US Patent 11321844 Systems and methods for deep-learning-based segmentation of composite images

Presented herein are systems and methods that provide for improved 3D segmentation of nuclear medicine images using an artificial intelligence-based deep learning approach. For example, in certain embodiments, the machine learning module receives both an anatomical image (e.g., a CT image) and a functional image (e.g., a PET or SPECT image) as input, and generates, as output, a segmentation mask that identifies one or more particular target tissue regions of interest. The two images are interpreted by the machine learning module as separate channels representative of the same volume. Following segmentation, additional analysis can be performed (e.g., hotspot detection/risk assessment within the identified region of interest).