Method and system for automatic analysis of blood vessel structures to identify calcium or soft plaque pathologies
First Claim
1. A method of identifying a calcium or a soft plaque deposit in a blood vessel using imaging data of the blood vessel, the method comprising:
- (a) applying a first threshold to a slice of three-dimensional imaging data of a blood vessel to define voxels above the first threshold;
(b) identifying a maximum intensity of the blood vessel from the defined voxels above the first threshold;
(c) calculating a distance from the identified maximum intensity to a center of the blood vessel;
(d) comparing the calculated distance with a distance threshold;
(e) if the calculated distance is greater than the distance threshold, identifying a calcium deposit;
(f) applying a second threshold to the slice to define voxels below the second threshold;
(g) if a calcium deposit is identified, identifying a soft plaque deposit from the defined voxels below the second threshold;
(h) if a calcium deposit is not identified, determining if the defined voxels below the second threshold have a half-moon shape;
(i) if the defined voxels below the second threshold have a half-moon shape, identifying a soft plaque deposit;
(j) calculating a calcium area of the identified calcium deposit;
(k) calculating a plaque area of the identified soft plaque deposit; and
(l) calculating an obstruction parameter based on the calculated plaque area and on the calculated calcium area.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of identifying a calcium and/or a soft plaque deposit in a blood vessel using imaging data of the blood vessel is provided. A first threshold is applied to a slice of three-dimensional imaging data of a blood vessel to define voxels above the first threshold. A maximum intensity of the blood vessel is identified from the defined voxels. A distance from the identified maximum intensity to a center of the blood vessel is calculated and is compared with a distance threshold. If the calculated distance is greater than the distance threshold, a calcium deposit is identified. A second threshold is applied to the slice to define voxels below the second threshold. If a calcium deposit is identified or if the defined voxels below the threshold have a half-moon shape, a soft plaque deposit is identified.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A method of identifying a calcium or a soft plaque deposit in a blood vessel using imaging data of the blood vessel, the method comprising:
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(a) applying a first threshold to a slice of three-dimensional imaging data of a blood vessel to define voxels above the first threshold; (b) identifying a maximum intensity of the blood vessel from the defined voxels above the first threshold; (c) calculating a distance from the identified maximum intensity to a center of the blood vessel; (d) comparing the calculated distance with a distance threshold; (e) if the calculated distance is greater than the distance threshold, identifying a calcium deposit; (f) applying a second threshold to the slice to define voxels below the second threshold; (g) if a calcium deposit is identified, identifying a soft plaque deposit from the defined voxels below the second threshold; (h) if a calcium deposit is not identified, determining if the defined voxels below the second threshold have a half-moon shape; (i) if the defined voxels below the second threshold have a half-moon shape, identifying a soft plaque deposit; (j) calculating a calcium area of the identified calcium deposit; (k) calculating a plaque area of the identified soft plaque deposit; and (l) calculating an obstruction parameter based on the calculated plaque area and on the calculated calcium area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification