Systems and method for generating an image

• US 20030190066A1
• Filed: 04/03/2003
• Published: 10/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation (Mass General Brigham, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation (Mass General Brigham, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zhang, Quan, Li, Ang, Boas, David A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,333,647 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/131
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/50 using two or more images, e.g. averaging or subtraction

Abstract

A system for obtaining a resultant image and a method to utilize the same are provided. In particular, first and second images of a subject or a portion of the subject are obtained. The first image includes a first portion of the subject and a second portion of the subject, and each of the first image and the second image are different types of images. A first probability that the first portion has a contrast which is greater than a predetermined contrast and a second probability that the second portion has a contrast which is greater than the predetermined contrast then is determined using the second image. For example, the second probability is greater than the first probability. Moreover, the first and second portions of the first image are reconstructed to generate the resultant image. Specifically, the first portion is reconstructed based on the first probability and the second portion is reconstructed based on the second probability.

Claims

1. A method generating a resultant image, comprising the steps of:

obtaining first and second images of at least one portion of a subject, wherein the first image comprises a first portion of the at least one portion of the subject and a second portion of the at least one portion of the subject, and wherein each of the first image and the second image are different types of images;

using the second image, determining each of a first probability that the first portion has a contrast which is greater than or equal to a predetermined contrast and a second probability that the second portion has a contrast which is greater than or equal to the predetermined contrast, wherein the second probability is greater than the first probability; and

reconstructing the first and second portions of the first image to generate the resultant image, wherein the first portion is reconstructed based on the first probability to generate a reconstructed first portion of the resultant image, and wherein the second portion is reconstructed based on the second probability to generate a reconstructed second portion of the resultant image.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the first image and resultant images is an optical diffuse image.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the second image is one of an X-ray image, a magnetic resonance image, a functional magnetic resonance image, a computed tomography image, and an ultrasound image.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second images are obtained one of simultaneously and sequentially.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein each of the first image and resultant images is an optical diffuse image, and wherein the second image is one of an X-ray image, a magnetic resonance image, a functional magnetic resonance image, a computed tomography image, and an ultrasound image.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the reconstructing step comprises the substep of selecting each of at least one first regulation parameter which is associated with the first probability and at least one second regulation parameter which is associated with the second probability, wherein the at least one first regulation parameter controls the reconstruction of the first portion, wherein the at least one second regulation parameter controls the reconstruction of the second portion, and wherein the at least one second regulation parameter is less than or equal to the at least one first regulation parameter.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one first regulation parameter has a particular normalized value which is between about 0.1 and about 1, and wherein the at least one second regulation parameter has a further normalized value which is greater than zero and less than or equal to about 0.1.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the selecting step comprises the substeps of:

selecting a first normalized value for the at least one first regulation parameter using a L-curve procedure; and

selecting a second normalized value for the at least one second regulation parameter based on each of a resolution of the reconstructed second portion associated with the second normalized value, and an amount of noise generated in the reconstructed second portion associated with the second normalized value.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein each of the at least one first regulation parameter and the at least one second regulation parameter is associated with at least one of an optical absorption and an optical scattering of the respective first and second portions.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one second regulation parameter comprises a particular second regulation parameter and a further second regulation parameter, wherein the particular second regulation parameter is associated with an optical absorption of the second portion, and wherein the further second regulation parameter is associated with an optical scattering of the second portion.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one first regulation parameter comprises a particular first regulation parameter and a further first regulation parameter, wherein the particular first regulation parameter is associated with an optical absorption of the first portion, and wherein the further first regulation parameter is associated with an optical scattering of the first portion.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first image further comprises at least one third portion of the at least one portion of the subject.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of using the second image, determining at least one third probability indicating that that the at least one third portion has a contrast which is greater than the predetermined contrast, wherein the at least one third probability is greater than the first probability and smaller than the second probability.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first portion and the second portion are separated by the third portion.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined contrast is a contrast associated with an abnormality within the subject.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the abnormality is one of a lesion and a tumor.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

obtaining a third image of the at least one portion of the subject, wherein each of the first image, the second image, and the third image are different types of images; and

using the second image and the third image, determining each of the first probability and the second probability.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein each of the first image and the resultant image is an optical diffuse image, wherein the second image is a magnetic resonance image, and wherein the third image is a functional magnetic resonance image.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein each of the first, second, and third images is obtained one of simultaneously and sequentially.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the predetermined contrast is a contrast associated with an abnormality within the subject.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the steps of:

using the resultant image, determining a rate of a flow of blood within the abnormality;

using the resultant image, determining a volume of the blood within the abnormality; and

using the resultant image, determining a deoxyhemoglobin concentration within the abnormality.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of determining an amount of oxygen consumed by the abnormality based on each of the flow of the blood, the volume of the blood, and the deoxyhemoglobin concentration within the abnormality.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the abnormality is one of a lesion and a tumor.

24. A system for generating a resultant image, comprising:

a processing arrangement configured to;

obtain a first and second images of at least one portion of a subject, wherein the first image comprises a first portion of the at least one portion of the subject and a second portion of the at least one portion of the subject, and wherein each of the first image and the second image are different types of images;

using the second image, determining each of a first probability that the first portion has a contrast which is greater than or equal to a predetermined contrast and a second probability that the second portion has a contrast which is greater than or equal to the predetermined contrast, wherein the second probability is greater than the first probability; and

reconstruct the first and second portions of the first image to generate the resultant image, wherein the first portion is reconstructed based on the first probability to generate a reconstructed first portion of the resultant image, and wherein the second portion is reconstructed based on the second probability to generate a reconstructed second portion of the resultant image.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the processing arrangement comprises:

a first imaging arrangement configured to obtain the first image;

a second imaging arrangement configured to obtain the second image; and

a processor configured to reconstruction the first and second portions.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the first imaging arrangement is an optical diffuse imaging arrangement, and wherein the second imaging arrangement is one of an X-ray imaging arrangement, a magnetic resonance imaging arrangement, a functional magnetic resonance imaging arrangement, a computed tomography imaging arrangement, and an ultrasound imaging arrangement.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein the first image and the second image are obtained one of simultaneously and sequentially.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the first imaging arrangement is an optical diffuse imaging arrangement, and wherein the second imaging arrangement is one of an X-ray imaging arrangement, a magnetic resonance imaging arrangement, a functional magnetic resonance imaging arrangement, a computed tomography imaging arrangement, and an ultrasound imaging arrangement.

29. The system of claim 24, wherein the processing arrangement is further configured to select each of at least one first regulation parameter which is associated with the first probability and at least one second regulation parameter which is associated with the second probability, wherein the at least one first regulation parameter controls the reconstruction of the first portion, wherein the at least one second regulation parameter controls the reconstruction of the second portion, and wherein the at least one second regulation parameter is less than or equal to the at least one first regulation parameter.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the at least one first regulation parameter has a particular normalized value which is between about 0.1 and about 1, and wherein the at least one second regulation parameter has a further normalized value which is greater than zero and less than or equal to about 0.1.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the processing arrangement is further configured to:

select a first normalized value for the at least one first regulation parameter using a L-curve procedure; and

select a second normalized value for the at least one second regulation parameter based on each of a resolution of the reconstructed second portion associated with the second normalized value, and an amount of noise generated in the reconstructed second portion associated with the second normalized value.

32. The system of claim 29, wherein each of the at least one first regulation parameter and the at least one second regulation parameter is associated with at least one of an optical absorption and an optical scattering of the respective first and second portions.

33. The system of claim 29, wherein the at least one second regulation parameter comprises a particular second regulation parameter and a further second regulation parameter, wherein the particular second regulation parameter is associated with an optical absorption of the second portion, and wherein the further second regulation parameter is associated with an optical scattering of the second portion.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the at least one first regulation parameter comprises a particular first regulation parameter and a further first regulation parameter, wherein the particular first regulation parameter is associated with an optical absorption of the first portion, and wherein the further first regulation parameter is associated with an optical scattering of the first portion.

35. The system of claim 24, wherein the first image further comprises at least one third portion of the at least one portion of the subject.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the processing arrangement is further configured to use the second image to determine at least one third probability that the at least one third portion has a contrast which is greater than the predetermined contrast, wherein the at least one third probability is greater than the first probability and less than the second probability.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the first portion and the second portion are separated by the third portion.

38. The system of claim 24, wherein the predetermined contrast is a contrast associated with an abnormality within the subject.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the abnormality is one of a lesion and a tumor.

40. The system of claim 25, wherein the processing arrangement is further configured to:

obtain a third image of the at least one portion of the subject, wherein each of the first, the second, and the third images are different types of images; and

using the second and third images, determine each of the first probability and the second probability.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the processing arrangement further comprises a third imaging arrangement configured to obtain the third image, wherein the first imaging arrangement is an optical diffuse imaging arrangement, wherein the second imaging arrangement is a magnetic resonance imaging arrangement, and wherein the third imaging arrangement is a functional magnetic resonance imaging arrangement.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein each of the first, second, and third images are obtained one of simultaneously and sequentially.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the predetermined contrast is a contrast associated with an abnormality within the subject.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the processing system is further configured to:

use the resultant image to determine a rate of a flow of blood within the abnormality;

use the resultant image to determine a volume of the blood within the abnormality; and

use the resultant image to determine a deoxyhemoglobin concentration within the abnormality.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein the processing arrangement is further configured to determine an amount of oxygen consumed by the abnormality based on each of the flow of the blood, the volume of the blood, and the deoxyhemoglobin concentration within the abnormality.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the abnormality is one of a lesion and a tumor.