US 12,169,937 B2
Automatic image segmentation methods and analysis
Malte Westerhoff, Berlin (DE); Detlev Stalling, Berlin (DE); and Martin Seebass, Berlin (DE)
Assigned to PME IP PTY LTD, Richmond (AU)
Filed by PME IP PTY LTD, Richmond (AU)
Filed on Jan. 26, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/424,620.
Application 18/424,620 is a continuation of application No. 18/070,385, filed on Nov. 28, 2022, granted, now 11,900,608.
Application 18/070,385 is a continuation of application No. 16/913,808, filed on Jun. 26, 2020, granted, now 11,514,572, issued on Nov. 29, 2022.
Application 16/913,808 is a continuation of application No. 15/988,519, filed on May 24, 2018, granted, now 10,706,538, issued on Jul. 7, 2020.
Application 15/988,519 is a continuation of application No. 15/276,546, filed on Sep. 26, 2016, granted, now 9,984,460, issued on May 29, 2018.
Application 15/276,546 is a continuation of application No. 14/040,215, filed on Sep. 27, 2013, granted, now 9,454,813, issued on Sep. 27, 2016.
Application 14/040,215 is a continuation of application No. 12/275,862, filed on Nov. 21, 2008, granted, now 8,548,215, issued on Oct. 1, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/989,915, filed on Nov. 23, 2007.
Prior Publication US 2024/0233131 A1, Jul. 11, 2024
Int. Cl. G06T 7/11 (2017.01); G06F 18/24 (2023.01); G06T 7/00 (2017.01); G06V 10/50 (2022.01)
CPC G06T 7/11 (2017.01) [G06F 18/24 (2023.01); G06T 7/0012 (2013.01); G06V 10/50 (2022.01); G06T 2200/04 (2013.01); G06T 2207/10081 (2013.01); G06T 2207/20112 (2013.01); G06T 2207/30008 (2013.01); G06T 2207/30101 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of processing anatomical structures present in a two-dimensional (2D) image slice using a digital data processor that labels connected components comprising:
(a) selecting a 2D image slice from a plurality of first 2D image slices spanning a three dimensional (3D) volume, using a digital data processing system configured for image processing, where each of the pixels of the selected 2D image slice have one or more of a first intensity value, a second intensity value and a third intensity value, where the second intensity value is greater than the first intensity value, where the third intensity value is greater than the second intensity value;
(b) computing with the digital data processing system a histogram of the 2D image slice;
(c) comparing the histogram with an anatomic atlas of average histograms including computing with the digital data processing system a correlation between the histogram and the anatomic atlas of average histograms;
(d) identifying one or more pixels corresponding with at least two structures of interest in the 2D image slice using the digital data processing system based on the correlation;
(e) assigning with the digital data processing system the one or more pixels identified in step (d) to one or more seed points, where the one or more pixels have an intensity value above the first intensity value or above the second intensity value, where a first seed point corresponds with a first structure of interest, where a second seed point corresponds with a second structure of interest;
(f) growing a region with the digital data processing system from the first seed point to at least one pixel connected to the first seed point until the at least one pixel overruns the second structure of interest to identify the first structure of interest; and
(g) labeling with the digital data processing system the first structure of interest on the selected 2D image slice.