US5776063A
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US
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Analysis of ultrasound images in the presence of contrast agent
Assignee: Molecular Biosystems Inc
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Filing: 1996-09-30
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Granted: 1998-07-07
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Expires: 2016-09-30
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for directly identifying and characterizing input data derived from regions of interest in ultrasound images of organs in the presence of attenuation from interposed contrast agent, for the purpose of diagnosing abnormalities. The input data is classified into one of a number of classes depending upon the characteristics of that data, in order to distinguish normal conditions from abnormal conditions. The invention is based on the recognition that significant information relating to the health of tissue exists in regions of interest in ultrasound images in the presence of attenuation from interposed contrast agent. This information is in the form of backscatter speckle patterns that have "texture" characteristics that are distinguishable in healthy versus diseased tissue. The invention classifies such patterns as probably normal or abnormal by means of an analysis system that may include a neural network system. The preferred embodiment of the present invention includes: (1) a data acquisition system for acquiring ultrasound image data indicative of a region of interest in the presence of attenuation from interposed contrast agent; (2) an optional signal conditioning stage to remove signals (e.g., noise) from the input data; and (3) an analysis system designed to detect "texture" characteristics that distinguish healthy tissue from diseased tissue even in the presence of the contrast agent. The output classifies the input data in a uniform, unambiguous manner. The invention is preferably implemented as a computer program executing on a programmable computer.
Inventors
- 👤 Howard Dittrich
- 👤 Harold Levene
- 👤 Eric Mjolsness
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 21:15
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B8/00; A61B8/06; A61B8/48; A61B8/481; A61B6/00; A61B6/54; A61B6/541; A61B8/54; A61B8/543; G; G06; G06N; G06N3/00; G06N3/02; G06N3/04; G06N3/045
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 69
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of characterizing a region of interest in a plurality of images of a contrast-enhanced organ, comprising the steps of: (a) generating a set of digitized images of the region of interest; (b) analyzing the set of digitized images of the region of interest by means of an analysis system configured to recognize contrast agent texture patterns in such digitized images indicative of tissue health in the organ; (c) indicating, based on such analysis, if the region of interest is probably normal or abnormal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of characterizing a region of interest in a plurality of images of a contrast-enhanced organ, comprising the steps of: (a) generating a set of digitized images of the region of interest; (b) analyzing the set of digitized images of the region of interest by means of an analysis system configured to recognize contrast agent texture patterns in such digitized images indicative of tissue health in the organ; (c) indicating, based on such analysis, if the region of interest is probably normal or abnormal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the images are ultrasound images.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
17 words
The method of claims 1 or 2, wherein the images are generated by a B-mode ultrasound system.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
17 words
The method of claims 1 or 2, wherein the images are generated by a Doppler ultrasound system.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
17 words
The method of claims 1 or 2, wherein the images are generated by a harmonic ultrasound system.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
17 words
The method of claims 1 or 2, wherein the images are generated by a three-dimensional ultrasound system.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
13 words
The method of claims 1 or 2, wherein the organ is a heart.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the images are taken at approximately the same point in the cardiac cycle of the heart.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
13 words
The method of claims 1 or 2, wherein the organ is a kidney.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
13 words
The method of claims 1 or 2, wherein the organ is a brain.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
13 words
The method of claims 1 or 2, wherein the organ is a liver.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
13 words
The method of claims 1 or 2, wherein the organ is a testis.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
13 words
The method of claims 1 or 2, wherein the organ is a muscle.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of normal or abnormal pertains to degree of blood flow within the organ.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of analyzing the set of images comprises the further steps of: (a) generating a plurality of filtered intermediate images from each image; (b) applying a set of expert analysis modules to the intermediate images to classify the set of images as probably normal or abnormal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the contrast agent is chosen from the group consisting of liquid emulsions, solids, encapsulated fluids, encapsulated biocompatible gases, and combinations thereof.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 16, wherein the contrast agent employs a fluorinated gas or liquid.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the images are x-ray images.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the images are MRI images.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the images are CT images.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the images are PET images.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the images are SPECT images.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
88 words
A system for characterizing a region of interest in a plurality of images of a contrast-enhanced organ, comprising: (a) means for generating a set of digitized images of the region of interest; (b) means for analyzing the set of digitized images of the region of interest by means of an analysis system configured to recognize contrast agent texture patterns in such digitized images indicative of tissue health in the organ; (c) means for indicating, based on such analysis, if the region of interest is probably normal or abnormal.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
88 words
A system for characterizing a region of interest in a plurality of images of a contrast-enhanced organ, comprising: (a) means for generating a set of digitized images of the region of interest; (b) means for analyzing the set of digitized images of the region of interest by means of an analysis system configured to recognize contrast agent texture patterns in such digitized images indicative of tissue health in the organ; (c) means for indicating, based on such analysis, if the region of interest is probably normal or abnormal.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
11 words
The system of claim 23, wherein the images are ultrasound images.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
17 words
The system of claims 23 or 24, wherein the images are generated by a B-mode ultrasound system.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
17 words
The system of claims 23 or 24, wherein the images are generated by a Doppler ultrasound system.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
17 words
The system of claims 23 or 24, wherein the images are generated by a harmonic ultrasound system.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
17 words
The system of claims 23 or 24, wherein the images are generated by a three-dimensional ultrasound system.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
13 words
The system of claims 23 or 24, wherein the organ is a heart.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 29, wherein the images are taken at approximately the same point in the cardiac cycle of the heart.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
13 words
The system of claims 23 or 24, wherein the organ is a kidney.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
13 words
The system of claims 23 or 24, wherein the organ is a brain.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
13 words
The system of claims 23 or 24, wherein the organ is a liver.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
13 words
The system of claims 23 or 24, wherein the organ is a testis.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
13 words
The system of claims 23 or 24, wherein the organ is a muscle.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 23, wherein the indication of normal or abnormal pertains to degree of blood flow within the organ.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system of claim 23, wherein the means for analyzing the set of images further comprises: (a) means for generating a plurality of filtered intermediate images from each image; (b) means for applying a set of expert analysis modules to the intermediate images to classify the set of images as probably normal or abnormal.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 23, wherein the contrast agent is chosen from the group consisting of liquid emulsions, solids, encapsulated fluids, encapsulated biocompatible gases, and combinations thereof.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 38, wherein the contrast agent employs a fluorinated gas or liquid.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
11 words
The system of claim 23, wherein the images are x-ray images.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
11 words
The system of claim 23, wherein the images are MRI images.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
11 words
The system of claim 23, wherein the images are CT images.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
11 words
The system of claim 23, wherein the images are PET images.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
11 words
The system of claim 23, wherein the images are SPECT images.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
97 words
A computer program, residing on a computer-readable medium, for characterizing a region of interest in a plurality of images of a contrast-enhanced organ, the computer program comprising instructions for causing a processor to: (a) receive a set of digitized images of the region of interest; (b) analyze the set of digitized images of the region of interest by means of an analysis system configured to recognize contrast agent texture patterns in such digitized images indicative of tissue health in the organ; (c) indicate, based on such analysis, if the region of interest is probably normal or abnormal.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
97 words
A computer program, residing on a computer-readable medium, for characterizing a region of interest in a plurality of images of a contrast-enhanced organ, the computer program comprising instructions for causing a processor to: (a) receive a set of digitized images of the region of interest; (b) analyze the set of digitized images of the region of interest by means of an analysis system configured to recognize contrast agent texture patterns in such digitized images indicative of tissue health in the organ; (c) indicate, based on such analysis, if the region of interest is probably normal or abnormal.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
12 words
The computer program of claim 45, wherein the images are ultrasound images.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer program of claims 45 or 46, wherein the images are generated by a B-mode ultrasound system.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer program of claims 45 or 46, wherein the images are generated by a Doppler ultrasound system.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer program of claims 45 or 46, wherein the images are generated by a harmonic ultrasound system.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer program of claims 45 or 46, wherein the images are generated by a three-dimensional ultrasound system.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computer program of claims 45 or 46, wherein the organ is a heart.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer program of claim 51, wherein the images are taken at approximately the same point in the cardiac cycle of the heart.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computer program of claims 45 or 46, wherein the organ is a kidney.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computer program of claims 45 or 46, wherein the organ is a brain.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computer program of claims 45 or 46, wherein the organ is a liver.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computer program of claims 45 or 46, wherein the organ is a testis.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computer program of claims 45 or 46, wherein the organ is a muscle.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
22 words
The computer program of claim 45, wherein the indication of normal or abnormal pertains to degree of blood flow within the organ.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
51 words
The computer program of claim 45, wherein the computer program further comprises instructions for causing the processor to: (a) generate plurality of filtered intermediate images from each image; (b) apply a set of expert analysis modules to the intermediate images to classify the set of images as probably normal or abnormal.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
28 words
The computer program of claim 45, wherein the contrast agent is chosen from the group consisting of liquid emulsions, solids, encapsulated fluids, encapsulated biocompatible gases, and combinations thereof.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
16 words
The computer program of claim 60, wherein the contrast agent employs a fluorinated gas or liquid.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
12 words
The computer program of claim 45, wherein the images are x-ray images.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
12 words
The computer program of claim 45, wherein the images are MRI images.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
12 words
The computer program of claim 45, wherein the images are CT images.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
12 words
The computer program of claim 45, wherein the images are PET images.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
12 words
The computer program of claim 45, wherein the images are SPECT images.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-07-06 | 2002-01-05 | 2002-07-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-07-06 | 2006-01-05 | 2006-07-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-07-06 | 2010-01-05 | 2010-07-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |