Patent ID: 6760468
Filing Date: 2004-07-06
Classification: A61B,G06T,G16H,G16Z,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for detecting an abnormality in a radiological image, the method comprising the steps of:image enhancement processing to enhance contrast between an abnormality and the background using a phantom of an abnormality; suspect selection processing to preliminarily select a suspected abnormality based on shape characteristics of such an abnormality, said suspect selection processing including a step of body part segmentation, which includes a sub-step of differentiation of different zones within a lung region of said radiological image; neural network classification and integration processing to determine a presence and a location of an abnormality, and for identifying a false abnormality; and segmenting the lung region into different zones based on anatomic structures of the lung region and on local image characteristics; wherein said neural network classification and integration processing includes the steps of: using a different neural network classifier for each of said zones, the particular classifier for a particular zone taking advantage of the characteristics of the particular zone; and optimally combining nodule candidates based on the performances of the various classifiers for the various zones.