Patent · US Active

Automatic detection and quantification of plaque in the coronary arteries of subjects from CT scans

US7970196B2 · kind B2 · utility

8Cited by
27References
3Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 5, 2008
Grant dateJun 28, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 15, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S128/922
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method automatically detects and quantifies arterial plaque (hard plaque, soft plaque or both) in the coronary arteries of the heart from CT images. The method uses plaque definitions based on subject specific in vivo blood/muscle and fat density measurements, subject specific voxel statistical parameters and 2-D and 3-D voxel connectivity criteria to automatically identify the plaques. The locations of the major arteries are determined in a 3-D coordinate system; and the specific coordinates of the detected plaques are displayed in a plaque map for follow-up exams or ease in plaque review, editing and reporting the results.

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