Method and apparatus for embolism analysis

An automated method for analyzing the affected region due to an embolism in an organ comprising the steps of:

• generating a segmented image of the organ vasculature using image volume data;
• identifying an embolus point within said segmented image;
• and
• automatically determining a volume of the organ affected by said embolism,
• wherein said step of automatically determining a volume of the organ affected by said embolism further comprises the step of:
• computing a sub-tree within said segmented image, and
• wherein said step of determining a volume of the organ affected by said embolism further comprises the step of:
• calculating a volume of a region of said organ that is perfused by said sub-tree.

Apparatus for analyzing the affected region due to an embolism in an organ comprising:

• means for generating a segmented image of the organ vasculature using image volume data;
• means for identifying an embolus point within said segmented image;
• and
• means for automatically determining a volume of the organ affected by said embolism,
• wherein said means for automatically determining a volume of the organ affected by said embolism further comprises:
• means for computing a sub-tree within said segmented image,
• wherein said sub-tree image comprises a plurality of overlapping trees due to nearby vessels in said image, said apparatus further comprising:
• means for identifying said overlapping trees;
• and
• means for removing said overlapping trees from said sub-tree, and
• wherein said means for identifying overlapping trees further comprises:
• means for analyzing branch angles within said sub-tree image.

Apparatus for analyzing the affected region due to an embolism in an organ comprising:

• means for generating a segmented image of the organ vasculature using image volume data;
• means for identifying an embolus point within said segmented image;
• and
• means for automatically determining a volume of the organ affected by said embolism,
• wherein said means for automatically determining a volume of the organ affected by said embolism further comprises:
• means for computing a sub-tree within said segmented image, and
• wherein said means for determining a volume of the organ affected by said embolism further comprises:
• means for calculating a volume of a region of said organ that is perfused by said sub-tree.

A computer readable medium comprising stored computer program code for analyzing the affected region due to an embolism in an organ, said computer program code, when executed by a processor, defining the steps of:

• generating a segmented image of the organ vasculature using image volume data;
• identifying an embolus point within said segmented image;
• and
• automatically determining a volume of the organ affected by said embolism,
• wherein said computer program code defining the step of automatically determining a volume of the organ affected by said embolism further comprises computer program code defining the step of:
• computing a sub-tree within said segmented image,
• wherein said sub-tree image comprises a plurality of overlapping trees due to nearby vessels in said image, said computer readable medium further comprising computer program code defining the steps of:
• identifying said overlapping trees;
• and
• removing said overlapping trees from said sub-tree, and
• wherein said computer program code defining the step of identifying overlapping trees further comprises computer program code defining the step of:
• analyzing branch angles within said sub-tree image.

A computer readable medium comprising stored computer program code for analyzing the affected region due to an embolism in an organ, said computer program code, when executed by a processor, defining the steps of:

• generating a segmented image of the organ vasculature using image volume data;
• identifying an embolus point within said segmented image;
• and
• automatically determining a volume of the organ affected by said embolism,
• wherein said computer program code defining the step of automatically determining a volume of the organ affected by said embolism further comprises computer program code defining the step of:
• computing a sub-tree within said segmented image, and
• wherein said computer program code defining the step of determining a volume of the organ affected by said embolism further comprises computer program code defining the step of:
• calculating a volume of a region of said organ that is perfused by said sub-tree.