The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 15, 2002
Filed:
Feb. 11, 1998
Method and apparatus for analyzing ct images to determine the presence of pulmonary tissue pathology
Renuka Uppaluri, Iowa City, IA (US);
Theophano Mitsa, Waukesha, WI (US);
Eric A. Hoffman, Iowa City, IA (US);
Geoffrey McLennan, Iowa City, IA (US);
Milan Sonka, Iowa City, IA (US);
The University of Iowa Research Foundation, Iowa City, IA (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for analyzing CT images to determine the presence of pulmonary tissue pathology, such as in emphysema, IPF, sarcoid, etc. In accordance with one embodiment, a CT slice is selected to perform an automated, objective, and quantitative analysis of the slice. Initially, an image processing stage is performed, which includes segmentation and edgementation of the selected CT slice for preparation of a series of objective, quantitative measures to be performed on the slice. A region of interest (ROI) is selected on the CT slice in which these objective, quatitative measures are to be taken. The first set of objective, quantitative measures are first order texture measures that describe a frequency of occurrence of all gray levels assigned to pixels within the ROI of the image slice. The second set of objective, quantitative measures are second order texture measures that characterize the spatial interdependencies between particular pixels of the ROI. Fractal analysis could also be performed to provide additional objective, quantitative measures of the ROI. The ROI is classified to a particular tissue pathology class based upon an optimal subset of first or second order texture measures and fractal measures obtained. A color-coded output is displayed for visual presentation to a user indicating the different tissue pathology classes assigned to different regions of the CT slice.