Ultrasonic blood vessel measurement apparatus and method

• US 20050119555A1
• Filed: 10/28/2004
• Published: 06/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FUJIFILM SonoSite, Inc. (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sonosite Incorporated (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Fritz, Helmuth, Fritz, Terry
• Granted Patent: US 8,771,191 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/410
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02007 Evaluating blood vessel condition, e.g. elasticity, compliance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0858 involving measuring tissue layers, e.g. skin, interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/461 Displaying means of special interest
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/467 characterised by special input means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/565 involving data transmission via a network
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30101 Blood vessel; Artery; Vein; Vascular
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0012 Biomedical image inspection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/60 Analysis of geometric attributes

Abstract

An apparatus and method for determining the apparent intima-media thickness (IMT) of arteries through acquisition and analysis of ultrasound images comprising an array of pixel intensities. A datum, or datums, may be established across multiple columns of pixels bounding the portion of the image containing either the lumen/intima boundary, the media/adventitia boundary, or both. The datums may be approximate the shape of one more of the lumen, intima, media, and adventitia. Within a bounded portion of the image, a method may search for intensity gradients having characteristics indicating the gradients represent probable locations of the lumen/intima and media/adventitia boundaries. An IMT measurement is calculated based on the location of the lumen/intima and media/adventitia boundaries. An IMT measurement may be adjusted for sloping or tapering of an artery wall.

Claims

1. A method for regeneration of tissue structure measurements from an image, said method comprising:

capturing an image including tissue structure features;

accepting operator input regarding one or more aspect of said image for use in measurement of said tissue structure;

measuring an aspect of said tissue structure using said operator input;

storing at least a portion of said operator input and information with respect to said image;

retrieving said stored portion of said operator input and said image information; and

re-measuring said aspect of said tissue structure using said retrieved portion of said operator input and said image information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said measurement of said tissue structure comprises an intima-media thickness.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said image comprises an ultrasound image.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said image comprises a magnetic resonance imaging image.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said accepting operator input comprises:

accepting information identifying a point in said image to serve as the center of a measurement region.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said accepting operator input comprises:

accepting information with respect to a height of a measurement region.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said accepting operator input comprises:

accepting information with respect to a width of a measurement region.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said information with respect to said image stored comprises a signature uniquely identifying the image.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said information with respect to said image stored comprises the image.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said information with respect to said image stored comprises information with respect to a machine capturing said image.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing information with respect to an algorithm used in said measuring an aspect of said tissue structure.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said information with respect to said algorithm comprises information with respect to an algorithm used to locate a layer of tissue in said image.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said information with respect to said algorithm comprises information with respect to an algorithm used to eliminate noise in said image.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said information with respect to said algorithm comprises values of sources of error.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

locating a layer of tissue in said image, wherein a location of said layer of tissue is used in said measuring said aspect of said tissue structure.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said locating a layer of tissue comprises:

defining a datum by analyzing an intensity of said image at positions therein.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said locating a layer of tissue comprises:

locating a tissue boundary by analyzing an intensity gradient with respect to a portion of said image.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein said re-measuring comprises:

accepting operator input to adjust a parameter for re-measurement of said aspect of said tissue structure.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

using said re-measurement in training an operator of a machine capturing said image.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

using said re-measurement in validating the proficiency of an operator of a machine capturing said image.

21. A diagnostic ultrasound system providing regeneration of tissue structure measurements from an image, said system comprising:

an image capturing device providing an image including tissue structure features;

a user interface accepting input regarding one or more aspect of said image for use in measurement of said tissue structure;

a memory storing at least a portion of said input and information with respect to said image;

a processor coupled to said memory operable under control of an algorithm to identify one or more tissue structure feature in said image and provide a measurement with respect thereto, said processor further operable under control of an algorithm to provide a re-measurement with respect to said tissue structure using said stored portion of said input and said information with respect to said image.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said measurement comprises an intima-media thickness.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein tissue structure feature identified comprises a tissue boundary.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein said tissue structure feature identified comprises a layer of tissue.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein said image capturing device comprises an ultrasound system.

26. The system of claim 21, wherein said image capturing device comprises a magnetic resonance imaging system.

27. The system of claim 21, wherein said portion of said input stored in said memory comprises information identifying a point in said image to serve as the center of a measurement region.

28. The system of claim 21, wherein said portion of said input stored in said memory comprises information with respect to a height of a measurement region.

29. The system of claim 21, wherein said portion of said input stored in said memory comprises information with respect to a width of a measurement region.

30. The system of claim 21, wherein said information with respect to said image stored in said memory comprises a signature uniquely identifying the image.

31. The system of claim 21, wherein said information with respect to said image stored in said memory comprises the image.

32. The system of claim 21, wherein said information with respect to said image stored in said memory comprises information with respect to a machine capturing said image.

33. The system of claim 21, wherein said memory further stores information with respect to an algorithm used in said measurement of said tissue structure.

34. A method for providing tissue structure measurements from a series of images, said method comprising:

identifying a datum corresponding to a feature of said tissue structure in a first image of said series of images;

measuring an aspect of said tissue structure as appearing in said first image using said datum;

adapting said datum to correspond to a feature of said tissue structure in a second image of said series of images; and

measuring an aspect of said tissue structure as appearing in said second image using said datum.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein said identifying a datum comprises:

locating a layer of tissue in said image.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein said identifying a datum comprises:

analyzing an intensity of said image at positions therein.

37. The method of claim 34, wherein said identifying a datum comprises:

locating a tissue boundary by analyzing an intensity gradient with respect to a portion of said image.

38. The method of claim 34, wherein said adapting said datum comprises:

accommodates a change between said first image and said second image.

39. The method of claim 34, wherein said adapting said datum comprises:

registering the second image to align an object in the second image with said object in the first image.

40. The method of claim 34, wherein said identifying said datum comprises:

accepting operator input regarding an aspect of said first image for use in measurement of said tissue structure.