Method and system for performing coronary artery calcification scoring

• US 20030190063A1
• Filed: 03/08/2002
• Published: 10/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Yan, Litao, Acharya, Kishore C., Gopinath, Priya
• Application Number:
  US09/683,991
• Publication Number:
  US 20030190063A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/128
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30048 Heart; Cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30101 Blood vessel; Artery; Vein; Vascular
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0012 Biomedical image inspection

Abstract

A method and system for performing coronary artery calcification scoring using an imaging system including obtaining image data; examining the image data so as to identify a plurality of discrete pixel elements, wherein each of the pixel elements includes a pixel value; dividing the pixel elements into a scorable region so as to create a plurality of scorable pixel elements; processing the scorable pixel elements so as to identify a center scorable pixel element and determine a median pixel value; and replacing the pixel value for the center scorable pixel element with the median pixel value. Also claimed is a medium encoded with a machine-readable computer program code for performing coronary artery calcification scoring, the medium including instructions for causing controller to implement the aforementioned method.

Claims

1. A method for performing coronary artery calcification scoring using an imaging system comprising:

obtaining image data;

examining said image data so as to identify a plurality of discrete pixel elements, wherein each of said pixel elements includes a pixel value;

dividing said pixel elements into a scorable region so as to create a plurality of scorable pixel elements;

processing said scorable pixel elements so as to identify a center scorable pixel element and determine a median pixel value; and

replacing said pixel value for said center scorable pixel element with said median pixel value.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said obtaining image data includes obtaining image data using a computed tomography imaging system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said pixel value is a number between about −

2047 and about +2047.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said dividing includes dividing said pixel elements into a 3×

3 matrix of said scorable pixel elements having 3 rows and 3 columns.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said dividing includes dividing said pixel elements into an N×

N matrix of said scorable pixel elements having N rows and N columns, wherein N is an odd integer.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said processing includes examining said scorable region so as to identify a median pixel element.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said median pixel element has the [((N*N)/2)+0.5] largest pixel value, wherein N is the number of said rows and said columns.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said processing further includes assigning said pixel value of said median pixel element as said median pixel value.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said processing includes arranging said scorable pixel elements in ascending order in a manner responsive to said pixel value.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said processing further includes examining said scorable pixel elements so as to identify the highest pixel value and the lowest pixel value.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said processing further includes discarding said highest pixel value and said lowest pixel value so as to create remaining pixel elements.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said processing further includes summing said pixel values of said remaining pixel elements so as to create a pixel value sum and dividing said pixel value sum by the number of remaining pixel elements so as to create said median pixel value.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said replacing includes equating said pixel value for said center scorable pixel element with said median pixel value.

14. A medium encoded with a machine-readable computer program code for performing coronary artery calcification scoring, said medium including instructions for causing controller to implement a method comprising:

obtaining image data;

examining said image data so as to identify a plurality of discrete pixel elements, wherein each of said pixel elements includes a pixel value;

dividing said pixel elements into a scorable region so as to create a plurality of scorable pixel elements;

processing said scorable pixel elements so as to identify a center scorable pixel element and determine a median pixel value; and

replacing said pixel value for said center scorable pixel element with said median pixel value.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said dividing includes dividing said pixel elements into a 3×

3 matrix of said scorable pixel elements having 3 rows and 3 columns.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said dividing includes dividing said pixel elements into an N×

N matrix of said scorable pixel elements having N rows and N columns, wherein N is an odd integer.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said processing includes examining said scorable region so as to identify a median pixel element.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said processing further includes assigning said pixel value of said median pixel element as said median pixel value.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein said processing includes arranging said scorable pixel elements in ascending order in a manner responsive to said pixel value.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein said processing further includes examining said scorable pixel elements so as to identify the highest pixel value and the lowest pixel value.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said processing further includes discarding said highest pixel value and said lowest pixel value so as to create remaining pixel elements.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said processing further includes summing said pixel values of said remaining pixel elements so as to create a pixel value sum and dividing said pixel value sum by the number of remaining pixel elements so as to create said median pixel value.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein said replacing includes equating said pixel value for said center scorable pixel element with said median pixel value.

24. A method for performing coronary artery calcification scoring comprising:

obtaining an imaging system and an object to be scanned;

operating said imaging system so as to create image data;

displaying said image data on an output device;

examining said image data so as to determine if said image data should be filtered; and

processing said image data using an enhancing filter wherein said enhancing filter,

divides said pixel elements into a scorable region having scorable pixel elements, wherein each of said scorable pixel elements includes a pixel value;

processes said scorable pixel elements so as to identify a center scorable pixel element and determine a median pixel value; and

replaces said pixel value for said center scorable pixel element with said median pixel value.

25. A system for performing coronary artery calcification scoring comprising:

a gantry having an x-ray source and a radiation detector array, wherein said gantry defines a patient cavity and wherein said x-ray source and said radiation detector array are rotatingly associated with said gantry so as to be separated by said patient cavity;

a patient support structure movingly associated with said gantry so as to allow communication with said patient cavity; and

a processing device having an enhancing filter, wherein said enhancing filter, obtains image data;

examines said image data so as to identify a plurality of discrete pixel elements, wherein each of said pixel elements includes a pixel value;

divides said pixel elements into a scorable region so as to create a plurality of scorable pixel elements;

processes said scorable pixel elements so as to identify a center scorable pixel element and determine a median pixel value; and

replaces said pixel value for said center scorable pixel element with said median pixel value.

26. A system according to claim 25, wherein said processing device includes an input device and an output device.

27. A system according to claim 25, wherein said enhancing filter is activated via said input device.

28. A system for performing coronary artery calcification scoring comprising:

an imaging system;

a patient support structure movingly associated with said imaging system so as to allow communication between said imaging system and a patient, wherein

said imaging system generates image data responsive to said patient; and

a processing device having an enhancing filter, wherein said enhancing filter, obtains said image data;

examines said image data so as to identify a plurality of discrete pixel elements, wherein each of said pixel elements includes a pixel value;

divides said pixel elements into a scorable region so as to create a plurality of scorable pixel elements;

processes said scorable pixel elements so as to identify a center scorable pixel element and determine a median pixel value; and

replaces said pixel value for said center scorable pixel element with said median pixel value.