COMPUTER APPARATUS FOR MEDICAL IMAGE ANALYSIS AND PRESCRIPTIONS

• US 20160210742A1
• Filed: 11/20/2015
• Published: 07/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABSIST, LLC
• Original Assignee: ABSIST, LLC
• Inventors: Weiss, Kenneth L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,754,369 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0036 including treatment, e.g., using an implantable medical device, ablating, ventilating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0042 for the brain
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0263 using NMR
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10016 Video; Image sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10072 Tomographic images
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10081 Computed x-ray tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10088 Magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/20101 Interactive definition of point of interest, landmark or seed
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/20221 Image fusion; Image merging
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30004 Biomedical image processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30012 Spine; Backbone
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30016 Brain
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0012 Biomedical image inspection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/11 Region-based segmentation
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 2201/033 of skeletal patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/40 for processing medical images, e.g. editing
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/60 relating to pathologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/40273 the transportation system being a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24 : Structurally defined web or sheet [e.g., overall dimension, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24744 : Longitudinal or transverse tubular cavity or cell

Abstract

Image processing and analysis technique includes using a computer apparatus to identify a region of pathology in a patient'"'"'s magnetic resonance images and then automatically generating a prescription based on the identification of the pathology. Examples include an apparatus that identifies a region of acute infarction and prescribes additional scanning, a magnetic resonance angiographic sequence, and/or a perfusion sequence.

Claims

1. A computer apparatus to analyze a patient'"'"'s diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance images for pathology and generate a prescription comprising:

(a) a non-transitory memory configured to receive one or more diffusion weighted magnetic resonance images of a patient;

(b) a program stored in the non-transitory memory and operatively configured to analyze said images for a region that suggests a pathology; and

(c) a computer processor in communication with the non-transitory memory and configured to perform the program by executing computer executable instructions, wherein the program is operatively configured to automatically generate a prescription based at least in part on the analysis.

2. The computer apparatus of claim 1, wherein the analysis includes search for regions of acute infarction.

3. The computer apparatus of claim 1, wherein the prescription directs further imaging.

4. The computer apparatus of claim 1, wherein the prescription directs therapy.

5. The computer apparatus of claim 2, wherein the pathology identified is an acute infarction and the prescription includes a magnetic resonance angiographic sequence.

6. The computer apparatus of claim 2, wherein the pathology identified is an acute infarction and the prescription includes a perfusion sequence.

7. The computer apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computer apparatus receives input from a technologist to prescribe the diffusion-weighted images received in memory.

8. The computer apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computer apparatus auto-prescribes the diffusion-weighted images received in memory.

9. The computer apparatus of claim 1, wherein the diffusion-weighted images include the brain.

10. The computer apparatus of claim 1, wherein the diffusion-weighted images are in the axial plane.

11. The computer apparatus of claim 1, wherein the prescription directs further imaging.

12. A computer apparatus to analyze a patient'"'"'s images for the presence of infarction and generate a prescription comprising:

(a) a non-transitory memory configured to receive one or more images of a patient

(b) a program stored in the non-transitory memory and operatively configured to analyze said images for a region that suggests an infarction; and

(c) a computer processor in communication with the non-transitory memory and configured to perform the program by executing computer executable instructions, wherein the program is operatively configured to automatically generate a prescription based at least in part on the analysis.

13. The computer apparatus of claim 12, wherein said images include diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance sequencing.

14. The computer apparatus of claim 12, wherein the prescription includes scanning for diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance sequencing.

15. The computer apparatus of claim 12, wherein the infarction is acute and the prescription includes a magnetic resonance angiographic sequence.

16. The computer apparatus of claim 12, wherein the infarction is acute and the prescription includes a perfusion sequence.

17. The computer apparatus of claim 12, wherein the images include the brain.

18. The computer apparatus of claim 12, wherein the prescription directs further imaging.

19. The computer apparatus of claim 12, wherein the prescription directs therapy.

20. The computer apparatus of claim 19, wherein the therapy is emergent neuro-intervention.