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Method and system for automatic analysis of blood vessel structures to identify calcium or soft plaque pathologies

  • US 7,940,977 B2
  • Filed: 11/22/2006
  • Issued: 05/10/2011
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2006
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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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:

  • (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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