Method and apparatus for analyzing CT images to determine the presence of pulmonary tissue pathology
US6466687B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 11, 1998 |
| Grant date | Oct 15, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 11, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06T7/0012
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus for analyzing CT images to determine the presence of pulmonary tissue pathology, such as in emphysema, IPF, sarcoid, etc. In accordance with one embodiment, a CT slice is selected to perform an automated, objective, and quantitative analysis of the slice. Initially, an image processing stage is performed, which includes segmentation and edgementation of the selected CT slice for preparation of a series of objective, quantitative measures to be performed on the slice. A region of interest (ROI) is selected on the CT slice in which these objective, quatitative measures are to be taken. The first set of objective, quantitative measures are first order texture measures that describe a frequency of occurrence of all gray levels assigned to pixels within the ROI of the image slice. The second set of objective, quantitative measures are second order texture measures that characterize the spatial interdependencies between particular pixels of the ROI. Fractal analysis could also be performed to provide additional objective, quantitative measures of the ROI. The ROI is classified to a particular tissue pathology class based upon an optimal subset of first or second or…
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