Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for identifying a region of interest within a mammogram image
First Claim
1. A method for identifying a region of interest within a mammogram image, the method comprising:
- applying a clustering algorithm to a histogram of the mammogram image to identify a predefined number of threshold values;
determining a predefined number of seed values based at least in part on the identified threshold values;
generating, by a processor, a kernel image for each of the seed values by at least;
generating a first kernel image having a distribution centered around a first seed value and representing pixels corresponding to a low intensity breast region including a breast skin line;
generating a second kernel image having a distribution centered around a second seed value and representing pixels corresponding to a medium intensity breast region including soft breast tissue; and
generating a third kernel image having a distribution centered around a third seed value and representing pixels corresponding to a high intensity breast region including any calcified regions of the breast; and
using the generated kernel images to identify a region of interest comprising a breast within the mammogram image.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are provided for identifying a region of interest within a mammogram image. A method may include applying a clustering algorithm to a histogram of the mammogram image to identify a predefined number of threshold values. The method may further include determining a predefined number of seed values based at least in part on the identified threshold values. The method may additionally include generating a kernel image for each of the seed values. The method may also include using the generated kernel images to identify a region of interest including a breast within the mammogram image. Corresponding apparatuses and computer program products are also provided.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method for identifying a region of interest within a mammogram image, the method comprising:
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applying a clustering algorithm to a histogram of the mammogram image to identify a predefined number of threshold values; determining a predefined number of seed values based at least in part on the identified threshold values; generating, by a processor, a kernel image for each of the seed values by at least; generating a first kernel image having a distribution centered around a first seed value and representing pixels corresponding to a low intensity breast region including a breast skin line; generating a second kernel image having a distribution centered around a second seed value and representing pixels corresponding to a medium intensity breast region including soft breast tissue; and generating a third kernel image having a distribution centered around a third seed value and representing pixels corresponding to a high intensity breast region including any calcified regions of the breast; and using the generated kernel images to identify a region of interest comprising a breast within the mammogram image. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for identifying a region of interest within a mammogram image, the apparatus comprising at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the apparatus to at least:
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apply a clustering algorithm to a histogram of the mammogram image to identify a predefined number of threshold values; determine a predefined number of seed values based at least in part on the identified threshold values; generate a kernel image for each of the seed values by at least; generating a first kernel image having a distribution centered around a first seed value and representing pixels corresponding to a low intensity breast region including a breast skin line; generating a second kernel image having a distribution centered around a second seed value and representing pixels corresponding to a medium intensity breast region including soft breast tissue; and generating a third kernel image having a distribution centered around a third seed value and representing pixels corresponding to a high intensity breast region including any calcified regions of the breast; and use the generated kernel images to identify a region of interest comprising a breast within the mammogram image. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A computer program product for identifying a region of interest within a mammogram image, the computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program instructions stored therein, the computer-readable program instructions comprising:
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program instructions configured to apply a clustering algorithm to a histogram of the mammogram image to identify a predefined number of threshold values; program instructions configured to determine a predefined number of seed values based at least in part on the identified threshold values; program instructions configured to generate a kernel image for each of the seed values by at least; generating a first kernel image having a distribution centered around a first seed value and representing pixels corresponding to a low intensity breast region including a breast skin line; generating a second kernel image having a distribution centered around a second seed value and representing pixels corresponding to a medium intensity breast region including soft breast tissue; and generating a third kernel image having a distribution centered around a third seed value and representing pixels corresponding to a high intensity breast region including any calcified regions of the breast; and program instructions configured to use the generated kernel images to identify a region of interest comprising a breast within the mammogram image.
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19. A method for identifying a region of interest within a mammogram image, the method comprising:
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applying a clustering algorithm to a histogram of the mammogram image to identify a predefined number of threshold values; determining a predefined number of seed values based at least in part on the identified threshold values; generating, by a processor, a kernel image for each of the seed values; and using the generated kernel images to identify a region of interest comprising a breast within the mammogram image by at least; dividing the kernel images into a plurality of regions; fitting each region with a polynomial; labeling each of a plurality of portions of the mammogram image as either breast or background based at least in part on a polynomial fit to a corresponding region of one or more of the kernel images to generate a binary image; and identifying the region of interest comprising a breast within the mammogram image based at least in part on the binary image. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. An apparatus for identifying a region of interest within a mammogram image, the apparatus comprising at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the apparatus to at least:
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apply a clustering algorithm to a histogram of the mammogram image to identify a predefined number of threshold values; determine a predefined number of seed values based at least in part on the identified threshold values; generate a kernel image for each of the seed values; and use the generated kernel images to identify a region of interest comprising a breast within the mammogram image by at least; dividing the kernel images into a plurality of regions; fitting each region with a polynomial; labeling each of a plurality of portions of the mammogram image as either breast or background based at least in part on a polynomial fit to a corresponding region of one or more of the kernel images to generate a binary image; and identifying the region of interest comprising a breast within the mammogram image based at least in part on the binary image. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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25. A computer program product for identifying a region of interest within a mammogram image, the computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program instructions stored therein, the computer-readable program instructions comprising:
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program instructions configured to apply a clustering algorithm to a histogram of the mammogram image to identify a predefined number of threshold values; program instructions configured to determine a predefined number of seed values based at least in part on the identified threshold values; program instructions configured to generate a kernel image for each of the seed values; and program instructions configured to use the generated kernel images to identify a region of interest comprising a breast within the mammogram image by at least; dividing the kernel images into a plurality of regions; fitting each region with a polynomial; labeling each of a plurality of portions of the mammogram image as either breast or background based at least in part on a polynomial fit to a corresponding region of one or more of the kernel images to generate a binary image; and identifying the region of interest comprising a breast within the mammogram image based at least in part on the binary image. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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Specification