Method And System For Motion Assessment And Correction In Digital Breast Tomosynthesis

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019059841-A1
Application number	US-201715692992-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 31, 2017
Priority date	Aug 31, 2017
Publication date	Feb 28, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

An imaging system, such as a DBT system, capable of providing an operator of the system with information concerning the location, magnitude and direction of motion detected by the system during performance of the scan to enhance image processing. The imaging system provides the motion information to the operator directly in conjunction with the images processed by the imaging system thereby providing the operator with sufficient information for decisions regarding the need for additional images for completing the scan with the imaging system before the patient is discharged, or even before the breast is decompressed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . Apparatus comprising:
an image acquisition mechanism that generates a plurality of images of an imaging target of an object or body in a time series during a scan; an image processor that processes the plurality of images to generate processed images, wherein the processed images are at least one of a projection image or a reconstructed image; a computer which is configured to display the processed images and which detects and quantifies motion of the target during the scan by comparing an actual location of at least one object of interest in each processed image with an expected location of the at least one object of interest derived from a set of the processed images and by generating a motion marker; and a mechanism for displaying the motion marker in conjunction with the processed images.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mechanism is operable to overlay the motion marker on the processed images.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the motion marker is a grid positioned over one or more of the processed images and indicating the magnitude and direction of the motion in an area of the processed images affected by the motion.

4 . The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the motion marker is a geometric shape positioned over one or more of the processed images and indicating an area of the processed images affected by the motion.

5 . The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the motion marker is a vector marker positioned over one or more of the processed images and indicating the magnitude and direction of the motion for an object of interest in the processed images affected by the motion.

6 . The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the motion marker is a motion map positioned over one or more of the processed images and indicating the magnitude and direction of the motion for one or more areas of the processed images affected by the motion.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the motion marker is a color applied to one or more of the processed images and indicating the magnitude and direction of the motion for one or more areas of the processed images affected by the motion.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one object of interest is an intrinsic marker of the object or body.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the image processor corrects for the detected motion in forming the reconstructed images from the projection images.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the image acquisition mechanism is selected from a group of image acquisition systems which acquire images using tomosynthesis, a Computed Tomography (CT) image acquisition system, a PET, SPECT, Ultrasound, Contrast Enhanced, and MRI.

11 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the image acquisition mechanism is a digital breast tomosynthesis system.

12 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the computer quantifies motion based on change of displacement or rate of change of displacement of the at least one reference point.

13 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the computer quantifies motion based on maximum displacement of the reference point.

14 . A method comprising:
generating a plurality of images of an imaging target of an object or body in a time series during a scan; processing the plurality of images to generate processed images, wherein the processed images are at least one of projection images and reconstructed images; using a computer, detecting and quantifying motion of the target of any magnitude during the scan by comparing an actual location of at least one object of interest in each processed image with an expected location of the at least one object of interest derived from a set of the processed images, wherein the at least one point of reference is an intrinsic marker of the object or body; generating a motion marker indicative of the magnitude and direction of the detected motion; and displaying the motion marker in conjunction with the processed images.

15 . The method of claim 14 further comprising correcting one or more of the processed images in which motion was detected.

16 . The method of claim 15 wherein correcting the one or more of the processed images includes:
isolating an image component of the one or more processed images containing the object of interest;
reconstructing the one or more images without the image component;
reconstructing the image components; and
combining the reconstructed images and image components to form combined a set of the plurality of images or generating a mathematically transformed projection image.

17 . The method of claim 14 wherein displaying the motion marker comprises overlaying the motion marker on the processed images.

18 . The method of claim 14 wherein displaying the motion marker on the processed image comprises overlaying onto one or more of the processed images a motion map, a motion vector, a colored area or a combination thereof on the processed images, indicating the magnitude and direction of the motion for one or more areas of the processed images affected by the motion.

19 . The method of claim 14 wherein processing the plurality of images to form the processed images and displaying the motion marker in conjunction with the processed images takes place in real time.

20 . The method of claim 14 further comprising the steps of:
generating a 3D motion marker indicative of the magnitude and direction of the detected motion;
generating a 2D motion marker indicative of the magnitude and direction of the detected motion; and
displaying the 2D motion marker in conjunction with a 2D processed image.

21 . The method of claim 20 further comprising the steps of:
selecting the 2D motion marker or an area surrounding the 2D motion marker in the 2D image; and
displaying the 3D motion marker and associated reconstructed 3D image in response to the selection of the 2D motion marker in the 2D image.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Palma Giovanni John Jacques
• Corsino Espino Jorge
• Klausz Remy
• Iordache Razvan

Classifications

• G06T12/30

  Image post-processing, e.g. metal artefact correction · CPC title

• G06T2207/30068

  Mammography; Breast · CPC title

• A61B2090/3954

  magnetic, e.g. NMR or MRI · CPC title

• G06T2207/20201

  Motion blur correction · CPC title

• A61B8/481

  involving the use of contrast agents, e.g. microbubbles introduced into the bloodstream · CPC title