US7715608B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for 3D visualization of lung perfusion or density and statistical analysis thereof
Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Inc
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Filing: 2005-07-15
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Granted: 2010-05-11
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Expires: 2025-07-15
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for 3D visualization of a pair of lungs are provided. The method comprises: segmenting image data of the pair of lungs and lung parenchyma; generating a 3D map as a function of the segmented image data; and rendering the 3D map as a color-coded semi-transparent 3D volume, wherein an opaque region highlights an area of interest.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael Vaz
- 👤 Atilla Peter Kiraly
- 👤 Carol L. Novak
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 21:28
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B6/00; A61B6/50; A61B6/507; G; G06; G06T; G06T15/00; G06T15/08; G06T7/00; G06T7/0002; G06T7/0012; G06T7/10; G06T7/11; G06T7/136; G06T7/155; G06T2207/00; G06T2207/10; G06T2207/10072; G06T2207/30; G06T2207/30004; G06T2207/30061
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for 3D visualization of a pair of lungs, comprising: segmenting image data of the pair of lungs and lung parenchyma; generating a 3D map as a function of the segmented image data; and rendering the 3D map to produce a visualization of a color-coded semi-transparent 3D volume in its entirety, wherein areas of low, average and high perfusion are represented by different degrees of opacity in the visualization of the 3D volume at the same time so that they can be differentiated from each other, and wherein the opacity is varied according to perfusion or density values in the 3D map overlaying a 2D slice of the image data with the color-coded semi-transparent 3D volume.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for 3D visualization of a pair of lungs, comprising: segmenting image data of the pair of lungs and lung parenchyma; generating a 3D map as a function of the segmented image data; and rendering the 3D map to produce a visualization of a color-coded semi-transparent 3D volume in its entirety, wherein areas of low, average and high perfusion are represented by different degrees of opacity in the visualization of the 3D volume at the same time so that they can be differentiated from each other, and wherein the opacity is varied according to perfusion or density values in the 3D map overlaying a 2D slice of the image data with the color-coded semi-transparent 3D volume.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the 3D map is one of a perfusion map or a density map.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the 3D map is generated by one of adaptive smoothing or texture filtering.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the area of low perfusion is an area that has a lack of blood flow, the area of average perfusion is an area that has healthy or normal perfusion, and the area of high perfusion is an area that has increased density or abnormally high perfusion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein the area of low perfusion is due to an embolus.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising: generating a histogram of the rendered 3D map; and determining whether the histogram indicates a positive or negative presence of embolus.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 6 , further comprising: classifying the embolus as one of acute or chronic.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
105 words
A method for 3D visualization of lung perfusion, comprising: segmenting image data of lung parenchyma; generating a perfusion map of the segmented image data; and rendering the perfusion map to produce a visualization of a color-coded semi-transparent 3D volume in its entirety, wherein areas of low, average and high perfusion are represented by different degrees of opacity in the visualization of the 3D volume at the same time so that they can be differentiated from each other, and wherein the opacity is varied according to perfusion values in the perfusion map overlaying a 2D slice of the image data with the color-coded semi-transparent 3D volume.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
105 words
A method for 3D visualization of lung perfusion, comprising: segmenting image data of lung parenchyma; generating a perfusion map of the segmented image data; and rendering the perfusion map to produce a visualization of a color-coded semi-transparent 3D volume in its entirety, wherein areas of low, average and high perfusion are represented by different degrees of opacity in the visualization of the 3D volume at the same time so that they can be differentiated from each other, and wherein the opacity is varied according to perfusion values in the perfusion map overlaying a 2D slice of the image data with the color-coded semi-transparent 3D volume.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of generating a perfusion map of the segmented image data comprises: segmenting the lung parenchyma; performing a local smoothing; and determining local-neighborhood mean densities of the lung parenchyma.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein the step of segmenting the lung parenchyma comprises: segmenting a volume of the pair of lungs from a thoracic volume; identifying airways and blood vessels in the segmented lung volume; and generating a mask of the lung parenchyma by removing the airways and vascular structures from the segmented lung volume.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
81 words
The method of claim 10 , wherein the step of performing a local smoothing comprises: shifting unsegmented image data; masking the shifted image data with the parenchyma mask to obtain a shifted parenchyma image; performing a Gaussian smoothing on the parenchyma mask and the shifted parenchyma image to obtain a smoothed parenchyma mask and image; masking the smoothed parenchyma image with the smoothed parenchyma mask; equalizing the masked smoothed parenchyma image; and shifting the equalized image to generate the perfusion map.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 8 , wherein the areas of low and high perfusion are an indication of one of pulmonary embolus or diffuse lung disease.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 8 , wherein the image data is acquired using one of a CT, helical CT or MR imaging technique.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 8 , further comprising: adjusting a color map to observe high density areas.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 8 , wherein the areas of low, average and high perfusion are further represented by different colors in the 3D volume.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
139 words
A system for 3D visualization of a pair of lungs, comprising: a memory device for storing a program; a processor in communication with the memory device, the processor operative with the program to: segment image data of the pair of lungs and lung parenchyma; generate a 3D map as a function of the segmented image data; and render the 3D map to produce a visualization of a color-coded semi-transparent 3D volume in its entirety, wherein areas of low, average and high perfusion are represented by different degrees of opacity in the visualization of the 3D volume at the same time so that they can be differentiated from each other, and wherein the opacity is varied according to perfusion or density values in the 3D map overlaying a 2D slice of the image data with the color-coded semi-transparent 3D volume.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
139 words
A system for 3D visualization of a pair of lungs, comprising: a memory device for storing a program; a processor in communication with the memory device, the processor operative with the program to: segment image data of the pair of lungs and lung parenchyma; generate a 3D map as a function of the segmented image data; and render the 3D map to produce a visualization of a color-coded semi-transparent 3D volume in its entirety, wherein areas of low, average and high perfusion are represented by different degrees of opacity in the visualization of the 3D volume at the same time so that they can be differentiated from each other, and wherein the opacity is varied according to perfusion or density values in the 3D map overlaying a 2D slice of the image data with the color-coded semi-transparent 3D volume.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 16 , wherein the 3D map is one of a perfusion map or a density map.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
53 words
The system of claim 16 , wherein the area of low perfusion is an area that has a lack of blood flow, the area of average perfusion is an area that has healthy or normal perfusion, and the area of high perfusion is an area that has increased density or abnormally high perfusion.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 18 , wherein the area of low perfusion is due to an embolus.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 16 , wherein the processor is further operative with the program to: generate a histogram of the rendered 3D map; and determine whether the histogram indicates a positive or negative presence of embolus.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 20 , wherein the processor is further operative with the program to: classify the embolus as one of acute or chronic.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
127 words
A system for 3D visualization of lung perfusion, comprising: a memory device for storing a program; a processor in communication with the memory device, the processor operative with the program to: segment image data of lung parenchyma; generate a perfusion map of the segmented image data; and render the perfusion map to produce a visualization of a color-coded semi-transparent 3D volume in its entirety, wherein areas of low, average and high perfusion are represented by different degrees of opacity in the visualization of the 3D volume at the same time so that they can be differentiated from each other, and wherein the opacity is varied according to perfusion values in the perfusion map overlaying a 2D slice of the image data with the color-coded semi-transparent 3D volume.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
127 words
A system for 3D visualization of lung perfusion, comprising: a memory device for storing a program; a processor in communication with the memory device, the processor operative with the program to: segment image data of lung parenchyma; generate a perfusion map of the segmented image data; and render the perfusion map to produce a visualization of a color-coded semi-transparent 3D volume in its entirety, wherein areas of low, average and high perfusion are represented by different degrees of opacity in the visualization of the 3D volume at the same time so that they can be differentiated from each other, and wherein the opacity is varied according to perfusion values in the perfusion map overlaying a 2D slice of the image data with the color-coded semi-transparent 3D volume.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 22 , wherein when generating a perfusion map of the segmented image data the processor is further operative with the program to: segment the lung parenchyma; perform a local smoothing; and determine local-neighborhood mean densities of the lung parenchyma.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
63 words
The system of claim 23 , wherein when segmenting the lung parenchyma the processor is further operative with the program to: segment a volume of the pair of lungs from a thoracic volume; identify airways and blood vessels in the segmented lung volume; and generate a mask of the lung parenchyma by removing the airways and vascular structures from the segmented lung volume.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
87 words
The system of claim 24 , wherein when performing a local smoothing the processor is further operative with the program to: shift unsegmented image data; mask the shifted image data with the parenchyma mask to obtain a shifted parenchyma image; perform a Gaussian smoothing on the parenchyma mask and the shifted parenchyma image to obtain a smoothed parenchyma mask and image; mask the smoothed parenchyma image with the smoothed parenchyma mask; equalize the masked smoothed parenchyma image; and shift the equalized image to generate the perfusion map.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 22 , wherein the areas of low and high perfusion are an indication of one of pulmonary embolus or diffuse lung disease.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 22 , wherein the image data is acquired using one of a CT, helical CT or MR imaging device.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 22 , the processor is further operative with the program to: adjust a color map to observe high density areas.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 22 , wherein the areas of low, average and high perfusion are further represented by different colors in the 3D volume.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2013-05-10 | 2013-11-09 | 2014-05-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2017-05-10 | 2017-11-09 | 2018-05-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2021-05-10 | 2021-11-09 | 2022-05-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |