Statistical mapping in an optoacoustic imaging system
First Claim
1. A method to produce an image of a tissue comprising:
- receiving acoustic return signals generated by energy transmitted into the tissue;
determining from the acoustic return signals a parametric map of values of a first parameter by computing;
i) a first spatial representation of the tissue based on acoustic return signals associated with a first predominant wavelength and ii) a second spatial representation of the tissue based on acoustic return signals associated with a second predominant wavelength;
normalizing at least one of the first and second spatial representations in a region of interest in the parametric map using a scalar projection of values in the region of interest for the first wavelength onto values in the region of interest for the second wavelength, wherein normalizing comprises multiplying at least one of the first and second spatial representations in proportion to the result of the scalar projection;
producing a mapping configuration to compensate for effects caused by a variability in the transmitted energy by;
i) determining a first reference level within the region of interest; and
ii) specifying an upper color map limit and a lower color map limit, at least one of the upper color map limit or the lower color map limit determined in relation to the first reference level; and
rendering the parametric map in the palette of a color map by mapping the values of the parametric map onto the color map according to the upper and lower color map limits of the mapping configuration to produce a rendered parametric map.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Electromagnetic energy is deposited into a volume, an acoustic return signal from energy deposited in the volume is measured, and a parametric map that estimates values of at least one parameter as spatially represented in the volume is computed. A reference level of a region of interest is determined, and upper and lower color map limits are specified, with at least one of them being determined in relation to the reference level. The parametric map is then rendered in the palette of a color map by mapping the estimated values of the parametric map onto the color map according to the color map limits. Two wavelengths of energy can be applied to the volume, and the parametric map computation can be adapted by applying an implicit or explicit model of, or theoretical basis for, distribution of electromagnetic energy fluence within the volume pertaining to the two wavelengths. The actual electromagnetic energy fluence caused by each wavelength has a propensity, due to variability within the volume, to differ from the modeled or theoretical electromagnetic energy fluence.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method to produce an image of a tissue comprising:
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receiving acoustic return signals generated by energy transmitted into the tissue; determining from the acoustic return signals a parametric map of values of a first parameter by computing;
i) a first spatial representation of the tissue based on acoustic return signals associated with a first predominant wavelength and ii) a second spatial representation of the tissue based on acoustic return signals associated with a second predominant wavelength;normalizing at least one of the first and second spatial representations in a region of interest in the parametric map using a scalar projection of values in the region of interest for the first wavelength onto values in the region of interest for the second wavelength, wherein normalizing comprises multiplying at least one of the first and second spatial representations in proportion to the result of the scalar projection; producing a mapping configuration to compensate for effects caused by a variability in the transmitted energy by; i) determining a first reference level within the region of interest; and ii) specifying an upper color map limit and a lower color map limit, at least one of the upper color map limit or the lower color map limit determined in relation to the first reference level; and rendering the parametric map in the palette of a color map by mapping the values of the parametric map onto the color map according to the upper and lower color map limits of the mapping configuration to produce a rendered parametric map. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 11)
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6. An optoacoustic imaging system for producing images of a region of interest in a tissue comprising:
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a data acquisition subsystem configured to receive acoustic return signals generated by energy transmitted into the tissue; an image processing subsystem configured to; determine from the acoustic return signals a parametric map of values of a first parameter by computing;
i) a first spatial representation of the tissue based on acoustic return signals associated with a first predominant wavelength and ii) a second spatial representation of the tissue based on acoustic return signals associated with a second predominant wavelength;normalize at least one of the first and second spatial representations in a region of interest in the parametric map using a scalar projection of values in the region of interest for the first wavelength onto values in the region of interest for the second wavelength, wherein normalizing comprises multiplying at least one of the first and second spatial representations in proportion to the result of the scalar projection; produce a mapping configuration to compensate for effects caused by a variability in the transmitted energy by; i) determining a first reference level within the region of interest; and ii) specifying an upper color map limit and a lower color map limit, at least one of the upper color map limit or the lower color map limit determined in relation to the first reference level; and render the parametric map in the palette of a color map by mapping the values of the parametric map onto the color map according to the upper and lower color map limits of the mapping configuration to produce a rendered parametric map. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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12. A non-transitory computer readable medium for controlling an optoacoustic imaging system for imaging tissue, the non-transitory computer readable medium comprising data that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
receiving acoustic return signals generated by energy transmitted into the tissue; determining from the acoustic return signals a parametric map of values of a first parameter by computing;
i) a first spatial representation of the tissue based on acoustic return signals associated with a first predominant wavelength and ii) a second spatial representation of the tissue based on acoustic return signals associated with a second predominant wavelength;normalizing at least one of the first and second spatial representations in a region of interest in the parametric map using a scalar projection of values in the region of interest for the first wavelength onto values in the region of interest for the second wavelength, wherein normalizing comprises multiplying at least one of the first and second spatial representations in proportion to the result of the scalar projection; producing a mapping configuration to compensate for effects caused by a variability in the transmitted energy by; i) determining a first reference level within the region of interest; and ii) specifying an upper color map limit and a lower color map limit, at least one of the upper color map limit or the lower color map limit determined in relation to the first reference level; and rendering the parametric map in the palette of a color map by mapping the values of the parametric map onto the color map according to the upper and lower color map limits of the mapping configuration to produce a rendered parametric map. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method to produce an image of a tissue comprising:
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receiving from the tissue acoustic return signals generated by electromagnetic energy transmitted into the tissue; determining from the acoustic return signals a parametric map that estimates values of a first parameter spatially represented in the volume; producing a mapping configuration to adjust for effects associated with variability in the spatial profile of the transmitted energy by; i) selecting a statistical function of numerical values of the parametric map to determine a first reference level within a region of interest of the parametric map, wherein the selected statistical function comprises at least one of; a standard deviation, a histogram, a maximum, a minimum, a median, a maximum-minimum/2, a proportion above a threshold, the kurtosis, the skewness, the variance, and a range; and ii) specifying an upper color map limit and a lower color map limit, at least one of the upper color map limit or the lower color map limit being determined in relation to the first reference level in which the upper color limit is the reference level plus a first constant multiplied by the selected statistical function of the region of interest, and the lower color limit is the reference level minus a second constant multiplied by the selected statistical function of the region of interest; and rendering the parametric map in the palette of a color map by mapping the estimated values of the parametric map onto the color map according to the upper and lower color map limits of the mapping configuration to produce a rendered parametric map.
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Specification