Abstract:
A system for validating motion estimation comprising a field unit ( 110 ) for obtaining a deformation vector field (DVF) estimating the motion by transforming a first image at a first phase of the motion into a second image at a second phase of the motion, a metric unit ( 120 ) for computing a metric of a local volume change at a plurality of locations, and a conformity unit ( 130 ) for computing a conformity measure based on the computed metric of the local volume change at the plurality of locations and a local property of the first or second image defined at the plurality of locations. Based on the value of the conformity measure, the DFV estimating the motion is validated. Experiments show that the conformity measure based on the computed metric of a local volume change at a plurality of locations and the local property of the first or second image, defined at the plurality of locations, does not necessarily favor a large weight for the outer force to provide a more accurate registration. One reason for this observation may be that large deformations providing more accurate alignment often lead to deformations resulting in unreasonably large volume changes. DVFs comprising such deformations thus are more likely to be discarded by the system of the invention.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    In general, this invention relates to automatic point-wise validation of motion estimation, wherein the motion is estimated by a deformation vector field for transforming a first image at a first phase of the motion into a second image at a second phase of the motion. In particular, this invention relates to automatic point-wise validation of respiratory motion estimation on the basis of CT images. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Compensating body motion in medical imaging is a necessity and has already become indispensable in this area. Since motion compensation by rigid or affine transformations is suitable only for few clinical target applications (e.g. patient positioning for brain applications), motion compensation by a non-rigid or elastic transformation has become state-of-the-art. A prominent example for the usefulness of an elastic transformation is respiratory motion. 
         [0003]    Motion compensation requires the registration of at least two images for computing a deformation vector field (DVF) that aligns one image according to a second image. As a necessary criterion for a successful registration, the smallness of the residuum image (i.e., of the subtraction of the aligned first image and second image) can be used. Misaligned image structures are visible as remaining shadows in the residuum. However, the absence of any structure in the residuum image does not guarantee a successful registration since the residuum is invariant to the deformation of homogeneous image regions. 
         [0004]    Typically, an image registration scheme aims at balancing two types of forces: an outer force driven by the difference of the two images and an inner force driven by a physical model. Consequently, a weighting factor is introduced to balance these two forces. Generally, the application of a large weight on the outer force is likely to yield a small residuum image. Unfortunately, it often introduces incorrect deformations, even folding, into the DVF. Therefore, using a residuum image for validating a DVF may often lead to an erroneous determination of the DVF. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    It would be useful to provide a validation scheme for reducing the likelihood of positive validation of an erroneously estimated DVF. 
         [0006]    Thus, in the first aspect the invention provides a system for validating motion estimation, comprising: 
         [0007]    a field unit for obtaining a deformation vector field estimating the motion by transforming a first image at a first phase of the motion into a second image at a second phase of the motion; 
         [0008]    a metric unit for computing a metric of a local volume change at a plurality of locations; and 
         [0009]    a conformity unit for computing a conformity measure based on the computed metric of the local volume change at the plurality of locations and a local property of the first or second image, defined at the plurality of locations. 
         [0010]    Based on the value of the conformity measure, the DFV estimating the motion is validated. Experiments show that the conformity measure based on the computed metric of a local volume change at a plurality of locations and the local property of the first or second image, defined at the plurality of locations, does not necessarily favor a large weight for the outer force to provide a more accurate registration. One reason for this observation may be that large deformations providing more accurate alignment often lead to deformations resulting in unreasonably large volume changes. DVFs comprising such deformations thus are more likely to be discarded by the system of the invention. 
         [0011]    In an embodiment of the system, the metric of the local volume change is based on the Jacobian metric. 
         [0012]    In an embodiment of the system, the metric unit is further arranged for computing an image-intensity-based metric of the local volume change at the plurality of locations, based on the first and second image, and the local property of the first or second image defined at the plurality of locations is the computed image-intensity-based metric. In CT images, the intensity is measured in Hounsfield units (HUs). The conformity unit is arranged for computing the conformity measure based on two metrics of a local volume change: the image-intensity-based metric and, for example, the Jacobian metric. 
         [0013]    In an embodiment of the system, the conformity measure is computed at the plurality of locations, based on the computed metric of the local volume change at the plurality of locations and the local property of the first or second image defined at the plurality of locations, thereby becoming a conformity map. For example, the metric of the local volume change may be the Jacobian metric, the local property may be the image-intensity-based metric, and, at each location of the plurality of locations, the conformity measure may be the absolute value of the difference of the Jacobian metric and the intensity metric at said location. The conformity map allows validating the motion estimation locally, at the plurality of locations. 
         [0014]    In an embodiment of the system, the local property is the intensity of the first image, the conformity unit is arranged for determining a neighborhood at each one of the plurality of locations, and the conformity measure is computed at each one of the plurality of locations, based on the correlation coefficient computed by fitting a hyperbolic function to a joint distribution of corresponding values of the metric of a local volume change and the first image intensity at each position in the determined neighborhood. The working of this embodiment can be explained by the fact that the low/high image intensity, measured e.g. in HU units in CT images, corresponds to, respectively, low/high tissue density. A low tissue density in turn results in high tissue compressibility while a high tissue density results in low tissue compressibility. 
         [0015]    In an embodiment, the system further comprises a peak unit for detecting peaks in the conformity map. Locations of the detected peaks in the conformity map may be communicated to the user to indicate locations of possible faults in the DVF, i.e. of mis-registration of the first and second image. The detected peaks in the conformity map may be overlaid onto the first or second image and displayed with the first or second image. 
         [0016]    In an embodiment of the system, the field unit is arranged for computing the deformation vector field, using elastic registration of the first image with the second image. 
         [0017]    In an embodiment, the system further comprises an update unit for updating the deformation vector field, based on the computed conformity measure. The conformity measure may be used as a sole input for updating the deformation vector field or in addition to other inputs for updating the deformation vector field. For example, the weights of the inner and outer forces driving the elastic image registration may be location-dependent, taking into account locations of the detected peaks in the conformity maps. 
         [0018]    In an embodiment, the system is used for validating respiratory motion estimation. Other possible uses include, but are not limited to, heart contraction and expansion and tumor growth or remission. 
         [0019]    In the second aspect of the invention, a workstation comprising the system according to the invention is provided. 
         [0020]    In the third aspect of the invention, an image acquisition apparatus comprising the system according to the invention is provided. 
         [0021]    In the fourth aspect of the invention, a method of validating motion estimation is provided, the method comprising: 
         [0022]    a field step for obtaining a deformation vector field estimating the motion by transforming a first image at a first phase of the motion into a second image at a second phase of the motion; 
         [0023]    a metric step for computing a metric of a local volume change at a plurality of locations; and 
         [0024]    a conformity step for computing a conformity measure, based on the computed metric of the local volume change at the plurality of locations and a local property of the first or second image defined at the plurality of locations. 
         [0025]    In the fifth aspect of the invention, a computer program product, which program is operative to cause a processor to perform a method according to the invention, is provided. 
         [0026]    The invention is defined by the independent claims which will be elucidated with reference to the embodiments defined in the dependent claims. 
         [0027]    It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that two or more of the above-mentioned embodiments, implementations, and/or aspects of the invention may be combined in any way deemed useful. 
         [0028]    Modifications and variations of the system, of the method, of the image acquisition apparatus, of the workstation, and/or of the computer program product, which correspond to the described modifications and variations of the system or the method, can be carried out by a person skilled in the art on the basis of the present description. 
         [0029]    A person skilled in the art will appreciate that an image dataset in the claimed invention may be a 2-dimensional (2-D), 3-dimensional (3-D) or 4-dimensional (4-D) image dataset, acquired by various acquisition modalities such as, but not limited to, X-ray Imaging, Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Ultrasound (US), Positron Emission Tomography (PET), Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT), and Nuclear Medicine (NM). 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0030]    These and other aspects of the invention will be further elucidated and described with reference to the drawing, in which 
           [0031]      FIG. 1  shows a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the system; 
           [0032]      FIG. 2A  shows an exemplary slice of a CT lung parenchyma phantom; 
           [0033]      FIG. 2B  shows the Jacobian metric after a compression of the lung parenchyma phantom; 
           [0034]      FIG. 2C  shows an exemplary conformity map; 
           [0035]      FIG. 2D  shows the conformity map overlaid onto the CT slice; 
           [0036]      FIG. 3  shows an exemplary scatter plot of the local volume change and the corresponding image intensity, computed in a neighborhood of a voxel shown in  FIG. 2A ; 
           [0037]      FIG. 4  shows a flow diagram of a method according to the invention; 
           [0038]      FIG. 5  schematically shows an exemplary embodiment of the image acquisition apparatus; and 
           [0039]      FIG. 6  schematically shows an exemplary embodiment of the workstation. 
       
    
    
       [0040]    Identical reference numerals are used to denote similar parts throughout the Figures. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0041]      FIG. 1  schematically shows a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the system  100  for validating motion estimation, comprising: 
         [0042]    a field unit  110  for obtaining a deformation vector field estimating the motion by transforming a first image at a first phase of the motion into a second image at a second phase of the motion; 
         [0043]    a metric unit  120  for computing a metric of a local volume change at a plurality of locations; and 
         [0044]    a conformity unit  130  for computing a conformity measure, based on the computed metric of the local volume change at the plurality of locations and a local property of the first or second image defined at the plurality of locations. 
         [0045]    The exemplary embodiment of the system  100  further comprises: 
         [0046]    a peak unit  140  for detecting peaks in the conformity map; 
         [0047]    an update unit  150  for updating the deformation vector field, based on the computed conformity measure. 
         [0048]    a control unit  160  for controlling the work of the system  100 ; 
         [0049]    a user interface  165  for communication between the user and the system  100 ; and 
         [0050]    a memory unit  170  for storing data. 
         [0051]    In an embodiment of the system  100 , there are three input connectors  181 ,  182  and  183  for the incoming data. The first input connector  181  is arranged to receive data coming in from a data storage means such as, but not limited to, a hard disk, a magnetic tape, a flash memory, or an optical disk. The second input connector  182  is arranged to receive data coming in from a user input device such as, but not limited to, a mouse or a touch screen. The third input connector  183  is arranged to receive data coming in from a user input device such as a keyboard. The input connectors  181 ,  182  and  183  are connected to an input control unit  180 . 
         [0052]    In an embodiment of the system  100 , there are two output connectors  191  and  192  for the outgoing data. The first output connector  191  is arranged to output the data to a data storage means such as a hard disk, a magnetic tape, a flash memory, or an optical disk. The second output connector  192  is arranged to output the data to a display device. The output connectors  191  and  192  receive the respective data via an output control unit  190 . 
         [0053]    A person skilled in the art will understand that there are many ways to connect input devices to the input connectors  181 ,  182  and  183  and output devices to the output connectors  191  and  192  of the system  100 . These ways comprise, but are not limited to, a wired and a wireless connection, a digital network such as, but not limited to, a Local Area Network (LAN) and a Wide Area Network (WAN), the Internet, a digital telephone network, and an analog telephone network. 
         [0054]    In an embodiment of the system  100 , the system  100  comprises a memory unit  170 . The system  100  is arranged to receive input data from external devices via any of the input connectors  181 ,  182 , and  183  and to store the received input data in the memory unit  170 . Loading the input data into the memory unit  170  allows quick access to relevant data portions by the units of the system  100 . The input data comprises, for example, the first and second image. The memory unit  170  may be implemented by devices such as, but not limited to, a register file of a CPU, a cache memory, a Random Access Memory (RAM) chip, a Read Only Memory (ROM) chip, and/or a hard disk drive and a hard disk. The memory unit  170  may be further arranged to store the output data. The output data comprises, for example, the conformity map, optionally overlayed on the first image. The memory unit  170  may be also arranged to receive data from and/or deliver data to the units of the system  100  comprising the field unit  110 , the metric unit  120 , the conformity unit  130 , the peak unit  140 , the update unit  150 , the control unit  160 , and the user interface  165 , via a memory bus  175 . The memory unit  170  is further arranged to make the output data available to external devices via any of the output connectors  191  and  192 . Storing data from the units of the system  100  in the memory unit  170  may advantageously improve performance of the units of the system  100  as well as the rate of transfer of the output data from the units of the system  100  to external devices. 
         [0055]    In an embodiment of the system  100 , the system  100  comprises a control unit  160  for controlling the system  100 . The control unit  160  may be arranged to receive control data from and provide control data to the units of the system  100 . For example, after computing the metric of a local volume change at a plurality of locations, the metric unit  120  may be arranged to provide control data “the local volume change is computed” to the control unit  160 , and the control unit  160  may be arranged to provide control data “compute conformity map” to the conformity unit  130 . Alternatively, a control function may be implemented in another unit of the system  100 . 
         [0056]    In an embodiment of the system  100 , the system  100  comprises a user interface  165  for communication between a user and the system  100 . The user interface  165  may be arranged to receive a user input for selecting the local property of the first or second image for use by the conformity unit  130  for computing the conformity measure at the plurality of locations. Next, the user interface may be adapted for displaying the conformity map, optionally overlaid on the first or second image. A person skilled in the art will understand that more functions may be advantageously implemented in the user interface  165  of the system  100 . 
         [0057]    The system of the invention will now be described with reference to validation of CT lung registration, based on the lung deformation vector field. The skilled person will understand that the invention may be useful also for validating other motions and/or that the acquisition methods are not limited to CT. The following embodiments illustrate the invention and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims. 
         [0058]    In an embodiment, the field unit  110  of the system  100  of the invention is arranged for computing the deformation vector field estimating the respiratory motion of lungs based on two CT scans, a first and second image, acquired at two phases of the respiratory motion. The DVF is computed using an elastic registration of the two CT scans. Said elastic registration transforms the first image onto the second image. Suitable elastic image registration schemes are described, for example in Modersitzki, J.: Numerical Methods for Image Registration. Oxford University Press, 2004. 
         [0059]    Next, the metric unit  120  is arranged for computing a metric of a local volume change at a plurality of locations, using the Jacobian metric, in the following manner. The local volume change in the lung is also known as the local lung ventilation. Let u denote the DVF mapping the first image onto the second image. For each voxel position x, the local volume change M 1 (x) is given by 
         [0000]        M   1 ( x )=det( J ( x+u ( x ))−1
 
         [0000]    where J denotes the Jacobian matrix and det denotes the determinant. 
         [0060]    Concurrently with, prior to, or subsequently to the Jacobian metric computation, the conformity unit  130  is arranged for computing a local property of the first or second image. This local property is an image-intensity-based metric, and more specifically, the so-called HU metric of a local volume change which is computed according to Guerrero, T., Sanders, K., Castillo, E., Zhang, Y., Bidaut, L., Pan, T., Komaki, R.: Dynamic ventilation imaging from four-dimensional computed tomography. Phys Med Biol  51 ( 4 ) ( 2006 ) 777-91, in the following manner. Again, let u denote the DVF mapping the first image onto the second image and let I 1 (x), I 2 (x) denote the intensity values in Hounsfield units of, respectively, the first and second image at a voxel position x. The HU metric M 2 (x) is defined as 
         [0000]        M   2 ( x )=1000*( I   2 ( x+u ( x ))− I   1 ( x ))/( I   1 ( x )* I   2 ( x+u ( x ))+1000).
 
         [0000]    M 2 (x) can be interpreted as the relative change in density of corresponding anatomical positions in the two images. Its numerator is identical to the residuum image. 
         [0061]    Depending on the chosen scanner protocol or other circumstances, the calibrating values for water and air may differ. For example, instead of the typical value of −1000 HU, the calibrating value of −1024 HU may be used for air. When the calibrating values are changed, the formula for M 2 (x) must be updated accordingly. 
         [0062]    After computing M 1 (x) and M 2 (x), the conformity unit  130  is arranged for computing the value of the conformity map C(x)=f(M 1 (x), M 2 (x)) at each position x in the first image space, wherein f is a suitable function of two real variables. In an embodiment the conformity map is the absolute difference of M 1 (x) and M 2 (x): C(x)=|M 1 (x)−M 2 (x)|. 
         [0063]    After computing the conformity map, the peak unit  140  is arranged for detecting local peaks x P  in the conformity map C. Optionally, the detected peak positions x P  or x P +u(x P ) are overlaid onto, respectively, the first image or the second image, and displayed to the physician. 
         [0064]      FIG. 2A  shows an exemplary first image showing a slice of a CT lung parenchyma phantom. The lung parenchyma phantom was compressed by 5 to 23%.  FIG. 2B  shows the Jacobian metric after the compression of the lung parenchyma phantom. In  FIG. 2B , bright areas indicate volume preservation while dark areas indicate local contraction or expansion. Local contraction and expansion can be differentiated using a color coding.  FIG. 2C  shows a conformity map computed on the basis of the first image showing the lung parynchema phantom ( FIG. 2A ) and the second image comprising the compressed lung parenchyma phantom (not shown). The conformity map shows a “hot spot”  20 , i.e. a local disturbance of the DVF. In  FIG. 2D , the conformity map including the hot spot  20  is overlaid onto the first image. 
         [0065]    In an embodiment of the system, the conformity map is computed based on the jacobian metric M 1 (x) of a local volume change and the intensities of the first image I 1 (x). To this end, for each voxel x a neighborhood N(x) is chosen. For each voxel yεN(x), the values M 1 (y) and I 1 (y) are obtained. The joint distribution of M 1 (y) and I 1 (y), represented graphically by a scatter plot of (I 1 (y), M 1 (y)), is modeled by a hyperbolic function M 1 (y)=1/(a+b*I 1 (y)), wherein a and b are parameters of the hyperbolic function. The correlation coefficient (i.e. the so-called r 2  value) is the value of the conformity map at x. 
         [0066]    The reason why the joint distribution of M 1 (y) and I 1 (y), represented graphically by a scatter plot of (I 1 (y), M 1 (y)), can be modeled by a hyperbolic function M 1 (y)=a/(1+b*I 1 (y)) is that the values of M 1 (y) and I 1 (y) appear inversely proportional: a low tissue density resulting from a lung region, comprising mainly alveoli, undergoes higher volume changes, i.e. shows higher deformability, especially compressibility, while a high tissue density resulting from a lung region, comprising principal parts of the bronchial tree and/or structures made of cartilage, undergoes limited volume changes, i.e. shows limited deformability, especially compressibility. 
         [0067]      FIG. 3  shows an exemplary scatter plot of (I 1 (y), M 1 (y)) computed in a neighborhood N(x) of a voxel x, based on the exemplary first image showing the slice of a CT lung parenchyma phantom ( FIG. 2A ) and a second image of the lung parenchyma phantom compressed by 5 to 23%. It can be seen that voxels with a low Hounsfield value are more deformable than voxels with a higher Hounsfield value. Note that a volume change of 0 corresponds to volume preservation and a volume change of −0.5, for example, corresponds to a volume contraction by a factor of 2. 
         [0068]    In an embodiment, the system  100  further comprises an update unit  150  for updating the deformation vector field, based on the computed conformity measure. If the conformity measure does not satisfy a condition, for example if the difference C(x)=|M 1 (x)−M 2 (x)| is greater than a threshold at some voxels x, the update unit  150  is arranged to detect this fact and to modify the DVF in order to minimize an objective function. The objective function may be, for example, a weighted sum of the maximum of a conformity measure C(x) and the maximum of the residuum image R(x)=I 2 (x+u(x))−I 1 (x). The skilled person will know many suitable minimization techniques which include, but are not limited to, gradient descent, conjugate gradient method, simplex method and simulated annealing. 
         [0069]    A person skilled in the art will appreciate that the system  100  may be a valuable tool for assisting a physician in many aspects of her/his job. Further, although the embodiments of the system are illustrated using medical applications of the system, non-medical applications of the system are also contemplated. 
         [0070]    Those skilled in the art will further understand that other embodiments of the system  100  are also possible. It is possible, among other things, to redefine the units of the system and to redistribute their functions. Although the described embodiments apply to medical images, other applications of the system, not related to medical applications, are also possible. 
         [0071]    The units of the system  100  may be implemented using a processor. Normally, their functions are performed under the control of a software program product. During execution, the software program product is normally loaded into a memory, like a RAM, and executed therefrom. The program may be loaded from a background memory, such as a ROM, hard disk, or magnetic and/or optical storage, or may be loaded via a network like the Internet. Optionally, an application-specific integrated circuit may provide the described functionality. 
         [0072]    An exemplary flowchart of the method M of validating motion estimation is schematically shown in  FIG. 4 . The method M begins with a field step S 10  for obtaining a deformation vector field estimating the motion by transforming a first image at a first phase of the motion into a second image at a second phase of the motion. After the field step S 10 , the method M continues to a metric step S 20  for computing a metric of a local volume change at a plurality of locations. After the metric step S 20 , the method M continues to a conformity step S 30  for computing a conformity measure, based on the computed metric of the local volume change at the plurality of locations and a local property of the first or second image defined at the plurality of locations. Optionally, after the conformity step S 30 , the method M continues to a peak step S 40  for detecting peaks in the conformity map. The detected peaks are displayed in a display step S 45 . After the conformity step S 30  or, optionally, after the conformity step S 40  and the display step S 45 , the method M terminates. 
         [0073]    A person skilled in the art may change the order of some steps or perform some steps concurrently using threading models, multi-processor systems or multiple processes without departing from the concept as intended by the present invention. Optionally, two or more steps of the method M may be combined into one step. 
         [0074]      FIG. 5  schematically shows an exemplary embodiment of the image acquisition apparatus  500  employing the system  100  of the invention, said image acquisition apparatus  500  comprising an image acquisition unit  510  connected via an internal connection with the system  100 , an input connector  501 , and an output connector  502 . This arrangement advantageously increases the capabilities of the image acquisition apparatus  500 , providing said image acquisition apparatus  500  with advantageous capabilities of the system  100 . 
         [0075]      FIG. 6  schematically shows an exemplary embodiment of the workstation  600 . The workstation comprises a system bus  601 . A processor  610 , a memory  620 , a disk input/output (I/O) adapter  630 , and a user interface (UI)  640  are operatively connected to the system bus  601 . A disk storage device  631  is operatively coupled to the disk I/O adapter  630 . A keyboard  641 , a mouse  642 , and a display  643  are operatively coupled to the UI  640 . The system  100  of the invention, implemented as a computer program, is stored in the disk storage device  631 . The workstation  600  is arranged to load the program and input data into memory  620  and execute the program on the processor  610 . The user can input information to the workstation  600 , using the keyboard  641  and/or the mouse  642 . The workstation is arranged to output information to the display device  643  and/or to the disk  631 . A person skilled in the art will understand that there are numerous other embodiments of the workstation  600  known in the art and that the present embodiment serves the purpose of illustrating the invention and must not be interpreted as limiting the invention to this particular embodiment. 
         [0076]    It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention and that those skilled in the art will be able to design alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. The word “comprising” does not exclude the presence of elements or steps not listed in a claim or in the description. The word “a” or “an” preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The invention can be implemented by means of hardware comprising several distinct elements and by means of a programmed computer. In the system claims enumerating several units, several of these units can be embodied by one and the same record of hardware or software. The usage of the words first, second, third, etc., does not indicate any ordering. These words are to be interpreted as names.