Automatic angiogram detection

• US 9,014,453 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2013
• Issued: 04/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sync-Rx, Ltd. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Sync-Rx, Ltd. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Steinberg, Alexander, Cohen, Ran, Philipp, Sagiv, Tolkowsky, David, Klaiman, Eldad
• Primary Examiner(s): AZARIAN, SEYED H
• Application Number:
  US14/143,430
• Publication Number:
  US 20140112566A1
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 382/103, 382128-134, 382/155, 382/162, 382/168, 382/173, 382/181, 382189-192, 382/232, 382254-258, 382274-275, 382/291, 382/305, 382/312, 600/424, 600/513, 600/407, 600/481, 378/4, 378/21, 378/26, 378/95
• US Class Current: 382/131
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12036 partial occlusion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1204 temporary occlusion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12136 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/02 by cooling, e.g. cryogenic techniques devices for cooling specific reflex points of the body within cell-life limits A61H39/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/24 with a catheter A61B18/26, A61B18/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00252 for by-pass connections, i.e. connections from heart chamber to blood vessel or from blood vessel to blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00694 with means correcting for movement of or for synchronisation with the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00703 correcting for movement of heart, e.g. ECG-triggered
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1205 Introduction devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22044 with a pointed tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22094 for crossing total occlusions, i.e. piercing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/105 Modelling of the patient, e.g. for ligaments or bones
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/107 Visualisation of planned trajectories or target regions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/254 being adapted depending on the stage of the surgical procedure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/365 augmented reality, i.e. correlating a live optical image with another image
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/10 Computer-aided planning, simulation or modelling of surgical operations
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/20 Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/25 User interfaces for surgical systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0044 for the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7285 : for synchronising or triggering a physiological measurement or image acquisition with a physiological event or waveform, e.g. an ECG signal A61B6/5205, A61B6/541, A61B8/5207, A61B8/543 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7289 : Retrospective gating, i.e. associating measured signals or images with a physiological event after the actual measurement or image acquisition, e.g. by simultaneously recording an additional physiological signal during the measurement or image acquisition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/12 : Arrangements for detecting or locating foreign bodies
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/469 : for selecting a region of interest [ROI]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/481 : involving the use of contrast agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/501 : for diagnosis of the head, e.g. neuroimaging or craniography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/503 : for diagnosis of the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/504 : for diagnosis of blood vessels, e.g. by angiography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/5217 : extracting a diagnostic or physiological parameter from medical diagnostic data
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/5247 : combining images from an ionising-radiation diagnostic technique and a non-ionising radiation diagnostic technique, e.g. X-ray and ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/541 : involving acquisition triggered by a physiological signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0883 : for diagnosis of the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0891 : for diagnosis of blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/543 : involving acquisition triggered by a physiological signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/958 : Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 : Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10121 : Fluoroscopy
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30048 : Heart; Cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30101 : Blood vessel; Artery; Vein; Vascular
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/00 : Image enhancement or restoration
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0012 : Biomedical image inspection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0014 : using an image reference approach
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/13 : Edge detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/246 : using feature-based methods, e.g. the tracking of corners or segments
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/62 : of area, perimeter, diameter or volume
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 2201/034 : of medical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/103 : Static body considered as a whole, e.g. static pedestrian or occupant recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/30 : for calculating health indices; for individual health risk assessment

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are described including acquiring a plurality of image frames of a blood vessel of a subject, acquisition of the image frames commencing prior to injection of a contrast agent into the blood vessel. A first image frame is identified as being the image frame in which an angiographic sequence commenced by calculating a vesselness descriptor for each one of the image frames, by determining an extent to which pixels within the image frame are likely to correspond to the blood vessel, and by determining that, in the first image frame, there was an increase in the vesselness descriptor relative to at least one image frame acquired prior to the first image frame. An output is generated at least partially in response to identifying the first image frame. Other applications are also described.

Claims

1. A method for use with a contrast agent that is injected into a blood vessel of a subject, comprising:

acquiring a plurality of image frames of the subject'"'"'s blood vessel, acquisition of the image frames commencing prior to injection of the contrast agent into the blood vessel;

using at least one processor, identifying a first one of the image frames as being an image frame in which an angiographic sequence commenced within the acquired image frames, by;

calculating a vesselness descriptor for each one of the image frames, by determining an extent to which pixels within the image frame are likely to correspond to the blood vessel, by, for each of the image frames, counting a number of possible centerline points of a vessel that are located near to possible edge lines of the vessel; and

determining that, in the first image frame, there was an increase in the vesselness descriptor relative to at least one image frame acquired prior to the first image frame; and

using the at least one processor, generating an output at least in response to identifying the image frame in which the angiographic sequence commenced.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein calculating the vesselness descriptor for each one of the image frames comprises referring to known anatomical structures.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein calculating the vesselness descriptor for each one of the image frames comprises referring to known anatomy of the subject.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein calculating the vesselness descriptor for each one of the image frames comprises accounting for viewing angles at which the image frames were acquired.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein calculating the vesselness descriptor for each of the image frames comprises, to each of the image frames, applying a filter that enhances curvilinear structures.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein calculating the vesselness descriptor for each of the image frames comprises, to each of the image frames, applying a filter that detects curvilinear structures.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein calculating the vesselness descriptor for each of the image frames comprises, to each of the image frames, applying a filter that segments curvilinear structures.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method is for use with contrast agent that is injected into the blood vessel via a distal end of a catheter, and wherein calculating the vesselness descriptor for each one of the image frames, comprises, for each one of the image frames calculating a vesselness descriptor in a vicinity of the distal end of the catheter within the image frame.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein acquiring the plurality of image frames comprises acquiring the plurality of image frames, acquisition of the image frames terminating subsequent to the injection of the contrast agent into the blood vessel, the method further comprising identifying a second one of the image frames as being an image frame in which the angiographic sequence terminated within the acquired image frames, based upon a time interval between acquisitions of the first one of the image frames and the second one of the image frames.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein acquiring the plurality of image frames comprises acquiring the plurality of image frames, acquisition of the image frames terminating subsequent to the injection of the contrast agent into the blood vessel, the method further comprising identifying a second one of the image frames as being an image frame in which the angiographic sequence terminated within the acquired image frames, by determining that, in the second image frame, there was a rapid decrease in the vesselness descriptor relative to an image frame acquired prior to the second image frame.

11. A method for use with a contrast agent that is injected into a blood vessel of a subject, comprising:

acquiring a plurality of image frames of the subject'"'"'s blood vessel, acquisition of the image frames commencing prior to injection of the contrast agent into the blood vessel;

using at least one processor, identifying a first one of the image frames as being an image frame in which an angiographic sequence commenced within the acquired image frames, by;

calculating a vesselness descriptor for each one of the image frames, by determining an extent to which pixels within the image frame are likely to correspond to the blood vessel, by, for each of the image frames, obtaining a vesselness measure by analyzing eigenvalues of a multiscale second order local structure of the image frame; and

determining that, in the first image frame, there was an increase in the vesselness descriptor relative to at least one image frame acquired prior to the first image frame; and

using the at least one processor, generating an output at least in response to identifying the image frame in which the angiographic sequence commenced.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein calculating the vesselness descriptor for each one of the image frames comprises referring to known anatomical structures.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein calculating the vesselness descriptor for each one of the image frames comprises referring to known anatomy of the subject.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein calculating the vesselness descriptor for each one of the image frames comprises accounting for viewing angles at which the image frames were acquired.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein calculating the vesselness descriptor for each of the image frames comprises, to each of the image frames, applying a filter that enhances curvilinear structures.

16. The method according to claim 11, wherein calculating the vesselness descriptor for each of the image frames comprises, to each of the image frames, applying a filter that detects curvilinear structures.

17. The method according to claim 11, wherein calculating the vesselness descriptor for each of the image frames comprises, to each of the image frames, applying a filter that segments curvilinear structures.

18. The method according to claim 11, wherein the method is for use with contrast agent that is injected into the blood vessel via a distal end of a catheter, and wherein calculating the vesselness descriptor for each one of the image frames, comprises, for each one of the image frames calculating a vesselness descriptor in a vicinity of the distal end of the catheter within the image frame.

19. The method according to claim 11, wherein acquiring the plurality of image frames comprises acquiring the plurality of image frames, acquisition of the image frames terminating subsequent to the injection of the contrast agent into the blood vessel, the method further comprising identifying a second one of the image frames as being an image frame in which the angiographic sequence terminated within the acquired image frames, based upon a time interval between acquisitions of the first one of the image frames and the second one of the image frames.

20. The method according to claim 11, wherein acquiring the plurality of image frames comprises acquiring the plurality of image frames, acquisition of the image frames terminating subsequent to the injection of the contrast agent into the blood vessel, the method further comprising identifying a second one of the image frames as being an image frame in which the angiographic sequence terminated within the acquired image frames, by determining that, in the second image frame, there was a rapid decrease in the vesselness descriptor relative to an image frame acquired prior to the second image frame.

21. A method for use with a contrast agent that is injected into a blood vessel of a subject, comprising:

acquiring a plurality of image frames of the subject'"'"'s blood vessel, acquisition of the image frames commencing prior to injection of the contrast agent into the blood vessel, and acquisition of the image frames terminating subsequent to the injection of the contrast agent into the blood vessel; and

using at least one processor;

identifying a first one of the image frames as being an image frame in which an angiographic sequence commenced within the acquired image frames, by;

calculating a vesselness descriptor for each one of the image frames, by determining an extent to which pixels within the image frame are likely to correspond to the blood vessel; and

determining that, in the first image frame, there was an increase in the vesselness descriptor relative to at least one image frame acquired prior to the first image frame;

identifying a second one of the image frames as being an image frame in which the angiographic sequence terminated within the acquired image frames, by determining that, in the second image frame, there was a rapid decrease in the vesselness descriptor relative to an image frame acquired prior to the second image frame;

selecting a third one of the image frames at least based upon the third image frame having been acquired between acquisitions of the first and the second image frames; and

generating an output at least in response to identifying the image frame in which the angiographic sequence commenced, and based upon the selection of the third image frame.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein selecting the third image frame comprises selecting the third image frame based upon the third image frame having been acquired between acquisitions of the first and the second image frames, and based upon the vesselness descriptor of the third one of the image frames.

23. The method according to claim 21, wherein the blood vessel includes a cyclically moving blood vessel that moves in a motion cycle, and wherein selecting the third image frame comprises selecting the third image frame based upon the third image frame having been acquired between acquisitions of the first and the second image frames, and based upon the third image frame having been acquired at a given phase of the motion cycle of the blood vessel.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein selecting the third image frame comprises selecting the third image frame based upon:

the third image frame having been acquired between acquisitions of the first and the second image frames,

the third image frame having been acquired at a given phase of the motion cycle of the blood vessel, and

the vesselness descriptor of the third one of the image frames.

25. The method according to claim 21, wherein calculating the vesselness descriptor for each one of the image frames comprises referring to known anatomical structures.

26. The method according to claim 21, wherein calculating the vesselness descriptor for each one of the image frames comprises referring to known anatomy of the subject.

27. The method according to claim 21, wherein calculating the vesselness descriptor for each one of the image frames comprises accounting for viewing angles at which the image frames were acquired.

28. The method according to claim 21, wherein calculating the vesselness descriptor for each of the image frames comprises, to each of the image frames, applying a filter that enhances curvilinear structures.

29. The method according to claim 21, wherein calculating the vesselness descriptor for each of the image frames comprises, to each of the image frames, applying a filter that detects curvilinear structures.

30. The method according to claim 21, wherein calculating the vesselness descriptor for each of the image frames comprises, to each of the image frames, applying a filter that segments curvilinear structures.

31. The method according to claim 21, wherein the method is for use with contrast agent that is injected into the blood vessel via a distal end of a catheter, and wherein calculating the vesselness descriptor for each one of the image frames, comprises, for each one of the image frames calculating a vesselness descriptor in a vicinity of the distal end of the catheter within the image frame.

32. The method according to claim 21, wherein identifying the second one of the image frames as being the image frame in which the angiographic sequence terminated within the acquired image frames comprises identifying the second one of the image frames, based upon a time interval between acquisitions of the first one of the image frames and the second one of the image frames.

33. Apparatus for use with a contrast agent that is injected into a blood vessel of a subject, comprising:

an image-acquisition device configured to acquire a plurality of image frames of the subject'"'"'s blood vessel, acquisition of the image frames commencing prior to injection of the contrast agent into the blood vessel; and

at least one processor configured to;

identify a first one of the image frames as being an image frame in which an angiographic sequence commenced within the acquired image frames, by;

calculating a vesselness descriptor for each one of the image frames, by determining an extent to which pixels within the image frame are likely to correspond to the blood vessel, by, for each of the image frames, counting a number of possible centerline points of a vessel that are located near to possible edge lines of the vessel; and

determining that, in the first image frame, there was an increase in the vesselness descriptor relative to at least one image frame acquired prior to the first image frame; and

generate an output at least in response to identifying the image frame in which the angiographic sequence commenced.

34. Apparatus for use with a contrast agent that is injected into a blood vessel of a subject, comprising:

an image-acquisition device configured to acquire a plurality of image frames of the subject'"'"'s blood vessel, acquisition of the image frames commencing prior to injection of the contrast agent into the blood vessel; and

at least one processor configured to;

identify a first one of the image frames as being an image frame in which an angiographic sequence commenced within the acquired image frames, by;

calculating a vesselness descriptor for each one of the image frames, by determining an extent to which pixels within the image frame are likely to correspond to the blood vessel, by, for each of the image frames, obtaining a vesselness measure by analyzing eigenvalues of a multiscale second order local structure of the image frame; and

determining that, in the first image frame, there was an increase in the vesselness descriptor relative to at least one image frame acquired prior to the first image frame; and

generate an output at least in response to identifying the image frame in which the angiographic sequence commenced.

35. Apparatus for use with a contrast agent that is injected into a blood vessel of a subject, comprising:

an image-acquisition device configured to acquire a plurality of image frames of the subject'"'"'s blood vessel, acquisition of the image frames commencing prior to injection of the contrast agent into the blood vessel, and acquisition of the image frames terminating subsequent to the injection of the contrast agent into the blood vessel; and

at least one processor configured to;

identify a first one of the image frames as being an image frame in which an angiographic sequence commenced within the acquired image frames, by;

calculating a vesselness descriptor for each one of the image frames, by determining an extent to which pixels within the image frame are likely to correspond to the blood vessel; and

determining that, in the first image frame, there was an increase in the vesselness descriptor relative to at least one image frame acquired prior to the first image frame;

identifying a second one of the image frames as being an image frame in which the angiographic sequence terminated within the acquired image frames, by determining that, in the second image frame, there was a rapid decrease in the vesselness descriptor relative to an image frame acquired prior to the second image frame;

selecting a third one of the image frames at least based upon the third image frame having been acquired between acquisitions of the first and the second image frames; and

generating an output at least in response to identifying the image frame in which the angiographic sequence commenced, and based upon the selection of the third image frame.

36. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the processor is configured to select the third image frame based upon the third image frame having been acquired between acquisitions of the first and the second image frames, and based upon the vesselness descriptor of the third one of the image frames.

37. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the blood vessel includes a cyclically moving blood vessel that moves in a motion cycle, and wherein the processor is configured to select the third image frame based upon the third image frame having been acquired between acquisitions of the first and the second image frames, and based upon the third image frame having been acquired at a given phase of the motion cycle of the blood vessel.

38. The apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the processor is configured to select the third image frame based upon:

the third image frame having been acquired between acquisitions of the first and the second image frames,

the third image frame having been acquired at a given phase of the motion cycle of the blood vessel, and

the vesselness descriptor of the third one of the image frames.