IP Library Granted Patent US 12,478,340
Granted Patent B2
US 12,478,340 · App. 18/278,582 · Granted Nov 25, 2025

Systems and methods for pulmonary perfusion analysis using dynamic radiography

Inventors: Matthew Smith (Nashville, TN); Gary T. Smith (Nashville, TN); Jared Grice (Nashville, TN)
Assignee: VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
A61B6/507A61B6/032A61B6/482A61B6/487A61B6/504G06T7/0012G06T11/001G06T11/206G16H30/40G16H50/20G06T2200/04G06T2207/10016G06T2207/10081G06T2207/10121G06T2207/20056G06T2207/30061G06T2207/30104G06T2210/41
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,478,340
App. No.
18/278,582
Granted
Nov 25, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Described herein are systems, methods, and computer-readable medium for detecting a perfusion abnormality of a subject. In one embodiment, a method includes the following: obtaining, by dynamic radiography, imaging data for a dynamic series of a plurality of x-ray images that include areas of a subject corresponding to pulmonary vasculature; identifying, based on the imaging data, a dynamic signal corresponding to changing blood volume during the cardiac cycle of the subject; decomposing the dynamic signal into periodic components in frequency space; identifying, from the periodic components in frequency space, signals oscillating at the heart rate of the subject; generating, based on the identified signals oscillating at the heart rate of the subject, a perfusion map representation corresponding to pulmonary tissue perfusion in the subject; and detecting, based at least in part on the generated perfusion map representation, a perfusion abnormality of the subject.

Claims (52)

1 . A method for detecting a perfusion abnormality of a subject, comprising:

obtaining, by dynamic radiography, imaging data for a dynamic series of a plurality of x-ray images that include areas of a subject corresponding to pulmonary vasculature;

identifying, based on the imaging data, a dynamic signal corresponding to changing blood volume during the cardiac cycle of the subject;

decomposing the dynamic signal into periodic components in frequency space;

identifying, from the periodic components in frequency space, signals oscillating at the heart rate of the subject;

generating, based on the identified signals oscillating at the heart rate of the subject, a perfusion map representation corresponding to pulmonary tissue perfusion in the subject; and

detecting, based at least in part on the generated perfusion map representation, a perfusion abnormality of the subject.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the dynamic series of images is obtained, at least in part, using fluoroscopy and does not require the use of a contrast agent in the subject.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein decomposing the dynamic signal into periodic components comprises using a Fourier transform.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the perfusion map representation comprises generating a colormap that represents an amount of signal oscillating at the heart rate of the subject, based on filtering signals in frequency space.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the perfusion map representation comprises identifying and combining multiple frequency bands.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the perfusion abnormality comprises determining, from a product of the decomposed dynamic signal, pulmonary resistance associated with a time delay between cardiac contraction and blood flow to the lungs of the subject.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the x-ray imaging data further comprises applying a dual energy technique to obtain two datasets associated with the area of the subject that corresponds to the pulmonary vasculature, for two different respective x-ray energies, and reconstructing images at a desired energy level such as to enhance contrast of a blood pool for optimizing signal measurements.

8 . A method for detecting a perfusion abnormality of a subject, comprising:

obtaining, by dynamic radiography using a CT scanner, imaging data of three-dimensional dynamic x-ray images that include areas of the subject which correspond to pulmonary vasculature, and wherein the imaging data includes a plurality of voxels;

identifying, from the obtained imaging data, a dynamic signal corresponding to each of the plurality of voxels;

decomposing, on a voxel-by-voxel basis, the respective dynamic signal into periodic components that correspond to periodic signals in frequency space;

identifying, from the periodic components, the magnitude of signal oscillating at the heart rate;

generating, based on the identified magnitude of signal, a three-dimensional perfusion map representation; and

detecting, based at least in part on the generated perfusion map representation, a perfusion abnormality of the subject.

9 . A system for detecting a perfusion abnormality of a subject, comprising:

a dynamic radiography device configured to obtain imaging data for a dynamic series of a plurality of x-ray images that include areas of a subject corresponding to pulmonary vasculature;

one or more processors; and

a memory coupled to at least the one or more processors that stores instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the system to perform functions that include:

identifying, based on the imaging data, a dynamic signal corresponding to changing blood volume during the cardiac cycle of the subject;

decomposing the dynamic signal into periodic components in frequency space;

identifying, from the periodic components in frequency space, signals oscillating at the heart rate of the subject;

generating, based on the identified signals oscillating at the heart rate of the subject, a perfusion map representation corresponding to pulmonary tissue perfusion in the subject; and

detecting, based at least in part on the generated perfusion map representation, a perfusion abnormality of the subject.

10 . A system for detecting a perfusion abnormality of a subject, comprising:

a computerized tomography (CT) scanner configured to obtain imaging data of three-dimensional dynamic x-ray images that include areas of the subject which correspond to pulmonary vasculature, and wherein the imaging data includes a plurality of voxels;

one or more processors; and

a memory coupled to at least the one or more processors that stores instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the system to perform functions that include:

identifying, from the obtained imaging data, a dynamic signal corresponding to each of the plurality of voxels;

decomposing, on a voxel-by-voxel basis, the respective dynamic signal into periodic components that correspond to periodic signals in frequency space;

identifying, from the periodic components, the magnitude of signal oscillating at the heart rate;

generating, based on the identified magnitude of signal, a three-dimensional perfusion map representation; and

detecting, based at least in part on the generated perfusion map representation, a perfusion abnormality of the subject.

11 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause a dynamic radiography system to perform functions that include:

obtaining imaging data for a dynamic series of a plurality of x-ray images that include areas of a subject corresponding to pulmonary vasculature;

identifying, based on the imaging data, a dynamic signal corresponding to changing blood volume during the cardiac cycle of the subject;

decomposing the dynamic signal into periodic components in frequency space;

identifying, from the periodic components in frequency space, signals oscillating at the heart rate of the subject;

generating, based on the identified signals oscillating at the heart rate of the subject, a perfusion map representation corresponding to pulmonary tissue perfusion in the subject; and

detecting, based at least in part on the generated perfusion map representation, a perfusion abnormality of the subject.

12 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause a dynamic radiography system comprising a computerized tomography (CT) scanner to perform functions that include:

obtaining imaging data of three-dimensional dynamic x-ray images that include areas of the subject which correspond to pulmonary vasculature, and wherein the imaging data includes a plurality of voxels;

identifying, from the obtained imaging data, a dynamic signal corresponding to each of the plurality of voxels;

decomposing, on a voxel-by-voxel basis, the respective dynamic signal into periodic components that correspond to periodic signals in frequency space;

identifying, from the periodic components, the magnitude of signal oscillating at the heart rate;

generating, based on the identified magnitude of signal, a three-dimensional perfusion map representation; and

detecting, based at least in part on the generated perfusion map representation, a perfusion abnormality of the subject.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 25, 2025
From: SMITH, MATTHEW; SMITH, GARY T.; GRICE, JARED
To: VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
Reel/Frame 072376/0234 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63154244 · Feb 26, 2021
Related Publication 20240138795A1 · May 2, 2024
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