Methods and apparatus for generating a risk metric for soft plaque in vessels

• US 20080118122A1
• Filed: 11/22/2006
• Published: 05/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Nezet, Patricia Le, Sirohey, Saad Ahmed, Avinash, Gopal B., Haas, Deann Marie, Dutta, Sandeep, Skinner, John V.
• Granted Patent: US 7,957,574 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/128
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10116 X-ray image
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/62 of area, perimeter, diameter or volume

Abstract

A method for generating a score for soft plaque in coronary arteries includes using the computer to estimate the soft plaque content within at least one object depicted in a medical image, using the computer to determine a plaque score dependent upon the estimated soft plaque content of the at least one object, and using the computer to report the plaque score.

Claims

1. A method for generating a score for soft plaque in coronary arteries using a computer, said method comprising:

using the computer to estimate the soft plaque content within at least one object depicted in a medical image;

using the computer to determine a plaque score dependent upon the estimated soft plaque content of the at least one object; and

using the computer to report the plaque score.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said estimate of the soft plaque content further includes mass and volume of the soft plaque.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising using the computer to determine a severity state dependent upon both a location of the soft plaque and the mass and volume of the soft plaque.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said severity state is further dependent upon a propensity of the soft plaque to create situations leading to an MCI.

5. The method of claim 3 further comprising using the computer to determine a vulnerability index dependent upon composition of the soft plaque, the size and mass of the soft plaque, and the distance of the soft plaque from a branch vessel.

6. The method of claim 5 further wherein the vulnerability index is determined utilizing a coronary atlas-based model associating a potential threat of the soft plaque to the patient.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising using the computer to determine an overall propensity of risk based upon the a weighted combination of plaque score, severity state, and vulnerability index.

8. A machine-readable medium or media having instructions recorded thereon configured to instruct a computer to generate a score for soft plaque in coronary arteries, said instructions comprising instructions configured to instruct the computer to:

estimate the soft plaque content within at least one object depicted in a medical image;

determine a plaque score dependent upon the estimated soft plaque content of the at least one object; and

to report the plaque score.

9. The medium or media of claim 8 wherein said estimate of the soft plaque content further includes mass and volume of the soft plaque.

10. The medium or media of claim 8 wherein said instructions further comprise instructions configured to instruct the computer to determine a severity state dependent upon both a location of the soft plaque and the mass and volume of the soft plaque.

11. The medium or media of claim 10 wherein said severity state is further dependent upon a propensity of the soft plaque to create situations leading to an MCI.

12. The medium or medium of claim 10 wherein said instructions further comprise instructions configured to instruct the computer to determine a vulnerability index dependent upon composition of the soft plaque, the size and mass of the soft plaque, and the distance of the soft plaque from a branch vessel.

13. The medium or media of claim 12 wherein said instructions to determine the vulnerability index include instructions configured to use a coronary atlas-based model associating a potential threat of the soft plaque to the patient to determine the vulnerability index.

14. The medium or media of claim 13 wherein said instructions further comprise instructions configured to instruct the computer to determine an overall propensity of risk based upon the a weighted combination of plaque score, severity state, and vulnerability index.

15. A medical imaging apparatus having a radiation source, a detector array, an image processor, a display, and a memory, said medical imaging apparatus controlled by a computer configured to operate the medical imaging apparatus to produce medical images using the radiation source, the detector array, the image processor, the display, and the memory, and said memory having stored therein instructions configured to instruct the computer to generate a score for soft plaque in coronary arteries, said instructions comprising instructions configured to instruct the computer to:

estimate the soft plaque content within at least one object depicted in a medical image;

determine a plaque score dependent upon the estimated soft plaque content of the at least one object; and

to report the plaque score.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said estimate of the soft plaque content further includes mass and volume of the soft plaque.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said instructions further comprise instructions configured to instruct the computer to determine a severity state dependent upon both a location of the soft plaque and the mass and volume of the soft plaque.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said severity state is further dependent upon a propensity of the soft plaque to create situations leading to an MCI.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said instructions further comprise instructions configured to instruct the computer to determine a vulnerability index dependent upon composition of the soft plaque, the size and mass of the soft plaque, and the distance of the soft plaque from a branch vessel.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said instructions to determine the vulnerability index include instructions configured to use a coronary atlas-based model associating a potential threat of the soft plaque to the patient to determine the vulnerability index.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said instructions further comprise instructions configured to instruct the computer to determine an overall propensity of risk based upon the a weighted combination of plaque score, severity state, and vulnerability index.