Method and apparatus for detecting anatomic structures
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsAnders Herman Torp, Stein Inge Rabben, Bjørn Olstad
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Abstract
An anatomic structure is detected based on a medical diagnostic imaging data set. The anatomic structure comprises at least two different types of tissue. At least one anatomic landmark is identified within the data set, the data set is overlaid with a contour template, and a search region of the data set surrounding the contour template is scanned to identify transition points associated with a predefined characteristic of the anatomic structure.
Claims21
A method for detecting an anatomic structure based on a medical diagnostic imaging data set, comprising:
- obtaining a data set representative of a diagnostic image corresponding to an anatomic structure using an imaging system;
- identifying at least one anatomic landmark within said data set;
- overlaying said data set with a contour template;
- and
- analyzing, using a processor, a search region of said data set surrounding said contour template to identify transition points associated with a predefined characteristic of the anatomic structure based at least on a transition smoothness.
A system for identifying an endocardium, comprising:
- a transmitter for transmitting ultrasound signals into an area of interest;
- a receiver for receiving echo signals from transmitted ultrasound signals;
- a memory for storing a series of image frames comprising said echo signals, said series of image frames comprising at least one heart cycle;
- a signal processor processing said series of image frames to identify at least one of an apex and an AV plane having first and second ends, said signal processor overlaying a contour template connecting said apex to said first and second ends on said series of image frames, said signal processor identifying and comparing points along said contour template to identify transition points based upon a predefined characteristic of an endocardium and a transition smoothness;
- and
- an output for outputting information based on an output of said signal processor.
A method for identifying at least one of a contour between different types of tissue and a contour between tissue and blood, said method comprising:
- obtaining a series of data sets representative of a diagnostic image having at least two different types of tissue using an imaging system;
- identifying at least two anatomic landmarks within said series of data sets;
- connecting said at least two anatomic landmarks with a contour template;
- identifying data points on and around said contour template;
- and
- comparing, using a processor, said data points to identify transition points having a predefined characteristic indicative of a change from one type of tissue to one of a second type of tissue and blood based at least on a transition smoothness.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.