Surgery – Diagnostic testing – Detecting nuclear – electromagnetic – or ultrasonic radiation
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-01
2001-11-06
Lateef, Marvin M. (Department: 3737)
Surgery
Diagnostic testing
Detecting nuclear, electromagnetic, or ultrasonic radiation
C600S447000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06312385
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention generally relates to ultrasound imaging of tissue. In particular, the invention relates to systems and methods for automatically sizing tissue structures based on an image of the structure.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
During clinical ultrasound examinations, the sonog-rapher often needs to measure the size of any cystic object seen in images of soft tissues such as a uterus, liver or breast. With conventional scanners, this requires the sonographer to manually locate the cyst and then measure the lengths of its long and short axes. For multiple cysts, it takes a considerable amount of time and effort to measure their sizes one by one. Therefore, a system that automatically locates cystic objects and measures their sizes would improve both patient throughput and measurement consistency.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,588,435 describes a method that automatically measures fetal body structures, such as femur length, humerus length and head circumference. This technique is suitable for use in obstetrical/gynecological applications, and measures multiple objects one at a time. The user also needs to specify one or two initial points on the object by manual control.
There is a need for a method of automatically detecting and sizing other types of tissue structures, in particular, cystic objects. Preferably, such a technique would not require the user to select any initial point. Instead, the whole process from selection of a search region to marking and measuring the cystic area would be automatic.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a method and an apparatus for automatically detecting and sizing cystic objects in ultrasound imaging. Since cystic objects are seen in a wide range of clinical applications, the invention is expected to produce significant productivity enhancements. The performance of the inventive method is optimized when the hypoechoic objects have clearly defined boundaries.
The method in accordance with the preferred embodiment comprises the following steps: (a) reading an image frame from memory; (b) defining a search region within the image frame or a decimated version of the image frame; (c) binarizing the pixel values within the search region based on a pixel value threshold that is adaptive to local pixel value statistics; (d) morphological filtering the binarized pixel values to eliminate structures smaller than the speckle size; (e) counting the number of continuous objects and keeping track of their area; and (f) rejecting objects that are outside a predetermined size range. As a result of this method, cystic objects in an image can be detected automatically.
In accordance with the preferred embodiment, each detected cystic object is automatically sized and graphical information representing the results of the automatic sizing process may be displayed. Automatic sizing is accomplished by finding the center of mass of each remaining object, and then measuring the major and minor axes of each remaining object relative to its center of mass.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5056146 (1991-10-01), Nishide
patent: 5215093 (1993-06-01), Miyazaki et al.
patent: 5469850 (1995-11-01), Iizuka et al.
patent: 5588435 (1996-12-01), Weng et al.
Dong Fang
Mo Larry Y. L.
Flaherty Dennis M.
GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC
Lateef Marvin M.
Patel Maulin
Vogel Peter J.
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