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EP-4740864-A1 - PROVIDING GUIDANCE FOR ACQUIIRING A MEDICAL IMAGE

EP4740864A1EP 4740864 A1EP4740864 A1EP 4740864A1EP-4740864-A1

Abstract

A computer-implemented method of providing guidance for acquiring a medical image, is provided. The method includes: receiving camera image data representing an anatomical region (120) within a field of view of a medical imaging system; analysing the camera image data to determine a presence, or an absence, of an anatomical orientation marker (150) within the field of view of the medical imaging system; and outputting guidance for acquiring a medical image of the anatomical region (120) using the medical imaging system. The guidance is generated based on the presence, or the absence, of the anatomical orientation marker (150).

Inventors

  • BYSTROV, DANIEL
  • KROENKE-HILLE, Sven
  • MENSER, BERND
  • VON BERG, JENS
  • SENEGAS, Julien Thomas

Assignees

  • Koninklijke Philips N.V.

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20241107

Claims (15)

  1. A computer-implemented method of providing guidance for acquiring a medical image, the method comprising: - receiving (S110) camera image data (110) representing an anatomical region (120) within a field of view (130) of a medical imaging system (140); - analysing (S120) the camera image data (110) to determine a presence, or an absence, of an anatomical orientation marker (150, 150') within the field of view (130) of the medical imaging system (140); and - outputting (S130) guidance (160) for acquiring a medical image (170) of the anatomical region (120) using the medical imaging system (140), wherein the guidance (160) is generated based on the presence, or the absence, of the anatomical orientation marker (150, 150').
  2. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises: - receiving marker requirement information (180) representing one or more requirements of the anatomical orientation marker (150, 150'); and - wherein the guidance (160) is generated based further on the one or more requirements of the anatomical orientation marker (150, 150').
  3. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more requirements include one or more of: - a need to include the anatomical orientation marker (150, 150') in the medical image (170); - an expected position of the anatomical orientation marker (150, 150') with respect to the anatomical region (120); and - an expected type of the anatomical orientation marker (150, 150').
  4. The computer-implemented method according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the guidance (160) is generated based on the presence of the anatomical orientation marker (150, 150'); and wherein the outputting (S130) guidance comprises one or more of: - outputting an indication of a presence of the anatomical orientation marker (150, 150'); - outputting an indication of a suitability of a position of the anatomical orientation marker (150, 150') with respect to the anatomical region (120); - outputting an indication of a recommended position of the anatomical orientation marker (150, 150') with respect to the anatomical region (120); and - outputting an indication of a suitability of a type of the anatomical orientation marker (150, 150') for the anatomical region (120).
  5. The computer-implemented method according to any one of claims 1 - 4, wherein the analysing (S120) the camera image data (110) further comprises determining, from the camera image data, a type and/or a current orientation of the anatomical region (120) within the field of view (130) of the medical imaging system (140); and wherein the guidance (160) is generated based on the type and/or the current orientation of the anatomical region (120).
  6. The computer-implemented method according to claim 5, wherein the analysing (S120) the camera image data (110) comprises determining a current orientation of the anatomical region (120) within the field of view (130) of the medical imaging system (140); and wherein the outputting (S130) guidance further comprises outputting, based on a comparison between the current orientation of the anatomical region (120) and a reference orientation of the anatomical region (120), an indication of a suitability of the current orientation and/ or an indication of one or more adjustments to the current orientation for obtaining the reference orientation.
  7. The computer-implemented method according to claim 6, wherein the method further comprises receiving orientation requirement information (190) representing the reference orientation of the anatomical region (110).
  8. The computer-implemented method according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the guidance (160) is generated based on the absence of the anatomical orientation marker (150, 150'), and wherein the outputting (S130) guidance comprises one or more of: - outputting an indication of an absence of the anatomical orientation marker (150, 150'); - outputting an indication of a recommendation to include an anatomical orientation marker (150, 150') in the medical image (170); - outputting an indication of a recommendation not to include an anatomical orientation marker (150, 150') in the medical image (170); - outputting an indication of a recommended position of an anatomical orientation marker (150, 150') in the medical image (170); and - outputting a prompt requesting user confirmation to include a virtual anatomical orientation marker in a proposed position in the medical image.
  9. The computer-implemented method according to any previous claim, wherein the analysing (S120) the camera image data (110) comprises detecting the anatomical orientation marker (150, 150') and/or an orientation of the anatomical region (120), using an object detection algorithm.
  10. The computer-implemented method according to any previous claim, wherein the analysing (S120) the camera image data (110) comprises inputting the camera image data (110) into a machine learning algorithm and generating the guidance (160) using the machine learning algorithm in response to the inputting; wherein the machine learning algorithm is trained to generate the guidance (160) using training data comprising a plurality of instances of camera image data, each instance of camera image data representing an anatomical region within a field of view of a medical imaging system; and wherein the training data further comprises for each instance of camera image data, corresponding guidance for acquiring a medical image of the anatomical region using the medical imaging system, the corresponding guidance being determined based on the presence, or the absence, of an anatomical orientation marker within the field of view of the medical imaging system.
  11. The computer-implemented method according to any previous claim, wherein the medical image (170) is an X-ray image.
  12. The computer-implemented method according to any previous claim, wherein the camera image data (110) is acquired by a camera (210) having a field of view (220) overlapping the field of view (130) of the medical imaging system (140).
  13. The computer-implemented method according to any previous claim, wherein the anatomical orientation marker (150, 150') is an X-ray anatomical side marker.
  14. A computer program product comprising instructions which when executed by one or more processors (230), cause the one or more processors to carry out the method according to any one of claims 1-13.
  15. A system (200) for providing guidance for acquiring a medical image, the system comprising one or more processors (230) configured to: - receive (S110) camera image data (110) representing an anatomical region (120) within a field of view (130) of a medical imaging system (140); - analyse (S120) the camera image data (110) to determine a presence, or an absence, of an anatomical orientation marker (150, 150') within the field of view (130) of the medical imaging system (140); and - output (S130) guidance (160) for acquiring a medical image (170) of the anatomical region (120) using the medical imaging system (140), wherein the guidance (160) is generated based on the presence, or the absence, of the anatomical orientation marker (150, 150').

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present disclosure relates to providing guidance for acquiring a medical image. A computer-implemented method, a computer program product, and a system, are disclosed. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Prior to medical image acquisition, anatomical orientation markers are typically placed within the field of view of the medical imaging system in order to indicate the orientation of an anatomical region that will be captured in the subsequently-acquired medical image. For instance, prior to X-ray image acquisition, so-called anatomical side markers "ASMs", also known as X-ray lead markers, or simply as lead markers, are typically placed on the X-ray detector, or on the patient table, beside an anatomical region. The markers are placed by a radiographer, and they indicate the orientation of the anatomical region that will be captured in the subsequently-acquired X-ray image. The markers may indicate the anatomical side of a subject (e.g. left versus right). The markers may indicate the pose of the anatomical region relative to the X-ray imaging system (e.g. anterior - posterior "AP" versus posterior - anterior "PA"). The markers are formed from a radiopaque material such as lead, and consequently provide distinct features in the X-ray image. The markers provide confirmation of the anatomical origin of the X-ray image to a reviewing radiologist that reviews the image. However, it can happen that a medical practitioner accidently mis-places, or simply forgets to place, an anatomical orientation marker. For instance, in some cases, a radiographer may accidentally mix-up a left anatomical side marker with a right anatomical side marker. In other cases, the radiographer may simply forget to place an anatomical side marker. This presents challenges during the subsequent workflow. In some situations, a mistake might be noticed by the radiographer whilst the subject is still in the imaging room. In such situations, the mistake can be rectified by including the correct marker, or by replacing the marker with the correct marker, and then acquiring a further X-ray image. This, however, exposes the subject to unnecessary additional X-ray dose. In other situations, a mistake might only be noticed after the subject has left the imaging room. In such situations, the mistake can confuse the radiologist that reviews the X-ray image, resulting in the need to recall the subject to the imaging room in order to acquire a further X-ray image. This, likewise, exposes the subject to unnecessary additional X-ray dose and also creates an unnecessary delay in workflow. Consequently, there is a need for improvements in the acquisition of medical images when anatomical orientation markers are used. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a computer-implemented method of providing guidance for acquiring a medical image, is provided. The method includes: receiving camera image data representing an anatomical region within a field of view of a medical imaging system;analysing the camera image data to determine a presence, or an absence, of an anatomical orientation marker within the field of view of the medical imaging system; andoutputting guidance for acquiring a medical image of the anatomical region using the medical imaging system, wherein the guidance is generated based on the presence, or the absence, of the anatomical orientation marker. In the above method, camera image data is analysed in order to determine a presence, or an absence, of an anatomical orientation marker within the field of view of the medical imaging system. Guidance is then based on the presence, or the absence, of the anatomical orientation marker. The guidance may relate to the presence, or to the absence, or to the suitability of a position, or to a recommended position, or to a suitability of a type, of the anatomical orientation marker, for example. The guidance helps to avoid mistakes relating to the placement of anatomical orientation markers. Since the guidance is generated by analysing camera image data, the guidance may be provided prior to the acquisition of a medical image, and thereby avoid mistakes in a subsequently-acquired medical image that might otherwise confuse a physician that reviews the medical image, or result in the need to recall the subject to the imaging room in order to acquire a further medical image. In some embodiments, the method comprises receiving marker requirement information representing one or more requirements of the anatomical orientation marker. The guidance is generated based further on the one or more requirements of the anatomical orientation marker. Examples of such requirements include: a need to include the anatomical orientation marker in the medical image; an expected position of the anatomical orientation marker with respect to the anatomical region; and an expected type of the anatomical orientation marker. Generating the guidance based on the one or more r