US 10,762,636 B2Granted

Systems and methods for volumetric segmentation of structures in planar medical images

AssigneeHealthMyne, Inc.

InventorsDavid Gering, Aaron Avery, Roger Chylla

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Abstract

Methods and systems for volumetric segmentation of structures in planar medical images. One example method includes displaying a first planar medical image. The method further includes receiving a user input indicating a line segment in the first planar medical image. The method also includes determining an inclusion region using the line segment. The inclusion region consists of a portion of the structure. The method further includes determining a containment region using the line segment. The containment region includes the structure. The method also includes determining a background region using the line segment. The background region excludes the structure. The method further includes determining a three dimensional (3D) contour of the structure using the inclusion region, the containment region, and the background region. The method also includes determining a long axis of the structure using the 3D contour. The method further includes outputting a dimension of the long axis.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A method for volumetric segmentation of a structure in a plurality of planar medical images, the method comprising:

receiving, at an electronic processor, the plurality of planar medical images, wherein the plurality of planar medical images form a three dimensional (3D) volume including the structure;
displaying, on a display, a first planar medical image from the plurality of planar medical images;
detecting, with a user interface, a user selection at a first location in the first planar medical image;
detecting, with the user interface, a user deselection at a second location in the first planar medical image, wherein the second location is different from the first location;
prior to detecting the user deselection,
receiving, with the user interface, a third location in the first planar medical image, wherein the third location is different from the first location and the second location;
determining, with the electronic processor, a first two dimensional (2D) contour of the structure using a first single straight line segment between the third location and the first location;
re-displaying, on the display, the first planar medical image with visual indicators of the first single straight line segment and the first 2D contour of the structure;
receiving, with the user interface, the second location after receiving the third location;
determining, with the electronic processor, a second 2D contour of the structure using a second single straight line segment between the second location and the first location;
and
re-displaying, on the display, the first planar medical image with visual indicators of the second single straight line segment and the second 2D contour of the structure;
and
after detecting the user deselection,
determining, with the electronic processor, an inclusion region of the 3D volume using the second single straight line segment, wherein the inclusion region consists of a portion of the structure;
determining, with the electronic processor, a containment region of the 3D volume using the second single straight line segment, wherein the containment region includes the structure;
determining, with the electronic processor, a background region of the 3D volume using the second single straight line segment, wherein the background region excludes the structure;
determining, with the electronic processor, a 3D contour of the structure using the inclusion region, the containment region, and the background region;
determining, with the electronic processor, a long axis of the structure using the 3D contour of the structure;
and
outputting, with the electronic processor, a dimension of the long axis of the structure.

18 more elements

A system for determining volumetric segmentation of a structure in a plurality of planar medical images, the system comprising:

a display;
a user interface;
and
an electronic processor configured to
receive the plurality of planar medical images, wherein the plurality of planar medical images form a three dimensional (3D) volume including the structure and a plurality of voxels,
display, on the display, a first planar medical image from the plurality of planar medical images,
detect, with the user interface, a user selection at a first location in the first planar medical image,
detect, with the user interface, a user deselection at a second location in the first planar medical image, wherein the second location is different from the first location,
prior to detecting the user deselection,
receive, with the user interface, a third location in the first planar medical image, wherein the third location is different from the first location and the second location,
determine a first two dimensional (2D) contour of the structure using a first single straight line segment between the third location and the first location,
re-display, on the display, the first planar medical image with visual indicators of the first single straight line segment and the first 2D contour of the structure,
receive, with the user interface, the second location after receiving the third location,
determine a second 2D contour of the structure using a second single straight line segment between the second location and the first location, and
re-display, on the display, the first planar medical image with visual indicators of the second single straight line segment and the second 2D contour of the structure, and
after detecting the user deselection,
determine an inclusion region of the 3D volume using the second single straight line segment, wherein the inclusion region consists of a portion of the structure,
determine a containment region of the 3D volume using the second single straight line segment, wherein the containment region includes the structure,
determine a background region of the 3D volume using the single second straight line segment, wherein the background region excludes the structure,
classify the voxels located within the containment region as belonging to either a foreground class or a background class using the inclusion region, the containment region, and the background region,
determine a 3D contour of the structure based on a border in the 3D volume between the voxels belonging to the foreground class and the voxels belonging to the background class,
determine a long axis of the structure using the 3D contour of the structure, and
output a dimension of the long axis of the structure.

20 more elements

A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium for use in connection with a system comprising an electronic processor, a display, and a user interface, the non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprising instructions that when executed by the electronic processor cause the electronic processor to

receive a plurality of planar medical images, wherein the plurality of planar medical images form a three dimensional (3D) volume including a structure;
display, on the display, a first planar medical image from the plurality of planar medical images;
detect, with the user interface, a user selection at a first location in the first planar medical image;
detect, with the user interface, a user deselection at a second location in the first planar medical image, wherein the second location is different from the first location;
prior to detecting the user deselection,
receive, with the user interface, a third location in the first planar medical image, wherein the third location is different from the first location and the second location;
determine a first two dimensional (2D) contour of the structure using a first single straight line segment between the third location and the first location;
re-display, on the display, the first planar medical image with visual indicators of the first single straight line segment and the first 2D contour of the structure;
receive, with the user interface, the second location after receiving the third location;
determine a second 2D contour of the structure using a second single straight line segment between the second location and the first location;
and
re-display, on the display, the first planar medical image with visual indicators of the second single straight line segment and the second 2D contour of the structure;
and
after detecting the user deselection,
determine an inclusion region of the 3D volume using the second single straight line segment, wherein the inclusion region consists of a portion of the structure;
determine a containment region of the 3D volume using the second single straight line segment, wherein the containment region includes the structure;
determine a background region of the 3D volume using the second single straight line segment, wherein the background region excludes the structure;
determine a 3D contour of the structure using the inclusion region, the containment region, and the background region;
determine a long axis of the structure using the 3D contour of the structure;
and
output a dimension of the long axis of the structure.

18 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/990,131Filed 25 May 2018 · us provisional application
Priority: 29 Jun 2017
Published: US 2019/0005649 A13 Jan 2019
Granted: 1 Sep 2020
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification26 codes

G06T 7/12
Segmentation; Edge detection: edge-based segmentation
A61B 6/463
Displaying means of special interest: characterised by displaying multiple images or images and diagnostic data on one display
A61B 6/466
Displaying means of special interest: adapted to display 3D data
A61B 6/5217
Involving processing of medical diagnostic data: extracting a diagnostic or physiological parameter from medical diagnostic data