Magnetic resonance imaging color composites
First Claim
1. A method of producing a single color composite image from a plurality of multiparameter magnetic resonance images, the method including the steps of:
- obtaining a plurality of spatially aligned gray-tone magnetic resonance images at a plurality of predetermined pulse sequences to provide data of the spatial location and contrast discrimination of tissue voxels in the form of pixels having varied intensities;
identifying selected regions of interest in each image representing similar tissues, andcharacterized by plotting average signal intensities of pixels within each region of interest for each image,assigning a different monochrome color to each of the images based on the signal intensities and on a desired final color rendition of a composite image formed of the plurality of images,combining the plurality of gray-tone images with the monochrome color assigned to each image into a single composite image having pixels of varying hue, saturation and intensity based on the intensity of the original gray-tone images and on the assigned monochrome colors forming the composite image having semi-natural anatomic appearance.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to an apparatus and method for producing a single color coded composite image from a plurality of multiparameter magnetic resonance image sets. The plurality of magnetic resonance image sets are spatially aligned and are acquired using different pulse sequences to contrast various parameters of anatomical, physiological and pathological features. The method includes acquiring the gray-tone images, and plotting a histogram of the average pixel signal intensities for selected regions of interest in each image. This provide quantitative data to support qualitative assessments of tissue contrast behavior in each of the images which acts as a basis for color coding. Based on the histogram, color coefficients of red, green and blue channels are assigned to each image so that the final combination of colors will produce a semi-natural appearing composite image. Monochrome images are created based on the gray-tone images and color coefficiency tables. The monochrome images are combined to produce the composite image.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of producing a single color composite image from a plurality of multiparameter magnetic resonance images, the method including the steps of:
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obtaining a plurality of spatially aligned gray-tone magnetic resonance images at a plurality of predetermined pulse sequences to provide data of the spatial location and contrast discrimination of tissue voxels in the form of pixels having varied intensities; identifying selected regions of interest in each image representing similar tissues, and characterized by plotting average signal intensities of pixels within each region of interest for each image, assigning a different monochrome color to each of the images based on the signal intensities and on a desired final color rendition of a composite image formed of the plurality of images, combining the plurality of gray-tone images with the monochrome color assigned to each image into a single composite image having pixels of varying hue, saturation and intensity based on the intensity of the original gray-tone images and on the assigned monochrome colors forming the composite image having semi-natural anatomic appearance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of producing a single color composite image from a plurality of multiparameter magnetic resonance images, the method including the steps of:
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obtaining a plurality of spatially aligned gray-tone magnetic resonance images at a plurality of predetermined pulse sequences to provide data of the spatial location and contrast discrimination of tissue voxels in the form of pixels having varied intensities; identifying selected regions of interest in each image representing similar tissues; determining average signal intensities of pixels within each region of interest for each image; assigning a different monochrome color to each of the images based on the signal intensities and on a desired final color rendition of a composite image formed of the plurality of images, combining the plurality of monochrome images with the monochrome color assigned thereto into a single composite image having pixels of varying hue, saturation and intensity forming the composite image having the desired color anatomic appearance. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus for producing a single color composite image from a plurality of multiparameter magnetic resonance images, said apparatus comprising:
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imaging means (12) for obtaining a plurality of spatially aligned gray-tone magnetic resonance images at a plurality of predetermined pulse sequences to provide data of the spatial location and contrast discrimination of tissue voxels in the form of pixels having varied intensities; and characterized by processor means (16) for receiving a plurality of gray-tone images, for identifying average signal intensities of selected regions of interest for each image, for associating a different monochrome color to each of said images based on the intensities and pulse sequences, and for combining the monochrome colors and respective images to produce a single composite image having semi-natural anatomic appearance. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification