Methods and apparatus to assist and facilitate vessel analysis

• US 6,829,379 B1
• Filed: 11/27/2000
• Issued: 12/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Beckett, Bob L., Knoplioch, Jerome, Betting, Fabienne, Moris, Gilles R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johns, Andrew W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nakhjavan, Shervin
• Application Number:
  US09/723,084
• Time in Patent Office: 1,471 Days
• Field of Search: 382/128, 382/130, 382/131, 382/132, 378/4, 378/21, 378/22, 378/23, 378/24, 378/25, 378/26, 378/27, 378/63, 378/165, 250/363.04, 250/370.09, 250/583, 600/425, 600/427
• US Class Current: 382/131
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/032 Transmission computed tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/469 for selecting a region of interest [ROI]

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention is a method for analyzing tubular structures in a patient, including steps of: selecting a region of interest and a location within the region of interest from a displayed tube-shaped tree representative of a tubular structure in a patient; identifying a centerline of a structure within the tube-shaped tree within the region of interest; and displaying one or more views of the region of interest. The view or views are selected from at least a segmented 3-D view having the region of interest identified, a curved view of the selected branch, a reformatted view dependent upon the identified centerline, and a 3-D view dependent upon the identified centerline.

Claims

1. A method for analyzing tubular structures in a patient, comprising the steps of:

displaying a tube-shaped tree representative of a tubular structure in a patient;

prompting a user to select, from the displayed tube-shaped tree, a region of interest and a location within the region of interest;

identifying a centerpoint of a structure closest to the selected location within the tube-shaped tree within the region of interest; and

displaying at least one view of the region of interest selected from the group of views consisting of;

a segmented 3-D view having the region of interest identified, a curved view of the selected branch, a reformatted view dependent upon the identified centerpoint, and a 3-D view dependent upon the identified centerpoint.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein one of the displayed views is selected from the group consisting of a reformatted view dependent upon the identified centerline centerpoint, and a 3-D view dependent upon the identified centerpoint, and wherein the one of the displayed views further includes the selected branch.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein one of the displayed views is selected from the group consisting of a reformatted view dependent upon the identified centerpoint, and a 3-D view dependent upon the identified centerpoint, and wherein the one of the displayed views includes a location along centerline a centerline and a geometric property of the cross-sectional boundary of the tube-shaped tree at the region of interest.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

identifying branches of the tube-shaped structure;

prompting a user to select points of interest along a centerline of the branches of the tube-shaped structure; and

measuring and displaying at least one member of the group consisting of;

3-D lengths along a centerline between two selected points of interest;

a volume of the vascular section between two of the selected locations;

a cross-sectional area; and

a minimum diameter, a maximum diameter, and an average diameter at the selected points of interest.

5. A method in accordance with claim 4 further comprising the step of displaying a pre-defined message guiding said selection of points of interest.

6. A method in accordance with claim 5 wherein the pre-defined messages are selectable by a user.

7. A method in accordance with claim 4 further comprising the step of saving values of measurements a selected displayed views to a storage medium.

8. A method in accordance with claim 7 further comprising the step of display a pre-defined message guiding a selection of measurements and displays to be stored.

9. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein the pre-defined messages are selectable by a user.

10. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the step of displaying pre-defined messages guiding said selection of the region of interest and the location within the region of interest.

11. A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein the predefined messages are selectable by a user.

12. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the displayed tube shaped tree is representative of vascular structures of the patient.

13. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the displayed tube shaped tree is representative of coronary structures of the patient.

14. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the tube shaped tree is representative of airways of the patient.

15. A device for facilitating the analysis of tubular structures in a patient, said device configured to:

display a tube-shaped tree representative of a tubular structure in a patient;

prompt a user to input a selection of a region of interest and a location within the region of interest from a displayed tube-shaped tree representative of a tubular structure in a patient;

identify a centerpoint of a structure closest to the selected location within a tube-shaped tree within a selected region of interest; and

display at least one view of the region of interest selected from the group of views consisting of;

a segmented 3-D view having the region of interest identified, a curved view of the selected branch, a reformatted view dependent upon the identified centerpoint, and a 3-D view dependent upon the identified centerpoint.

16. A device in accordance with claim 15 wherein one of the displayed views is selected from the group consisting of a reformatted view dependent upon the identified centerpoint, and a 3-D view dependent upon the identified centerpoint, and wherein the one of the displayed views further includes the selected branch.

17. A device in accordance with claim 15 wherein one of the displayed views is selected from the group consisting of a reformatted view dependent upon the identified centerpoint, and a 3-D view dependent upon the identified centerpoint, and wherein the one of the displayed views includes a location along a centerline and a geometric property of the cross-sectional boundary of the tube-shaped tree at the region of interest.

18. A device in accordance with claim 15 further configured to:

input a selection of branches of the tube-shaped structure;

prompt a user to input a selection of points of interest along a centerline of the branches of the tube-shaped structure; and

measure and display at least one member of the group consisting of;

3-D lengths along a centerline between two selected points of interest;

a volume of the vascular section between two of the selected locations;

a cross-sectional area; and

a minimum diameter, a maximum diameter, and an average diameter at the selected points of interest.

19. A device in accordance with claim 18 further configured to display a pre-defined message guiding said selection of points of interest.

20. A device in accordance with claim 19 wherein the pre-defined messages are selectable by a user.

21. A device in accordance with claim 18 further configured to save values of measurements a selected displayed views to a storage medium.

22. A device in accordance with claim 21 further configured to display a pre-defined message guiding a selection of measurements and displays to be stored.

23. A device in accordance with claim 22 wherein the pre-defined messages are selectable by a user.

24. A device in accordance with claim 15 further configured to display pre-defined messages guiding said selection of the region of interest and the location within the region of interest.

25. A device in accordance with claim 24 wherein the predefined messages are selectable by a user.

26. A device in accordance with claim 15 configured to display a tube shaped tree representative of vascular structures of the patient.

27. A device in accordance with claim 15 configured to display a tube shaped tree representative of coronary structures of the patient.

28. A device in accordance with claim 15 configured to display a tube shaped tree representative of airways of the patient.