MULTI-MODAL IMAGING SYSTEM AND WORKSTATION WITH SUPPORT FOR STRUCTURED HYPOTHESIS TESTING

• US 20090043172A1
• Filed: 08/21/2008
• Published: 02/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: ZAGORCHEV, Lyubomir, JEAN, Eric, BUCKLER, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 8,862,201 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/40 Animals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0035 adapted for acquisition of images from more than one imaging mode, e.g. combining MRI and optical tomography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4821 Determining level or depth of anaesthesia A61B5/1106 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/032 Transmission computed tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/0421 with immobilising means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/0442 made of non-metallic materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/467 characterised by special input means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/508 for non-human patients
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/5247 combining images from an ionising-radiation diagnostic technique and a non-ionising radiation diagnostic technique, e.g. X-ray and ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS

Abstract

Investigation of in vivo models of disease requires imaging studies involving single subjects in single imaging sessions, serial imaging of individuals or groups of subjects, and integration of data across diverse and heterogeneous experimental methodologies. Each type of experiment is preferably supported by various feature sets that can be rigorously applied to produce quantitative, reproducible results. Current imaging scanners are not equipped with standardized capability that supports an automated and scientifically rigorous workflow suited to hypothesis testing. An imaging system includes a research workstation at which a user can design, execute, study, and report imaging plans. Flexibility that comes along with a modular design of the system allows the user to customize workflow parameters for more robust hypothesis testing.

Claims

1. An in-vivo imaging system comprising:

at least one imaging modality for acquiring in-vivo imaging data of a subject in an imaging region of the modality;

a reconstruction processor that reconstructs raw data into an image representation;

a research workstation that provides a user with an electronic interface to the imaging modality, the workstation including a study design user interface that allows a user to one of create a new study and modify an existing study for use in the in-vivo imaging system.

2. The in-vivo imaging system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the at least one imaging modality is a small animal imaging modality.

3. The in-vivo imaging system as set forth in claim 1, further including:

at least a second imaging modality that is mobile relative to the at least one modality, the second imaging modality being positionable by a user to facilitate the needs of a hypothesis test of the user, and connectable with the research work station.

4. The in-vivo imaging system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the study design user interface enables the user to specify a relationship between imaging and computational methods.

5. The in-vivo imaging system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the study design user interface enables the user to store at least results, indexing settings, data handling settings, control settings, and option settings for later recollection.

6. The in-vivo imaging system as set forth in claim 1, further including:

a data mining user interface through which a user performs data mining tasks associated with the created or modified study.

7. The in-vivo imaging system as set forth in claim 1, further including:

a quantification user interface that enables the user to recall existing clinical study packages and allows the user to access at least one of a standardized uptake value tool, a pharmacokinetics tool, a cardiology tool, a neurology tool, an oncology tool, a bone densitometry tool, and a neo-vascularization tool.

8. The in-vivo imaging system as set forth in claim 1, further including:

a statistical analysis user interface which under user control at least one of;

analyzes a previously designed study;

utilizes Bayesian confidence calculations for hypothesis evaluation;

receives automated analyses for more well known studies;

analyzes a population of a large data set; and

performs an ad-hoc post-study analysis.

9. The in-vivo imaging system as set forth in claim 8, further including a reporting user interface that enables the user to customize a data reporting method to report the statistical analysis.

10. The in-vivo imaging system as set forth in claim 1, further including an anesthesia control user interface controllable by the user to regulate anesthesia provision via at least one of the preparation area and the imaging modality.

11. The in-vivo imaging system as set forth in claim 1, further including:

a positioner that positions an animal capsule optimally in an imaging region of the imaging modality during an imaging session.

12. The in-vivo imaging system as set forth in claim 11, wherein the animal capsule is dockable with at least one of several docking interfaces located at the preparation area and the at least one imaging modality.

13. The in-vivo imaging system as set forth in claim 12, further including:

at least one animal monitoring and anesthesia system for monitoring vital signs of a subject during a sedation period, and for providing regulated anesthesia to the subject via the several docking interfaces.

14. The in-vivo imaging system as set forth in claim 1, further including:

a touch screen located on the imaging modality through which the user interfaces with the research workstation.

15. The in-vivo imaging system as set forth in claim 14, further including:

a modality controller that controls local modality functionalities, keeps track of the studies defined for the modality, and provides input from the touch screen of the modality to the research workstation.

16. A method of diagnostic imaging comprising:

constructing a hypothesis testable by in-vivo imaging;

designing a study that tests the hypothesis for execution on an in-vivo imaging system;

selecting desired data mining and bioinformatics to be used in conjunction with the study;

acquiring and processing imaging data;

quantifying the processed imaging data;

performing a statistical analysis on the processed imaging data; and

reporting the statistical analysis.

17. The method as set forth in claim 16, wherein the step of designing a study includes:

one of creating a new study and modifying an existing study for use in the in-vivo imaging system.

18. The method as set forth in claim 17, wherein modifying an existing study includes:

recalling a previously stored study; and

editing aspects of the recalled study to apply to a present study.

19. The method as set forth in claim 16, wherein the step of quantifying includes:

selecting at least one of a standardized uptake value tool, a pharmacokinetics tool, a cardiology tool, a neurology tool, an oncology tool, a bone densitometry tool, and a neo-vascularization tool to operate on the processed image data.

20. The method as set forth in claim 16, wherein the step of performing a statistical analysis includes at least one of:

using Bayesian confidence calculations to evaluated a hypothesis;

automatically evaluating a more well-known study form;

performing a population analysis over a large subject population

performing an ad-hoc post analysis.

21. The method as set forth in claim 20, further including:

selecting a customized form for reporting the statistical analysis.

22. The method as set forth in claim 16, wherein at least one of the steps of designing, selecting, acquiring, quantifying, performing a statistical analysis, and reporting includes directing the system from a touch screen interface.

23. The method as set forth in claim 16, further including:

docking a dockable capsule containing a sedated animal at one of several docking ports associated with a preparation module and an imaging modality; and

monitoring vital signs of the animal and providing anesthesia to the animal via the docking ports.

24. The method as set forth in claim 16, further including:

arranging a plurality of imaging modules into a configuration that facilitates execution of the hypothesis study.

25. An apparatus that performs the steps as set forth in claim 16.

26. A computer medium programmed to control a processor to perform the method of claim 16.

27. A workstation for designing an in-vivo imaging study of small animals comprising:

a plurality of workflow design interfaces that customizes a workflow that optimally tests a hypothesis of the user;

a hardware design interface that models modular arrangements to facilitate testing of the hypothesis;

a feedback design interface that identifies potential problems with the user'"'"'s study design, and suggests alternatives.

28. The workstation as set forth in claim 27, wherein the plurality of workflow design interfaces include:

a study design portal for creating the study;

a data mining portal at which a user can select data pertinent to the study from resources to which the workstation has access;

a quantification portal that allows the user to select available tools from a pre-defined set of tools and clinical packages;

a statistical analysis portal that allows a user to select at least one of a pre-defined post processing analysis and an ad-hoc post processing analysis; and

a reporting portal that allows a user to customize a data reporting method.

29. A computer system comprising:

a) a study design subsystem through which a user designs a study to be performed;

b) a data mining subsystem through which the user accesses data from previous studies;

c) an image generation and reconstruction subsystem;

d) an image processing subsystem for modifying images from the image generation and reconstruction subsystem;

e) a quantification subsystem which evaluates and quantifies data and images from the studies designed by the study design subsystem;

f) a statistical analysis subsystem which analyzes at least data from the data mining subsystem;

g) a reporting subsystem which compiles outputs from at least the statistical analysis subsystem and generates a user readable report.

30. A method of designing a study comprising:

a) formulating a hypothesis capable of being tested in an in-vivo imaging environment; and

at least one of;

i) initiating a study design workflow routine on a workstation computer;

ii) specifying a relationship between imaging and computational methods; and

iii) specifying parameters of the study;

OR

i) designing a workflow routine that tests the hypothesis; and

ii) arranging a plurality of imaging modalities in an arrangement that aids in execution of the study;

b) obtaining a confidence level in the study design by requesting construction of a model of likely results of the study.

31. The method as set forth in claim 30, wherein the step of specifying parameters of the study includes:

accessing at least one known study and adapting it to investigate the hypothesis.

32. The method as set forth in claim 30, wherein the step of arranging includes arranging the modalities in one of a serial, parallel, radial, and rotating arrangements.

33. A modular imaging system comprising:

at least one mobile imaging modality;

at least one mobile docking station that is placed adjacent the at least one mobile imaging modality;

generic docking ports on the imaging modality and the docking station capable of receiving and interfacing with a capsule;

at least one capsule positioner for positioning the capsule against a docking port.

34. The modular imaging system as set forth in claim 33, further including:

at least a second mobile imaging modality arranged in a relationship with the first imaging modality to facilitate a workflow of a subject study.

35. The modular imaging system as set forth in claim 34, wherein the second modality is arranged in one of a serial, parallel, radial, and rotating relationship with the at least one imaging modality.

36. The modular imaging system as set forth in claim 33, wherein the at least one mobile imaging modality and the at least one mobile docking station include anchor devices to prevent movement once the modality and the docking station have been placed.