Patent Document ID: 20120323118
Application ID: 13525298
Patent Status: 0

Claim One:
1. A process for assisting a clinician in identification of perfusion characteristics of an organ comprising the steps of: a. Acquiring a perfusion sequence comprising a plurality of two-dimensional image slices and a time series for each of said two-dimensional image slices by using a radiology imaging modality for contrast-enhanced perfusion imaging of said organ, wherein said plurality of two-dimensional image slices comprises a three-dimensional volume image, b. Retrieving said perfusion sequence from said radiology imaging modality using a computing device, c. Applying in-plane motion correction using said computing device to align position of said organ using said time series for each of said image slices, d. Cropping a first region of interest of said contrast-enhanced perfusion images using said computing device, wherein said first region of interest comprises a first plurality of pixels or voxels representing said organ, e. Segmenting out at least one additional region of interest from said first region of interest by applying a standard algorithm, wherein said additional region of interest is within said first region of interest, f. Classifying said perfusion characteristics of said additional region of interest by characterizing a plurality of observed perfusion uptake curves for said additional region of interest by applying at least one physics-based image processing technique for producing at least one characteristic map of said perfusion characteristics using user-defined criteria or default criteria, wherein said characteristic map defines at-risk and normal perfusion areas, using said computing device, and g. Displaying at least one visual representation of said perfusion characteristics of said organ on a clinician device for review by said clinician to assist in spatial identification of perfusion abnormalities in said perfusion characteristics, wherein said visual representation is a two-dimensional visual representation or a three-dimensional visual representation.