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Automatic image segmentation methods and analysis

  • US 9,984,460 B2
  • Filed: 09/26/2016
  • Issued: 05/29/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2007
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A non-transitory method of processing anatomical structures present in two dimensional 2D image slices using a digital data processor that permits identification of bone structure, vessel structure, or both bone structure and vessel structure, where bone structure is viewable without vessel structure, where vessel structure is viewable without bone structure, and where the method does not require the anatomical mid sagittal plane to be calculated within any of steps (a)-(f) comprising:

  • (a) selecting a 2D image slice from a plurality of first 2D image slices spanning a three dimensional (3D) volume, using a digital data processing system configured for image processing;

    (b) computing with the digital data processing system a histogram of the selected 2D image slice;

    (c) receiving one or more previously determined and identified histograms generated from one or more previously determined second 2D image slices where one or more components are identified in the one or more previously determined second 2D image slices which include one or more of bone, blood vessel structures, vasculature, and blood vessels, where one or more connected components are used in identifying a plurality of pixels in the one or more components, where the plurality of pixels belong to the same one or more components received from the one or more previously determined second 2D image slices;

    (d) computing with the digital data processing system a cross correlation between the histogram of step (b) and one or more of the previously determined and identified histograms generated from the one or more second 2D image slices of step (c);

    (e) identifying with the digital data processing system, two or more anatomical structures in the 2D image slice of step (b), based on the cross correlation in step (d);

    (f) using the digital data processing system in order to;

    (1) assign one or more region(s) of the 2D image slice of step (b), corresponding to an anatomical structure of the two or more anatomical structures identified in step (e), to one or more corresponding volumetric regions of the 3D volume;

    (2) perform a threshold segmentation on the 2D image slice of step (b);

    (3) identify one or more connected components of the anatomical structure identified in step (e) based on the results of the threshold segmentation of step (2); and

    (4) display the threshold segmented 2D image slice, where the displayed threshold segmented 2D image slice is capable of producing one of each type of the following 2D image slices;

    a bone containing slice, a blood vessel structure containing slice, a vasculature containing slice and a slice depicting blood vessels removed from the displayed threshold segmented 2D image slice based on the one or more connected components identified in step (3).

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