METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TOOTH SEGMENTATION IN DENTAL IMAGES

• US 20130022255A1
• Filed: 05/09/2012
• Published: 01/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carestream Dental Technology Topco Limited
• Original Assignee: CareStream Health Incorporated
• Inventors: Chen, Shoupu, Ray, Lawrence A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,929,635 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/131
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/24 involving graphical user interfaces [GUIs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10081 Computed x-ray tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/20096 Interactive definition of curve of interest
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/20116 Active contour; Active surface; Snakes
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30036 Dental; Teeth
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/12 Edge-based segmentation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/149 involving deformable models, e.g. active contour models
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/26 Segmentation of patterns in the image field; Cutting or merging of image elements to establish the pattern region, e.g. clustering-based techniques; Detection of occlusion

Abstract

A method for segmenting a feature of interest from a volume image acquires image data elements from the image of a subject. One or more boundary points along a boundary of the feature of interest are identified according to one or more geometric primitives with reference to the displayed view. A foreground seed curve is defined according to the one or more identified boundary points. A background field array that lies outside of, and is spaced from, the foreground seed curve by a predetermined distance, is defined. Segmentation is applied to the volume image according to foreground values obtained according to image data elements that are spatially bounded on or within the foreground seed curve and according to background field array values to create a segmented feature of interest.

Claims

1. A method for segmenting a feature of interest from a volume image of a subject, comprising:

acquiring image data elements from the volume image;

displaying at least one view of the volume image;

identifying one or more boundary points along a boundary of the feature of interest according to one or more geometric primitives defined by a user with reference to the displayed at least one view;

forming a foreground seed curve defined according to the one or more identified boundary points;

forming a background field array disposed outside of, and is spaced apart from, the foreground seed curve by a predetermined distance;

applying segmentation to the volume image according to foreground values obtained according to image data elements that are spatially bounded on or within the foreground seed curve and according to background field array values to create a segmented feature of interest; and

displaying the segmented feature of interest.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the geometric primitives defined by the user comprise a curve tracing a boundary.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein forming the foreground seed curve comprises generating an outline or a first convex hull containing the defined geometric primitives.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the feature of interest is a tooth.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the volume image is a computerized tomography image.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a selection of the one or more geometric primitives.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying the background field array.

8. A method for segmenting a feature of interest from a volume image of a subject, the method executed at least in part on a computer, comprising:

acquiring image data elements from the volume image;

identifying a sub-volume of the volume image that includes at least the feature of interest;

displaying at least one view of the sub-volume;

identifying one or more boundary points along a boundary of the feature of interest according to one or more geometric primitives defined by a user with reference to the displayed at least one view;

forming a foreground seed curve encompassing the one or more identified boundary points;

forming a background field array disposed outside of and is spaced from the foreground seed curve by a predetermined distance;

applying segmentation to the volume image according to foreground values obtained according to image data elements that are spatially bounded on or within the foreground seed curve and according to the background field array values to create a segmented feature of interest; and

displaying the segmented feature of interest.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the feature of interest is a tooth.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the volume image is a computerized tomography image.