Method for evaluating at least one image data record

• US 8,903,143 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2009
• Issued: 12/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GMBH (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Fontius, Jrg Ulrich
• Primary Examiner(s): Sereboff, Neal
• Assistant Examiner(s): KANAAN, MAROUN P
• Application Number:
  US12/585,933
• Publication Number:
  US 20100080428A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,890 Days
• Field of Search: 382/128
• US Class Current: 382/128
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1121 Determining geometric values, e.g. centre of rotation or angular range of movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1124 Determining motor skills
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4528 Joints A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30004 Biomedical image processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/11 Region-based segmentation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/20 Analysis of motion motion estimation for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals H04N19/43, H04N19/51

Abstract

A method is disclosed for evaluating at least one image data record, in particular a magnetic resonance image data record, of a region of a patient including at least one joint. In at least one embodiment of the method, at least one image data record of the region is first of all recorded, the image data record is segmented with respect to at least one mechanically relevant component of the joint in order to determine segmentation information, a patient movement model is generated on the basis of the segmentation information and/or the patient movement model is selected from a database of movement models, and joint information relating to the motions of the joint is determined from the patient movement model.

Claims

1. A method for evaluating at least one image data record of a region of a patient including at least one joint by a computer device, that the method comprising:

recording the at least one image data record of the region;

segmenting, by the computer device, the recorded at least one image data record with respect to at least one mechanically relevant component of the joint in order to determine segmentation information;

at least one of

generating, by the computer device, a patient movement model based upon the determined segmentation information, wherein a closest database movement model is determined by comparison with a database including a plurality of different movement models and wherein the patient movement model is complemented by transferring information, missing in the patient movement model, from the database movement model, and

selecting, by the computer device, the patient movement model from a database of movement models, wherein a closest corresponding movement model is selected from the database with respect to the segmentation information of the anatomy of the patient as the patient movement model;

determining, by the computer device, joint information relating to the motions of the joint from the at least one of the generated and selected patient movement model, the joint information providing motions of the joint missing from the patient movement model by extrapolating mechanical movement curves of the joint for positions within a range of mechanical motion of the joint which were not recorded;

determining, by the computer device, at least one second position of the joint through simulation during the generation of the patient movement model or during the selection of the patient movement model;

comparing at least one first position of the joint and the at least one second position to the segmentation information of at least one further image data record;

modifying the patient movement model that is stored in the database of movement models if the comparing indicates that the patient movement model deviates from the image data record, the adapted patient movement model that is stored being an improved representation of the segmentation information utilized in a later simulation to determine the second position of the joint; and

generating an anatomical chart, on a display device, the anatomical chart illustrating the joint and being interactive such that a user can vary the displayed joint through the mechanical movement curve of the joint including the motions determined through extrapolation.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least two image data records are recorded, in which boundary contours between different components of the joint are determined in order to determine the segmentation information in a high resolution image data record and wherein components of the joint are identified from at least one further image data record.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein biomechanical parameters are assigned to the segmented components in the patient model.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the biomechanical parameters are determined from measurements at least one of on the patient, from the database and from a parameter database.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein biomechanical parameters are assigned to the segmented components in the patient model.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the biomechanical parameters are determined from measurements at least one of on the patient, from the database and from a parameter database.

7. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the biomechanical parameters include at least one of elasticity moduli, torsional moduli, and shear moduli.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the biomechanical parameters include at least one of elasticity moduli, torsional moduli, and shear moduli.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the patient movement model selected from the database is adapted on the basis of the segmentation information.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user defines at least one motion in order to determine the joint information and the joint information is determined at least one of by simulation of the motion, on the basis of data of previously carried out simulations and on the basis of calculations stored in the database.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the user defines at least one motion at least one of in a manipulatable anatomical chart of the patient movement model and by selecting typical motions.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of forces and tensions, at least one of in at least one position and for at least one motion, are determined as joint information.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the joint information is displayed in an anatomical or the anatomical chart of the patient movement model.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein specific physical attributes of the patient movement model are also displayed.

15. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the joint information is displayed in an anatomical or the anatomical chart of the patient movement model by at least one of coloring and superposition.

16. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein specific attributes stored in a movement model selected from the database are also displayed.

17. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one of newly generated and adapted patient movement model is stored in the database.

18. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one image data record is at least one magnetic resonance image data record.

19. A non-transitory computer readable medium including program segments for, when executed on a computer device, causing the computer device to implement the method of claim 1.