Evaluating disease progression using magnetic resonance imaging

• US 6,901,280 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2003
• Issued: 05/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Arthrovision, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Arthrovision, Inc.
• Inventors: de Guise, M. Jacques, Godbout, M. Benoit, Kauffmann, M. Claude, Beaudoin, Gilles, Martel-Pelletier, Johanne, Raynauld, Jean-Pierre, Pelletier, Jean Pierre, Barthiaume, Marie-Josee
• Primary Examiner(s): Van, Quang T.
• Application Number:
  US10/430,800
• Publication Number:
  US 20040015072A1
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• Field of Search: 600/410, 600/415, 382/130, 382/415, 382/132, 382/151, 382/128, 382/194, 382/294, 128/920, 128/922
• US Class Current: 600/410
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4504 Bones A61B5/4547 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4514 Cartilage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4528 Joints A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/56 Image enhancement or correction, e.g. subtraction or averaging techniques , e.g. improvement of signal-to-noise ratio and resolution
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/5608 Data processing and visualization specially adapted for MR, e.g. for feature analysis and pattern recognition on the basis of measured MR data, segmentation of measured MR data, edge contour detection on the basis of measured MR data, for enhancing measured MR data in terms of signal-to-noise ratio by means of noise filtering or apodization, for enhancing measured MR data in terms of resolution by means for deblurring, windowing, zero filling, or generation of gray-scaled images, colour-coded images or images displaying vectors instead of pixels image data processing or generation, in general G06T
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/50 using two or more images, e.g. averaging or subtraction
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0012 Biomedical image inspection

Abstract

An orthopedic magnetic resonance imaging system is disclosed. This system includes a source of magnetic resonance imaging data sets resulting from successive magnetic resonance imaging acquisitions from a diseased joint of a patient. A segmentation module segments surfaces in the joint based on information contained within at least one of the data sets, and a registration module spatially registers, in three dimensions, information represented by a first of the data sets with respect to information represented by one or more further data sets for the same patient. A comparison module detects differences between information represented by the data sets caused by progression of the disease in the joint of the patient between acquisitions. A cross-patient comparison module can compare detected differences for the patient with detected differences for at least one other patient.

Claims

1. An orthopedic magnetic resonance imaging system, comprising:

a source of magnetic resonance imaging data sets resulting from successive magnetic resonance imaging acquisitions from a diseased joint of a patient, wherein the source of magnetic resonance imaging data sets includes a magnetic resonance imaging system and a support assembly operative to immobilize the diseased joint within the magnetic resonance imaging system with the joint at a predetermined three-dimensional position,

a segmentation module responsive to the source of magnetic resonance imaging data sets and operative to segment surfaces in the joint based on information contained within at least one of the data sets,

a registration module responsive to the source of magnetic resonance imaging data sets and operative to spatially register, in three dimensions, information represented by a first of the data sets with respect to information represented by one or more further data sets for the same patient, and

a comparison module responsive to the registration module and operative to detect differences between information represented by the data sets caused by progression of the disease in the joint of the patient between acquisitions.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the magnetic resonance imaging system includes a knee coil and wherein the support assembly includes a heel constraint and at least two flexible wedges that are each operative to interact with a leg of the patient and the knee coil.

3. An orthopedic magnetic resonance imaging system, comprising:

a source of magnetic resonance imaging data resulting from magnetic resonance imaging acquisitions from a joint of a patient,

segmentation result storage, and

a segmentation module that is responsive to the source of magnetic resonance imaging data and to the segmentation result storage, and that is operative to detect a boundary between two anatomical features of the joint in three dimensions based on both three-dimensional information from the joint of the patient and prior segmentation results stored in the segmentation result storage.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further including a registration module responsive to the source of magnetic resonance imaging data and operative to spatially register three-dimensional image data from a first acquisition for the patient and three-dimensional image data from a later acquisition for the same patient.

5. An orthopedic magnetic resonance imaging system, comprising:

a source of magnetic resonance imaging data resulting from magnetic resonance imaging acquisitions from a diseased joint of a patient, and

a segmentation module that is responsive to the source of magnetic resonance imaging data sets and is operative to detect a boundary between two anatomical features of the joint in three dimensions by detecting an outline in each of a plurality of at least generally parallel planes within the volume, wherein the outline in at least some of the planes is based on data from at least one other of the planes.

6. A method of monitoring disease progression in a joint, comprising:

obtaining a first magnetic resonance imaging data set resulting from magnetic resonance imaging acquisition of a joint of a patient, and

segmenting an outline of a boundary between two anatomical features of the joint of the patient in three dimensions by detecting an outline in each of a plurality of at least generally parallel planes within the volume, wherein the outline in at least some of the planes is based on data from at least one other of the planes.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the steps of obtaining and segmenting are applied to a medical patient.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the steps of obtaining and segmenting are applied to a veterinary patient.

9. An orthopedic magnetic resonance imaging system, comprising:

means for obtaining a first magnetic resonance imaging data set resulting from magnetic resonance imaging acquisition of a joint of a patient, and

means for segmenting an outline of a boundary between two anatomical features of the joint of the patient in three dimensions by detecting an outline in each of a plurality of at least generally parallel planes within the volume, wherein the outline in at least some of the planes is based on data from at least one other of the planes.

10. A method of monitoring disease progression in a joint, comprising:

obtaining a first magnetic resonance imaging data set resulting from magnetic resonance imaging acquisition of a joint of a patient,

delineating joint features in the first magnetic resonance imaging data set,

obtaining a second magnetic resonance imaging data set resulting from a magnetic resonance imaging acquisition of the same joint for the same patient after the step of obtaining a first magnetic resonance imaging data set,

delineating joint features in the second magnetic resonance imaging data set,

spatially registering joint features delineated in the first magnetic resonance imaging data set and joint features delineated in the second magnetic resonance imaging data set,

detecting differences between the spatially registered data sets for the patient, and

evaluating the effects of one or more pharmaceutical agents on the patient based on results of the step of comparing.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the steps of obtaining and spatially registering are applied to a medical patient.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the steps of obtaining and spatially registering are applied to a veterinary patient.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of evaluating is applied for a pharmaceutical agent designed to treat rheumatic diseases affecting the cartilage.

14. A method of monitoring disease progression in a joint, comprising:

obtaining a first magnetic resonance imaging data set resulting from magnetic resonance imaging acquisition of a joint of a patient,

delineating joint features in the first magnetic resonance imaging data set,

obtaining a second magnetic resonance imaging data set resulting from a magnetic resonance imaging acquisition of the same joint for the same patient after the step of obtaining a first magnetic resonance imaging data set,

delineating joint features in the second magnetic resonance imaging data set,

spatially registering joint features delineated in the first magnetic resonance imaging data set and joint features delineated in the second magnetic resonance imaging data set,

detecting differences between the spatially registered data sets for the patient, and

determining how to treat the patient based on results of the step of comparing.

15. A method of monitoring disease progression in a joint, comprising:

obtaining a first magnetic resonance imaging data set resulting from magnetic resonance imaging acquisition of a joint of a patient,

delineating joint features in the first magnetic resonance imaging data set,

obtaining a second magnetic resonance imaging data set resulting from a magnetic resonance imaging acquisition of the same joint for the same patient after the step of obtaining a first magnetic resonance imaging data set,

delineating joint features in the second magnetic resonance imaging data set,

spatially registering joint features delineated in the first magnetic resonance imaging data set and joint features delineated in the second magnetic resonance imaging data set,

detecting differences between the spatially registered data sets for the patient, and

administering treatment delivery for the patient based on results of the step of comparing.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the step of obtaining a first magnetic resonance imaging data set obtains a baseline magnetic resonance imaging data set.