Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including a processor (20) configured to receive first and second sets of extraluminal images of a lumen, the second set being acquired while an endoluminal device is being moved through the lumen. The processor designates at least one of the first set of images as a roadmap image, and designates, within the lumen in the roadmap image, a roadmap pathway (42). A plurality of features (44, 46, 48, 50) that are visible within at least some of the second set of extraluminal images are identified, and an arrangement of three or more of the features within the image are compared to a shape of at least a portion of the roadmap pathway. Based upon the comparing, the identified features are mapped to locations along the roadmap pathway within the roadmap image. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including, while an endoluminal data-acquisition device is being moved through a subject's lumen, acquiring a plurality of endoluminal data points of the lumen using the endoluminal data-acquisition device. It is determined that respective endoluminal data points correspond to respective locations along the lumen. A display is driven to display at least some of the plurality of endoluminal data points in a stack. While a second endoluminal device is inside the lumen, a current location of at least a portion of the second endoluminal device with respect to the lumen is determined. In response thereto, an image of the second endoluminal device is displayed within the stack, at a location within the stack corresponding to the current location of the second endoluminal device. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for imaging a portion of a body of a subject that undergoes a motion cycle, including acquiring a plurality of image frames of the portion of the subject's body. A given feature is identified in at least some of the image frames. At least some image frames are image tracked with respect to the feature, and the image frames that have been image tracked with respect to the given feature are displayed as a stream of image frames. Visibility of a periphery of the displayed stream of image frames is at least partially reduced, by applying a mask to the displayed stream of image frames. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for imaging a portion of a body of a subject that undergoes a motion cycle. A plurality of image frames of the portion are acquired. The image frames are enhanced with respect to a first given feature of the image frames, by (a) image tracking the image frames with respect to the first given feature, (b) identifying a second given feature in each of the image frames, and (c) in response to the identifying, reducing visibility of the second given feature in the image frames. The image frames that (a) have been image tracked with respect to the first given feature, and (b) have had reduced therein the visibility of the second given feature, are displayed as a stream of image frames. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for imaging a portion of a body of a subject that undergoes a motion cycle, including acquiring a plurality of image frames of the portion of the subject's body. A given feature is identified in at least some of the image frames. At least some image frames are image tracked with respect to the feature, and the image frames that have been image tracked with respect to the given feature are displayed as a stream of image frames. Visibility of a periphery of the displayed stream of image frames is at least partially reduced, by applying a mask to the displayed stream of image frames. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for imaging a portion of a body of a subject that undergoes a motion cycle. A plurality of image frames of the portion are acquired. The image frames are enhanced with respect to a first given feature of the image frames, by (a) image tracking the image frames with respect to the first given feature, (b) identifying a second given feature in each of the image frames, and (c) in response to the identifying, reducing visibility of the second given feature in the image frames. The image frames that (a) have been image tracked with respect to the first given feature, and (b) have had reduced therein the visibility of the second given feature, are displayed as a stream of image frames. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method and system are presented for use in real-time insertion of visual effects in a video stream. At least one reference image is used that contains a region of interest, which is to be involved in the video stream. the reference image is processed by defining a set of at least a few reference features therein, and inserting the visual effects into the reference image with a desired orientation of the visual effects with respect to the region of interest in the reference image. Successive video frames are grabbed in a sequence of a few video frames, and at least one of video frames is used as at least one snapshot image. The snapshot image(s) is/are process by selecting therein at least two from the reference features and determining a reference transformation between the snapshot image and the reference image. Independently of this processing of the snapshot image, the snapshot image and other video frames are processed to determine a sequence of transformations between them.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for receiving into at least one processor at least one image of blood vessels of a subject. Using image processing, discontinuous lines that correspond to paths of at least a portion of the blood vessels in the image are automatically derived, the lines having end points at discontinuities in the lines. Continuous lines that correspond to the paths of the portion of the blood vessels in the image are automatically generated by bridging the discontinuities in the discontinuous lines. An output is generated by the processor, based on the continuous lines. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided, including displaying an image of one or more lumens of a subject. A processor includes lumen-identification functionality configured to automatically identify one or more lumens in the image. Envelope-designation functionality of the processor designates as lumen envelopes, portions of the image in vicinities of respective lumens. In response to the user designating a location inside a lumen envelope of a given lumen, via an input device, the location corresponding to a given longitudinal location within the given lumen, feature-generation functionality of the processor generates a feature on the image that corresponds to the given longitudinal location. An output is displayed in response to the generated feature. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for use with an image of blood vessels of a subject. In response to a user designating a single point on the image (a) a target portion of a blood vessel is automatically identified in the vicinity of the designated point, and (b) quantitative vessel analysis is performed on the target portion of the blood vessel. An output is generated based upon the quantitative vessel analysis. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for imaging a tool inside a portion of a subject's body that undergoes motion. A plurality of image frames of the portion are acquired. An image frame in which the tool is enhanced is generated by (a) identifying radiopaque markers in the image frames, (b) identifying edge lines in a vicinity of the markers within the image frames, the edge lines corresponding to contours of the tool, (c) in response to the identifying of the edge lines, selecting a subset of the image frames that are based upon the acquired image frames, based upon a level of similarity between the edge lines in the selected image frames to one another, (d) aligning the contours in a plurality of the selected image frames, and (e) averaging the plurality of aligned frames to generate an averaged image frame. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided, including displaying an image of one or more lumens of a subject. A processor includes lumen-identification functionality configured to automatically identify one or more lumens in the image. Envelope-designation functionality of the processor designates as lumen envelopes, portions of the image in vicinities of respective lumens. In response to the user designating a location inside a lumen envelope of a given lumen, via an input device, the location corresponding to a given longitudinal location within the given lumen, feature-generation functionality of the processor generates a feature on the image that corresponds to the given longitudinal location. An output is displayed in response to the generated feature. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for receiving into at least one processor at least one image of blood vessels of a subject. Using image processing, discontinuous lines that correspond to paths of at least a portion of the blood vessels in the image are automatically derived, the lines having end points at discontinuities in the lines. Continuous lines that correspond to the paths of the portion of the blood vessels in the image are automatically generated by bridging the discontinuities in the discontinuous lines. An output is generated by the processor, based on the continuous lines. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for use with a tool that is inserted into a portion of a body of a subject that undergoes cyclic motion. A plurality of native images of the tool inside the portion of the body are acquired, at respective phases of the cyclic motion. The native images are stabilized with respect to a feature of the portion of the body. In response to stabilizing the native images, an output is generated that is indicative of an extent of movement of the tool with respect to the portion of the body. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including generating a road map of a blood vessel. Subsequent to the generation of the road map, a tool is inserted into the blood vessel. While the tool is inside the blood vessel, the position of the tool is determined. The road map is modified to account for the determined position of the tool. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for imaging a portion of a body of a subject that undergoes motion. A plurality of image frames of the portion are acquired. A stream of image frames is generated in which a vicinity of a given feature of the image frames is enhanced, by (a) automatically identifying the given feature in each of the image frames, (b) aligning the given feature in two or more of the image frames, (c) averaging sets of two or more of the aligned frames to generate a plurality of averaged image frames, and (d) displaying as a stream of image frames the plurality of averaged image frames. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for imaging a portion of a body of a subject that undergoes a motion cycle. A plurality of image frames of the portion are acquired. The image frames are enhanced with respect to a first given feature of the image frames, by (a) image tracking the image frames with respect to the first given feature, (b) identifying a second given feature in each of the image frames, and (c) in response to the identifying, reducing visibility of the second given feature in the image frames. The image frames that (a) have been image tracked with respect to the first given feature, and (b) have had reduced therein the visibility of the second given feature, are displayed as a stream of image frames. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including inserting a tool into a blood vessel, and, while the tool is within the blood vessel, acquiring an extraluminal image of the blood vessel. In the extraluminal image of the blood vessel, a location of a portion of the tool with respect to the blood vessel is detected automatically. In response to detecting the location of the portion of the tool, a target portion of the blood vessel that is in a vicinity of the portion of the tool is designated automatically. Using the extraluminal image, quantitative vessel analysis is performed on the target portion of the blood vessel. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for imaging a tool inside a portion of a subject's body that undergoes motion. A plurality of image frames are acquired of the portion of the subject's body. The image frames are image tracked by (a) automatically identifying at least a feature of the tool in at least a portion of the image frames, and (b) aligning the tool in image frames of the portion of the image frames, based on the automatic identifying. The image-tracked image frames of the portion of the subject's body are displayed as an image stream. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for receiving into at least one processor a set of images of blood vessels of a subject. A road map of the subject's blood vessels is generated, by automatically (a) deriving at least one image from the set of images of the blood vessels, based upon visibility of at least a portion of the blood vessels in the set of images, and (b) in the derived image, determining a location of edge lines of at least some of the portion of the blood vessels in the image. An output is generated by the processor, based on the road map. Other embodiments are also described.