Method and apparatus for processing images with regions representing target objects

• US 6,754,374 B1
• Filed: 12/16/1999
• Issued: 06/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Surgical Navigation Technologies, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Surgical Navigation Technologies, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Joshi, Sarang C., Grenander, Ulf, Miller, Michael I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Boudreau, Leo
• Assistant Examiner(s): Miller, Ryan J.
• Application Number:
  US09/461,241
• Time in Patent Office: 1,650 Days
• Field of Search: 382/128, 382/154, 382/294, 382/130, 382/131, 382/257, 600/424, 600/425, 128/922
• US Class Current: 382/128
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10088 Magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/20156 Automatic seed setting
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30016 Brain
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30096 Tumor; Lesion
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0012 Biomedical image inspection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/11 Region-based segmentation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/187 involving region growing; involving region merging; involving connected component labelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/32 using correlation-based methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/24 Aligning, centring, orientation detection or correction of the image
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/754 involving a deformation of the sample pattern or of the reference pattern; Elastic matching

Abstract

An apparatus and method for processing images with regions representing target objects involves registering a first and a second image, where the second image contains a target object. The method comprises the steps of identifying a region in the second image containing one or more image data elements representing the target object, transforming the second image to reduce the size of the region containing the target object, and registering the first image and the second image. Another embodiment comprises the steps of identifying a region in the second image containing one or more image data elements representing a target object. After identifying this region, the first and second images are registered using a first transform component that filters one or more data elements in the second image that are contained in the identified region, and a second transform component that includes one or more data elements in the second image that are contained in the identified region.

Claims

1. A method for identifying a target object in an image, comprising the steps of:

identifying a seed region containing one or more image data elements representing the target object;

defining a target model of a target subset of image data elements representing the target object, wherein the target subset defines a distribution of gray scale values;

defining a background model of a background subset of image data elements representing structure in the image other than the target object, wherein the background subset defines a distribution of gray scale values; and

growing the seed region by increasing the number of the image data elements contained in the seed region representing the target object as a function of the target model while reducing the number of the image data elements contained in the seed region representing structure other than the target object as a function of the background model.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of defining a target model further comprises the substep of:

defining a texture target model and/or intensity target model.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of defining a background model further comprises the substep of:

defining a texture background model and/or intensity background model.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of growing the seed region further comprises the substep of:

maximizing the number of the image data elements contained in the seed region representing the target object as a function of the target model while minimizing the number of the image data elements contained in the seed region representing structure other than the target object as a function of the background model.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of growing the seed region further comprises the substep of:

growing the seed region elastically.

6. A method for registering a first and a second image, wherein the second image contains a target object not contained in the first image, comprising the steps of:

identifying a seed region in the second image containing one or more image data elements representing the target object;

defining a target model of a target subset of image data elements representing the target object, wherein the target subset defines a distribution of gray scale values;

defining a background model of a background subset of image data elements representing structure in the image other than the target object, wherein the background subset defines a distribution of gray scale values;

growing the seed region in the second image by increasing the number of the image data elements contained in the seed region representing the target object as a function of the target model while reducing the number of the image data elements contained in the seed region representing structure other than the target object as a function of the background model;

transforming the second image to reduce the size of the grown seed region; and

registering the first image and the transformed second image.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of transforming produces a transformed second image that excludes image data elements representing the target object.

8. A method for identifying a tumor in an image, comprising the steps of:

identifying a seed region containing one or more image data elements representing the tumor;

defining a target model of a target subset of image data elements representing the tumor, wherein the target subset defines a distribution of gray scale values;

defining a background model of a background subset of image data elements representing structure in the image other than the tumor, wherein the background subset defines a distribution of gray scale values; and

growing the seed region by increasing the number of the image data elements contained in the seed region representing the tumor as a function of the target model while reducing the number of the image data elements contained in the seed region representing structure other than the tumor as a function of the background model.

9. A method for registering a first and a second image, wherein the second image contains a tumor not contained in the first image, comprising the steps of:

identifying a seed region in the second image containing one or more image data elements representing the tumor;

defining a target model of a target subset of image data elements representing the tumor, wherein the target subset defines a distribution of gray scale values;

defining a background model of a background subset of image data elements representing structure in the image other than the tumor, wherein the background subset defines a distribution of gray scale values;

growing the seed region in the second image by increasing the number of the image data elements contained in the seed region representing the tumor as a function of the target model while reducing the number of the image data elements contained in the seed region representing structure other than the tumor as a function of the background model;

transforming the second image to reduce the size of the grown seed region; and

registering the first image and the transformed second image.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of transforming produces a transformed second image that excludes image data elements representing the tumor.

11. A method for generating a radiation treatment plan using a first image and a second image, said second image containing a target object not contained in the first image, comprising the steps of:

identifying a seed region in said second image containing one or more image data elements representing the target object;

growing the seed region by increasing the number of the image data elements representing the target object contained in said seed region while reducing the number of the image data elements representing structure other than the target object contained in said seed region;

transforming the second image to reduce the size of the grown seed region containing the target object; and

registering the first image and the transformed second image to produce a composite image for radiation treatment.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of transforming produces a transformed second image that excludes image data elements representing the target object.

13. An apparatus for identifying a tumor in an image comprising:

means for identifying a seed region containing one or more image data elements representing the tumor;

means for defining a target model of a target subset of image data elements representing the tumor, wherein the target subset defines a distribution of gray scale values;

means for defining a background model of a background subset of image data elements representing structure in the image other than the tumor, wherein the background subset defines a distribution of gray scale values; and

means for growing the seed region by increasing the number of the image data elements contained in the seed region representing the tumor as a function of the target model while reducing the number of the image data elements contained in the seed region representing structure other than the tumor as a function of the background model.

14. An apparatus for registering a first and a second image, wherein the second image contains a tumor not contained in the first image, comprising:

means for identifying seed region in the second image containing one or more image data elements representing the tumor;

means for defining a target model of a target subset of image data elements representing the tumor, wherein the target subset defines a distribution of gray scale values;

means for defining a background model of a background subset of image data elements representing structure in the second image other than the tumor, wherein the background subset defines a distribution of gray scale values;

means for growing in the second image the seed region by increasing the number of the image data elements contained in the seed region representing the tumor as a function of the target model while reducing the number of the image data elements contained in the seed region representing structure other than the tumor as a function of the background model;

means for transforming the second image to reduce the size of the grown seed region; and

means for registering the first image and the transformed second image.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the means for transforming produces a transformed second image that excludes image data elements representing the tumor.

16. An apparatus for generating a radiation treatment plan using a first image and a second image, said second image containing a target object not contained in the first image, comprising:

means for identifying a seed region in said second image containing one or more image data elements representing the target object;

means for growing the seed region by increasing the number of the image data elements contained in the seed region representing the target object while reducing the number of the image data elements contained in the seed region representing structure other than the target object;

means for transforming the second image to reduce the size of the grown seed region containing the target object; and

means for registering the first image and the transformed second image to produce a composite image for radiation treatment.

17. An article of manufacture for identifying a tumor in an image comprising:

a module configured to cause a computer to identify a seed region containing one or more image data elements representing the tumor;

a module configured to cause the computer to define a target model of a target subset of image data elements representing the tumor, wherein the target subset defines a distribution of gray scale values;

a module configured to cause the computer to define a background model of a background subset of image data elements representing structure in the image other than the tumor, wherein the background subset defines a distribution of gray scale values; and

a module configured to cause the computer to grow the seed region by increasing the number of the image data elements contained in the seed region representing the tumor as a function of the target model while reducing the number of the image data elements contained in the seed region representing structure other than the tumor as a function of the background model.

18. An article of manufacture for registering a first and a second image, wherein the second image contains a tumor not contained in the first image, comprising:

a module configured to cause a computer to identify a seed region in the second image containing one or more image data elements representing the tumor;

a module configured to cause the computer to define a target model of a target subset of image data elements representing the tumor, wherein the target subset defines a distribution of gray scale values;

a module configured to cause the computer to define a background model of a background subset of image data elements representing structure in the second image other than the tumor, wherein the background subset defines a distribution of gray scale values;

a module configured to cause the computer to grow the seed region in the second image by increasing the number of the image data elements contained in the seed region representing the tumor as a function of the target model while reducing the number of the image data elements contained in the seed region representing structure other than the tumor as a function of the background model;

a module configured to cause the computer to transform the second image to reduce the size of the grown seed region; and

a module configured to cause the computer to register the first image and the transformed second image.

19. The article of manufacture of claim 18 wherein the module configured to cause the computer to transform produces a transformed second image, wherein the transformed second image excludes image data elements representing the tumor.

20. An article of manufacture for generating a radiation treatment plan using a first image and a second image, said second image containing a target object not contained in the first image, comprising:

a module configured to cause a computer to identify a seed region in said second image containing one or more image data elements representing a target object;

a module configured to cause the computer to grow the seed region by increasing the number of the image data elements contained in the seed region representing the target object while reducing the number of the image data elements contained in the seed region representing structure other than the target object;

a module configured to cause the computer to transform the second image to reduce the size of the grown seed region containing the target object; and

a module configured to cause the computer to register the first image and the transformed second image to produce a composite image for radiation treatment.

21. An apparatus for identifying a target object in an image comprising:

means for identifying a seed region containing one or more image data elements representing the target object;

means for defining a target model of a target subset of image data elements representing the target object, wherein the target subset defines a distribution of gray scale values;

means for defining a background model of a background subset of image data elements representing structure in the image other than the target object, wherein the background subset defines a distribution of gray scale values; and

means for growing the seed region by increasing the number of the image data elements contained in the seed region representing the target object as a function of the target model while reducing the number of the image data elements contained in the seed region representing structure other than the target object as a function of the background model.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the means for defining a target model further comprises:

means for defining a texture target model and/or intensity target model.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the means for defining a background model further comprises:

means for defining a texture background model and/or intensity background model.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the means for growing the seed region further comprises:

means for maximizing the number of the image data elements contained in the seed region representing the target object as a function of the target model while minimizing the number of the image data elements contained in the seed region representing structure other than the target object as a function of the background model.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the means for growing the seed region further comprises:

means for growing the seed region elastically.

26. An apparatus for registering a first and a second image, wherein the second image contains a target object not contained in the first image, comprising:

means for identifying a seed region in the second image containing one or more image data elements representing the target object;

means for defining a target model of a target subset of image data elements representing the target object, wherein the target subset defines a distribution of gray scale values;

means for defining a background model of a background subset of image data elements representing structure in the second image other than the target object, wherein the background subset define defines a distribution of gray scale values;

means for growing the seed region in the second image by increasing the number of the image data elements contained in the seed region representing the target object as a function of the target model while reducing the number of the image data elements contained in the seed region representing structure other than the target object as a function of the background model;

means for transforming the second image to reduce the size of the grown seed region; and

means for registering the first image and the transformed second image.

27. The apparatus method of claim 26 wherein the means for transforming produces a transformed second image that excludes image data elements representing the target object.

28. An article of manufacture for identifying a target object in an image comprising:

a module configured to cause a computer to identify a seed region containing one or more image data elements representing the target object;

a module configured to cause the computer to define a target model of a target subset of image data elements representing the target object, wherein the target subset defines a distribution of gray scale values;

a module configured to cause the computer to define a background model of a background subset of image data elements representing structure in the image other than the target object, wherein the background subset defines a distribution of gray scale values; and

a module configured to cause the computer to grow the seed region by increasing the number of the image data elements contained in the seed region representing the target object as a function of the target model while reducing the number of the image data elements contained in the seed region representing structure other than the target object as a function of the background model.

29. The article of manufacture of claim 28, wherein the module configured to cause the computer to define a target model further comprises:

a module configured to cause the computer to define a texture target model and/or intensity target model.

30. The article of manufacture of claim 28, wherein the module configured to cause the computer to define a background model further comprises:

a module configured to cause the computer to define a texture background model and/or intensity background model.

31. The article of manufacture of claim 28, wherein module configured to cause the computer to grow the seed region further comprises:

a module configured to cause the computer to maximize the number of the image data elements contained in the seed region representing the target object as a function of the target model while minimizing the number of the image data elements contained in the seed region representing structure other than the target object as a function of the background model.

32. The article of manufacture of claim 28, wherein the module configured to cause the computer to grow the seed region further comprises:

a module configured to cause the computer to grow the seed region elastically.

33. An article of manufacture for registering a first and a transformed second image, wherein the transformed second image contains a target object not contained in the first image, comprising:

a module configured to cause a computer to identify a seed region in the second image containing one or more image data elements representing the target object;

a module configured to cause the computer to define a target model of a target subset of image data elements representing the target object, wherein the target subset defines a distribution of gray scale values;

a module configured to cause the computer to define a background model of a background subset of image data elements representing structure in the second image other than the target object, wherein the background subset defines a distribution of gray scale values;

a module configured to cause the computer to grow the seed region in the second image by increasing the number of the image data elements contained in the seed region representing the target object as a function of the target model while reducing the number of the image data elements contained in the seed region representing structure other than the target object as a function of the background model;

a module configured to cause the computer to transform the second image to reduce the size of the grown seed region; and

a module configured to cause the computer to register the first image and the transformed second image.

34. The article of manufacture of claim 33 wherein the module configured to cause the computer to transform produces a transformed second image which excludes image data elements representing the target object.