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 20100268225A1
• Filed: 04/15/2010
• Published: 10/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Coe, Jonathan A., Ladtkow, Casey M.
• Application Number:
  US12/761,267
• Publication Number:
  US 20100268225A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/42
• 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 5/05 Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves impedance plethysmography A61B5/0295; measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof A61B5/11; detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof A61B5/24
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/267 by performing operations on regions, e.g. growing, shrinking or watersheds
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/64 Three-dimensional objects

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 topographic growth rule and a pixel intensity value threshold with respect to a starting pixel, 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 2-D slice images;

segmenting an object of interest from surrounding image data of each slice image based on a topographic growth rule and a pixel intensity value threshold with respect to a starting pixel; 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 value threshold 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 values and their standard deviations.

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

receiving a data set including image data, the image data representing a sequence of 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 topographic growth rule and a pixel intensity value threshold with respect to a starting pixel;

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.

8. The method of image analysis in accordance with claim 7, wherein the statistical properties include mean pixel values and their standard deviations.

9. The method of image analysis in accordance with claim 7, wherein the pixel intensity value threshold is based on the statistical properties.

10. The method of image analysis in accordance with claim 7, wherein the step of receiving a data set including image data includes retrieving image data from a picture archiving and communication system (PACS).

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

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

12. The method of image analysis in accordance with claim 7, 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.

13. A method of directing energy to tissue, comprising the steps of:

positioning an energy applicator for delivery of energy to tissue, the energy applicator operably associated with an electrosurgical power generating source;

determining at least one operating parameter associated with the electrosurgical power generating source based on at least one parameter of a rendered ablation volume; and

transmitting energy from the electrosurgical power generating source through the energy applicator to tissue.

14. The method of directing energy to tissue in accordance with claim 13, wherein the at least one operating parameter associated with the electrosurgical power generating source is selected from the group consisting of temperature, impedance, power, current, voltage, mode of operation, and duration of application of electromagnetic energy.

15. The method of directing energy to tissue in accordance with claim 13, wherein the at least one parameter of a rendered ablation volume is selected from the group consisting of volume, length, diameter, minimum diameter, maximum diameter and centroid.

16. The method of directing energy to tissue in accordance with claim 13, wherein the rendered ablation volume is stored in a database.

17. The method of directing energy to tissue in accordance with claim 13, wherein the rendered ablation volume is generated from image data representing a sequence of 2-D slice images.