System and method for three-dimensional image rendering and analysis
View Patent ↗The present invention relates to methods and systems for conducting three-dimensional image analysis and diagnosis and possible treatment relating thereto. The invention includes methods of handling signals containing information (data) relating to three-dimensional representation of objects scanned by a scanning medium. The invention also includes methods of making and analyzing volumetric measurements and changes in volumetric measurements which can be used for the purpose of diagnosis and treatment.
1. A method of providing a three-dimensional image representation of an object, said object capable of detectably attenuating a signal resulting from scanning, comprising:
scanning said object with a scanning-medium capable of producing an original three-dimensional image of said object using original three-dimensional image representation units; and
supersampling said original three-dimensional image by representing the original three-dimensional image using three-dimensional image representation units comprising a higher spatial frequency than the original three-dimensional image representation units, the supersampling comprising recomputing voxel-values associated with the object in a higher spatial frequency coordinate space than a coordinate space associated with the original three-dimensional image representation units, thereby improving image resolution, the supersampling being performed using trilinear interpolation of each voxel value at location (x n , y n , z n ), wherein each supersampled voxel value is defined in terms of eight nearest neighbors in an original space v(x i ,y j ,z k ) associated with the original three-dimensional image using
v
(
x
n
,
y
n
,
z
n
)
=
∑
i
=
0
1
∑
j
=
0
1
∑
k
=
0
1
(
1
-
dx
i
/
rx
)
(
1
-
dy
j
/
ry
)
(
1
-
dz
k
/
rz
)
v
(
x
i
,
y
j
,
z
k
)
(
3.14
)
where
i=[ 0|1]
j=[ 0|1]
k=[ 0|1], (3.10)
dx i =|x n −x i |
dy j =|y n −y j |
dz k =|z n −x k |, and (3.11)
rx=|x 1 −x 0 |
ry=|y 1 −y 0 |
rz=|z 1 −x 0 |. (3.12)
2. A method as in claim 1 , wherein said scanning-medium is selected from the group consisting of x-ray, magnetic field, ultrasound, laser, electrical current, visible light, ultraviolet light, infrared light, and radio frequency.
3. A method as in claim 1 , wherein said scanning-medium is x-ray.
4. A method as in claim 1 , wherein said supersampling comprises increasing a number of three-dimensional image representation units to reduce contribution of error per unit.
5. A method as in claim 1 , wherein said supersampling comprises supersampling the original three-dimensional image to an isotropic space.
6. A method as in claim 1 , wherein said object is located in a host body.
7. A method as in claim 6 , wherein said object is a tissue mass.
8. A method as in claim 6 , wherein said object is a growth.
9. A method as in claim 8 , wherein said growth is a tumor.
10. A method as in claim 6 , wherein said object is a pulmonary nodule.
11. A method as in claim 10 , wherein said nodule is not greater than 10 mm in diameter.
12. A method as in claim 4 , further comprising segmenting said object from other structures found proximal to said object and scanned with said object.
13. A method as in claim 12 , wherein said segmenting comprises subtracting attached structures and other objects from said object.
14. A method as in claim 12 , wherein said segmenting comprises subtracting said object from adjacent structures and other objects.
15. A method as in claim 12 , wherein said segmenting further comprises restoring volumetric and surface characteristics of said object.
16. An article of manufacture for providing a three-dimensional image representation of an object, said object capable of detectably attenuating a signal resulting from scanning, the article of manufacture comprising:
a machine readable-medium containing one or more instructions which, when executed by a processing device, cause the processing device to:
scan said object with a scanning-medium capable of producing an original three-dimensional image of said object using original three-dimensional image representation units; and
supersample said original three-dimensional image by representing the original three-dimensional image using three-dimensional image representation units comprising a higher spatial frequency than the original three-dimensional image representation units, the supersampling comprising recomputing voxel-values associated with the object in a higher spatial frequency coordinate space than a coordinate space associated with the original three-dimensional image representation units, thereby improving image resolution, the supersampling being performed using trilinear interpolation of each voxel value at location (x n ,y n ,z n ), wherein each supersampled voxel value is defined in terms of eight nearest neighbors in an original space v(x i ,y j ,z k ) associated with the original three-dimensional image using
v
(
x
n
,
y
n
,
z
n
)
=
∑
i
=
0
1
∑
j
=
0
1
∑
k
=
0
1
(
1
-
dx
i
/
rx
)
(
1
-
dy
j
/
ry
)
(
1
-
dz
k
/
rz
)
v
(
x
i
,
y
j
,
z
k
)
(
3.14
)
where
i=[ 0|1]
j=[ 0|1]
k=[ 0|1], (3.10)
dx i =|x n −x i |
dy j =|y n −y j |
dz k =|z n −x k |, and (3.11)
rx=|x 1 −x 0 |
ry=|y 1 −y 0 |
rz=|z 1 −x 0 |. (3.12)
17. An article of manufacture as in claim 16 , wherein said scanning-medium is selected from the group consisting of x-ray, magnetic field, ultrasound, laser, electrical current, visible light, ultraviolet light, infrared light, and radio frequency.
18. An article of manufacture as in claim 17 , wherein said scanning-medium is x-ray.
19. An article of manufacture as in claim 16 , wherein said supersampling comprises increasing a number of three-dimensional image representation units to reduce contribution of error per unit.
20. An article of manufacture as in claim 16 , wherein said supersampling comprises supersampling the original three-dimensional image to an isotropic space.
21. An article of manufacture as in claim 16 , wherein said object is located in a host body.
22. An article of manufacture as in claim 21 , wherein said object is a tissue mass.
23. An article of manufacture as in claim 21 , wherein said object is a growth.
24. An article of manufacture as in claim 23 , wherein said growth is a tumor.
25. An article of manufacture as in claim 21 , wherein said object is a pulmonary nodule.
26. An article of manufacture as in claim 25 , wherein said nodule is not greater than 10 mm in diameter.
27. An article of manufacture as in claim 20 , further comprising segmenting said object from other structures found proximal said object and scanned with said object.
28. An article of manufacture as in claim 27 , wherein said segmenting comprises subtracting attached structures and other objects from said object.
29. An article of manufacture as in claim 27 , wherein said segmenting comprises subtracting said object from adjacent structures and other objects.
30. An article of manufacture as in claim 27 , wherein said segmenting further comprises restoring volumetric and surface characteristics of said object.
31. A system for providing a three-dimensional image representation of an object, said object capable of detectably attenuating a signal resulting from scanning, comprising:
a scanner for scanning an object with a scanning-medium capable of producing an original three-dimensional image of an object using original three-dimensional image representation units; and
a processor configured to supersample said original three-dimensional image by representing the original three-dimensional image using three-dimensional image representation units comprising a higher spatial frequency than the original three-dimensional image representation units, the supersampling comprising recomputing voxel-values associated with the object in a higher spatial frequency coordinate space than a coordinate space associated with the original three-dimensional image representation units, thereby improving image resolution, the supersampling being performed using trilinear interpolation of each voxel value at location (x n ,y n ,z n ), wherein each supersampled voxel value is defined in terms of eight nearest neighbors in an original space v(x i ,y j ,z k ) associated with the on mal three-dimensional image using
v
(
x
n
,
y
n
,
z
n
)
=
∑
i
=
0
1
∑
j
=
0
1
∑
k
=
0
1
(
1
-
dx
i
/
rx
)
(
1
-
dy
j
/
ry
)
(
1
-
dz
k
/
rz
)
v
(
x
i
,
y
j
,
z
k
)
(
3.14
)
where
i=[ 0|1]
j=[ 0|1]
k=[ 0|1], (3.10)
dx i =|x n −x i |
dy j =|y n −y j |
dz k =|z n −x k |, and (3.11)
rx=|x 1 −x 0 |
ry=|y 1 −y 0 |
rz=|z 1 −x 0 |. (3.12)
32. A system as in claim 31 , wherein said scanning-medium is selected from the group consisting of x-ray, magnetic field, ultrasound, laser, electrical current, visible light, ultraviolet light, infrared light, and radio frequency.
33. A system as in claim 32 , wherein said scanning-medium is x-ray.
34. A system as in claim 31 , wherein said supersampling of said processor comprises increasing a number of image representation units to reduce contribution of error per unit, whereby estimation of object boundary is improved.
35. A system as in claim 31 , wherein said supersampling comprising supersampling the original three-dimensional image to an isotropic space.
36. A system as in claim 31 , wherein said object is located in a host body.
37. A system as in claim 36 , wherein said object is a tissue mass.
38. A system as in claim 36 , wherein said object is a growth.
39. A system as in claim 38 , wherein said growth is a tumor.
40. A system as in claim 36 , wherein said object is a pulmonary nodule.
41. A system as in claim 40 , wherein said nodule is not greater than 10 mm in diameter.