Methods for Image Analysis and Visualization of Medical Image Data Suitable for Use in Assessing Tissue Ablation and Systems and Methods for Controlling Tissue Ablation Using Same

• US 20100268223A1
• Filed: 06/21/2010
• Published: 10/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Health Group LP
• Inventors: Latdkow, Casey M., Coe, Jonathan A.
• Application Number:
  US12/819,330
• Publication Number:
  US 20100268223A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1869 with an instrument interstitially inserted into the body, e.g. needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/10 Computer-aided planning, simulation or modelling of surgical operations
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/36 Image-producing devices or illumination devices not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/08 Volume rendering
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10072 Tomographic images
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/20076 Probabilistic image processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30096 Tumor; Lesion
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/11 Region-based segmentation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/143 involving probabilistic approaches, e.g. Markov random field [MRF] modelling

Abstract

A method of image analysis includes the initial step of receiving a data set including image data. The image data represents a sequence of 2-D slice images. The method includes the steps of segmenting an object of interest from surrounding image data of each slice image based on a p-value of a t-statistic relating each pixel successively examined to statistical properties derived from pixel values within the region of interest, and rendering a volume of the object of interest using (x,y) coordinates corresponding to boundaries of the segmented object of interest.

Claims

1. A method of image analysis, comprising the steps of:

receiving a data set including image data, the image data representing a sequence of two-dimensional (2-D) slice images;

segmenting an object of interest from surrounding image data of each slice image based on a p-value of a t-statistic relating each pixel successively examined to statistical properties derived from pixel values within the region of interest; and

rendering a volume of the object of interest using (x,y) coordinates corresponding to boundaries of the segmented object of interest.

2. The method of image analysis in accordance with claim 1, wherein rendering the volume of the object of interest using (x,y) coordinates corresponding to boundaries of the segmented object of interest includes the steps of:

determining (x,y) coordinates corresponding to boundaries of the segmented object of interest of each slice image;

arranging the boundaries of the segmented object of interest of each slice image along a third dimension using the (x,y) coordinates corresponding to the plurality of 2-D slice images; and

fitting a 3-D surface to the arranged boundaries to render a volume of the object of interest.

3. The method of image analysis in accordance with claim 1, wherein segmenting an object of interest from surrounding image data of each slice image based on a topographic growth rule and a pixel intensity threshold value with respect to a starting pixel includes the steps of:

selectively defining a region of interest within each slice image of the sequence of 2-D slice images; and

characterizing pixels contained within the region of interest of each slice image based on statistical properties derived from pixel values within the region of interest of each slice image.

4. The method of image analysis in accordance with claim 3, wherein the statistical properties include mean pixel grey-level values and standard deviations of the region of interest gray levels.

5. The method of image analysis in accordance with claim 1, wherein the image data representing the sequence of 2-D slice images is in DICOM format.

6. The method of image analysis in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the step of:

displaying the rendered volume of the object of interest on a display device to facilitate planning of a procedure.

7. The method of image analysis in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the step of:

determining at least one operating parameter associated with an electrosurgical power generating source based on at least one parameter of the rendered volume of the object of interest.

8. The method of image analysis in accordance with claim 7, wherein the at least one parameter of the rendered volume of the object of interest is selected from the group consisting of volume, length, diameter, minimum diameter, maximum diameter and centroid.

9. A method of image analysis, comprising the steps of:

receiving a data set including image data, the image data representing a sequence of two-dimensional (2-D) slice images;

selectively defining a region of interest within each slice image of the sequence of 2-D slice images;

characterizing pixels contained within the region of interest of each slice image based on statistical properties derived from pixel values within the region of interest of each slice image;

segmenting an object of interest from surrounding image data of each slice image based on a p-value of a t-statistic relating each pixel successively examined to statistical properties derived from pixel values within the region of interest;

determining (x,y) coordinates corresponding to boundaries of the segmented object of interest of each slice image; and

rendering a volume of the object of interest using the (x,y) coordinates corresponding to the plurality of 2-D slice images.

10. The method of image analysis in accordance with claim 9, wherein the statistical properties include mean pixel values and their standard deviations.

11. The method of image analysis in accordance with claim 9, wherein the step of selectively defining a region of interest within each slice image of the sequence of 2-D slice images includes selecting a starting pixel within each slice image.

12. The method of image analysis in accordance with claim 9, further comprising the step of:

determining at least one operating parameter associated with an electrosurgical power generating source based on at least one parameter of the rendered volume of the object of interest.

13. The method of image analysis in accordance with claim 9, wherein the step of receiving a data set including image data includes retrieving image data from a picture archiving and communication system (PACS).

14. The method of image analysis in accordance with claim 9, further comprising the step of:

displaying the rendered volume of the object of interest on a display device to facilitate planning of a procedure.

15. The method of image analysis in accordance with claim 9, wherein selectively defining the region of interest includes the steps of:

displaying image data on a display device; and

providing a pointing device to enable user selection of the region of interest.

16. An electrosurgical system, comprising:

an electrosurgical power generating source;

an energy-delivery device operably associated with the electrosurgical power generating source;

a processor unit; and

an imaging system capable of generating image data representing a sequence of 2-D slice images,

wherein the processor unit is disposed in operative communication with the imaging system and adapted to analyze the image data to segment an object of interest from surrounding image data of each slice image based on a p-value of a t-statistic relating each pixel successively examined to statistical properties derived from pixel values within the region of interest.

17. The electrosurgical system of claim 16, wherein the processor unit is further adapted to render a volume of the object of interest using (x,y) coordinates corresponding to boundaries of the segmented object of interest.

18. The electrosurgical system of claim 16, wherein the energy-delivery device is configured to emit a directional radiation pattern that rotates therewith during rotation of the energy-delivery device about a longitudinal axis thereof.

19. The electrosurgical system of claim 18, wherein the processor unit is further adapted to control rotation of the energy-delivery device about the longitudinal axis thereof during a treatment procedure based on at least one parameter of the rendered volume of the object of interest.