Abstract: Disclosed herein is a framework for segmenting articulated structures. In accordance with one aspect, the framework receives a target image, a reference image, statistical shape models, local appearance models and a learned landmark detector. The framework may automatically detect first centerline landmarks along centerlines of articulated structures in the target image using the learned landmark detector. The framework may then determine a non-rigid transformation function that registers second centerline landmarks along centerlines of articulated structures in the reference image with the first centerline landmarks. Mean shapes of the statistical shape models may then be deformed to the target image space by applying the non-rigid transformation function on the mean shapes. The framework may further search for candidate points in the mean shapes using the local appearance models. The mean shapes may be fitted to the candidate points to generate a segmentation mask.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a framework for localizing anatomical structures. In accordance with one aspect, the framework receives a learned regressor and image data of a subject. The learned regressor may be invoked to predict a first spatial metric from a seed voxel to a target anatomical structure in the image data. The learned regressor may further be invoked to predict second spatial metrics from candidate voxels to the target anatomical structure. The candidate voxels may be located around a search region defined by the first spatial metric. The candidate voxel associated with the smallest second spatial metric may then be output as a localized voxel.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a framework for facilitating visualization. In accordance with one aspect, the framework localizes at least one anatomical structure of interest in image data. The structure of interest is then highlighted by reformatting the image data. The resulting reformatted image data is rendered for display to a user.

Abstract: A method for automatically scheduling tasks in whole-body computer aided detection/diagnosis (CAD), including: (a) receiving a plurality of tasks to be executed by a whole-body CAD system; (b) identifying a task to be executed, wherein the task to be executed has an expected information gain that is greater than that of each of the other tasks; (c) executing the task with the greatest expected information gain and removing the executed task from further analysis; and (d) repeating steps (b) and (c) for the remaining tasks.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for detecting anatomical components in images. In accordance with one implementation, at least one anchor landmark is detected in an image. The position of the anchor landmark is used to detect at least one bundle landmark in the image. In accordance with another implementation, at least two neighboring landmarks are detected in an image, and used to detect at least one anatomical primitive in the image.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a framework for localizing anatomical structures. In accordance with one aspect, the framework receives a learned regressor and image data of a subject. The learned regressor may be invoked to predict a first spatial metric from a seed voxel to a target anatomical structure in the image data. The learned regressor may further be invoked to predict second spatial metrics from candidate voxels to the target anatomical structure. The candidate voxels may be located around a search region defined by the first spatial metric. The candidate voxel associated with the smallest second spatial metric may then be output as a localized voxel.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a framework for facilitating automatic planning for medical imaging. In accordance with one aspect, the framework receives first image data of a subject. One or more imaging parameters may then be derived using a geometric model and at least one reference anatomical primitive detected in the first image data. The geometric model defines a geometric relationship between the detected reference anatomical primitive and the one or more imaging parameters. The one or more imaging parameters may be presented, via a user interface, for use in acquisition, reconstruction or processing of second image data of the subject.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a framework for segmenting articulated structures. In accordance with one aspect, the framework receives a target image, a reference image, statistical shape models, local appearance models and a learned landmark detector. The framework may automatically detect first centerline landmarks along centerlines of articulated structures in the target image using the learned landmark detector. The framework may then determine a non-rigid transformation function that registers second centerline landmarks along centerlines of articulated structures in the reference image with the first centerline landmarks. Mean shapes of the statistical shape models may then be deformed to the target image space by applying the non-rigid transformation function on the mean shapes. The framework may further search for candidate points in the mean shapes using the local appearance models. The mean shapes may be fitted to the candidate points to generate a segmentation mask.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a framework for facilitating image processing. In accordance with one aspect, the framework receives first image data acquired by a first modality and one or more articulated models. The one or more articulated models may include at least one section image acquired by the first modality and aligned with a local image acquired by a second modality. The framework may align an anatomical region of the first image data with the section image and non-rigidly register a first region of interest extracted from the section image with a second region of interest extracted from the aligned anatomical region. To generate a segmentation mask of the anatomical region, the registered first region of interest may be inversely mapped to a subject space of the first image data.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a framework for facilitating synchronized image navigation. In accordance with one aspect, at least first and second medical images are received. A non-linear mapping between the first and second medical images is generated. A selection of a given location in the first medical image is received in response to a user's navigational operation. Without deforming the second medical image, a target location in the second medical image is determined by using the non-linear mapping. The target location corresponds to the given location in the first medical image. An optimized deformation-free view of the second medical image is generated based at least in part on the target location.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a framework for facilitating adaptive anatomical region prediction. In accordance with one aspect, a set of exemplar images including annotated first landmarks is received. User definitions of first anatomical regions in the exemplar images are obtained. The framework may detect second landmarks in a subject image. It may further compute anatomical similarity scores between the subject image and the exemplar images based on the first and second landmarks, and predict a second anatomical region in the subject image by adaptively combining the first anatomical regions based on the anatomical similarity scores.

Abstract: Described herein is a technology for facilitating deformable model-based segmentation of image data. In one implementation, the technology includes receiving training image data (202) and automatically constructing a hierarchical structure (204) based on the training image data. At least one spatially adaptive boundary detector is learned based on a node of the hierarchical structure (206).

Abstract: A method for detecting lymph nodes in a medical image includes receiving image data. One or more regions of interest are detected from within the received image data. One or more lymph node candidates are identified using a set of predefined parameters that is particular to the detected region of interest where each lymph node candidate is located. The identifying unit may identify the one or more lymph node candidates by performing DGFR processing. The method may also include receiving user-provided adjustments to the predefined parameters that are particular to the detected regions of interest and identifying the lymph node candidates based on the adjusted parameters. The lymph node candidates identified based on the adjusted parameters may be displayed along with the image data in real-time as the adjustments are provided.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for detecting anatomical components in images. In accordance with one implementation, at least one anchor landmark is detected in an image. The position of the anchor landmark is used to detect at least one bundle landmark in the image. In accordance with another implementation, at least two neighboring landmarks are detected in an image, and used to detect at least one anatomical primitive in the image.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatic accurate and efficient segmentation and identification of one or more vertebra in digital medical images using a coarse-to-fine segmentation.

Abstract: A method of detecting an anatomical primitive in an image volume includes detecting a plurality of transformationally invariant points (TIPS) in the volume, aligning the volume using the TIPs, detecting a plurality landmark points in the aligned volume that are indicative of a given anatomical object, and fitting a target geometric primitive as the anatomical primitive based using the detected landmark points.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing a medical imaging study include acquiring a preliminary scan. A set of local feature candidates is automatically detected from the preliminary scan. The accuracy of each local feature candidate is assessed using multiple combinations of the other local feature candidates and removing a local feature candidate that is assessed to have the lowest accuracy. The assessing and removing steps are repeated until only a predetermined number of local feature candidates remain. A region of interest (ROI) is located from within the preliminary scan based on the remaining predetermined number of local feature candidates. A medical imaging study is performed based on the location of the ROI within the preliminary scan.

Abstract: Described herein is a framework for constructing a hierarchical classifier for facilitating classification of digitized data. In one implementation, a divergence measure of a node of the hierarchical classifier is determined. Data at the node is divided into at least two child nodes based on a splitting criterion to form at least a portion of the hierarchical classifier. The splitting criterion is selected based on the divergence measure. If the divergence measure is less than a predetermined threshold value, the splitting criterion comprises a divergence-based splitting criterion which maximizes subsequent divergence after a split. Otherwise, the splitting criterion comprises an information-based splitting criterion which seeks to minimize subsequent misclassification error after the split.

Abstract: A method for performing a medical imaging study includes acquiring a preliminary scan. A set of local feature candidates is automatically detected from the preliminary scan. The accuracy of each local feature candidate is assessed using multiple combinations of the other local feature candidates and removing a local feature candidate that is assessed to have the lowest accuracy. The assessing and removing steps are repeated until only a predetermined number of local feature candidates remain. A region of interest (ROI) is located from within the preliminary scan based on the remaining predetermined number of local feature candidates. A medical imaging study is performed based on the location of the ROI within the preliminary scan.

Abstract: A method for detecting and localizing multiple anatomical landmarks in medical images, including: receiving an input requesting identification of a plurality of anatomical landmarks in a medical image; applying a multi-landmark detector to the medical image to identify a plurality of candidate locations for each of the anatomical landmarks; for each of the anatomical landmarks, applying a landmark-specific detector to each of its candidate locations, wherein the landmark-specific detector assigns a score to each of the candidate locations, and wherein candidate locations having a score below a predetermined threshold are removed; applying spatial statistics to groups of the remaining candidate locations to determine, for each of the anatomical landmarks, the candidate location that most accurately identifies the anatomical landmark; and for each of the anatomical landmarks, outputting the candidate location that most accurately identifies the anatomical landmark.