Method for optimally visualizing a morphologic region of interest of a bone in an x-ray image

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016235381-A1
Application number	US-201415027805-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 8, 2014
Priority date	Oct 8, 2013
Publication date	Aug 18, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for optimally visualizing a morphologic region of interest of a bone in an X-ray image of a patient, comprising:—receiving a set of 3D medical images of the bone,—creating a 3D bone model of at least part of the bone comprising said region of interest from said set of 3D images,—determining a criterion representative of a visualization of the extent of said morphologic region of interest,—automatically determining from the 3D bone model optimal relative bone and X-ray orientation so as to optimize said criterion for said patient,—creating at least one virtual X-ray image of the bone from said set of 3D images according to said optimal relative bone and virtual X-ray orientation.

First claim

1 . Method for optimally visualizing a morphologic region of interest of a bone in an X-ray image of a patient, comprising:
receiving a set of 3D medical images of the patient's hone, creating a 3D bone model of at least part of the bone comprising said region of interest from said set of 3D images, determining a criterion representative of a visualization of the extent of said morphologic region of interest, automatically determining from the 3D bone model optimal relative bone and X-ray orientation so as to optimize said criterion for said patient, and creating at least one virtual X-ray image of the bone from said set of 3D images according to said optimal relative bone and virtual X-ray orientation.

2 . Method according to claim 1 , comprising creating the at least one virtual X-ray image by projecting 3D bone voxel density of the set of 3D images according to said optimal relative orientation.

3 . Method according to claim 1 , wherein the morphologic region of interest comprises a bone deformity, an implant and/or a fracture.

4 . Method according to claim 1 , wherein the bone is a femur and the morphologic region of interest comprises a femoral neck deformity responsible for cam type femoro acetabular impingement.

5 . Method according to claim 3 , comprising computing and displaying a virtual resection of the bone onto the 3D bone model to simulate correction of a bone deformity.

6 . Method according to claim 1 , wherein the bone forms part of a joint and the set of 3D medical images comprises 3D images of the joint, wherein the method comprises:
creating a 3D bone model of at least part of each bone of the joint including the morphologic region of interest from said set of 3D images, assigning to the hone joint a kinematic joint model, and automatically determining from the 3D bone model optimal relative bone and X-ray orientation in accordance with the kinematic joint model so as to optimize said criterion.

7 . Method according to claim 6 , wherein the kinematic joint model is a ball-and-socket model.

8 . Method according to claim 6 , wherein the criterion is the alpha angle defined as the angle between the hemi-line from the femoral sphere center in the direction of the neck axis and the radius from femoral sphere center and a point of the femoral head-neck junction, and wherein optimizing the criterion comprises determining the maximum alpha angle.

9 . Method according to claim 8 , comprising determining a radius connecting the femoral head center and the point of the circumference of the femoral head-neck junction where said alpha angle is maximum, wherein optimal relative bone and X-ray orientation is obtained when the plane defined by the maximum alpha angle radius and the femoral neck. axis is perpendicular to the X-ray orientation.

10 . Method according to claim 1 , wherein the set of 3D images comprises CT images, MR images and/or ultrasound images.

11 . Computer program product comprising computer-readable instructions which, when loaded and executed on a suitable system, perform the steps of the method according to claim 1 .

12 . Method of intra-operative X-ray imaging of a morphologic region of interest of a bone of a patient, wherein patient-specific optimal relative bone and X-ray orientation is determined by the method according to one of claims 1 to 10 , and X-ray imaging is carried out in accordance with said optimal relative bone and X-ray orientation.

Assignees

• Smith & Nephew Inc
• A+h 2 +l SURGICAL

Inventors

• Scanlan Sean
• LAVALLEE STéPHANE
• Chabanas Laurence
• Bedi Asheesh
• Byrd Thomas
• Kelly Bryan
• Larson Christopher

Classifications

• G06T2207/10121

  Fluoroscopy · CPC title

• A61B6/467

  characterised by special input means · CPC title

• A61B6/5217

  extracting a diagnostic or physiological parameter from medical diagnostic data · CPC title

• A61B6/505 Primary

  for diagnosis of bone · CPC title

• G06T2207/30008

  Bone · CPC title