ENHANCED SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VOLUME BASED REGISTRATION

• US 20090097778A1
• Filed: 10/11/2007
• Published: 04/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Washburn, Michael Joseph, Marquart, Markus Wilhelm
• Granted Patent: US 8,290,303 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/294
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/364 Correlation of different images or relation of image positions in respect to the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/367 creating a 3D dataset from 2D images using position information
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/36 Image-producing devices or illumination devices not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/33 using feature-based methods

Abstract

A method for volume based registration of images is presented. The method includes receiving a first image data set and at least one other image data set. Further the method includes identifying a first image slice in the at least one other image data set corresponding to the first image data set. The method also includes selecting a first point of interest on at least one of the first image data set or the first image slice in the at least one other image data set. In addition, the method includes selecting a second point of interest on the other of the first image data set or the first image slice in the at least one other image data set, wherein the second point of interest corresponds to the first point of interest. Moreover, the method includes translating one of the first image data set, the first image slice, or both, in a first direction, a second direction and a third direction to align the first point of interest with the second point of interest. Also, the method includes registering the first image data set and the at least one other image data set. Systems and computer-readable medium that afford functionality of the type defined by this method is also contemplated in conjunction with the present technique.

Claims

1. A method for volume based registration of images, the method comprising:

receiving a first image data set and at least one other image data set;

identifying a first image slice in the at least one other image data set corresponding to the first image data set;

selecting a first point of interest in at least one of the first image data set or the first image slice in the at least one other image data set;

selecting a second point of interest in the other of the first image data set or the first image slice in the at least one other image data set, wherein the second point of interest corresponds to the first point of interest;

translating one of the first image data set, the first image slice, or both, in a first direction, a second direction and a third direction to align the first point of interest with the second point of interest; and

updating registration of the first image data set and the at least one other image data set.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising locking the first image data set with the first image slice in the at least one other image data set.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first image data set is acquired via a first imaging modality and the at least one other image data set is acquired via a second imaging modality, wherein the second imaging modality is different from the first imaging modality.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first image data set and the at least one other image data set are acquired via the same imaging modality at different points in time.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first image data set is acquired via an ultrasound imaging system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one other image data set is acquired via an imaging system, wherein the imaging system comprises one of an ultrasound imaging system, a computed tomography imaging system, a positron emission tomography imaging system, a single photon emission computed tomography imaging system, a magnetic resonance imaging system, an X-ray imaging system, an optical imaging system, or a combination thereof.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first direction comprises an X-direction, the second direction a Y-direction, and the third direction a Z-direction.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a location in the first image data set, wherein the location is in a known orientation to one or more image slices in the at least one other image data set;

selecting a third point of interest in at least one of the first image data set or the at least one other image data set;

selecting a fourth point of interest in the other of the first image data set or the at least one other image data set, wherein the fourth point of interest corresponds to the third point of interest; and

translating one of the first image data set, the at least one other image data set, or both in a first direction, a second direction and a third direction to align the first point of interest with the third point of interest.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the known orientation comprises a parallel orientation.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising locking the first image data set with the at least one other image data set.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising recording positional information corresponding to the first image slice.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising processing the registered image for display.

13. A method for volume based registration of images, the method comprising:

receiving a first image data set and at least one other image data set;

identifying a location in the first image data set, wherein the location is in a known orientation to one or more image slices in the at least one other image data set;

selecting a first point of interest in at least one of the first image data set or the at least one other image data set;

selecting a second point of interest in the other of the first image data set or the at least one other image data set, wherein the second point of interest corresponds to the first point of interest;

translating one of the first image data set, the at least one other image data set, or both, in a first direction, a second direction and a third direction to align the first point of interest with the second point of interest; and

updating registration of the first image data set and the at least one other image data set.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising locking the first image data set with the at least one other image data set.

15. A computer readable medium comprising one or more tangible media, wherein the one or more tangible media comprise:

code adapted to receive a first image data set and at least one other image data set;

code adapted to identify a first image slice in the at least one other image data set corresponding to the first image data set;

code adapted to select a first point of interest in at least one of the first image data set or the first image slice in the at least one other image data set;

code adapted to select a second point of interest in the other of the first image data set or the first image slice in the at least one other image data set, wherein the second point of interest corresponds to the first point of interest;

code adapted to translate one of the first image data set, the first image slice, or both, in a first direction, a second direction and a third direction to align the first point of interest with the second point of interest; and

code adapted to update registration of the first image data set and the at least one other image data set.

16. The computer readable medium, as recited in claim 15, further comprising:

code adapted to identify a location in the first image data set, wherein the location is in a known orientation to one or more image slices in the at least one other image data set;

code adapted to select a third point of interest in at least one of the first image data set or the at least one other image data set;

code adapted to select a fourth point of interest in the other of the first image data set or the at least one other image data set, wherein the fourth point of interest corresponds to the third point of interest; and

code adapted to translate one of the first image data set, the at least one other image data set, or both in a first direction, a second direction and a third direction to align the first point of interest with the third point of interest.

17. The computer readable medium, as recited in claim 15, further comprising code adapted to record positional information corresponding to the first image slice.

18. The computer readable medium, as recited in claim 15, further comprising code adapted to process the registered image for display.

19. A system, comprising:

at least one imaging system configured to obtain a first image data set and at least one other image data set; and

a processing sub-system operationally coupled to the at least one imaging system and configured to process each of the first image data set and the at least one other image data set to generate a registered image based upon a volume based registration of the first image data set and the at least one other image data set.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the first image data set is acquired via a first imaging modality and the at least one other image data set is acquired via a second imaging modality, wherein the second imaging modality is different from the first imaging modality.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the first image data set and the at least one other image data set are acquired via the same imaging modality at different points in time.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the processing sub-system is configured to:

receive a first image data set and at least one other image data set;

identify a first image slice in the at least one other image data set corresponding to the first image data set;

select a first point of interest in at least one of the first image data set or the first image slice in the at least one other image data set;

select a second point of interest in the other of the first image data set or the first image slice in the at least one other image data set, wherein the second point of interest corresponds to the first point of interest;

translate one of the first image data set, the first image slice, or both, in a first direction, a second direction and a third direction to align the first point of interest with the second point of interest; and

update registration of the first image data set and the at least one other image data set.

23. The system of claim 21, further comprising a positioning subsystem configured to facilitate orienting an image acquisition device in a known orientation relative to the at least one imaging system.

24. The system of claim 23, further comprising a display configured to display the registered image.