# US 12,217,384 B2 · Contrast enhancement method for the objects with intrinsic partial volume effect > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,217,384 B2 - Document ID: US12217384B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/795,279 - Filed: 2021-01-26 - Published: 2023-03-09 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2020-01-29 - Assignees: University of Cincinnati; Children's Hospital Medical Center - Applicants: University of Cincinnati; Children's Hospital Medical Center - Inventors: Jinghua Wang; Lili He - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12217384B2 ## CPC - G06T 3/40: Scaling of whole images or parts thereof, e.g. expanding or contracting - G06T 5/94: based on local image properties, e.g. for local contrast enhancement - G06T 7/0012: {Biomedical image inspection} - A61B 6/481: {involving the use of contrast agents} - A61B 8/481: {involving the use of contrast agents, e.g. microbubbles introduced into the bloodstream} - G06T 2207/10088: Magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] - G06T 2207/30096: Tumor; Lesion - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A method for spatial resolution enhanced imaging is provided. The method includes determining a target region of a subject being imaged; estimating an achievable spatial resolution; selecting an increased spatial resolution that is greater than a predetermined spatial resolution and equal to or less than the achievable spatial resolution; and acquiring image data of the target region with the increased spatial resolution. A method for enhancing the contrast between the region of interest and other tissue region in the image data acquired with the increased spatial resolution and other tissue region in image data acquired with the predetermined spatial resolution due to the intrinsic partial volume effect is also provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for spatial resolution enhanced imaging, the method comprising: determining a target region of a subject being imaged; estimating an achievable spatial resolution; selecting an increased spatial resolution that is greater than a predetermined spatial resolution and equal to or less than the achievable spatial resolution; and acquiring image data of the target region with the increased spatial resolution, wherein a voxel or a pixel of the image data corresponding to a region of interest in the target region includes intrinsic partial volume effect and another voxel or pixel of the image data corresponding to a boundary of the region of interest in the target region includes extrinsic partial volume effect, wherein a contrast between the region of interest and other tissue region in the image data acquired with the increased spatial resolution is greater than a contrast between the region of interest and other tissue region in the image data acquired with the predetermined spatial resolution due to the intrinsic partial volume effect. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the voxel or pixel of the image data corresponding to the region of interest further comprises cells and molecules with the different pathological or physiological features that are characterized by radiomic features derived from the radiological images. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: administering contrast agent, wherein the intrinsic partial volume effect consists of a cell with contrast agent leakage and a cell without contrast agent leakage. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the intrinsic partial volume effect consists of a lesion cell and a non-lesion cell. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the image data is acquired with functional imaging; and the intrinsic partial volume effect consists of excited neurons and non-excited neurons. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the image data of the subject is received from one of, X-ray, computed tomography (CT), ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), magnetic resonance spectroscopy imaging (MRSI), positron emission tomography (PET), near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging, nuclear medicine imaging, and their variations. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the increased spatial resolution is greater than a half of the achievable spatial resolution. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the increased spatial resolution is between a half of the achievable spatial resolution and two thirds of the achievable spatial resolution. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the increased spatial resolution is between two thirds of the achievable spatial resolution and the achievable spatial resolution. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the achievable spatial resolution is determined by various factors including imaging modalities, hardware, imaging parameters, acquisition time, and image reconstruction. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, further comprising implementing one of lesion detection, disease diagnosis, treatment planning and treatment assessment based on the acquired image data. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined spatial resolution is a spatial resolution used in clinical or research practice. ### Claim 13 A system for contrast enhancement, the system comprising: a processor configured to: determine a target region of a subject being imaged; estimate an achievable spatial resolution; and select an increased spatial resolution that is greater than a predetermined spatial resolution and equal to or less than the achievable spatial resolution; and a receiver configured to acquire image data of the target region with the increased spatial resolution, wherein a voxel or a pixel of the image data corresponding to a region of interest in the target region includes intrinsic partial volume effect and another voxel or pixel of the image data corresponding to a boundary of the region of interest in the target region includes extrinsic partial volume effect, wherein a contrast between the region of interest and other tissue region in the image data acquired with the increased spatial resolution is greater than a contrast between the region of interest and other tissue region in image data acquired with the predetermined spatial resolution due to the intrinsic partial volume effect. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the voxel or pixel of the image data corresponding to the region of interest further comprises cells and molecules with the different pathological or physiological features that are characterized by radiomic features derived from the radiological images. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the intrinsic partial volume effect includes a cell with contrast agent leakage and a cell without contrast agent leakage. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the image data is acquired with functional imaging; and the intrinsic partial volume effect include excited neurons and non-excited neurons. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the increased spatial resolution is greater than a half of the achievable spatial resolution. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the increased spatial resolution is between a half of the achievable spatial resolution and two thirds of the achievable spatial resolution. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the increased spatial resolution is between two thirds of the achievable spatial resolution and the achievable spatial resolution. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the controller reduces a dose of a contrast agent to be applied to the subject when image data of the subject is acquired with the increased spatial resolution to be less than a dose of the contrast agent to be applied to the subject when image data of the subject is acquired with the predetermined spatial resolution.