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US6052476A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method and apparatus for controlling x-ray angiographic image acquistion

Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Inc
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Filing: 1999-02-16
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Granted: 2000-04-18
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Expires: 2019-02-16
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Abstract

Abstract Controlling the stepping of an x-ray angiography imaging device (and/or table), and/or providing a visualization aid for stepping an x-ray angiography imaging device (and/or table), to maximize the diagnostic usefulness of images acquired by the x-ray angiography imaging device. The stepping and visualization aid use features, extracted from captured images, of the state of contrast media injected into a patient.

Inventors

  • 👤 Jianzhong Qian
  • 👤 Ping Hua
  • 👤 Zhenyu Wu

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 05:03
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B6/00; A61B6/48; A61B6/481; A61B6/46; A61B6/461; A61B6/463; A61B6/50; A61B6/504; G; G01; G01N; G01N23/00; G01N23/02; G01N23/04; G01N23/046; H; H05; H05G; H05G1/00; H05G1/08; H05G1/60; H05G1/64; G01N2223/00; G01N2223/40; G01N2223/419; G01N2223/60; G01N2223/612

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim 243 words
A visualization aid for use with an imaging system including an imaging device, means for stepping the imaging device relative to a patient, and a contrast media injection means, the visualization aid comprising: a) an input for receiving images from the imaging device; b) means for extracting features from images received at the input to generate extracted features; c) means for determining a video output based, in part, on flow dynamics of a bolus estimated from the extracted features; and d) an output for providing the video output; wherein the means for extracting features includes: i) means for determining a DSA (digital subtraction angiographic) image; ii) means for sectioning the DSA image into horizontal regions; iii) means for, in each of the regions of the DSA image, determining an average value of a predetermined percentage darkest pixels; iv) means for determining a region of the DSA frame with a peak average value; v) means for, in each of the regions of the DSA frame, computing a change in its average value from a previous DSA frame; vi) means for, in each of the regions of the DSA frame, estimating a flow dynamics status based on the change in average value; vii) means for weighting the peak average value of the DSA frame based on the estimated flow dynamics status; and viii) means for fitting the weighted peak average value of the DSA frame and that of the previous DSA frame to a function.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 243 words
A visualization aid for use with an imaging system including an imaging device, means for stepping the imaging device relative to a patient, and a contrast media injection means, the visualization aid comprising: a) an input for receiving images from the imaging device; b) means for extracting features from images received at the input to generate extracted features; c) means for determining a video output based, in part, on flow dynamics of a bolus estimated from the extracted features; and d) an output for providing the video output; wherein the means for extracting features includes: i) means for determining a DSA (digital subtraction angiographic) image; ii) means for sectioning the DSA image into horizontal regions; iii) means for, in each of the regions of the DSA image, determining an average value of a predetermined percentage darkest pixels; iv) means for determining a region of the DSA frame with a peak average value; v) means for, in each of the regions of the DSA frame, computing a change in its average value from a previous DSA frame; vi) means for, in each of the regions of the DSA frame, estimating a flow dynamics status based on the change in average value; vii) means for weighting the peak average value of the DSA frame based on the estimated flow dynamics status; and viii) means for fitting the weighted peak average value of the DSA frame and that of the previous DSA frame to a function.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 13 words
The visualization aid of claim 1 wherein the function is a linear function.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 21 words
The visualization aid of claim 1 wherein the video output is based on the estimated flow dynamics status of each region.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 43 words
The visualization aid of claim 3 wherein the estimated flow dynamics statuses include (a) "wash-in", (b) "approaching maximum opacity", (c) "passing maximum opacity", and (d) "wash-out", and wherein the video output provides a distinct color for each of the estimated flow dynamics statuses.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 16 words
The visualization aid of claim 1 further comprising means for generating data for displaying DSA features.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 17 words
The visualization aid of claim 1 further comprising means for generating data for displaying DIFF (difference) features.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 215 words
A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for providing visual aid in an imaging system, the method steps comprising: a) receiving images from an imaging device; b) extracting features from the received images to generate extracted features; c) determining a video output based, in part, on flow dynamics of a bolus estimated from the extracted features; and d) outputting the video output; wherein the instructions for extracting features comprise instructions for: I) determining a DSA image; ii) sectioning the DSA image into horizontal regions; iii) in each of the regions of the DSA image, determining an average value of a predetermine percentage darkest pixels; iv) determining a region of the DSA frame with a peak average value; v) in each of the regions of the DSA frame, computing a change in its average value from a previous DSA frame; vi) in each of the regions of the DSA frame, estimating a flow dynamics status based on the change in average value; vii) weighting the peak average value of the DSA frame based on the estimated flow dynamic status; and viii) fitting the weighted peak average value of the DSA frame and that of the previous DSA frame to a function.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 215 words
A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for providing visual aid in an imaging system, the method steps comprising: a) receiving images from an imaging device; b) extracting features from the received images to generate extracted features; c) determining a video output based, in part, on flow dynamics of a bolus estimated from the extracted features; and d) outputting the video output; wherein the instructions for extracting features comprise instructions for: I) determining a DSA image; ii) sectioning the DSA image into horizontal regions; iii) in each of the regions of the DSA image, determining an average value of a predetermine percentage darkest pixels; iv) determining a region of the DSA frame with a peak average value; v) in each of the regions of the DSA frame, computing a change in its average value from a previous DSA frame; vi) in each of the regions of the DSA frame, estimating a flow dynamics status based on the change in average value; vii) weighting the peak average value of the DSA frame based on the estimated flow dynamic status; and viii) fitting the weighted peak average value of the DSA frame and that of the previous DSA frame to a function.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 14 words
The program storage device of claim 7, wherein the function is a linear function.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 22 words
The program storage device of claim 7, wherein the video output is based on the estimated flow dynamics status of each region.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 26 words
The program storage device of claim 9, wherein the estimated flow dynamics statuses include (a) "wash-in", (b) "approaching maximum opacity, "passing maximum opacity", and (d) "wash-out".
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 23 words
The program storage device of claim 10, wherein the video output provides a distinct color for each of the estimated flow dynamics statuses.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 17 words
The program storage device of claim 7, further comprising instructions for generating data for displaying DSA features.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 18 words
The program storage device of claim 7, further comprising instructions for generating data for displaying DIFF (difference) features.
Claim 16
Independent Claim 196 words
A method for providing visual aid in an imaging system, comprising the steps of: a) receiving images from an imaging device; b) extracting features from the received images to generate extracted features; c) determining a video output based, in part, on flow dynamics of a bolus estimated from the extracted features; and d) outputting the video output; wherein the step of extracting features comprises the steps of: I) determining a DSA image; ii) sectioning the DSA image into horizontal regions; iii) in each of the regions of the DSA image, determining an average value of a predetermine percentage darkest pixels; iv) determining a region of the DSA frame with a peak average value; v) in each of the regions of the DSA frame, computing a change in its average value from a previous DSA frame; vi) in each of the regions of the DSA frame, estimating a flow dynamics status based on the change in average value; vii) weighting the peak average value of the DSA frame based on the estimated flow dynamic status; and viii) fitting the weighted peak average value of the DSA frame and that of the previous DSA frame to a function.
Claim 17
Independent Claim 196 words
A method for providing visual aid in an imaging system, comprising the steps of: a) receiving images from an imaging device; b) extracting features from the received images to generate extracted features; c) determining a video output based, in part, on flow dynamics of a bolus estimated from the extracted features; and d) outputting the video output; wherein the step of extracting features comprises the steps of: I) determining a DSA image; ii) sectioning the DSA image into horizontal regions; iii) in each of the regions of the DSA image, determining an average value of a predetermine percentage darkest pixels; iv) determining a region of the DSA frame with a peak average value; v) in each of the regions of the DSA frame, computing a change in its average value from a previous DSA frame; vi) in each of the regions of the DSA frame, estimating a flow dynamics status based on the change in average value; vii) weighting the peak average value of the DSA frame based on the estimated flow dynamic status; and viii) fitting the weighted peak average value of the DSA frame and that of the previous DSA frame to a function.

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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2003-04-18 2003-10-18 2004-04-18 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2007-04-18 2007-10-18 2008-04-18 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2011-04-18 2011-10-18 2012-04-18 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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