Spectral CT Image Processing for Clear Cardiac Perfusion and Vasculature
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Solution Overview
Problem
Standard visualization techniques for volumetric medical images, such as maximum intensity projection and mean intensity projection, fail to provide an uncluttered view of the septum between the left and right cardiac ventricle, and explicit vascular segmentations introduce additional segmentation and registration errors, making it difficult to assess perfusion and vasculature simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
An image processing device performs automatic anatomical shape model segmentation on volumetric medical image data, determining layers of interest for perfusion and vasculature, and combines perfusion and vascular information through graphical projections to yield combined information data, which includes perfusion defects and vascular defects, thereby linking them intuitively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If standard visualization techniques (maximum intensity projection or mean intensity projection) are used, then the processing is simple, but the view on the septum between the left and right cardiac ventricle is cluttered and not clear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the volumetric medical image data into distinct anatomical structures (cardiac ventricles, septum, vasculature) using automatic anatomical shape model segmentation. This allows selective visualization of the septum and surrounding structures without the clutter that plagues standard projection techniques, directly resolving the contradiction between simplicity and clarity.
2Loss of information
If explicit vascular segmentations are performed, then vascular information is obtained, but additional segmentation errors and registration errors with the muscular segmentation are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the vascular segmentation results with the anatomical shape model segmentation in a unified framework. By integrating these segmentations rather than treating them separately, the method reduces cumulative errors from multiple independent segmentation and registration processes, while maintaining complete vascular information.
3Loss of information
If both vasculature and perfusion are assessed using separate methods, then complete medical information is obtained, but the visualization becomes complex and errors accumulate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a multi-functional processing framework that simultaneously handles both vasculature assessment and perfusion assessment within a single unified system. This approach obtains complete medical information while avoiding the complexity and error accumulation that would result from separate independent processing pipelines.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an image processing device (3) comprising a data input unit (4) for receiving volumetric medical image data (7) organized in voxels and processing unit (5), wherein the volumetric medical image data (7) os spectral computed tomography data. The processing unit (5) is adapted to perform an automatic anatomical shape model segmentation (8) on the volumetric medical image data (7). It is further adapted to perform a determination of a first layer of interest (9) and of a second layer of interest (11). A first projection (10) of the first layer of interest (9) is performed, yielding perfusion information data, and a second projection (14) of the second layer of interest (11) is performed, yielding vascular information data. Finally. a graphical combination (15) of the perfusion information data and the vascular information data is performed, yielding combined information data (21). The invention further relates to a spectral computed tomography system (1) comprising an image processing device (3) and to a computer program element.