US 2008/0175459 A1 · METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR GUIDED TWO DIMENSIONAL COLON SCREENING

Abstract

A method and apparatus for guiding image reading for colon screening, includes calculating a centerline for a colon; scrolling through a succession of two dimensional (2D) cross-sectional images of a colon in respective image planes, such that a current image plane includes a respective current focus point formed by an intersection of the centerline with the current image plane. The method further includes performing a three-dimensional (3D) region growing process for growing a region of a suitable given thickness around a current seed point in a current image plane, the current seed point being at the respective current focus point in the current image plane, such that the region growing “floods” folds within a prescribed distance from the current seed point such that part of the region intersects the current image plane. Portions of the region intersecting the current image plane that meets at least one of conditions (A) and (B) are removed from consideration where: condition (A) includes the region intersecting the given current image plane containing a further connected component not containing the current seed point, and containing a further intersection of the image plane with the centerline other than the current seed point, and condition (B) includes the further connected component exhibiting a larger area than that exhibited by a connected component containing the current seed point; and marking remaining portions of the region intersecting the current image plane, not removed from consideration, as seen areas.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A method for guiding image reading for colon screening, comprising:

calculating a centerline for a colon to be screened;
scrolling through a succession of two dimensional (2D) cross-sectional images of a colon in respective image planes, such that a current image plane includes a respective current focus point formed by an intersection of said centerline with said current image plane;
performing a three-dimensional (3D) region growing process for growing a region of a suitable given thickness around a current seed point in a current image plane, said current seed point being at said respective current focus point in said current image plane, such that said region growing floods any folds within a prescribed distance from said current seed point and such that part of said region intersects said current image plane;
and
marking portions of said region intersecting said current image with a first mark.

2 more elements

A method for guiding image reading for colon screening, comprising:

(a) calculating a centerline for a colon;
(b) scrolling through a succession of two dimensional (2D) cross-sectional images of a colon in respective image planes, such that a current image plane includes a respective current focus point formed by an intersection of said centerline with said current image plane;
(c) performing a three-dimensional (3D) region growing process for growing a region of a suitable given thickness around a current seed point in said current image plane, said current seed point being at said respective current focus point in said current image plane, such that said region growing “floods” folds within a prescribed distance from said current seed point such that part of said region intersects said current image plane;
(d) marking as “not seen” any portions of said region intersecting said current image plane that meet at least one of conditions (A) and (B), wherein:
(A) comprises said region intersecting said given current image plane containing a further connected component not containing said current seed point, and containing a further intersection of said image plane with said centerline other than said current seed point,
and
(B) comprises said further connected component exhibiting a larger area than that exhibited by a connected component containing said current seed point;
and
(e) marking remaining portions of said region intersecting said current image plane, not marked as “not seen”, as “seen areas”.

6 more elements

A method for guiding image reading for colon screening, comprising:

calculating a centerline for a colon;
scrolling through a succession of two dimensional (2D) cross-sectional images of said colon in respective image planes, such that a current image plane includes a respective current focus point formed by an intersection of said centerline with said current image plane until, in the event of said colon exhibiting a bend such that said centerline exhibits a bend ahead of said scrolling, a critical image plane is reached, including a critical focus point, wherein further scrolling to a next plane causes said centerline to no longer intersect said next plane by veering away due to said bend;
projecting a guide line from said critical focus point in a substantially perpendicular direction to said critical image plane;
and
scrolling through a further succession of 2D cross-sectional images of said colon in further respective image planes beyond said critical image plane, such that a further current image plane includes a further respective focus point formed by an intersection of said guide line with said further current image plane.

2 more elements

A system for guiding image reading for colon screening, comprising:

a memory device for storing a program and other data;
and
a processor in communication with said memory device, said processor being operative with said program to perform:
(a) calculating a centerline for a colon;
(b) scrolling through a succession of two dimensional (2D) cross-sectional images of a colon in respective image planes, such that a current image plane includes a respective current focus point formed by an intersection of said centerline with said current image plane;
(c) performing a three-dimensional (3D) region growing process for growing a region of a suitable given thickness around a current seed point in a current image plane, said current seed point being at said respective current focus point in said current image plane, such that said region growing “floods” folds within a prescribed distance from said current seed point such that part of said region intersects said current image plane;
(d) removing from consideration portions of said region intersecting said current image plane that meets at least one of conditions (A) and (B), wherein:
condition (A) comprises said region intersecting said given current image plane containing a further connected component not containing said current seed point, and containing a further intersection of said image plane with said centerline other than said current seed point,
and
condition (B) comprises said further connected component exhibiting a larger area than that exhibited by a connected component containing said current seed point;
and
(e) marking remaining portions of said region intersecting said current image plane, not removed from consideration, as seen areas.

9 more elements

A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for program code for guiding image reading for colon screening, comprising:

(a) calculating a centerline for a colon;
(b) scrolling through a succession of two dimensional (2D) cross-sectional images of a colon in respective image planes, such that a current image plane includes a respective current focus point formed by an intersection of said centerline with said current image plane;
(c) performing a three-dimensional (3D) region growing process for growing a region of a suitable given thickness around a current seed point in a current image plane, said current seed point being at said respective current focus point in said current image plane, such that said region growing “floods” folds within a prescribed distance from said current seed point such that part of said region intersects said current image plane;
(d) removing from consideration portions of said region intersecting said current image plane that meets at least one of conditions (A) and (B), wherein:
condition (A) comprises said region intersecting said given current image plane containing a further connected component not containing said current seed point, and containing a further intersection of said image plane with said centerline other than said current seed point,
and
condition (B) comprises said further connected component exhibiting a larger area than that exhibited by a connected component containing said current seed point;
and
(e) marking remaining portions of said region intersecting said current image plane, not removed from consideration, as seen areas.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and system for guided two dimensional colon screening

Life of this patent

Method and system for guided two dimensional colon screening

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25