Computer aided image acquisition and diagnosis system

• US 8,194,945 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2004
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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: Sato, Kazuhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Bhatnagar, Anand
• Assistant Examiner(s): TSAI, TSUNG YIN
• Application Number:
  US10/982,594
• Publication Number:
  US 20050105683A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,770 Days
• Field of Search: 382/128, 382/154, 382168-172
• US Class Current: 382/128
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/008 Specific post-processing after tomographic reconstruction, e.g. voxelisation, metal artifact correction
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10081 Computed x-ray tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30004 Biomedical image processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0012 Biomedical image inspection

Abstract

A computer-aided image acquisition and diagnosis system, which generates and files images for facilitating the reading and diagnosis based on the acquired images. The X-ray CT apparatus for obtaining diagnosis image from the projection data of imaging of a subject, includes a selector means for selecting the detection object to be anticipated, a scanner means for scanning the subject placed in position, an image processing means for reconstructing the subject image from the projection data obtained from the scanner means, an extractor means for extracting the detection object selected in the selector means from within the reconstructed image, and a display means for displaying the detection object extracted by the extractor means.

Claims

1. A diagnostic imaging system for imaging a subject and for obtaining a diagnostic image from projection data of the subject, said diagnostic imaging system comprising:

a setting device configured to;

set a detection object within an imaging region of the subject prior to performing a scan of said imaging region; and

set a first imaging condition and a second imaging condition prior to performing the scan of said imaging region, said first imaging condition configured to generate a tomographic image of said imaging region after the scan is performed and said second imaging condition configured to generate an enlarged image with respect to said tomographic image after the scan is performed, said enlarged image including an image of said detection object and having a magnification larger than a magnification of said tomographic image;

a scanner configured to perform the scan of said imaging region to obtain a set of projection data of said imaging region;

a first image processing device configured to generate said tomographic image of said imaging region using said first imaging condition and the set of projection data obtained by said scanner during the scan;

an extractor device configured to extract said detection object selected in said setting device from said tomographic image based on a character of said detection object, said character comprising a shape of said detection object;

a second image processing device configured to generate said enlarged image using said second imaging condition and one of tomographic image data of the extracted detection object and a subset of projection data of the extracted detection object, the tomographic image data and the subset of projection data derived from the set of projection data obtained during the scan; and

a display device configured to independently display said tomographic image generated by said first image processing device and said enlarged image generated by said second image processing device.

2. A diagnostic imaging system according to claim 1, wherein said scanner comprises:

an X-ray irradiation unit; and

an X-ray detector unit placed in opposition to said X-ray irradiation unit through said subject, wherein X-rays irradiated from said X-ray irradiation unit is transmitted through said subject and detected by said X-ray detector unit to thereby scan a predetermined area of said subject.

3. A diagnostic imaging system according to claim 1, wherein:

said setting device comprises a database configured to store characteristics parameters of said detection object; and

said extractor device is configured to compare said tomographic image to said characteristics parameters corresponding to said detection object within said tomographic image to extract image data of said detection object.

4. A diagnostic imaging system according to claim 1, wherein said first imaging condition and said second imaging condition each comprises a field of view.

5. A diagnostic imaging system according to claim 1, wherein said display device is configured to display said detection object using a color that is different from a color of an area surrounding said detection object.

6. A diagnostic imaging system according to claim 1, wherein:

said setting device is configured to set a predetermined gradation range for said detection object;

said second image processing device is configured to generate an image of said detection object by eliminating gradation ranges higher and lower than the predetermined gradation range; and

said display device is configured to display said detection object having an adjusted gradation.

7. A diagnostic imaging system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a storage device configured to store at least one of the set of projection data obtained from said scanner and data of said detection object extracted by said extractor device; and

a comparator device configured to compare a plurality of images and image data for said detection object.

8. A diagnostic imaging system according to claim 7, wherein said comparator device is configured to compare an image of said detection object extracted by said extractor device with an image of said detection object generated in a past session for said subject stored in said storage device.

9. A diagnostic imaging system according to claim 8 wherein said display device is configured to display at least one of the image of said detection object in the past session and data of said detection object in the past session stored in said storage device.

10. A diagnostic imaging system according to claim 7, wherein said comparator device is configured to compare said detection object extracted by said extractor device with an exemplary model stored in said storage device.

11. A diagnostic imaging system according to claim 10, wherein said display device is configured to display at least one of an image of said exemplary model and data of said exemplary model stored in said storage device.

12. A diagnostic imaging system according to claim 1, wherein said second image processing device is configured to generate a three dimensional image of said detection object from said tomographic image with said detection object extracted.

13. A diagnostic imaging system according to claim 12, wherein said second image processing device is configured to enlarge a plurality of tomographic images with said detection object extracted, based on the first and second conditions set in said setting device, to generate a three dimensional image of said detection object based on said plurality of enlarged tomographic images.

14. A diagnostic imaging system according to claim 13, configured to calculate a volume of said detection object from the three dimensional image generated of said detection object in said image processing device.

15. A diagnostic imaging system according to claim 12, wherein said second image processing device is configured to use a plurality of tomographic images with said detection object extracted to generate a three dimensional image to enlarge said detection object based on the first and second conditions set in said setting device.

16. A diagnostic imaging system according to claim 1, wherein said detection object comprises a tumor.

17. A diagnostic imaging system according to claim 16, wherein said imaging region comprises a lung region and said detection object comprises a lung tumor.

18. A diagnostic imaging system according to claim 1, wherein said enlarged image has a resolution higher than a resolution of said tomographic image.

19. A diagnostic imaging system according to claim 1, wherein said setting device is configured to set a field of view for each of said enlarged image and said tomographic image, a window level for each of said enlarged image and said tomographic image, a window width for each of said enlarged image and said tomographic image, and a magnification ratio between said enlarged image and said tomographic image.

20. A diagnostic imaging system according to claim 1, wherein said setting device is configured to set a first field of view for said tomographic image and a second field of view for said enlarged image, the first field of view larger than the second field of view such that the magnification of said enlarged image is larger than the magnification of said tomographic image.