Ronald A Summers

US Patent:

6345112, Feb 5, 2002

Filed:

Jan 19, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/765826

Inventors:

Ronald M. Summers - Potomac MD
Scott Selbie - Rockville MD
James D. Malley - Rockville MD
Lynne M. Pusanik - Columbia MD

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services - Washington DC

International Classification:

G06K 900

US Classification:

382128

Abstract:

A region growing method segments three-dimensional image data of an anatomical structure using a tortuous path length limit to constrain voxel growth. The path length limit constrains the number of successive generations of voxel growth from a seed point to prevent leakage of voxels outside the boundary of the anatomical structure. Once segmented, a process for detecting surface anomalies performs a curvature analysis on a computer model of the surface of the structure. This process detects surface anomalies automatically by traversing the vertices in the surface model, computing partial derivatives of the surface at the vertices, and computing curvature characteristics from the partial derivatives. To identify possible anomalies, the process compares the curvature characteristics with predetermined curvature characteristics of anomalies and classifies the vertices. The process further refines potential anomalies by segmenting neighboring vertices that are classified as being part of an anomaly using curvature characteristics.

US Patent:

6556696, Apr 29, 2003

Filed:

Feb 5, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/072667

Inventors:

Ronald M. Summers - Potomac MD
Scott Selbie - Rockville MD
James D. Malley - Rockville MD
Lynne M. Pusanik - Columbia MD

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services - Washington DC

International Classification:

G06K 900

US Classification:

382128

Abstract:

A region growing method segments three-dimensional image data of an anatomical structure using a tortuous path length limit to constrain voxel growth. The path length limit constrains the number of successive generations of voxel growth from a seed point to prevent leakage of voxels outside the boundary of the anatomical structure. Once segmented, a process for detecting surface anomalies performs a curvature analysis on a computer model of the surface of the structure. This process detects surface anomalies automatically by traversing the vertices in the surface model, computing partial derivatives of the surface at the vertices, and computing curvature characteristics from the partial derivatives. To identify possible anomalies, the process compares the curvature characteristics with predetermined curvature characteristics of anomalies and classifies the vertices. The process further refines potential anomalies by segmenting neighboring vertices that are classified as being part of an anomaly using curvature characteristics.

US Patent:

7260250, Aug 21, 2007

Filed:

Sep 26, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/671749

Inventors:

Ronald M. Summers - Potomac MD, US
Marek Franaszek - Gaithersburg MD, US
Gheorghe Iordanescu - Rockville MD, US

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services - Washington DC

International Classification:

G06K 9/00

US Classification:

382128, 382286

Abstract:

Candidate anomalies in an anatomical structure are processed for classification. For example, false positives can be reduced by techniques related to the anomaly's neck, wall thickness associated with the anomaly, template matching performed for the anomaly, or some combination thereof. The various techniques can be combined for use in a classifier, which can determine whether the anomaly is of interest. For example, a computed tomography scan of a colon can be analyzed to determine whether a candidate anomaly is a polyp. The technologies can be applied to a variety of other scenarios involving other anatomical structures.

US Patent:

7440601, Oct 21, 2008

Filed:

Oct 8, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/961681

Inventors:

Ronald Summers - Potomac MD, US
Jianhua Yao - Columbia MD, US
C. Daniel Johnson - Rochester MD, US

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services - Washington DC
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research - Rochester MN

International Classification:

G06K 9/00

US Classification:

382128, 382131, 382132

Abstract:

Portions of a virtual colon can be analyzed to identify a normal structure, such as an ileocecal valve. Paradigmatic characteristics of ileocecal valves can be used to identify a digital representation as an ileocecal valve. Upon determination that a digital representation has the characteristics of an ileocecal valve, action can be taken. For example, the digital representation can be removed from a list of polyp candidates.

US Patent:

7454045, Nov 18, 2008

Filed:

Feb 13, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/779210

Inventors:

Jianhua Yao - Laurel MD, US
Ronald M. Summers - Potomac MD, US

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services - Washington DC

International Classification:

G06K 9/00

US Classification:

382128, 382130, 382131, 382132, 382154, 382224

Abstract:

A virtual anatomical structure can be analyzed to determine enclosing three-dimensional boundaries of features therein. Various techniques can be used to determine tissue types in the virtual anatomical structure. For example, tissue types can be determined via an iso-boundary between lumen and air in the virtual anatomical structure and a fuzzy clustering approach. Based on the tissue type determination, a deformable model approach can be used to determine an enclosing three-dimensional boundary of a feature in the virtual anatomical structure. The enclosing three-dimensional boundary can be used to determine characteristics of the feature and classify it as of interest or not of interest.

US Patent:

7570802, Aug 4, 2009

Filed:

Dec 18, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/500342

Inventors:

Gheorghe Iordanescu - Rockville MD, US
Ronald M. Summers - Potomac MD, US
Juan Raul Cebral - Vienna VA, US

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services - Washington DC

International Classification:

G06K 9/00

US Classification:

382154, 382128, 382130, 382131, 382133, 600407

Abstract:

A three dimensional image of the colon like surface is processed to determine at least its ring structure. The image is composed of vertex points, each vertex point having a discrete point identifier and three dimensional position information. The three dimensional position information is averaged in a shrinking procedure to contract the three dimensional image proximate to a major axis of the colon-like surface. Evenly spaced points are taken through the shrunken colon like surface and connected to form a curve. Planes are generated at intervals normal to the curve to split the shrunken colon like surface into image segments. By mapping these image segments back to the original image through their discrete point identifiers, an accurate ring profile of the colon like surface can be generated.

US Patent:

7570986, Aug 4, 2009

Filed:

May 17, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/436889

Inventors:

Hui-Yang Huang - Rockville MD, US
Dave A. Roy - Dallas TX, US
Ronald M. Summers - Potomac MD, US

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Health and Human Services - Washington DC

International Classification:

A61B 5/05

US Classification:

600425, 600407

Abstract:

A computer-assisted method for detecting surface features in a virtual colonoscopy. The method includes providing a three-dimensional construction of a computed tomography colonography surface; creating a path along the teniae coli from the proximal ascending colon to the distal descending colon on the colonography surface; forming an indexed computed tomography colonography surface using the created path; and registering the supine and prone scans of the computed tomography colonography surface using the indexed computed tomography colonography surface. The method also includes navigating the internal surface of the computed tomography colonography using the indexed computed tomography colonography surface.

US Patent:

7646904, Jan 12, 2010

Filed:

Jul 9, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/775011

Inventors:

Ronald M. Summers - Potomac MD, US
Marek Franaszek - Gaithersburg MD, US
Gheorghe Iordanescu - Rockville MD, US

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services - Washington DC

International Classification:

G06K 9/00

US Classification:

382128

Abstract:

Candidate anomalies in an anatomical structure are processed for classification. For example, false positives can be reduced by techniques related to the anomaly's neck, wall thickness associated with the anomaly, template matching performed for the anomaly, or some combination thereof. The various techniques can be combined for use in a classifier, which can determine whether the anomaly is of interest. For example, a computed tomography scan of a colon can be analyzed to determine whether a candidate anomaly is a polyp. The technologies can be applied to a variety of other scenarios involving other anatomical structures.