Patent · US Active

Quantification method of vessel calcification

US7330576B2 · kind B2 · utility

4Cited by
2References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 2, 2004
Grant dateFeb 12, 2008
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 18, 2026

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06T2207/30101
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method that allows the quantification of the true mass of a calcium fragment located along a vessel is provided. The method is independent of the level of arterial contrast enhancement, does not require protocol-specific or scanner-specific calibration scans, and allows a detailed analysis of calcium distribution patterns. For each identified calcium fragment, the average intensity and volume is determined as a function of a plurality of intensity thresholds. Using these determined values brightness volume products are calculated for each of the plurality of intensity thresholds. The mass of a calcium segment is subsequently obtained from the calculated brightness volume products extrapolated at zero intensity and reference calcium parameters. The mass and volume of the calcium fragments could be visualized with respect to a vessel in a computer display.

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