Automated border detection in ultrasonic diagnostic images
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of defining a tissue border in a medical ultrasonic image comprising:
- acquiring an ultrasonic image;
locating an anatomical landmark in the image;
fitting a trace to a tissue border related to the anatomical feature; and
displaying an ultrasonic image with a fitted trace displayed on the tissue border.
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Abstract
This invention describes automatically tracing a tissue border in an ultrasonic image which is accomplished by acquiring one or more images, locating anatomical landmarks in the image, fitting a border trace to the anatomical landmarks, and displaying an ultrasonic image in which a tissue border has been automatically traced. Adjustable control points are located on the displayed border, enabling the automatically drawn border to be manually adjusted by a rubberbanding technique.
189 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A method of defining a tissue border in a medical ultrasonic image comprising:
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acquiring an ultrasonic image;
locating an anatomical landmark in the image;
fitting a trace to a tissue border related to the anatomical feature; and
displaying an ultrasonic image with a fitted trace displayed on the tissue border. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
identifying a spatial sequence of pixel values which may include a tissue border;
differentiating the sequence of pixel values to produce the slope of the change of pixel values; and
locating the tissue border from the slope of the change of pixel values.
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10. The method of claim 9, wherein the spatial sequence of pixel values is approximately normal to a possible tissue border.
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11. The method of claim 10, further comprising repeating the steps of identifying a spatial sequence of pixel values, differentiating the sequence of pixel values, and locating the tissue border from the slope for a plurality of sequences of pixel values to locate a plurality of points on a tissue border;
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wherein fitting comprises fitting a trace to the tissue border defined by the located points.
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12. The method of claim 11, wherein the tissue border is the border of a surface of the heart.
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13. The method of claim 12, wherein the border is the endocardium of the heart.
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14. The method of claim 12, wherein the border is the epicardium of the heart.
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20. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
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defining an image area in a first image which includes a located anatomical feature; and
using the pixels of the defined image area as a spatial template for locating the anatomical feature in a second image.
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21. The method of claim 20, wherein the ultrasonic image comprises an image of the left ventricle of the heart;
- wherein the image area includes one of a located MMA or LMA; and
wherein the image area including the MMA or LMA landmark is used to find the same landmark in a second ultrasonic image.
- wherein the image area includes one of a located MMA or LMA; and
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22. The method of claim 1, further comprising defining a plurality of adjustable control points along the trace.
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23. The method of claim 22, wherein the control points are adjustable by sliding a control point along the trace.
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24. The method of claim 22, wherein the control points are adjustable by deleting a control point.
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25. The method of claim 22, wherein the control points are adjustable by adding a control point.
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26. The method of claim 22, wherein the control points are used to adjust the shape of the trace by rubberbanding.
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27. The method of claim 26, wherein acquiring comprises acquiring a sequence of cardiac ultrasonic images;
- and wherein the adjustment of the shape of the trace of one image of the sequence causes automatic modification of the trace of one or more other images in the sequence.
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28. The method of claim 27, wherein the automatic modification of a trace does not alter the location of a manually adjusted control point of the trace.
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29. The method of claim 26, wherein at least one of the control points corresponds to an anatomical feature.
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30. The method of claim 29, wherein the adjustment of a control point corresponding to an anatomical feature causes the trace to be refitted to a tissue border including the adjusted control point.
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31. The method of claim 1, further comprising computing one or more confidence measures of the effectiveness of the tissue border defining process;
- and ending the process when a confidence measure does not equal or exceed a predetermined level.
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32. The method of claim 31, wherein the confidence measures include a first confidence measure based upon the tissue border defining process of a single image, and a second confidence measure based upon the temporal consistency of the tissue border defining process.
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15. A method of defining a tissue border in a medical ultrasonic image comprising:
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acquiring an ultrasonic image;
locating an anatomical landmark in the image;
fitting a trace to a tissue border related to the anatomical feature; and
displaying an ultrasonic image with a fitted trace displayed on the tissue border, wherein the ultrasonic image comprises an image of a chamber of the heart which includes an apex; and
wherein locating comprises;
defining a first line along a portion of the septal wall of the heart chamber proximate to the apex;
defining a second line along a portion of the lateral wall o the heart chamber proximate to the apex; and
bisecting the angle between the first and second lines to locate the apex. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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33. A method of defining a tissue border in a medical ultrasonic image comprising:
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acquiring an ultrasonic image;
locating an anatomical landmark in the image;
fitting a trace to a tissue border related to the anatomical feature; and
displaying an ultrasonic image with a fitted trace displayed on the tissue border;
further comprising computing one or more confidence measures of the effectiveness of the tissue border defining process; and
ending the process when a confidence measure does not equal or exceed a predetermined level;
wherein acquiring comprises acquiring a sequence of cardiac images;
fitting comprises automatically fitting traces to a plurality of the cardiac images; and
wherein the confidence measures include one or more of;
evaluating the clarity of delineation of the septum of the heart;
evaluating one or more correlation coefficients;
evaluating the shape of a fitted trace in relation to a standard shape;
evaluating the variation of the shape of a fitted trace from one image in the sequence to another;
evaluating the shape of a fitted trace against a standard shape; and
evaluating the shape of a fitted trace against permissible variation from a standard shape. - View Dependent Claims (34)
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35. A method of defining a tissue border in a medical ultrasonic image comprising:
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acquiring an ultrasonic image;
locating an anatomical landmark in the image;
fitting a trace to a tissue border related to the anatomical feature; and
displaying an ultrasonic image with a fitted trace displayed on the tissue border;
further comprising computing one or more confidence measures of the effectiveness of the tissue border defining process; and
ending the process when a confidence measure does not equal or exceed a predetermined level;
further comprising providing the user with the option of at least one of;
continuing an automated border tracing process;
continuing an automated border tracing process after user input; and
manually performing border tracing, when an automated tissue border defining process is ended by reason of a confidence measure level.
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36. A method of defining a tissue border in a medical ultrasonic image comprising:
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acquiring an ultrasonic image;
locating an anatomical landmark in the image;
fitting a trace to a tissue border related to the anatomical feature; and
displaying an ultrasonic image with a fitted trace displayed on the tissue border;
further comprising storing a plurality of standard traces; and
fitting one of the standard traces to a tissue border. - View Dependent Claims (37)
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Specification