Imaging internal structures
US7349564B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 20, 2004 |
| Grant date | Mar 25, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 28, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06T2211/412
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus, method and software module for selecting phase-correlated images from the output of a scanner such as a cone beam CT scanner operates by collapsing the images derived from the series from two dimensions to one dimension by summing the intensities of pixels along a dimension transverse to the one dimension, producing a further image from a composite of the one-dimensional images obtained from images in the series, analysing the further image for periodic patterns, and selecting from the series images having like phase in that periodic pattern. If desired, a plurality of reconstructions can be derived at different phases. The analysis of the further image for periodic patterns can include comparing the one-dimensional images therein, to identify a movement of features in that dimension. This allows (inter alia) the accurate determination of the breathing cycle in a patient and a concomitant improvement in the quality of CT scans by using phase-correlated images.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.