Abstract: The invention relates to a labeling apparatus (1) for labeling structures of an object shown in an object image. A probability map providing unit (3) provides a probability map, the probability map indicating for different labels, which are indicative of different structures of the object, and for different positions in the probability map the probability that the respective structure, which is indicated by the respective label, is present at the respective position, wherein the probability depends on the position in the probability map. The probability map is mapped to the object image by a mapping unit (4), wherein a label assigning unit (5) assigns to a provided contour, which represents a structure in the object image, a label based on the mapped probability map. This allows automatically labeling structures of the object, which are indicated by provided contours in the object image, with relatively low computational efforts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for segmenting an image of a subject (36), comprising a data interface for receiving an image of said subject (36), said image depicting a structure of said subject (36), a translation unit for translating a user-initiated motion of an image positioner means into a first contour (38) surrounding said structure, a motion parameter registering unit for registering a motion parameter of said user-initiated motion to said first contour (38), said motion parameter comprising a speed and/or an acceleration of said image positioner means, an image control point unit for distributing a plurality of image control points (40) on said first contour with a density decreasing with said motion parameter, and a segmentation unit for segmenting said image by determining a second contour (44) within said first contour based on said plurality of image control points (40), said segmentation unit being configured to use one or more segmentation functions.

Abstract: The application discloses a method for estimating a pseudo CT Hounsfield Unit value for a volume element within a subject from a plurality of magnetic resonance images having different contrasts. The method comprising the steps of: determination of a relative prevalence of a first tissue class and second tissue class within the volume element from a first magnetic resonance image and second magnetic resonance image respectively. Then a relative prevalence of a third tissue class is determined within the volume element based on substraction of a relative prevalence of the first and/or second tissue class from a total tissue prevalence. A reference Hounsfield Unit value is provided for the first, second and third tissue class. Finally, a pseudo Housfield value is estimated for the volume element by determining a weighted sum of the first, second and third reference Hounsfield unit value, with weight factors which are based on the determined relative prevalences of the first, second and third tissue class.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for use in the concurrent display of medical images from different imaging modalities. A system and a computer program product for use in relation to the method are also disclosed. In the method, a primary image and a secondary image from a different imaging modality are fused. In the fused image, a first pixel group from the primary image having primary image data values within a first range are mapped to grayscale image values. A second pixel group from the primary image having primary image data values within at least a second range are identified, and the secondary image data values of corresponding pixels in the secondary image are mapped to color image values in the fused image.

Abstract: A tracking system for a target anatomy of a patient can include a medical device having a body (281) having a distal end (290) and at least one channel (292) formed therein, where the body is adapted for insertion through an anatomy (105) to reach a target area (430); an accelerometer (185) connected to the body and positioned in proximity to the distal end; an imaging device (295) operably coupled with the body; and a light source (297) operably coupled with the body, where the accelerometer is in communication with a remote processor (120) for transmitting acceleration data thereto, where the imaging device is in communication with the remote processor for transmitting real-time images thereto, and where an orientation of the medical device and calibration of direction with respect to the anatomy is determined by the processor based on the acceleration data.

Abstract: A therapy planner (16) is configured to construct a therapy plan based on a planning image segmented into segments delineating features of a subject. A predictive plan adaptation module (20) is configured to adjust the segments to represent a foreseeable change in the subject and to invoke the therapy planner to construct a therapy plan corresponding to the foreseeable change. A data storage (18) stores a plurality of therapy plans generated for a subject by the therapy planner and the predictive plan adaptation module based on at least one planning image of the subject. A therapy plan selector (30) is configured to select one of the plurality of therapy plans for use in a therapy session based on a preparatory image acquired preparatory to the therapy session.

Abstract: The invention relates to an image display apparatus for displaying an image like a three-dimensional medical image of an object. A template providing unit (3) provides a template defining display parameters for displaying the image based on anatomical features of the object, and an anatomical feature detecting unit (4) detects an anatomical feature in the image. A display parameter determining unit (5) determines a display parameter defining, for example, a desired view, based on the detected anatomical feature and the template, and a display unit (8) displays the image by displaying, for example, the desired view, in accordance with the determined display parameter. This allows the image display apparatus to show the image on the display in a desired usual way as defined by the template, even if in the originally provided image the object is shown in an unusual way.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining a single training image from a set of training images in a data repository. The method further includes generating an initial tissue class atlas based on the obtained single training image. The initial tissue class atlas includes two or more different tissue class images corresponding to two or more different tissue classes. The method further includes registering the remaining training images of the set of training images to the initial tissue class atlas. The method further includes generating a quality metric for each of the registered images. The method further includes evaluating the quality metric of each of the registered image with a predetermined evaluation criterion. The method further includes identifying a sub-set of images from the set of training images that satisfy the evaluation criterion. The method further includes generating a subsequent tissue class atlas based on the identified sub-set of the set of training images.

Abstract: The invention relates to a support apparatus (1) for supporting a user in a diagnosis process, especially for assisting a physician in staging prostate cancer. A segmentation unit (3) determines three-dimensional segments of an anatomical object like a prostate based on a three-dimensional image being preferentially a magnetic resonance image, wherein the segments comprise anatomical segment boundaries and non-anatomical segment boundaries. A visualization generating unit (4) generates a visualization of the segments in the image, a graphical user interface providing unit (5) provides a graphical user interface allowing the user to assign scores to the determined three-dimensional segments, and a display (9) displays the visualization and the graphical user interface. Thus, an automatic delineation of segments may be provided to which a user like a physician can assign scores, wherein based on the scores assigned to the segments a diagnosis can be performed, in particular, prostate cancer can be staged.

Abstract: An apparatus and user interface (155) for aiding in navigating and modifying delineations (117a-c) in or associated with 2D sub-volumes (110a-c) of a 3D or higher dimensional image dataset (100). States and position of the sub-volumes visualized. Both, states and position can be changed by using the functionalities of the user interface generated (155) by said apparatus. The apparatus can be used in medical image post-processing system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for use in the concurrent display of medical images from different imaging modalities. A system and a computer program product for use in relation to the method are also disclosed. In the method, a primary image and a secondary image from a different imaging modality are fused. In the fused image, a first pixel group from the primary image having primary image data values within a first range are mapped to grayscale image values. A second pixel group from the primary image having primary image data values within at least a second range are identified, and the secondary image data values of corresponding pixels in the secondary image are mapped to color image values in the fused image.

Abstract: The invention provides for a medical apparatus (300, 400, 500) comprising: a magnetic resonance imaging system (302) for acquiring magnetic resonance data (342) from an imaging zone (308); a processor (330) for controlling the medical apparatus; a memory (336) storing machine executable instructions (350, 352, 354, 356). Execution of the instructions causes the processor to: acquire (100, 200) the magnetic resonance data using a pulse sequence (340) which specifies an echo time greater than 400 ??; reconstruct (102, 202) a magnetic resonance image using the magnetic resonance data; generate (104, 204) a thresholded image (346) by thresholding the magnetic resonance image to emphasize bone structures and suppressing tissue structures in the magnetic resonance image; and generate (106, 206) a bone-enhanced image by applying a background removal algorithm to the thresholded image.

Abstract: A therapy planner is configured to construct a therapy plan based on a planning image segmented into segments delineating features of a subject. A predictive plan adaptation module is configured to adjust the segments to represent a foreseeable change in the subject and to invoke the therapy planner to construct a therapy plan corresponding to the foreseeable change. A data storage stores a plurality of therapy plans generated for a subject by the therapy planner and the predictive plan adaptation module based on at least one planning image of the subject. A therapy plan selector is configured to select one of the plurality of therapy plans for use in a therapy session based on a preparatory image acquired preparatory to the therapy session.

Abstract: The invention relates to a labeling apparatus (1) for labeling structures of an object shown in an object image. A probability map providing unit (3) provides a probability map, the probability map indicating for different labels, which are indicative of different structures of the object, and for different positions in the probability map the probability that the respective structure, which is indicated by the respective label, is present at the respective position, wherein the probability depends on the position in the probability map. The probability map is mapped to the object image by a mapping unit (4), wherein a label assigning unit (5) assigns to a provided contour, which represents a structure in the object image, a label based on the mapped probability map. This allows automatically labeling structures of the object, which are indicated by provided contours in the object image, with relatively low computational efforts.

Abstract: A system and method for automatic contrast enhancement for contouring. The system and method including displaying a volumetric image slice to be analyzed, receiving a delineation of a target anatomic structure in the volumetric image slice, identifying a region of interest based upon an area being delineated in the volumetric image slice, analyzing voxel intensity values in the region of interest and determining an appropriate window-level setting based on the voxel intensity values.

Abstract: A system for planning radiation treatment therapy is provided. An optical sensor device is implanted within or in close proximity to a risk region within the patient during a radiation delivery. The sensor device optically monitors the orientation of the risk region, and the radiation dosage received by the risk region, during the radiation delivery. That information may be used as appropriate to modify an on-going radiation delivery plan in real time while the plan is being implemented.

Abstract: A perfusion analysis system includes a perfusion modeller and a user interface. The perfusion modeller generates a patient specific perfusion model based on medical imaging perfusion data for the patient, a general perfusion model, and a quantification of one or more identified pathologies of the patient that affect perfusion in the patient. The user interface accepts an input indicative of a modification to the quantification of the one or more identified pathologies. In response, the perfusion modeller updates the patient specific perfusion model based on the medical imaging perfusion data for the patient, the general perfusion model, and the quantification of the one or more identified pathologies of the patient, including the modification thereto.

Abstract: An apparatus and user interface (155) for aiding in navigating and modifying delineations (117a-c) in or associated with 2D sub-volumes (110a-c) of a 3D or higher dimensional image dataset (100). States and position of the sub-volumes visualized. Both, states and position can be changed by using the functionalities of the user interface generated (155) by said apparatus. The apparatus can be used in medical image post-processing system.

Abstract: When modeling anatomical structures in a patient for diagnosis or therapeutic planning, an atlas (26) of segmented co-registered CT and MRI anatomical structure reference images can be accessed, and an image of one or more such structures can be selected and overlaid with an MRI image of corresponding structure(s) in a clinical image of a patient. A user can click and drag landmarks or segment edges on the reference MRI image to deform the reference MRI image to align with the patient MRI image. Registration of a landmark in the patient MRI image to the reference MRI image also registers the patient MRI image landmark with a corresponding landmark in the co-registered reference CT image, and electron density information from the reference CT image landmark is automatically attributed to the corresponding registered patient MRI landmark.

Abstract: The invention relates to an image display apparatus for displaying an image like a three-dimensional medical image of an object. A template providing unit (3) provides a template defining display parameters for displaying the image based on anatomical features of the object, and an anatomical feature detecting unit (4) detects an anatomical feature in the image. A display parameter determining unit (5) determines a display parameter defining, for example, a desired view, based on the detected anatomical feature and the template, and a display unit (8) displays the image by displaying, for example, the desired view, in accordance with the determined display parameter. This allows the image display apparatus to show the image on the display in a desired usual way as defined by the template, even if in the originally provided image the object is shown in an unusual way.