Patent ID: 7558611
Filing Date: 2009-07-07
Classification: A61B,G06T,Y10S

Abstract:
1. An automated method to measure coronary calcium in a a volumetric portion of a living subject using x-ray computed tomography (CT) by acquiring a plurality of CT images containing pixels representing x-ray attenuation of the subject, the method comprising: analyzing the plurality of images with a computer to identify boundaries of the heart; identifying an approximate location of at least one coronary artery by analyzing the plurality of images with the computer so as to distinguish the coronary artery from surrounding tissue; placing a three-dimensional region of interest (ROI) surrounding the coronary artery location with the computer, wherein the ROI comprises a volume surrounding at least a portion of the at least one coronary artery; automatically analyzing the ROI with the computer to identify pixels in the volume having values indicative of x-ray attenuation above a threshold value; and determining a calcium content of the coronary artery with the computer by analyzing said values in the volume indicative of x-ray attenuation above the threshold value.