Multiple-stage apparatus and method for detecting objects in computed tomography data
First Claim
1. A method of detecting objects in computed tomography (CT) data for a region comprising:
- performing a first object detection process on the CT data for the region to detect a first type of object associated with the first object detection process; and
performing a second object detection process on the CT data for the region to detect a second type of object, said second object detection process being associated with the second type of object, wherein performing the second object detection process on the CT data for the region comprises processing the CT data for the region to eliminate data that represents objects of the first type of object from the CT data for the region.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for detecting objects in computed tomography (CT) data are disclosed. Sheet-shaped objects such as sheet explosives can be detected by analyzing a neighborhood of voxels surrounding a test voxel. If the density of the test voxel is sufficiently different from the mean density of the neighboring voxels, then it is concluded that the test voxel is associated with a sheet object. Sheet objects can also be detected by eroding the CT data so as to eliminate voxels associated with thin objects. Remaining objects are then subtracted from the original data, leaving only thin sheet-shaped objects. Bulk objects can be detected by a modified morphological connected components labeling (CCL) approach which performs a series of erosion and dilation steps to separate adjacent objects in the data such that they can be individually labeled and analyzed. The process of the invention can be carried out in multiple paths. That is, for example, a sheet object detection process and a bulk object detection process can be implemented separately and in parallel. During the sheet object detection process, the data can be analyzed to identify bulk objects. Those objects can then be removed from the data and the remaining data can then be analyzed to identify any remaining sheets. Redundant analysis of data is eliminated.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method of detecting objects in computed tomography (CT) data for a region comprising:
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performing a first object detection process on the CT data for the region to detect a first type of object associated with the first object detection process; and performing a second object detection process on the CT data for the region to detect a second type of object, said second object detection process being associated with the second type of object, wherein performing the second object detection process on the CT data for the region comprises processing the CT data for the region to eliminate data that represents objects of the first type of object from the CT data for the region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for detecting objects in computed tomography (CT) data for a region comprising:
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means for performing a first object detection process on CT data for the region to detect a first type of object, said first object detection process being associated with the first type of object; and means for performing a second object detection process on CT data for the region to detect a second type of object, said second object detection process being associated with the second type of object;
whereinsaid means for performing a second object detection process on the CT data for the region comprises means for processing the CT data for the region to eliminate data that represents objects of the first type of object from the CT data for the region. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A computed tomography (CT) scanning system for detecting objects in a region comprising:
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means for acquiring CT data for the region; means for performing a first object detection process on CT data for the region to detect a first type of object, said first object detection process being associated with the first type of object; and means for performing a second object detection process on CT data for the region to detect a second type of object, said second object detection process being associated with the second type of object;
whereinsaid means for performing a second object detection process on the CT data for the region comprises means for processing the CT data for the region to eliminate data that represents objects of the first type of object from the CT data for the region. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of detecting objects in computed tomography (CT) data for a region comprising:
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performing a first object detection process on the CT data for the region to detect a first type of object associated with the first object detection process; if an object of the first type of object is detected by the first object detection process, omitting CT data associated with the detected object from the CT data for the region; and after the CT data associated with the detected object of the first type of object is removed from the CT data for the region, performing a second object detection process on remaining CT data for the region to detect a second type of object, said second object detection process being associated with the second type of object.
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32. An apparatus for detecting objects in computed tomography (CT) data for a region comprising:
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means for performing a first object detection process on CT data for the region to detect a first type of object, said first object detection process being associated with the first type of object; means for omitting CT data associated with a detected object from the CT data for the region if an object of the first type of object is detected by the first object detection process; and means for performing a second object detection process on remaining CT data for the region to detect a second type of object, said second object detection process being associated with the second type of object, said remaining CT data being CT data for the region remaining after the CT data associated with the detected object is removed from the CT data for the region.
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33. A computed tomography (CT) scanning system for detecting objects in a region comprising:
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means for acquiring CT data for the region; means for performing a first object detection process on CT data for the region to detect a first type of object, said first object detection process being associated with the first type of object; means for omitting CT data associated with a detected object from the CT data for the region if an object of the first type of object is detected by the first object detection process; and means for performing a second object detection process on remaining CT data for the region to detect a second type of object, said second object detection process being associated with the second type of object, said remaining CT data being CT data for the region remaining after the CT data associated with the detected object is removed from the CT data for the region.
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Specification