Prostate Boundary Detection in Ultrasound Images

描述（由申请人提供）：本提案的目的是提高经直肠超声（TRUS）诊断和治疗前列腺疾病的有效性。TRUS图像中的前列腺边界提供了诊断、治疗计划和随访所需的解剖描述。我们建议的研究使计算机辅助前列腺描绘使用“刚刚足够的互动”与专家。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The goal of this proposal is to improve the effectiveness of transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) in diagnosing and treating prostate diseases. Prostate boundaries in TRUS images provide the anatomical description needed for diagnosis, for treatment planning, and for follow-up. Our proposed research enables computer aided prostate delineation using "just-enough interaction" with the expert. In phase I, we have embedded several segmentation algorithms within a software environment allowing interaction with the physicians. The variability in (semi-)automated prostate delineation compared to manual delineation was reduced by half. Also, the delineation time compared to manual outlining was reduced by a factor of 2. Based on the feedback from several companies and end-users, who have shown interest in our technology, we find that in the past year, emerging intraoperative clinical procedures and post-treatment monitoring techniques have necessitated further automation and generated the need for prostate specific multimodality image registration algorithms. In phase II, we aim to further reduce human interaction in prostate delineation without compromising on algorithm performance by developing and validating more advanced segmentation algorithms. We will automate post-implant monitoring by segmenting the prostate from post-implant TRUS images by developing advanced segmentation and registration algorithms. We will validate the algorithms on large clinical dataset. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS: Our technology is of great interest to vendors of prostate cancer treatment planning systems, be it in the area of prostate brachyltherapy or in prostate cryotherapy. The movement of radiation treatment planning systems to inter-operative settings make automated delineation technology even more valuable to these vendors. This technology is also of interest to manufacturers of ultrasound machines.