correction and visual correction for an image in which motion has occurred.

Accordingly, a problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a medical imaging apparatus and a medical image correction method capable of both motion correction and visual correction.

Specifically, a problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for simultaneously correcting motion and measurement time in a volume in acquiring a living body 4D image to accurately and simultaneously perform motion correction and visual correction for an image in which motion has occurred. .

The problems of the present invention are not limited to the problems mentioned above, and other problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

In order to solve the above-described problems, a method and apparatus for simultaneously correcting motion and measurement time in a volume in acquiring a living body 4D image according to an embodiment of the present invention are provided. The method for simultaneously correcting motion and measurement time in a volume in acquiring a living body 4D image according to an embodiment of the present invention acquires a medical image signal for a target region of an object and processes the obtained medical image signal to obtain a first medical image. Generating; Generating a matched medical image by matching a reference medical image and the first medical image to obtain voxel group information for each voxel of the generated matched medical image; Generating voxel information for each voxel of the matched medical image using the obtained voxel group information; Converting time information from the generated voxel information to preset reference time information and estimating an image intensity of each voxel corresponding to the reference time information using spatial information among the voxel information; And generating a volume image corresponding to the reference time information using the estimated image intensity of each voxel corresponding to the reference time information.

The apparatus for simultaneously correcting motion and measurement time in a volume in acquiring a living body 4D image according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a bore for acquiring a medical image signal for a target region of an object; And a data processor which processes a medical image signal obtained through the bore to generate a first medical image, and the data processor generates a matched medical image by matching the reference medical image and the first medical image. Voxel group information for each voxel of the generated matched medical image is acquired, and voxel information for each voxel of the matched medical image is generated using the obtained voxel group information, and among the generated voxel information While converting time information into preset reference time information, image intensity of each voxel corresponding to the reference time information is estimated using spatial information among the voxel information, and an estimated image of each voxel corresponding to the reference time information A volume image corresponding to the reference time information is generated using intensity.

Details of other embodiments are included in the detailed description and drawings.

According to the present invention, when a volume image is generated, accurate correction for each volume image is possible by simultaneously performing visual correction and motion correction between volume segments according to motion occurrence.

The effect according to the present invention is not limited by the contents exemplified above, and more various effects are included in the present invention.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a medical imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a schematic diagram for explaining the configuration of a medical imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a schematic flowchart illustrating a method for simultaneously performing motion correction and visual correction of a medical image in a medical imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a schematic flowchart illustrating a method for simultaneously performing motion correction and visual correction of a medical image in a medical imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5, 6A, 6B, and 6C are exemplary views for explaining a method for motion correction and visual correction for a volume image in a medical imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Advantages and features of the present invention, and methods for achieving them will be clarified with reference to embodiments described below in detail together with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but will be implemented in various different forms, and only the present embodiments allow the disclosure of the present invention to be complete, and common knowledge in the art to which the present invention pertains. It is provided to completely inform the person having the scope of the invention, and the present invention is only defined by the scope of the claims.

Although the first, second, etc. are used to describe various components, it goes without saying that these components are not limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one component from another component. Therefore, it goes without saying that the first component mentioned below may be the second component within the technical spirit of the present invention.

The same reference numerals refer to the same components throughout the specification.

Each of the features of the various embodiments of the present invention may be partially or totally combined or combined with each other, and technically various interlocking and driving may be possible as those skilled in the art can fully understand, and each of the embodiments may be implemented independently of each other. It can also be implemented together in an associative relationship.

Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1, the medical imaging apparatus 1000 includes a cylindrical bore in which the object 10 is carried in order to obtain a medical image of a target portion of the object (eg, human, animal, etc.) 10 100), the object 10 is placed and may include a transfer unit 150 for carrying into the bore 100 and a data processing unit 200 for controlling the bore 100 to obtain at least one medical image. For example, the target site may include the spine, chest, upper abdomen, lower abdomen, lung, brain, liver, varicose veins, uterus, prostate, testis, musculoskeletal system, thyroid or breast, and the like. However, the target region is not limited thereto, and may be various regions obtainable as images in the medical imaging apparatus 1000. The medical imaging apparatus 1000 may be a magnetic resonance image (MRI) device, a functional magnetic resonance imaging (Functional MRI) device, or the like. The medical image for the target region may be a 2D image, a 3D volume image, a still image of one cut, a video composed of a plurality of cuts, or a plurality of images having various cross-sectional images. In the presented embodiment, an example for obtaining a 3D volume image in a functional magnetic resonance imaging apparatus will be described.

The medical imaging apparatus 1000 applies a first signal to the bore 100 under the control of the data processing unit 200 to form a constant magnetic field inside the bore 100 and resonates the atomic nuclei of the object 10 located in the magnetic field In order to irradiate the second signal to generate a magnetic field inside the bore 100, irradiate the second signal to the object 10, the magnetic field is formed, at least receiving the third signal generated by the second signal irradiation One coil may be provided. Here, the first signal may be a current signal, the second signal may be an RF signal, and the third signal may be a magnetic resonance signal.

When a magnetic field is formed inside the bore 100 by the at least one coil, and the second signal is irradiated to the object 10, resonance of the atomic nucleus of the object may occur, thereby generating a third signal from the atomic nucleus. The third signal generated as described above may be transmitted to the data processing unit 200 through at least one coil. The data processing unit 200 processes the received third signal to generate a medical image. The generated medical image may be a 3D volume image. The data processing unit 200 includes a display unit 250 and an input unit 260, displays a medical image through the display unit 250, and receives an input of a user regarding image acquisition or data processing through the input unit 260. Can be.

The 3D volume image may be an image in which the object 10 is divided into a plurality of slices corresponding to various directions, and volume segments corresponding to each divided slice are sequentially combined. At least one coil irradiating the second signal corresponding to each slice may be provided to be movable to a position corresponding to each slice. When the second signal corresponding to each slice is sequentially irradiated through at least one coil, and the third signal for each slice generated by the second signal irradiation is received, the data processing unit 200 processes the received third signal Volume segments corresponding to each slice may be sequentially generated. The volume segments thus generated may be sequentially displayed through the display unit 250.

The second signal corresponding to each slice is irradiated at a predetermined interval (time of repetition, TR) through at least one coil, and the order of the irradiated second signal may be variously set. For example, when a plurality of slices of the object 10 are made of 10, at least one coil may irradiate a second signal corresponding to each of the 10 slices through x-axis, y-axis, or z-axis movement. In various embodiments, at least one coil irradiates the second signal corresponding to the odd number of slices among the 10 slices through the x-axis, y-axis, or z-axis movement, and corresponds to the even number of slices. The second signal may be irradiated.

In order to measure the brain activation pattern of the object 10, the medical imaging apparatus 1000 may acquire at least one volume image by scanning the head region of the object 10 located inside the bore 100. As described above, the first and second signals may be irradiated to the object 10 through the bore 100 to receive a third signal due to magnetic field generation and atomic nuclear resonance as described above. The at least one volume image may be generated by dividing the head portion of the object 10 into a plurality of slices and stacking volume segments corresponding to each slice. For example, the volume segment according to each slice may be a cross-sectional image. Specifically, the medical imaging apparatus 1000 acquires a volume image for each specific time. During the specific time, the volume segment corresponding to each slice of the object 10 during a specific time is acquired in a predetermined order, and the acquired volume Each segment may be stacked according to an acquisition order to generate one volume image. As such, when the volume segment is acquired, movement of the object 10 such as breathing may occur, and as a result, inaccurate volume images may be generated by stacking each volume segment acquired in time series in different directions or angles. have. In addition, since there is a difference in the acquisition time between adjacent volume segments by the acquisition order of each volume segment acquired to generate a volume image, there may be a difference in image intensity between adjacent volume segments.

To solve this problem, the medical imaging apparatus 1000 may simultaneously perform visual correction and motion correction between volume segments of the volume image.

First, the medical imaging apparatus 1000 may register a first volume image to a reference volume image through a hierarchical matching technique, and based on this, determine which volume segment is present in the first volume. . Here, the reference volume image may be a first 3D volume image. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the reference volume image may be variously set. In addition, a rigid body transformation registration method may be used to match the reference volume image and the first volume image, which is also not limited, and various methods for matching may be used. In the case of a rigid body transformation match, the movement transformation and rotation transformation can be performed simultaneously. Specifically, the medical imaging apparatus 1000 may match the reference volume image and the first volume image, and generate reference matching data indicating the degree of matching the first volume image to the reference volume image. The medical imaging apparatus 1000 may convert partial volume segments of the first volume image using the generated reference matching data, and calculate first difference data based on the converted partial volume segments and the reference volume image. The medical imaging apparatus 1000 generates first corrected matched data by correcting the reference matched data using the calculated first difference data, and uses at least one of the partial volume segments of the first volume image using the first corrected matched data. Some can be converted. The medical imaging apparatus 1000 calculates the second difference data based on the converted at least part of the partial volume segments and the reference volume image, and corrects the calculated second difference data by correcting the first correction matching data and then correcting the second correction. Data can be generated.

The medical imaging apparatus 1000 may match each volume segment of one or more volume images acquired at a specific time to each volume segment of the reference volume image by using the first correction matching data or the second correction matching data. Specifically, the medical imaging apparatus 1000 may include the angle of the first volume image so that the spatial information (eg, 3D coordinate value) of each voxel of the first volume image matches the spatial information of each voxel of the reference volume image. The spatial information of the voxel may be converted to generate a matched volume image that matches the reference volume image and the first volume image. As described above, when the position information of each voxel of the first volume image is converted by matching, the image intensity of each voxel of the first volume image and the time at which each voxel was acquired (eg, measurement time) may also be converted. The medical imaging apparatus 1000 may determine, by matching with the reference volume image, the position of each voxel constituting each volume segment of the first volume image to which voxel position of the reference volume image is converted. In addition, the medical imaging apparatus 1000 may check the time measured at a position where each voxel constituting each volume segment of the first volume image is converted through matching with the reference volume image.

The medical imaging apparatus 1000 acquires the image intensity and measurement time of each voxel of the matched volume image, and estimates the image intensity and measurement time of each of the adjacent voxels adjacent to the corresponding voxel based on the acquired image intensity and measurement time. Can be. For example, adjacent voxels adjacent to a specific voxel may be voxels having a difference value from a 3D coordinate value (xk, yk, zk) of a specific voxel having a difference value smaller than a threshold difference value r. The medical imaging apparatus 1000 may estimate the image intensity and measurement time of each of the adjacent voxels using bilinear interpolation. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various methods for estimating image intensity and measurement time of each of the adjacent voxels may be used. In various embodiments, the medical imaging apparatus 1000 acquires image intensity and measurement time of each voxel of the reference volume image, and based on the acquired image intensity and measurement time, image intensity and measurement of each of the adjacent voxels adjacent to the corresponding voxel. Time can be estimated.

Through this, the medical imaging apparatus 1000 includes a voxel including information on the image intensity and measurement time of each voxel of the reference volume image and the matched volume image, and the image intensity and measurement time of each of the adjacent voxels adjacent to the respective voxels. Group information can be obtained. The voxel group information thus obtained is {[I1 (x1, y1, z1), T1 (x1, y1, z1)], [I1 (x2, y2, z2), T1 (x2, y2, z2)],. .., [I2 (M12 (xN, yN, zN)), T2 (M12 (xN, yN, zN))]}. Here, I1 (x1, y1, z1) represents image intensity information of a specific voxel of the reference volume image, and T1 (x1, y1, z1) represents measurement time information of a specific voxel of the reference volume image. In addition, I2 (M12 (xN, yN, zN)) represents image intensity information of a specific voxel of the matched volume image, and T2 (M12 (xN, yN, zN)) represents measurement time information of a specific voxel of the matched volume image. Can be represented.

In various embodiments, when registering the reference volume image and the first volume image, the medical imaging apparatus 1000 may perform the entire volume unit, each slice unit, or each volume segment unit. For example, the medical imaging apparatus 1000 may match the entire reference volume image and the entire first volume image, match each slice of the reference volume image and each slice of the first volume image, or each volume segment of the reference volume image And each volume segment of the first volume image. The medical imaging apparatus 1000 uses each of the voxels of the matched volume image (and adjacent voxels of each voxel) by using a transformation function (eg, a function related to the degree of motion such as movement transformation and rotation transformation) generated through registration. It is possible to calculate the measurement time.

The medical imaging apparatus 1000 may generate voxel information for each voxel of the reference volume image and the matched volume image using the obtained voxel group information. For example, voxel information for each voxel is 4-dimensional spatial information including 3D spatial information (eg, image intensity information of a corresponding voxel position) and visual information (eg, a time at which the voxel is measured (or acquired)). Can be expressed as For example, voxel information may be represented by data such as In (xnm, ynm, znm, tnm) (n, m are natural numbers). Using the generated voxel information, the medical imaging apparatus 1000 uses a 4-dimensional space (eg, x-axis, y-axis, x-axis, t (time)) for each voxel of the reference volume image and each voxel of the first volume image. Axis).

The medical imaging apparatus 1000 converts the visual information among the voxel information for each voxel of the reference volume image to match the preset first reference visual information, and sets the visual information among the voxel information for each voxel of the matched volume image. It can be converted to match the second reference time information. At the same time, the medical imaging apparatus 1000 may estimate the image intensity of each voxel corresponding to the first reference visual information and estimate the image intensity of each voxel corresponding to the second reference visual information. Specifically, the medical imaging apparatus 1000 may convert the measurement time of each voxel of the reference volume image to the first reference volume time, and convert the measurement time of each voxel of the matched volume image to the second reference volume time. At the same time, the medical imaging apparatus 1000 estimates the image intensity of each voxel corresponding to the first reference visual information using 3D spatial information among the voxel information for each voxel of the reference volume image, and each voxel of the matched volume image. The image intensity of each voxel corresponding to the second reference visual information may be estimated using 3D spatial information among the voxel information for. As described above, in order to estimate the image intensity of each voxel corresponding to the first reference time information and the second reference time information, the medical imaging apparatus 1000 may use a 4D interpolation method such as a B-spline, but is not limited thereto. However, various methods for estimating the image intensity of each voxel corresponding to the first reference time information and the second reference time information may be used.

The medical imaging apparatus 1000 generates a volume image having an estimated image intensity of each voxel corresponding to the first reference volume time, and a volume image having an estimated image intensity of each voxel corresponding to the second reference volume time. Can be created.

Through this, when a volume image is generated, the medical imaging apparatus simultaneously performs visual correction and motion correction between volume segments according to motion occurrence, thereby accurately correcting each volume image.

1 and 2, the medical imaging apparatus 1000 may include a bore 100 and a data processing unit 200. The bore 100 includes a coil unit 110, and the data processing unit 200 includes a signal generation unit 210, a reception unit 220, an image processing unit 230, a storage unit 240, a display unit 250, and an input unit It may include a 260 and the control unit 270.

First, with reference to the bore 100, the coil part 110 of the bore 100 includes a first signal for resonating an atomic nucleus of the object 10 and a first signal for forming a magnetic field from the data processing part 200 When is received, a magnetic field is formed based on the first signal, the second signal is irradiated to the object 10 in the formed magnetic field to resonate the atomic nucleus of the object 10, and the third signal generated from the atomic nucleus is processed by the data processor 200 ). For example, the first signal may be a slope current signal, the second signal may be an RF signal, and the third signal may be a magnetic resonance signal.

The coil unit 110 may include at least one coil disposed in a bore 100 along a predetermined direction. For example, the predetermined direction may be the cylindrical direction of the bore 100. At least one coil is a static magnetic field (Static magnetic field) to form a static magnetic field, the gradient applied to the gradient (gradient) to form a gradient magnetic field (gradient field) and irradiating the RF signal to the object 10 By resonating the atomic nucleus of the object 100, and may be at least one of the RF coil receiving a magnetic resonance signal generated from the atomic nucleus. These coils are not limited to the presented embodiment, and various types of coils may be used to perform each operation.

In various embodiments, the RF coil of the at least one coil may be formed to be movable to a position corresponding to each slice to obtain a volume segment for each of the plurality of slices of the object 10.

Next, with reference to the data processing unit 200, the signal generation unit 210 of the data processing unit 200 is a first signal and an object for forming a magnetic field in the bore 100 under the control of the control unit 270 ( A second signal for resonating the atomic nucleus of 10) may be transmitted to the bore 100.

The transceiver 220 may receive a third signal from the bore 100 and transmit a control signal for controlling the coil 110 of the bore 100 to the bore 100.

The image processing unit 230 may generate a volume image by processing the third signal received through the reception unit 220.

The storage unit 240 may store various data used in the medical imaging apparatus 1000. Specifically, at least one volume image generated through the image processing unit 230 may be stored.

The display unit 250 may display the generated volume image. The display 250 may display a matched image in which a reference volume image and a specific volume image are matched, and a volume image generated by motion correction and time correction.

The input unit 260 is not limited, such as a keyboard, mouse, or touch screen panel. The input unit 260 may set the medical imaging apparatus 1000 and instruct the operation of the medical imaging apparatus. For example, the medical practitioner may input a request or instruction to move the mobile unit 150 through the input unit 260, obtain a medical image, or perform an operation such as displaying or selecting the obtained medical image. .

The control unit 270 is operatively connected to the coil unit 110, the signal generation unit 210, the reception unit 220, the image processing unit 230, the storage unit 240, the display unit 250, and the input unit 260, , Various commands for the medical imaging apparatus 1000 may be performed.

Specifically, the control unit 270 transmits and receives a control signal for controlling the coil unit 110 of the bore 100 when there is input for obtaining a medical image of the object 10 by the input unit 260. It can be delivered to the bore 100 through. The control unit 270 transmits a first signal for a magnetic field to be formed in the bore 100 through the signal generation unit 210 and a second signal for resonating the atomic nucleus of the object 10 to the bore 100, The third signal may be received from the bore 100 through the transceiver 230. The control unit 270 may process the third signal through the image processing unit 230 to generate a volume image, and when motion is detected in the generated volume image, may perform motion correction and time correction on the volume image at the same time. .

To simultaneously perform motion correction and time correction, the controller 270 may match the reference volume image and the first volume image to generate a matched volume image, and generate voxel group information for each voxel of the reference volume image. The control unit 270 may obtain voxel information for each voxel of the reference volume image and voxel information for each voxel of the matched volume image using the generated voxel group information. Specifically, the controller 270 may acquire image intensity and measurement time for each voxel of the reference volume image and image intensity and measurement time for each voxel of the matched volume image. The controller 270 may estimate the image intensity and measurement time of each of the adjacent voxels adjacent to the corresponding voxel of the existing volume image by using the image intensity and measurement time for each voxel of the reference volume image. The controller 270 may estimate the image intensity and measurement time of each of the adjacent voxels adjacent to the corresponding voxel of the matched volume image using the image intensity and measurement time of each voxel of the matched volume image. Through this, the control unit 270 may obtain voxel group information including image intensity and measurement time for each voxel of each of the reference volume image and the matched volume image, and image intensity and measurement time of each of adjacent pixels. The control unit 270 may generate voxel information for each voxel of the reference volume image and voxel information for each voxel of the matched volume image using the obtained voxel group information. The generated voxel information may include spatial information indicating a position for each voxel and time information indicating a time when each voxel is measured. In various embodiments, when matching the reference volume image and the first volume image, the controller 270 may perform the entire volume unit, each slice unit, or each volume segment unit. The control unit 270 may calculate the measurement time of each voxel of the matched volume image using the transform function generated through the match.

The control unit 270 converts time information among voxel information for each voxel of the reference volume image into preset first reference time information, and sets second time information among the voxel information for each voxel of the matched volume image. Can be converted to At the same time, the controller 270 estimates the image intensity of each voxel corresponding to the first reference time information using spatial information among the voxel information for each voxel of the reference volume image, and the voxel information for each voxel of the matched volume image. The image intensity of each voxel corresponding to the second reference time information may be estimated using the medium spatial information. In order to estimate the video intensity of each voxel corresponding to the first reference time information and the video intensity of each voxel corresponding to the second reference time information, the controller 270 may use a 4D interpolation method such as a B-spline. It is not limited.

The control unit 270 generates a volume image corresponding to the first reference time information using the estimated image intensity of each voxel corresponding to the first reference time information, and estimates the volume of each voxel corresponding to the second reference time information. A volume image corresponding to the second reference visual information may be generated using the image intensity. The volume image corresponding to the first reference time information generated as described above is an image in which motion correction and time correction for the reference volume image are simultaneously performed, and the volume image corresponding to the second reference time information is motion correction for the first volume image. And an image in which time correction is simultaneously performed.

3 is a schematic flowchart illustrating a method for simultaneously performing motion correction and visual correction of a medical image in a medical imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the following, the first volume image may be a medical image.

1 and 3, the medical imaging apparatus 1000 matches a reference volume image and a first volume image to generate a matching volume image (S300), and acquires voxel group information for each voxel of the matching volume image It can be done (S305). For example, the medical imaging apparatus 1000 may acquire image intensity and measurement time for each voxel of the matched volume image. The medical imaging apparatus 1000 may estimate the image intensity and measurement time of each of the adjacent voxels adjacent to the corresponding voxel of the matched volume image using the image intensity and measurement time of each voxel of the matched volume image. Through this, the medical imaging apparatus 1000 may obtain voxel group information including image intensity and measurement time for each voxel of each matching volume image and image intensity and measurement time of each adjacent pixel.

The medical imaging apparatus 1000 may obtain voxel information for each voxel of the matched volume image using the generated voxel group information (S310). Specifically, the medical imaging apparatus 1000 may generate voxel information for each voxel of the matched volume image using the obtained voxel group information. The generated voxel information may include spatial information indicating a position for each voxel and time information indicating a time when each voxel is measured.

The medical imaging apparatus 1000 may convert time information among voxel information for each voxel of the matched volume image into predetermined reference time information (S315). The medical imaging apparatus 1000 may estimate the image intensity of each voxel corresponding to the reference time information by using spatial information among the voxel information for each voxel of the matched volume image (S320). S315 and S320 may be performed simultaneously.

The medical imaging apparatus 1000 may generate a volume image corresponding to the reference time information using the estimated image intensity of each voxel corresponding to the reference time information (S325).

4 is a schematic flowchart illustrating a method for simultaneously performing motion correction and visual correction of a medical image in a medical imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the following, the first volume image may be a medical image.

1 and 4, the medical imaging apparatus 1000 matches a reference volume image and a first volume image to generate a matched volume image (S400), and voxels for each voxel of the reference volume image and the matched volume image Group information may be obtained (S405). For example, the medical imaging apparatus 1000 may acquire image intensity and measurement time for each voxel of the reference volume image and image intensity and measurement time for each voxel of the matched volume image. The medical imaging apparatus 1000 estimates the image intensity and measurement time of each of the adjacent voxels adjacent to the corresponding voxel of the existing volume image using the voxel information for each voxel of the existing volume image, and for each voxel of the matched volume image. The image intensity and measurement time of each of the adjacent voxels adjacent to the corresponding voxel of the matched volume image may be estimated using the image intensity and the measurement time. Through this, the medical imaging apparatus 1000 may obtain voxel group information including image intensity and measurement time for each voxel of each of the reference volume image and the matched volume image, and image intensity and measurement time of each adjacent pixel. .

The medical imaging apparatus 1000 may obtain voxel information for each voxel of the reference volume matching and the matched volume image using the generated voxel group information (S410). Specifically, the medical imaging apparatus 1000 may generate information on each voxel of the reference volume image and voxel information on each voxel of the matched volume image using the obtained voxel group information. The generated voxel information may include spatial information indicating a position for each voxel and time information indicating a time when each voxel is measured.

The medical imaging apparatus 1000 converts visual information among voxel information for each voxel of the reference volume image into preset first reference visual information, and sets second visual information among voxel information for each voxel of the matched volume image. It can be converted into reference time information (S415). The medical imaging apparatus 1000 estimates the image intensity of each voxel corresponding to the first reference visual information by using spatial information among the voxel information for each voxel of the reference volume image, and the voxel information for each voxel of the matched volume image The image intensity of each voxel corresponding to the second reference time information may be estimated using the medium spatial information (S420). S415 and S420 may be performed simultaneously.

The medical imaging apparatus 1000 generates a volume image corresponding to the first reference visual information using the estimated image intensity of each voxel corresponding to the first reference visual information, and generates a volume image corresponding to the first reference visual information. A volume image corresponding to the second reference visual information may be generated using the estimated image strength (S425).

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5, the medical imaging apparatus 1000 may acquire a volume image 502 composed of a plurality of voxels 500 as shown in FIG. 5A. The medical imaging apparatus 1000 acquires

volume segments

504, 506, 508, 510, 512, 514 during a specific time according to a preset acquisition time, and

volume segments

504, 506, 508 acquired in the order of acquisition time , 510, 512, 514) to create a volume image. Each volume segment of the volume image 502 generated as described above may have different image strengths according to an acquisition time. For example, when the acquired volume image 502 is composed of six volume segments, the first volume segment 504, the second volume segment 506, the third volume segment 508, and the fourth volume segment 510 ), The fifth volume segment 512 and the sixth volume segment 514 may have different image strengths. The first volume segment 504 has a first image intensity, the second volume segment 506 has a second image intensity, the third volume segment 508 has a third image intensity, and the fourth volume segment ( 510) may have a fourth image intensity, the fifth volume segment 512 may have a fifth image intensity, and the sixth volume segment 514 may have a sixth image intensity.

In addition, the volume image 502 as shown in FIG. 5A may have a different measurement time according to each of the

volume segments

504, 506, 508, 510, 512, 514 as shown in FIG. 5D. have. For example, the first volume segment 504, the second volume segment 506, the third volume segment 508, the fourth volume segment 510, the fifth volume segment 512, and the sixth volume segment 514 ) May have different measurement times. The first volume segment 504 has a first measurement time, the second volume segment 506 has a fourth measurement time, the third volume segment 508 has a second measurement time, and the fourth volume segment ( 510) may have a fifth measurement time, the fifth volume segment 512 may have a third measurement time, and the sixth volume segment 514 may have a sixth measurement time. When each volume segment is obtained in the order of the first measurement time, the second measurement time, the third measurement time, the fourth measurement time, the fifth measurement time, and the sixth measurement time, the volume image 502 may include a first volume segment 504 ), The third volume segment 508, the fifth volume segment 512, the second volume segment 506, the fourth volume segment 510, and the sixth volume segment 514 in the order of lamination.

The medical imaging apparatus 1000 may acquire the next volume image 516 as shown in FIG. 5B. When movement of the acquired volume image 516 occurs, the volume image 516 may be an image rotated and / or moved as illustrated in FIG. 5B. In this case, the medical imaging apparatus 1000 may apply the volume image 516 of FIG. 5 (b) to the reference volume image (eg, the volume image 502 of FIG. 5 (a)) as shown in FIG. 5 (c). The matched matched volume image 518 may be generated. The matched volume image 518 may have different values of image intensity of each volume segment by matching. In addition, the obtained volume image 516 may have a first measurement time to a sixth measurement time according to each segment as shown in FIG. 5 (e), but each volume segment as shown in FIG. 5 (f) by registration Measurement time according to can also be converted.

As described above, when the medical imaging apparatus 1000 performs registration to perform motion correction on a volume image according to motion detection, as described above, the image intensity and measurement time of each volume segment are changed. It is necessary to acquire a volume image.

Hereinafter, an operation for simultaneously performing motion correction and visual correction according to motion detection by the medical imaging apparatus 1000 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 6A, the medical imaging apparatus 1000 attaches a first volume image 612 in which motion has occurred as shown in FIG. 6A (b) to a reference volume image 600 as shown in FIG. 6A (a). Matching may generate a matched volume image 624 as shown in FIG. 6A (c). For example, the medical imaging apparatus 1000 uses the spatial information (eg, three-dimensional position information) of each

voxel

614, 616, 618, 620, 622 of the first volume image 612 as a reference volume image 600. In order to match the spatial information of each

voxel

602, 604, 606, 608, and 610, spatial information of each voxel of the first volume image 612 may be converted using a matching matrix. In this case, image intensity and measurement time for each voxel of the first volume image 612 may also be converted. Through this, the medical imaging apparatus 1000 may determine which voxels of the first volume image 612 match with which voxels of the reference volume image 600, and each voxel of the first volume image 612 is matched. The image intensity and measurement time of each voxel of the matched first volume image 612 may be estimated using the image intensity and measurement time of each voxel of the reference volume image 600.

In addition, the medical imaging apparatus 1000 may check which voxels of the adjacent voxels adjacent to each voxel of the first volume image 612 match with which voxel of the reference volume image 600, and the first volume image. Adjacent to each voxel of the first volume image 612 matched using the image intensity and measurement time for each voxel of the reference volume image 600 to which each of the adjacent voxels adjacent to each voxel of 612 matches. The image intensity and measurement time for each of the adjacent voxels can be estimated. For example, in the medical imaging apparatus 1000, the first voxel 614 of the first volume image 612 is the reference volume image 600 through registration of the first volume image 612 and the reference volume image 600. It is possible to check which voxel matches with and which voxels adjacent to the first voxel 614 are matched with which voxels of the reference volume image 600. In this case, the first voxel 614 and the

adjacent voxels

616, 618, 620, and 622 of the first volume image 612 are the first voxel 626 and the adjacent voxels 628 of the matched

volume image

624, 630, 632, 634). The image intensity and measurement time for the first voxel 626 of the matched volume image 624 may be estimated based on the image intensity and measurement time for the first voxel 602 of the reference volume image 600, and matched The image intensity and measurement time for each of the

adjacent voxels

628, 630, 632, and 634 of the first voxel 626 of the volume image 624 is the adjacent voxel of the first voxel 602 of the reference volume image 600 It can be estimated based on the image intensity and the measurement time for each of the fields (604, 606, 608, 610).

The medical imaging apparatus 1000 performs image intensity and measurement time for each voxel of the reference volume image 600 and the matched volume image 624, and each of adjacent voxels adjacent to each voxel of the reference volume image 600. Voxel group information including image intensity and measurement time for each of the adjacent voxels adjacent to each voxel of the image intensity and measurement time and the matched volume image 624 may be generated. The medical imaging apparatus 1000 may use the generated voxel group information to generate voxel information for each voxel of the reference volume image 600 and voxel information for each voxel of the matched volume image 624.

The medical imaging apparatus 1000 converts time information among voxel information for each voxel of the reference volume image 600 into predetermined first reference time information, and time among voxel information for each voxel of the matched volume image 624 The information may be converted into preset second reference time information. The first reference time information is a time corresponding to the middle of a specific time (t ₁₁ to t ₁₈ ) at which volume segments (odd volume segments and even volume segments) of the reference volume image 600 are obtained as shown in FIG. 6B. (t _1c ), and the second reference time information is the middle of a specific time (t ₂₁ to t ₂₈ ) at which volume segments (odd volume segments and even volume segments) of the first volume image 612 are obtained. It may be a time corresponding to (t _2c ).

In the following, an embodiment in which the medical imaging apparatus 1000 estimates the image intensity for each of the

adjacent voxels

628, 630, 632, and 634 of the first voxel 626 of the matched volume image 624 with reference to FIG. 6C To explain.

To this end, the medical imaging apparatus 1000 may select voxels whose distance from the first voxel 602 of the reference volume image 600 corresponds to a preset threshold distance, as adjacent voxels of the first voxel 602. The adjacent voxels selected as described above may be

voxels

604, 606, 608, and 610 located at a critical distance r in the first voxel 602 of the reference volume image 600, as shown in FIG. 6C (a). In this case the selected voxels are _{_{{[I 1 (x 1,}} y 1, z 1), T 1 (x 1, y 1, z 1)] having the image intensity (I ₁₎ and the measured time (T _1), [ I ₁ (x ₂ , y ₂ , z ₂ ), T ₁ (x ₂ , y ₂ , z ₂ )],… It can be expressed as multidimensional coordinates such as [I ₁ (x _n , y _n , z _n ), T ₁ (x _n , y _n , z _n )]} (eg, n> 0).

However, in the case of the first volume image 612, the positions of the first voxels 612 and the

adjacent voxels

616, 618, 620, and 622 of the first volume image 612 are adjacent to each other. Since the first matrix voxel 602 of the reference volume image 600 and

adjacent voxels

604, 606, 608, 610 of the first voxel 602 are converted by the matching matrix (eg, M _f ), respectively, The medical imaging apparatus 1000 may select voxels whose distance from the first voxel 626 of the matched volume image 624 corresponds to a threshold distance, as adjacent voxels of the first voxel 626. The adjacent voxels thus selected may be

voxels

628, 630, 632, 634 located at a critical distance r in the first voxel 626 of the matched volume image 624, as shown in FIG. 6C (a). In this case, the selected voxels are {[I ₂ (M _f (x ₁ , y ₁ , z ₁ )), T ₂ (M _f (x ₁ , y ₁ ) having image intensity (I ₂ ) and measurement time (T ₂ ). , z ₁ ))], [I ₂ (M _f (x ₂ , y ₂ , z ₂ )), T ₂ (M _f ((x ₂ , y ₂ , z ₂ ))], ... [I ₂ (M _f (x _N , y _N , z _N )), T ₂ (M _f (x _N , y _N , z _N ))]}, such as multidimensional coordinates (eg, N> 0).

Subsequently, the medical imaging apparatus 1000 may include first voxels 602 of the reference volume image 600 and

adjacent voxels

604, 606, 608, and 610 of the reference volume image 600 as shown in FIG. 6C (b). And, the first voxel 626 of the matched volume image 624 and the

adjacent voxels

628, 630, 632, and 634 of the first voxel 626 may be expressed as a function of the multidimensional space 636. In this case, the first voxel 602 of the reference volume image 600 and the

adjacent voxels

604, 606, 608, 610 of the first voxel 602 and the first voxel 626 of the matched volume image 624 And each of the

adjacent voxels

628, 630, 632, and 634 of the first voxel 626 may be arranged in a multidimensional space according to the image intensity for each measurement time. For example, the medical imaging apparatus 1000 may be {[I ₁ (x ₁ , y ₁ , z ₁ ), T ₁ (x ₁ , y ₁ , z ₁ )], [I ₁ (x ₂ , y ₂ , z ₂ ), T ₁ (x ₂ , y ₂ , z ₂ )],… Multidimensional coordinates such as [I ₂ (M _f (x _N , y _N , z _N )), T ₂ (M _f (x _N , y _N , z _N ))]} are multi-dimensional as shown in FIG. 6C (b). Can be marked in space.

The medical imaging apparatus 1000 converts the measurement time of the first voxel 602 of the reference volume image 600 to the first reference time t _1c to remove the first voxel 602 of the reference volume image 600. It is possible to move to one position 638 and estimate the image intensity at the first position 638. The medical imaging apparatus 1000 converts the measurement time of each of the

adjacent voxels

604, 606, 608, and 610 of the first voxel 602 of the reference volume image 600 into a first reference time t _1c to reference it. Each of the

adjacent voxels

604, 606, 608, 610 of the first voxel 602 of the volume image 600 is moved to the first position 638, and the image intensity at the first position 638 is estimated. Can be. The medical imaging apparatus 1000 converts the measurement time of the first voxel 626 of the matched volume image 624 to the second reference time t _2c to remove the first voxel 626 of the matched volume image 624. Moving to the second position 640, it is possible to estimate the image intensity at the second position (640). The medical imaging apparatus 1000 converts the measurement time of each of the

adjacent voxels

628, 630, 632, and 634 of the first voxel 626 of the matched volume image 624 into a second reference time t _2c to match The adjacent voxels of the first voxel 626 of the volume image 624 may be moved to the second position 640 and the intensity of the image at the second position 640 may be estimated. The medical imaging apparatus 1000 may use a multi-dimensional interpolation method such as a B-spline to estimate the image intensity, but is not limited thereto, and determines the image intensity of each voxel corresponding to the first reference time information and the second reference time information. Various methods for estimating can be used.

The medical imaging apparatus generates a volume image using the estimated image intensity of each voxel at the first reference time t _1c , and a volume image using the estimated image intensity of each voxel at the second reference time t _2c . Can generate The volume images generated as described above may be volume images in which motion correction and time correction are simultaneously performed.

As described above, the present invention can accurately correct each volume image by simultaneously performing motion correction and time correction between volume segments according to the occurrence of motion when generating the volume image.

The apparatus and method according to an embodiment of the present invention may be implemented in a form of program instructions that can be executed through various computer means and recorded in a computer readable medium. Computer-readable media may include program instructions, data files, data structures, or the like alone or in combination.

The program instructions recorded on the computer-readable medium may be specially designed and configured for the present invention or may be known and usable by those skilled in the computer software field. Examples of computer-readable recording media include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tapes, optical media such as CD-ROMs, DVDs, and magnetic media such as floptical disks. Includes hardware devices specifically configured to store and execute program instructions such as magneto-optical media and ROM, RAM, flash memory, and the like. In addition, the above-described medium may be a transmission medium such as an optical or metal wire or waveguide including a carrier wave that transmits a signal designating a program command, data structure, or the like. Examples of program instructions include high-level language codes that can be executed by a computer using an interpreter, etc., as well as machine language codes produced by a compiler.

The hardware device described above may be configured to operate as one or more software modules to perform the operation of the present invention, and vice versa.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not necessarily limited to these embodiments, and may be variously modified without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention. . Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention are not intended to limit the technical spirit of the present invention, but to explain, and the scope of the technical spirit of the present invention is not limited by these embodiments. Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described above are illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of protection of the present invention should be interpreted by the claims below, and all technical spirits within the equivalent range should be interpreted as being included in the scope of the present invention.

[National research and development project supporting this invention]

[Task identification number] NRF-2017M3C7A1049051

[Department name] Ministry of Science and ICT

[Research Management Agency] Korea Research Foundation

[Research Project Name] Source Technology Development Project

[Research title] Causal effective network estimation and brain system analysis technology of multiple scale, multiple modal, multiple species neural signals and image-based brain neural circuits

[Contribution rate] 1/1

[Host organization] Yonsei University Industry-University Cooperation Foundation

[Research Period] 2018.03.01 ~ 2018.12.31

Claims

Obtaining a medical image signal for a target portion of an object and processing the acquired medical image signal to generate a first medical image;

Generating a matched medical image by matching a reference medical image and the first medical image to obtain voxel group information for each voxel of the generated matched medical image;

Generating voxel information for each voxel of the matched medical image using the obtained voxel group information;

Converting time information from the generated voxel information to preset reference time information and estimating an image intensity of each voxel corresponding to the reference time information using spatial information among the voxel information; And

And generating a medical image corresponding to the reference time information using the estimated image intensity of each voxel corresponding to the reference time information.
According to claim 1,

When matching the reference medical image and the first medical image, the reference medical image and the first medical image are performed in the entire volume unit, or the reference medical image and the first medical image are divided into slice units. Or performed by dividing the reference medical image and the first medical image in segment units.
According to claim 1, The voxel group information,

A method for simultaneously correcting motion and measurement time in a volume in acquiring a living body 4D image, including image intensity for each voxel of the matched medical image and a measurement time measured for each voxel.
According to claim 2,

Simultaneous correction of motion and measurement time in volume in acquiring a living body 4D image, estimating a measurement time for each voxel of the matched medical image using a transform function generated when matching the reference medical image and the first medical image Way.
The method of claim 3, wherein the voxel information,

A method for simultaneously correcting motion and measurement time in a volume in acquiring a living body 4D image, which is information representing image intensity and the measurement time for each voxel as 4D spatial information.
The method of claim 3, wherein generating voxel information for each voxel of the matched medical image comprises:

Obtaining image intensity and measurement time for each voxel of the matched medical image;

Obtaining image intensity and measurement time for each of the adjacent voxels adjacent to each voxel; And

And acquiring image intensity and measurement time for each voxel and image intensity and measurement time for each of the adjacent voxels as the voxel group information. Way.
The method of claim 6, wherein the voxel information,

Simultaneous correction of motion and measurement time in volume in acquiring a living body 4D image, which is information representing image intensity and measurement time for each voxel and image intensity and measurement time for each of the adjacent voxels as 4D spatial information.
The method of claim 6, wherein estimating the video intensity of each voxel corresponding to the reference time information,

And estimating an image intensity of each voxel corresponding to the reference time information using a 4D interpolation method.
A bore for obtaining a medical image signal for a target site of the subject; And

It includes a data processing unit for processing the medical image signal obtained through the bore to generate a first medical image,

The data processing unit,

Matching a reference medical image and the first medical image to generate a matched medical image to obtain voxel group information for each voxel of the generated matched medical image,

The voxel group information is used to generate voxel information for each voxel of the matched medical image,

At the same time, converting time information from the generated voxel information to preset reference time information, and using spatial information among the voxel information to estimate the image intensity of each voxel corresponding to the reference time information,

A device for simultaneously correcting motion and measurement time in a volume in acquiring a living body 4D image using the estimated image intensity of each voxel corresponding to the reference time information to generate a medical image corresponding to the reference time information.
10. The method of claim 9, The data processing unit,

When matching the reference medical image and the first medical image, the reference medical image and the first medical image are performed in the entire volume unit, or the reference medical image and the first medical image are divided into slice units. Or performing the segmentation of the reference medical image and the first medical image in segment units.
10. The method of claim 9, The voxel group information,

A device for simultaneously correcting motion and measurement time in a volume in acquiring a living body 4D image, including image intensity for each voxel of the matched medical image and measurement time measured for each voxel.
The method of claim 10, wherein the data processing unit,

Simultaneous correction of motion and measurement time in volume in acquiring a living body 4D image, estimating a measurement time for each voxel of the matched medical image using a transform function generated when matching the reference medical image and the first medical image Device.
The method of claim 11, wherein the voxel information,

A device for simultaneously correcting motion and measurement time in a volume in acquiring a living body 4D image, which is information representing image intensity and the measurement time for each voxel as 4D spatial information.
The method of claim 11, wherein the data processing unit,

Obtain image intensity and measurement time for each voxel of the matched medical image, obtain image intensity and measurement time for each of the adjacent voxels adjacent to each voxel, and obtain image intensity and measurement time for each voxel and the A device for simultaneously correcting motion and measurement time in volume in acquiring a living body 4D image, obtaining image intensity and measurement time for each of the adjacent voxels as the voxel group information.
The method of claim 14, wherein the voxel information,

Simultaneous correction of motion and measurement time in volume in acquiring a living body 4D image, which is information representing image intensity and measurement time for each voxel and image intensity and measurement time for each of the adjacent voxels as 4D spatial information.
15. The method of claim 14, The data processing unit,

A device for simultaneously correcting motion and measurement time in a volume in acquiring a living body 4D image, using a 4D interpolation method to estimate the image intensity of each voxel corresponding to the reference time information.