Liver Segmental Anatomy and Analysis from Vessel and Tumor Segmentation
Posted Jun 14 2011 8:00pm
Description of Invention: The invention is a novel graph-based method for the automated segmentation of tumors and major intra-hepatic blood vessels and identification of the liver anatomical segments. The method allows visualization and risk analysis for interventional planning involving the liver. The method avoids the shortcomings of the traditional graph cuts or intensity-based segmentation methods by including multi-phase enhancement modeling and shape likelihoods. The segmented vessels can be correctly classified into right, middle and left hepatic, and right and left portal veins using a hybrid process that incorporates anatomical information and competitive region growing. Tumors can be detected and segmented using their differential enhancement and shape with accuracy comparable to the reports from the Medical Image Computing and Computer Assisted Intervention (MICCAI) liver tumor segmentation competition. Furthermore, a vessel tracker allowed fitting planes to the major hepatic vasculature and identifying the liver segments according to the Couinaud atlas. The automated method can be used in conjunction with manual and automatic liver segmentations to perform enhanced visualization for diagnosis and planning of interventions.
Applications: To assist in the visualization, diagnosis and planning of interventional procedures involving the liver.
Advantages:
The method avoids the shortcomings of the traditional segmentation methods by including multi-phase enhancement modeling and shape likelihoods.
Tumors are segmented with accuracy comparable to the reports from MICCAI liver tumor segmentation competition.
Liver segments according to the Couinaud atlas are automatically identified.
The automated method allows the enhanced visualization of the liver for diagnosis and planning of interventions.
Development Status: The algorithm and software of the method are fully developed.
Software/Research Tool — Patent protection is not being pursued for this technology.
Licensing Status: A software package encompassing the method is available for licensing.
Collaborative Research Opportunity: The NIH Clinical Center, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, is seeking statements of capability or interest from parties interested in collaborative research to further develop, evaluate, or commercialize techniques for the enhanced visualization, diagnosis and image-based interventions of the liver. Please contact Ken Rose, Ph.D. at 301-435-3132 or rosek@mail.nih.gov for more information.
For Licensing Information Please Contact: Michael Shmilovich Esq. NIH Office of Technology Transfer 6011 Executive Blvd. Suite 325, Rockville, MD 20852 United States Email: shmilovm@mail.nih.gov Phone: 301-435-5019 Fax: 301-402-0220
Description of Invention:
The invention is a novel graph-based method for the automated segmentation of tumors and major intra-hepatic blood vessels and identification of the liver anatomical segments. The method allows visualization and risk analysis for interventional planning involving the liver. The method avoids the shortcomings of the traditional graph cuts or intensity-based segmentation methods by including multi-phase enhancement modeling and shape likelihoods. The segmented vessels can be correctly classified into right, middle and left hepatic, and right and left portal veins using a hybrid process that incorporates anatomical information and competitive region growing. Tumors can be detected and segmented using their differential enhancement and shape with accuracy comparable to the reports from the Medical Image Computing and Computer Assisted Intervention (MICCAI) liver tumor segmentation competition. Furthermore, a vessel tracker allowed fitting planes to the major hepatic vasculature and identifying the liver segments according to the Couinaud atlas. The automated method can be used in conjunction with manual and automatic liver segmentations to perform enhanced visualization for diagnosis and planning of interventions.
Applications:
To assist in the visualization, diagnosis and planning of interventional procedures involving the liver.
Advantages:
Development Status:
The algorithm and software of the method are fully developed.
Inventors:
Bradford J Wood (CC)
Marius G Linguraru (CC)
Patent Status:
HHS, Reference No. E-178-2011/0
Software/Research Tool — Patent protection is not being pursued for this technology.
Licensing Status:
A software package encompassing the method is available for licensing.
Collaborative Research Opportunity:
The NIH Clinical Center, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, is seeking statements of capability or interest from parties interested in collaborative research to further develop, evaluate, or commercialize techniques for the enhanced visualization, diagnosis and image-based interventions of the liver. Please contact Ken Rose, Ph.D. at 301-435-3132 or rosek@mail.nih.gov for more information.
Portfolios:
Devices/Instrumentation
Devices/Instrumentation - Diagnostics
For Licensing Information Please Contact:
Michael Shmilovich Esq.
NIH Office of Technology Transfer
6011 Executive Blvd. Suite 325,
Rockville, MD 20852
United States
Email: shmilovm@mail.nih.gov
Phone: 301-435-5019
Fax: 301-402-0220
Ref No: 2269
Updated: 06/2011