Quantitative assessment of neovascularization
First Claim
1. A method of analyzing ultrasound images to provide information regarding neovascularization in a tissue of a subject, said method comprising:
- obtaining a series of contrast enhanced ultrasound images of said tissue;
compensating for motion of tissue features between different ones of said contrast enhanced ultrasound images, to generate a series of compensated images;
detecting in at least one of said compensated images discrete segments of imaged contrast material;
constructing a representation of an arterial tree from said detected segments; and
quantifying the level of the neovascularization from the extent of the detected segments in said representation of said arterial tree,wherein said representation of said arterial tree is constructed by performing dynamic programming on at least one of said series of compensated images.
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Abstract
Systems and methods using contrast enhanced ultrasound imaging for quantitative assessment of neovascularization, such as within a tumor or a plaque. The contrast agent moves in small blotches rather than in continuous flow, but image processing methods enable the detection and quantification of the blood flow, even in the tiny blood vessels of the vasculature tree. The image processing includes compensation for motion of the tissue arising from body movement. The position and extent of the discrete positions of contrast material may be accumulating during a complete heart cycle onto a single 2D image, to enable an indication of a vascular tree based on this local accumulated image. Dynamic processing (DP) of the discrete positions of contrast material enables a complete vascular tree to be obtained. The neovascularization is quantified by the ratio of its total area to that of the plaque in which the neovascularization has grown.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of analyzing ultrasound images to provide information regarding neovascularization in a tissue of a subject, said method comprising:
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obtaining a series of contrast enhanced ultrasound images of said tissue; compensating for motion of tissue features between different ones of said contrast enhanced ultrasound images, to generate a series of compensated images; detecting in at least one of said compensated images discrete segments of imaged contrast material; constructing a representation of an arterial tree from said detected segments; and quantifying the level of the neovascularization from the extent of the detected segments in said representation of said arterial tree, wherein said representation of said arterial tree is constructed by performing dynamic programming on at least one of said series of compensated images. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for providing information regarding neovascularization in a tissue of a subject, said system comprising:
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an ultrasound system for generating a series of contrast enhanced ultrasound images of said tissue; a frame analysis unit receiving said images and adapted to designate locations within said images showing the presence of contrast material; a motion compensating unit, configured to output a series of compensated images in which the effects of motion of imaged features of said tissue between different ones of said images is cancelled; an image processing system comprising; a segment detector unit, adapted to detect in at least one of said compensated images discrete segments of imaged contrast material; and an arterial tree constructor for outputting a representation of an arterial tree from said detected segments; and an output unit using the extent of said detected segments in said representation of said arterial tree to quantify the level of neovascularization in said tissue, wherein said arterial tree constructor is configured to perform dynamic programming on at least one of said series of compensated images. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification