Patent · US Expired

Computerized method for determination of the likelihood of malignancy for pulmonary nodules on low-dose CT

US6891964B2 · kind B2 · utility

11Cited by
13References
36Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 23, 2001
Grant dateMay 10, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 1, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06T2207/30061
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An automated computerized scheme for determination of the likelihood of malignancy in pulmonary nodules. The present invention includes steps of obtaining at least one computed tomography medical image of a pulmonary nodule in determining if the pulmonary nodule is malignant based on the examination of seven patient or image features. The method can be implemented when instructions are loaded into a computer to program the computer. The significance of employing seven patient or image features is that statistically, seven features are the most practical based on the unique implementation of statistical analysis. Out of the seven features that are now analyzed to determine if a pulmonary nodule is malignant, these features are selected to optimize the accuracy of the diagnosis of a pulmonary nodule. Through a unique sampling scheme, different embodiments of the present invention utilize different combinations of features to optimize the accuracy of the method of the present invention.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.