Intelligent medical image landmark detection

A system for artificial agent training for intelligent landmark identification in medical images, the system comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs;
• the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the system to:
• evaluate a state space of discrete portions of each training image of a set of training images, wherein training images of the set of training images includes a landmark target, wherein the landmark target is marked on each training image;
• change a position of the state space with respect to each training image via application of actions of a pre-defined set of actions;
• determine a reward value of each position change of the state space based on a reward system, wherein the reward value is indicative of a proximity of a current state space to a pre-defined landmark target of each training image;
• and
• optimize behavior of the artificial agent based on maximizing a cumulative future reward value based on the reward system, the set of actions, the state space, and the set of training images, wherein the behavior of the artificial agent is intelligent selection of next actions to achieve a position of the state space on the landmark target in each image.

A non-transitory computer readable medium including instructions for evaluating medical images that when executed are operable to:

• receive a medical image of a patient;
• and
• apply optimized behavior of an artificial agent to:
• select actions from a pre-defined set of actions changing the position of the state space relative to the medical image,
• evaluate discrete portions of the medical image defined by a position of the state space of the artificial agent relative to the medical image, and
• determine a location of the target landmark when present in the medical image from the evaluation.