Method and apparatus for soft-tissue volume visualization
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for obtaining data, said method comprising:
- scanning an object using a multi-energy computed tomography (MECT) system to obtain data to generate a computed tomographic (CT) anatomical image;
decomposing the obtained data to generate a first CT density image representative of bone material and a second CT density image representative of soft-tissue;
segmenting at least one of the first CT density image and the second CT density image; and
volume rendering the second CT density image.
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Abstract
A method for obtaining data including scanning an object using a multi-energy computed tomography (MECT) system to obtain data to generate an anatomical image, and decomposing the obtained data to generate a first density image representative of bone material and a second density image representative of soft-tissue. The method further includes segmenting at least one of the first density image and the second density image, and volume rendering the second density image.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method for obtaining data, said method comprising:
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scanning an object using a multi-energy computed tomography (MECT) system to obtain data to generate a computed tomographic (CT) anatomical image;
decomposing the obtained data to generate a first CT density image representative of bone material and a second CT density image representative of soft-tissue;
segmenting at least one of the first CT density image and the second CT density image; and
volume rendering the second CT density image. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method for obtaining data, said method comprising:
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scanning an object using a multi-energy computed tomography (MECT) system to obtain data to generate an anatomical image;
decomposing the obtained data to generate a first density image representative of bone material and a second density image representative of soft-tissue;
segmenting at least one of the first density image and the second density image; and
volume rendering the second density image;
wherein segmenting at least one of the first density image and the second density image comprises;
identifying within the first density image areas smaller than a predetermined size; and
importing data into the second density image from the anatomical image according to the identified areas of the first density image. - View Dependent Claims (4)
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5. A method for obtaining data, said method comprising:
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scanning an object using a multi-energy computed tomography (MECT) system to obtain data to generate an anatomical image;
decomposing the obtained data to generate a first density image representative of bone material and a second density image representative of soft-tissue;
segmenting at least one of the first density image and the second density image; and
volume rendering the second density image;
wherein scanning an object using an MECT comprises scanning the object with a high-energy projection to obtain a high-energy anatomical image and scanning the object with a low-energy projection to obtain a low-energy anatomical image, said decomposing the obtained data comprises;
using the equation to generate the first density image, wherein 0<
ws<
wb<
1, Ib is the first density image, H is the high-energy anatomical image, and L is the low-energy anatomical image; andusing the equation to generate the second density image wherein 0<
ws<
wb<
1, Is is the second density image, H is the high-energy anatomical image, and L is the low-energy anatomical image.
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6. A method for obtaining data, said method comprising:
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scanning an object using a multi-energy computed tomography (MECT) system to obtain data to generate an anatomical image;
decomposing the obtained data to generate a first density image representative of bone material and a second density image representative of soft-tissue;
segmenting at least one of the first density image and the second density image; and
volume rendering the second density image;
wherein scanning an object using an MECT comprises scanning the object with a high-energy projection to obtain a high-energy anatomical image and scanning the object with a low-energy projection to obtain a low-energy anatomical image, said method further comprising contrast matching the second density image with the high-energy image to produce a contrast matched soft-tissue image. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A multi-energy computed tomography (MECT) system comprising:
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at least one radiation source;
at least one radiation detector; and
a computer operationally coupled to said radiation source and said radiation detector, said computer configured to;
receive data regarding a first energy spectrum of a scan of an object;
receive data regarding a second energy spectrum of the scan of the object;
decompose said received data to generate a first density image representative of bone material and a second density image representative of soft-tissue;
identify within said first density image areas smaller than a predetermined size; and
import data into said second density image from said data regarding the first energy spectrum according to said identified areas of said first density image. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A multi-energy computed tomography (MECT) system comprising:
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at least one radiation source;
at least one radiation detector; and
a computer operationally coupled to said radiation source and said radiation detector, said computer configured to;
receive image data for an object;
decompose said received image data into a first density image representative of bone material and a second density image representative of soft-tissue;
identify within said first density image areas smaller than a predetermined size; and
extract said identified areas within said first density image using an algorithm configured to use the connectivity of binary pixels. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A computer readable medium embedded with a program configured to instruct a computer to:
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receive data regarding a first energy spectrum of a scan of an object;
receive data regarding a second energy spectrum of the scan of the object;
decompose said received data to generate a first density image representative of bone material and a second density image representative of soft-tissue;
threshold said first density image to produce a first binary mask image representing bone and calcification;
extract areas identified as smaller than a predetermined size from said first binary mask image to produce a second binary mask image substantially representing calcification; and
import data into said second density image from said received data according to said extracted areas of said first binary mask image. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for obtaining data, said method comprising:
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scanning an object using a multi-energy computed tomography (MECT) system to obtain data to generate a computer tomographic (CT) anatomical image;
decomposing the obtained data to generate a first CT density image and a second CT density image; and
volume rendering at least one of the first and second CT density image. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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26. A method for obtaining data, said method comprising:
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scanning an object using a multi-energy computed tomography (MECT) system to obtain data to generate an anatomical image;
decomposing the obtained data to generate a first density image representative of bone material and a second density image representative of soft-tissue;
segmenting at least one of the first density image and the second density image;
volume rendering the second density image;
producing at least one binary mask image utilizing the first density image; and
utilizing the at least one binary mask image, the first density image, and the second density image to produce an additional image. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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28. A method for obtaining data, said method comprising:
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scanning an object using a multi-energy computed tomography (MECT) system to obtain data to generate an anatomical image;
decomposing the obtained data to generate a first density image and a second density image;
volume rendering at least one of the first and second density image;
producing at least one binary mask image utilizing the first density image; and
utilizing the at least one binary mask image, the first density image, and the second density image to produce an additional image. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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Specification