Image Processing Device and Method

• US 20080260205A1
• Filed: 02/03/2006
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: Lorenz, Cristian, Von Berg, Jens
• Granted Patent: US 8,111,885 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/103
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10072 Tomographic images
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30048 Heart; Cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/12 Edge-based segmentation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/149 involving deformable models, e.g. active contour models

Abstract

The present invention relates to an image processing device and a corresponding image processing method for processing medical image data showing at least two image objects, including a segmentation unit for detection and/or segmentation of image objects in said image data. To allow a more accurate and better segmentation of target objects which are hard to localize and detect, it is proposed that the segmentation unit comprises: a selection unit (61) for selecting a target object for detection and/or segmentation and an intermediary object in said image data, which is easier detectable than said target object and for which position information about the spatial relationship to said target object are known, an intermediary object segmentation unit (62) for segmentation of said intermediary object in said image data, a target object detection unit (63) for detection and/or segmentation of said target object in said image data using said segmented intermediary object and said position information about the spatial relationship of said intermediary object to said target object.

Claims

1. Image processing device for processing medical image data showing at least two image objects, including a segmentation unit for detection and/or segmentation of image objects in said image data, said segmentation unit comprising:

a selection unit for selecting a target object for detection and/or segmentation and an intermediary object in said image data, which is easier detectable than said target object and for which position information about the spatial relationship to said target object are known,

an intermediary object segmentation unit for segmentation of said intermediary object in said image data, and

a target object detection unit for detection and/or segmentation of said target object in said image data using said segmented intermediary object and said position information about the spatial relationship of said intermediary object to said target object.

2. Image processing device as claimed in claim 1,

wherein said target object detection unit is operative for predicting position, orientation and/or shape of said target object before detection and/or segmentation of said target object.

3. Image processing device as claimed in claim 2,

wherein said intermediary modeling unit is operative for determining position, orientation and/or shape information of said adapted intermediary shape model, and

wherein said target object detection unit is operative for using said position, orientation and/or shape information for predicting the position, orientation and/or shape of said target object.

4. Image processing device as claimed in claim 1,

wherein said target object detection unit is operative for additionally using a shape model of said target object for detection and/or segmentation of said target object.

5. Image processing device as claimed in claim 1,

wherein said target object detection unit is operative for additionally using a model of the spatial relationship between said intermediary object and said target object for detection and/or segmentation of said target object.

6. Image processing device as claimed in claim 1,

wherein said segmentation unit is operative for using more than one intermediary objects in said image data, which are easier detectable than said target object and for which position information about the spatial relationship to said target object are known, for detection and/or segmentation of said target object.

7. Image processing device as claimed in claim 1,

wherein said selection unit is operative for selecting an earlier detected and/or segmented target object as intermediary object.

8. Image processing device as claimed in claim 1,

wherein said intermediary object segmentation unit is operative for adapting an intermediary object shape model to said intermediary object to obtain said segmented intermediary object.

9. Image processing method for processing medical image data showing at least two image objects, including a segmentation unit for detection and/or segmentation of image objects in said image data, said segmentation unit comprising the steps of:

selecting a target object for detection and/or segmentation and an intermediary object in said image data, which is easier detectable than said target object and for which position information about the spatial relationship to said target object are known,

segmentation of said intermediary object in said image data,

detection and/or segmentation of said target object in said image data using said segmented intermediary object and said position information about the spatial relationship of said intermediary object to said target object.

10. Computer program comprising program code means for causing a computer to perform the steps of the method as claimed in claim 9, when said computer program is executed on a computer.