Temporal smoothing of a deformation model
AssigneeAccuray Incorporated
InventorsJay B. West, Calvin R. Maurer, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for approximating a path of movement of a target. The method includes referencing a temporal sequence of images, identifying a plurality of data points associated with a selected volume element of the volume of interest, and calculating an estimated location of the selected volume element based on a cost function having a constraint which favors continuous spatial motion of the selected volume element over time. Each of the images of the temporal sequence of images depicts a volume of interest. Each of the plurality of data points corresponds to one of the images.
Claims38
A computer-implemented method, comprising:
- indexing a temporal sequence of images taken at different points in time in a motion cycle with a known temporal relationship, wherein each of the images depicts a spatial volume;
- identifying three or more data points, wherein each of the data points describes an estimated spatial position of a selected volume element of the spatial volume in the motion cycle, wherein each of the data points corresponds to one of the images;
- and
- calculating, using the identified data points, an estimated location of the selected volume element based on a function having a constraint which favors smooth motion of the selected volume element over time using a processing device.
An apparatus, comprising:
- a data storage device to store a plurality of temporally sequential images taken at different points in time in a motion cycle with a known temporal relationship, wherein the plurality of temporally sequential images include a volume of interest structure;
- and
- a digital processing device coupled to the data storage device, the digital processing device to calculate a polynomial approximation of a temporal path of movement of a selected volume element of the volume of interest structure during the motion cycle using three or more of the temporally sequential images taken at three or more points in time in the motion cycle, and to calculate an estimated location of the selected volume element based on the polynomial approximation.
A computer readable storage medium having instructions thereon, which instructions, when executed by a digital processing device, cause the digital processing device to perform the following, comprising:
- reference a temporal sequence of images taken at different points in time in a motion cycle with a known temporal relationship, wherein each of the images depicts a volume of interest;
- identify three or more data points associated with a selected volume element of the volume of interest in the motion cycle, wherein each of the data points corresponds to one of the images;
- and
- calculate an estimated location of the selected volume element based on a polynomial approximation of at least some of the identified data points.
An apparatus, comprising:
- means for identifying a deformation model for a selected volume element over time, wherein the deformation model comprises three or more data points corresponding to a temporal sequence of images taken at different points in time in a motion cycle with a known temporal relationship, wherein each of the data points describes an estimated spatial position of the selected volume element in the motion cycle;
- and
- means for modifying the deformation model based on an assumption that the selected volume element moves along a continuous path over time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.