Lung measurements
First Claim
1. A method for providing lungs symmetry information, comprising the following steps:
- a) providing 2D X-ray image data of a patient'"'"'s chest;
b) segmenting the image data to provide segmented image data separated from un-segmented areas, the segmented image data comprising a lungs mask image having first and second selected regions corresponding to lung structures;
c) extracting spatial lung volume information from the image data using the segmented image data derived from the image data;
d) determining lungs symmetry information using the extracted spatial lung volume information; and
e) providing the lungs symmetry information to a user,wherein the extracting step c) further comprises;
c1) generating a thorax mask image wherein, for the first and second selected regions, the image data is replaced by applying a pixel value representing soft tissue;
c2) subtracting the thorax mask image from the 2D X-ray image data to achieve a lungs-only image comprising the spatial lung volume information, andwherein the determining step d) further comprises;
d1) summing the spatial lung volume information of the first and second selected regions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to lung measurement. In order to provide enhanced information about a patient that facilitates further assessment steps, 2D X-ray image data of a patient'"'"'s chest is provided, and the image data is segmented to identify lung structures to provide segmented image data separated from un-segmented areas. Further, spatial lung volume information is extracted from the image data using the segmented image data derived from the image data. Still further, lungs symmetry information is determined using the extracted spatial lung volume information. Finally, the lungs symmetry information is provided to a user. For example, a 2D X-ray image data of a patient'"'"'s chest is provided (84) and a lungs mask image is formed (86) after the step of segmenting the input image data. Then, the lungs mask image is used to define areas, within which a predetermined adaptation is applied (88) to the original 2D X-ray image data producing a thorax mask image. Next, left and right images are provided (90) showing the left and the right spatial lungs volume information of the regions defined originally by the lungs mask image. Finally, based on the spatial lungs volume information, lungs symmetry information or total lung volumes may be calculated and provided (92).
6 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method for providing lungs symmetry information, comprising the following steps:
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a) providing 2D X-ray image data of a patient'"'"'s chest; b) segmenting the image data to provide segmented image data separated from un-segmented areas, the segmented image data comprising a lungs mask image having first and second selected regions corresponding to lung structures; c) extracting spatial lung volume information from the image data using the segmented image data derived from the image data; d) determining lungs symmetry information using the extracted spatial lung volume information; and e) providing the lungs symmetry information to a user, wherein the extracting step c) further comprises; c1) generating a thorax mask image wherein, for the first and second selected regions, the image data is replaced by applying a pixel value representing soft tissue; c2) subtracting the thorax mask image from the 2D X-ray image data to achieve a lungs-only image comprising the spatial lung volume information, and wherein the determining step d) further comprises; d1) summing the spatial lung volume information of the first and second selected regions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A lungs measurement device, comprising:
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an interface unit; a processing unit; and an output unit; wherein the interface unit is configured to provide 2D X-ray image data of a patient'"'"'s chest; wherein the processing unit is configured to segment the image data to provide segmented image data separated from un-segmented areas, the segmented image data comprising a lungs mask image having first and second selected regions corresponding to lung structures; and
to extract spatial lungs volume information from the image data using the segmented image data derived from the image data; and
to determine lungs symmetry information using the extracted spatial lungs volume information,wherein the processing unit is further configured to generate a thorax mask image wherein, for the first and second selected regions, the image data is removed by applying a pixel value representing soft tissue, and to subtract the thorax mask image from the 2D X-ray image data to achieve a lungs-only image comprising the spatial lung volume information, and to sum the spatial lung volume information of the first and second selected regions, wherein the output unit is configured to provide the lungs symmetry information to a user. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
wherein the X-ray image acquisition device is configured to acquire the image data of the chest of a patient and to provide the image data to an interface of the lungs measurement device.
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11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program comprising instructions for controlling an X-ray imaging arrangement the X-ray imaging arrangement comprising:
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an X-ray image acquisition device with an X-ray source and an X-ray detector; and a lungs measurement device according to claim 7; wherein the X-ray image acquisition device is configured to acquire the image data of the chest of a patient and to provide the image data to an interface of the lungs measurement device; which, when being executed by the processing unit, is adapted to perform the method steps of a) providing 2D X-ray image data of a patient'"'"'s chest; b) segmenting the image data to provide segmented image data separated from un-segmented areas, the segmented image data comprising a lungs mask image having first and second selected regions corresponding to lung structures; c) extracting spatial lung volume information from the image data using the segmented image data derived from the image data; d) determining lungs symmetry information using the extracted spatial lung volume information; and e) providing the lungs symmetry information to a user, wherein the extracting step c) further comprises; c1) generating a thorax mask image wherein, for the first and second selected regions, the image data is replaced by applying a pixel value representing soft tissue; c2) subtracting the thorax mask image from the 2D X-ray image data to achieve a lungs only image comprising the spatial lung volume information, and wherein the determining step d) further comprises; d1) summing the spatial lung volume information of the first and second selected regions.
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Specification