3D CT Angiography Bone Removal for Aneurysm Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Detecting small aneurysms in vasculature, especially in the brain, is challenging due to their minute size and similarity to bone structures in CT angiography exams, leading to inaccurate diagnoses and false information.
Innovation Solution
A method that removes bone structures from 3D CT angiography image data and extracts spherical shapes or features to identify abnormalities, using a computer-controlled medical imaging apparatus to generate images with extracted shapes displayed for enhanced detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If template based visualization methods are used to provide shape information, then complementary diagnostic information is provided, but the user is overwhelmed with fragmented or false clinical information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and displays only the most clinically relevant shape features (such as spherical shapes indicating aneurysms) while filtering out redundant or misleading information. This selective extraction provides complementary diagnostic information without overwhelming the user with fragmented data.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of presenting all template-based shape information and expecting users to filter it, the system inverts the approach by pre-processing and presenting only the most significant shape abnormalities, thereby improving user efficiency while maintaining diagnostic completeness.
2Measurement precision
If CTA exams are used to detect small aneurysms, then vascular imaging is obtained, but bone structures cause filtering artifacts that lead to incorrect diagnosis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of bone structures causing filtering artifacts into a benefit by using shape-based analysis that specifically looks for spherical abnormalities. The bone artifacts, while present, do not mimic spherical shapes, allowing the system to distinguish true aneurysms from bone structures and improve detection accuracy.
3Quantity of substance
If typical CTA exams are used for imaging, then vascular structures are visualized, but small aneurysms are indistinguishable from vasculature and bones
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality analysis by examining specific geometric properties (sphericity) at local regions within the vascular structures. This allows the system to maintain overall vascular visibility while specifically highlighting small aneurysms that possess distinct spherical characteristics, making them distinguishable from the surrounding vasculature and bone structures.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus for detecting aneurysm in vasculatures are provided. The method includes removing bone structures from three-dimensional (3D) computed tomography (CT) angiography image data and extracting spherical shapes from the bone removed 3D CT angiography image data. The method further includes displaying the extracted spherical shapes on an image of the 3D CT angiography image data.