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:
Nov. 23, 2010
Filed:
Nov. 22, 2006
Marco Razeto, Edinburgh, GB;
Marco Razeto, Edinburgh, GB;
Toshiba Medical Visualization Systems Europe, Limited, Edinburgh, GB;
Abstract
A method of automatically segmenting a patient's colon in a medical image data set is provided. The method comprises two main stages. The first stage is to classify voxels in the data set as not belonging to the colon based on their radiodensities and/or positions within the volume data set. In taking account of the voxels' positions in the data set, account may be taken of their positions relative to other voxels. For example, this may include determining whether voxels are within connected groups of voxels of similar characteristics, i.e. within connected regions or domains. Subsequent to the first stage of classifying voxels as not belonging to the colon, a second stage is performed in which all remaining voxels are classified as belonging to the colon. Thus the method allows for automatic segmentation of the colon without needing any particular voxel, such as a seed voxel for region growing, to first be positively identified as being within the colon.