Patent ID: 7940977
Filing Date: 2011-05-10
Classification: G06T,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method of identifying a calcium or a soft plaque deposit in a blood vessel using imaging data of the blood vessel, the method comprising: (a) applying a first threshold to a slice of three-dimensional imaging data of a blood vessel to define voxels above the first threshold; (b) identifying a maximum intensity of the blood vessel from the defined voxels above the first threshold; (c) calculating a distance from the identified maximum intensity to a center of the blood vessel; (d) comparing the calculated distance with a distance threshold; (e) if the calculated distance is greater than the distance threshold, identifying a calcium deposit; (f) applying a second threshold to the slice to define voxels below the second threshold; (g) if a calcium deposit is identified, identifying a soft plaque deposit from the defined voxels below the second threshold; (h) if a calcium deposit is not identified, determining if the defined voxels below the second threshold have a half-moon shape; (i) if the defined voxels below the second threshold have a half-moon shape, identifying a soft plaque deposit; (j) calculating a calcium area of the identified calcium deposit; (k) calculating a plaque area of the identified soft plaque deposit; and (l) calculating an obstruction parameter based on the calculated plaque area and on the calculated calcium area.