SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROCESSING X-RAY IMAGES

• US 20090060311A1
• Filed: 07/30/2008
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Varian Medical Systems Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Varian Medical Systems Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: MOSTAFAVI, Hassan
• Application Number:
  US12/182,932
• Publication Number:
  US 20090060311A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/132
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7289 Retrospective gating, i.e. associating measured signals or images with a physiological event after the actual measurement or image acquisition, e.g. by simultaneously recording an additional physiological signal during the measurement or image acquisition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4441 the rigid structure being a C-arm or U-arm
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/469 for selecting a region of interest [ROI]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/5235 combining images from the same or different ionising radiation imaging techniques, e.g. PET and CT
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/5288 involving retrospective matching to a physiological signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/541 involving acquisition triggered by a physiological signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1061 using an x-ray imaging system having a separate imaging source
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1037 taking into account the movement of the target, e.g. 4D-image based planning
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1049 for verifying the position of the patient with respect to the radiation beam
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1064 for adjusting radiation treatment in response to monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/00 Three dimensional [3D] modelling, e.g. data description of 3D objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/50 using two or more images, e.g. averaging or subtraction

Abstract

A method includes obtaining a first image of an object, obtaining a second image of an object, determining a level of correlation between the first and second images, and using the determined level of correlation between the first and second images to obtain information regarding a motion of the object.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

obtaining a first image of an object;

obtaining a second image of an object;

determining a level of correlation between the first and second images; and

using the determined level of correlation between the first and second images to obtain information regarding a motion of the object.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information regarding the motion of the object comprises a position of the object.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the information regarding the motion of the object comprises an amount of movement by the object.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the information regarding the motion of, the object comprises a phase of a respiratory cycle.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second images are obtained using radiation.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first image is a subset of a larger image.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first image functions as a template.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second image is an image that is from a sequence of images.

9. A computer product having a set of instructions, an execution of which causes a process to be performed, the processing comprising:

obtaining a first image of an object;

obtaining a second image of an object;

determining a level of correlation between the first and second images; and

using the determined level of correlation between the first and second images to obtain information regarding a motion of the object.

10. The computer product of claim 9, wherein the information regarding the motion of the object comprises a position of the object.

11. The computer product of claim 9, wherein the information regarding the motion of the object comprises an amount of movement by the object.

12. The computer product of claim 9, wherein the information regarding the motion of the object comprises a phase of a respiratory cycle.

13. The computer product of claim 9, wherein the first and second images are obtained using radiation.

14. The computer product of claim 9, wherein the first image is a subset of a larger image.

15. The computer product of claim 9, wherein the first image functions as a template.

16. The computer product of claim 9, wherein the second image is an image that is from a sequence of images.

17. A system comprising a processor that is configured for:

obtaining a first image of an object;

obtaining a second image of an object;

determining a level of correlation between the first and second images; and

using the determined level of correlation between the first and second images to obtain information regarding a motion of the object.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the information regarding the motion of the object comprises a position of the object.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the information regarding the motion of the object comprises an amount of movement by the object.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the information regarding the motion of the object comprises a phase of a respiratory cycle.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the first and second images are obtained using radiation.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the first image is a subset of a larger image.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein the first image functions as a template.

24. The system of claim 17, wherein the second image is an image that is from a sequence of images.