Optic nerve analysis method and system based on optical coherence tomography angiography

Abstract

The present invention relates to a optic nerve analysis method and system based on optical coherence tomography angiography, the method comprising the following steps: acquiring an image of the nerve layer surrounding the optic nerve using optical coherence tomography angiography technology; identifying the position of a red signal representing a blood vessel in the acquired nerve layer image; and measuring the height of the red signal position and the thickness of the nerve layer on the left and right adjacent sides of the red signal position. The present invention differs from existing retinal nerve layer thickness and thickness analysis using neural analysis packages in that, for patients with retinal thinning caused by high myopia, not only is thickness analysis used to determine whether the retina is atrophied, but changes in the vascular structure can also be used to determine whether true nerve layer atrophy or overall retinal atrophy caused by high myopia. Furthermore, the present invention has lower requirements for image quality and patient cooperation, making analysis easier.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of optic nerve analysis, and more particularly to an optic nerve analysis method and system based on optical coherence tomography angiography. Background Art

[0002] Currently, the screening for glaucomatous optic atrophy, such as patent CN101778593A - Retinal topography pattern analysis for diagnosing optic nerve diseases by optical coherence tomography, mostly uses nerve layer thickness analysis, such as Figure 1 As shown, however, since patients with high myopia will experience retinal atrophy, the corresponding nerve layer will become thinner, resulting in thinning of the thickness caused by non-optic nerve atrophy, which in turn leads to misjudgment. In addition, the existing detection method has high requirements on the patient's attention level. If the patient cannot pay attention, errors are likely to occur. There is a need for an optic nerve analysis method and system based on optical coherence tomography angiography that can solve this problem. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a optic nerve analysis method and system based on optical coherence tomography angiography in response to the above-mentioned defects of the prior art.

[0004] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve its technical problem is:

[0005] A optic nerve analysis method based on optical coherence tomography angiography is constructed, which comprises the following steps:

[0006] The first step is to obtain images of the nerve layers surrounding the optic nerve using optical coherence tomography angiography.

[0007] Step 2: Identify the location of red signals representing blood vessels in the acquired neural layer image;

[0008] Step 3: Measure the height of the red signal position and the thickness of the nerve layer on the left and right adjacent sides of the red signal position.

[0009] In the optic nerve analysis method based on optical coherence tomography angiography of the present invention, the nerve layer image is a nerve fiber layer image.

[0010] In the optic nerve analysis method based on optical coherence tomography angiography of the present invention, the nerve layer image is a combined image of the nerve fiber layer and the ganglion cell layer.

[0011] In the optic nerve analysis method based on optical coherence tomography angiography of the present invention, in the third step, the height of the middle of the red signal position is measured.

[0012] In the optic nerve analysis method based on optical coherence tomography angiography of the present invention, in the second step, all red signal positions are acquired by scanning.

[0013] A optic nerve analysis system based on optical coherence tomography angiography includes an image acquisition unit, a blood vessel identification unit and a measurement unit;

[0014] The image acquisition unit acquires an image of the nerve layer around the optic nerve by optical coherence tomography angiography technology;

[0015] The blood vessel identification unit identifies the position of the red signal representing the blood vessel in the acquired neural layer image;

[0016] The measuring unit measures the height of the red signal position and the thickness of the nerve layers on the left and right adjacent sides of the red signal position.

[0017] The optic nerve analysis system based on optical coherence tomography angiography of the present invention is characterized in that the nerve layer image is a nerve fiber layer image.

[0018] In the optical coherence tomography angiography-based optic nerve analysis system of the present invention, the nerve layer image is a combined image of the nerve fiber layer and the ganglion cell layer.

[0019] In the optical coherence tomography angiography-based optic nerve analysis system of the present invention, the measuring unit measures the height of the middle of the red signal position.

[0020] In the optical coherence tomography vascular imaging-based optic nerve analysis system of the present invention, the blood vessel identification unit obtains all red signal positions by scanning.

[0021] The beneficial effect of the present invention is that the present invention is different from the existing retinal nerve layer thickness and neural analysis package thickness analysis in that for patients with retinal thinning caused by high myopia, not only the thickness is analyzed to determine whether atrophy occurs, but also the layered changes in the vascular structure can be analyzed to determine whether it is true nerve layer atrophy or overall retinal atrophy caused by high myopia. In addition, the present invention has lower requirements on image quality and patient cooperation, making analysis easier. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. The drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. Those skilled in the art can also derive other drawings based on these drawings without inventive efforts.

[0023] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the existing analysis method;

[0024] Figure 2 This is a flow chart of a method for analyzing the optic nerve based on optical coherence tomography angiography according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 3 It is a normal nerve layer image of the optic nerve analysis method based on optical coherence tomography angiography in a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 4 It is an image of an atrophic nerve layer of the optic nerve analysis method based on optical coherence tomography angiography according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 5 1 is a schematic diagram of nerve layering of a optic nerve analysis method based on optical coherence tomography angiography according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 6 This is a principle block diagram of a optic nerve analysis system based on optical coherence tomography angiography according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] To make the purpose, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention more clear, the following will be a clear and complete description of the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the embodiments described are some embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work shall fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0030] Example 1

[0031] The preferred embodiment of the present invention is a method and system for analyzing the optic nerve based on optical coherence tomography angiography, such as Figure 2 See also Figure 3 and Figure 4 , including the following steps:

[0032] S01: Obtain images of the neural layers surrounding the optic nerve using optical coherence tomography angiography;

[0033] S02: Identify the location of red signals representing blood vessels in the acquired nerve layer image;

[0034] S03: Measure the height of the red signal position and the thickness of the nerve layer on the left and right sides of the red signal position;

[0035] The present invention differs from existing retinal nerve layer thickness analysis and neural analysis packages in that, for patients with retinal thinning caused by high myopia, it not only analyzes whether the thickness is atrophy, but also analyzes changes in the vascular structure to determine whether it is true nerve layer atrophy or overall retinal atrophy caused by high myopia. Furthermore, the present invention has lower requirements for image quality and patient cooperation, making analysis easier.

[0036] Preferably, the nerve layer image is a combined image of the nerve fiber layer and the ganglion cell layer;

[0037] Preferably, in the third step, the height of the middle of the red signal position is measured.

[0038] Preferably, in the second step, all red signal positions are acquired by scanning.

[0039] Combine Figure 3 and Figure 4 , explained as follows.

[0040] This technique measures the periphery of the optic nerve using optical coherence tomography angiography. It compares the length of the center of the red signal representing blood flow with the average retinal thickness of the adjacent areas on both sides of the blood vessel.

[0041] like Figure 4 As shown in Figure 2, if the vessel height b exceeds the average value of the inner retinal thickness beside the vessel (a+c) / 2, the vessel exposure is high, indicating that the retinal nerve layer at the corresponding position of the vessel is significantly atrophied, as shown in Figure 2. Figure 3 As shown in the figure, if the vessel height b is lower than the average value of the inner retinal thickness beside the vessel (a+c) / 2, the vessel exposure is low, indicating that the retinal nerve layer at the corresponding position of the vessel is not obviously atrophied;

[0042] This invention can analyze functional loss through structural changes rather than relying solely on thickness analysis, thus addressing the need for glaucoma screening in patients with high myopia. Compared to thickness analysis, the data from this examination method is easier to analyze with AI and is less susceptible to image quality impact.

[0043] Example 2

[0044] This embodiment is basically the same as the first embodiment, and the similarities are not repeated here. The difference is that: the neural layer image is the nerve fiber layer; the neural layer of the optic nerve is as follows Figure 5 As shown;

[0045] It should be noted that the application of Example 1 of the present application can already provide a relatively accurate basis for judgment. This embodiment provides a further, more accurate method, namely, by using more detailed layered information and using the thickness of the nerve fiber layer alone as an element for comparison with the blood vessel thickness. This can eliminate the influence of the ganglion cell layer, which is not closely related to blood vessel thickness in practice, and thus can obtain a more accurate result.

[0046] Example 3

[0047] An optic nerve analysis system based on optical coherence tomography angiography, such as Figure 5 As shown, it includes an image acquisition unit 1, a blood vessel identification unit 2 and a measurement unit 3;

[0048] An image acquisition unit 1 acquires an image of the nerve layer surrounding the optic nerve using optical coherence tomography angiography technology;

[0049] A blood vessel identification unit 2 identifies the location of red signals representing blood vessels in the acquired neural layer image;

[0050] Measuring unit 3, measuring the height of the red signal position and the thickness of the nerve layer on the left and right sides of the red signal position;

[0051] The present invention differs from existing retinal nerve layer thickness and neural analysis package thickness analysis in that for patients with retinal thinning caused by high myopia, not only thickness analysis is used to determine whether atrophy is present, but also the layered changes in the vascular structure can be used to determine whether it is true nerve layer atrophy or overall retinal atrophy caused by high myopia. Moreover, the present invention has lower requirements on image quality and patient cooperation, making analysis easier.

[0052] Preferably, the nerve layer image may be a separate nerve fiber layer image, or a combined image of the nerve fiber layer and the ganglion cell layer, as described above and not repeated here;

[0053] Preferably, the measuring unit measures the height of the middle of the red signal position.

[0054] Preferably, the blood vessel identification unit obtains all red signal positions by scanning.

[0055] It should be understood that those skilled in the art can make improvements or changes based on the above description, and all such improvements and changes should fall within the scope of protection of the appended claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for analyzing optic nerve based on optical coherence tomography angiography, characterized in that: The steps include: The first step is to obtain images of the nerve layers surrounding the optic nerve using optical coherence tomography angiography. Step 2: Identify the location of red signals representing blood vessels in the acquired neural layer image; Step 3: Measure the height of the red signal position and the thickness of the nerve layer on the left and right sides of the red signal position; The nerve layer image is a nerve fiber layer image or a combined image of the nerve fiber layer and the ganglion cell layer; in the third step, the height of the middle of the red signal position is measured; If the height of the red signal position exceeds the average value of the nerve layer thickness on both sides of the red signal position, the blood vessel exposure is high, indicating that the retinal nerve layer at the corresponding position of the blood vessel is obviously atrophied; if the height of the red signal position is lower than the average value of the nerve layer thickness on both sides of the red signal position, the blood vessel exposure is low, indicating that the retinal nerve layer at the corresponding position of the blood vessel is not obviously atrophied; by analyzing the hierarchical changes in the vascular structure to determine whether it is true nerve layer atrophy or overall retinal atrophy caused by high myopia, glaucoma screening can be achieved for patients with high myopia.

2. The optic nerve analysis method based on optical coherence tomography angiography according to claim 1, characterized in that: In the second step, all red signal positions are acquired by scanning.

3. A optic nerve analysis system based on optical coherence tomography angiography, characterized in that: It includes an image acquisition unit, a blood vessel identification unit and a measurement unit; The image acquisition unit acquires an image of the nerve layer around the optic nerve by optical coherence tomography angiography technology; The blood vessel identification unit identifies the position of the red signal representing the blood vessel in the acquired neural layer image; The measuring unit measures the height of the red signal position and the thickness of the nerve layers on the left and right adjacent sides of the red signal position; The nerve layer image is a nerve fiber layer image or a combined image of the nerve fiber layer and the ganglion cell layer; The measuring unit measures the height of the middle of the red signal position; If the height of the red signal position exceeds the average value of the nerve layer thickness on both sides of the red signal position, the blood vessel exposure is high, indicating that the retinal nerve layer at the corresponding position of the blood vessel is obviously atrophied; if the height of the red signal position is lower than the average value of the nerve layer thickness on both sides of the red signal position, the blood vessel exposure is low, indicating that the retinal nerve layer at the corresponding position of the blood vessel is not obviously atrophied; by analyzing the hierarchical changes in the vascular structure to determine whether it is true nerve layer atrophy or overall retinal atrophy caused by high myopia, glaucoma screening can be achieved for patients with high myopia.

4. The optical coherence tomography angiography-based optic nerve analysis system according to claim 3, characterized in that: The blood vessel identification unit obtains all red signal positions by scanning.

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