Abstract: The system and method provide an automatic aligned and co-oriented display of a 3D anatomical model adjacent to one or more 2D MPR views of a 3D echocardiographic image dataset. The 3D model is presented in alignment with the displayed 3D and 2D images to provide an indication of the orientation of each of the 3D volume and 2D planar views with respect to the 3D model and to one another. The 3D model can include labels or information regarding an anatomical feature(s) of interest to enable the user to readily visualize the disposition of the 2D planar view relative to the anatomical feature(s) in the 3D model. While interacting with the 2D views or 3D model, the 2D views and 3D anatomical model will change orientation simultaneously, with the representation of the 2D plane in the 3D model moving in correspondence with the 2D image.

Abstract: The system and method employ anatomical information provided via a detailed anatomical 3D model to generate 2D view bookmarks or short-cuts defined with reward to the 3D model. These short-cuts utilize the information provided by the 3D model to determine the optimal positions for acquisition of 2D images of particular desired views or structures based on the structure of the 3D anatomical model. Because the short-cuts are based on the structure of the 3D model, when the model is registered to a 3D volume generated from the 3D echocardiographic dataset for any patient, the short-cuts are directly applicable to obtaining 3D/2D images generated from the 3D dataset. In addition, the 3D model assists the user with regard to the navigation of the 3D dataset using the 3D volume and/or 2D planar views by providing known anatomical reference(s) in the 3D model correlating to the reference(s) in the displayed views.

Abstract: Systems and methods generally relate to identifying ultrasound images from multiple ultrasound exams. The systems and methods identify a first ultrasound image feature of a current ultrasound image of an anatomical structure during a current ultrasound exam based on ultrasound data received from an ultrasound probe, and accessing a plurality of prior ultrasound images that were acquired during a prior ultrasound exam. The systems and methods compare the first ultrasound image feature in the current ultrasound image with related ultrasound image features in the plurality of prior ultrasound images to identify candidate ultrasound images. The systems and methods identify a resultant ultrasound image from the candidate ultrasound images based on the related ultrasound image features, and display the current and resultant ultrasound images on a display.

Abstract: A medical imaging workstation and a method for visualizing overlapping images includes accessing a first image data set and a second image data set. The workstation and method includes displaying a first image on a display device, where the first image includes at least a portion of the first image data set and includes a structure. The workstation and method includes displaying a second image on the display device at the same time as the first image, where the second image includes at least a portion of the second image data and includes the structure, and where at least a portion of the second image overlaps the first image. The workstation and method includes automatically cyclically varying an opacity of the at least the portion of the second image that overlaps the first image.

Abstract: A medical imaging workstation and a method for visualizing overlapping images includes accessing a first image data set and a second image data set. The workstation and method includes displaying a first image on a display device, where the first image includes at least a portion of the first image data set and includes a structure. The workstation and method includes displaying a second image on the display device at the same time as the first image, where the second image includes at least a portion of the second image data and includes the structure, and where at least a portion of the second image overlaps the first image. The workstation and method includes automatically cyclically varying an opacity of the at least the portion of the second image that overlaps the first image.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for visualizing intersection information on ultrasound images. In one embodiment, a method comprises rendering a three-dimensional (3D) image and at least one two-dimensional (2D) image from a 3D dataset, generating a 3D model of at least a subset of the 3D dataset, identifying intersections between the 3D image, the at least one 2D image, and the 3D model, and displaying the 3D model and the intersections on the 3D model. In this way, a user may easily visualize how the 2D slice planes are positioned with respect to the volume rendering.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a visualization of a multi-modal medical image for diagnostic medical imaging. The systems and methods receive first and second image data sets of an anatomical structure of interest, register the first and second image data sets to a geometrical model of the anatomical structure of interest to form a registered image. The geometrical model includes a location of an anatomical marker. The systems and methods further display the registered image.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is described by which a first sequence of ultrasound images of an organ such as the heart is acquired at a first image acquisition rate. The first sequence preferably images a larger volume or area in which a region of interest is located. Then a second sequence of three-dimensional ultrasound images of a sub-volume covering a part of anatomy of interest in the first sequence is acquired at a second image acquisition rate which is greater than the first acquisition rate. A third sequence of three-dimensional ultrasound images of a reference sub-volume is acquired at the second image rate. The second and third sequences of three-dimensional images are compared, enabling a clinician to focus on synchronism defects in the anatomy of interest with more precision and with a faster acquisition time.

Abstract: The systems and methods described herein generally relate to reviewing ultrasound images between different ultrasound exams. The systems and methods acquire a plurality of ultrasound images of an anatomical structure during a first ultrasound exam based on ultrasound data received from an ultrasound probe, analyze the ultrasound images to identify an anatomical characteristic in the ultrasound images, group the ultrasound images into groups based on the anatomical characteristics, and display at least one group of the ultrasound image on a graphical user interface (GUI).

Abstract: The systems and methods described herein generally relate to identifying ultrasound images from multiple ultrasound exams. The systems and methods identify a first ultrasound image feature of a current ultrasound image of an anatomical structure during a current ultrasound exam based on ultrasound data received from an ultrasound probe, and accessing a plurality of prior ultrasound images that were acquired during a prior ultrasound exam. The systems and methods compare the first ultrasound image feature in the current ultrasound image with related ultrasound image features in the plurality of prior ultrasound images to identify candidate ultrasound images. The systems and methods identify a resultant ultrasound image from the candidate ultrasound images based on the related ultrasound image features, and display the current and resultant ultrasound images on a display.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for visualizing intersection information on ultrasound images. In one embodiment, a method comprises rendering a three-dimensional (3D) image and at least one two-dimensional (2D) image from a 3D dataset, generating a 3D model of at least a subset of the 3D dataset, identifying intersections between the 3D image, the at least one 2D image, and the 3D model, and displaying the 3D model and the intersections on the 3D model. In this way, a user may easily visualize how the 2D slice planes are positioned with respect to the volume rendering.

Abstract: Systems and methods described herein generally relate to acquiring medical images for a protocol of an ultrasound exam. The systems and methods select a protocol of an ultrasound exam. The protocol includes a plurality of protocol defined fields of view (FOVs) of an anatomical structure of interest. The system and methods generate a medical image of the anatomical structure of interest based on ultrasound data acquired from an ultrasound probe, and identify a candidate FOV associated with the anatomical structure of interest based on anatomical markers of the medical image. The systems and methods also indicate on a graphical user interface (GUI) that the candidate FOV is acquired such that a select characteristic of a first user interface component of the GUI representing the candidate FOV is adjusted while the remaining user interface components representing the plurality of protocol defined FOVs do not include the select characteristic.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a visualization of a multi-modal medical image for diagnostic medical imaging. The systems and methods receive first and second image data sets of an anatomical structure of interest, register the first and second image data sets to a geometrical model of the anatomical structure of interest to form a registered image. The geometrical model includes a location of an anatomical marker. The systems and methods further display the registered image.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for multi-modality imaging. In one embodiment, a method comprises: during an ultrasound scan of a patient, co-aligning an ultrasound image received during the ultrasound scan with a three-dimensional (3D) image of the patient acquired with an imaging modality prior to the ultrasound scan; calculating an angle for an x-ray source based on position information in the 3D image to align the x-ray source with the ultrasound image; and adjusting a position of the x-ray source based on the calculated angle. In this way, the same internal views of a patient may be obtained with multiple modalities during an intervention with minimal user input.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for multi-modality imaging. In one embodiment, a method comprises: receiving planning annotations of a pre-operative three-dimensional (3D) image of a subject; during an ultrasound scan of the subject, registering an ultrasound image with the 3D image; overlaying the planning annotations on the ultrasound image; and displaying the ultrasound image with the overlaid planning annotations. In this way, pre-operative planning by a physician can be readily used during intervention.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system and an ultrasound-based method for guiding a catheter during an interventional procedure include acquiring 3D ultrasound data, identifying a reference location, displaying an ultrasound image based on the 3D ultrasound data, and displaying a guideline superimposed on the ultrasound image, where the guideline represents the intended insertion path for the catheter with respect to the reference location.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system and method includes acquiring data including a first plane and a second plane. The system and method includes adjusting a first orientation of the first plane and automatically adjusting a second orientation of the second plane in order to maintain a fixed relationship between the second plane and the first plane.

Abstract: Systems and methods for ultrasound image rendering are provided. One system includes a user interface having a display configured to display ultrasound images for a volume data set and a content detection module configured to detect an object within the volume data set. The system also includes an image-processing module configured to receive ultrasound signals from a diagnostic probe and process the signals to generate the ultrasound images. The image-processing module is further configured to locally change an opacity function of the displayed ultrasound image based on the detected object to change an opacity of a subset of voxels in the volume data set.

Abstract: A system and a method of medical imaging includes registering an ultrasound image to a non-ultrasound image according to a first transformation. The system and method includes registering the non-ultrasound image to the x-ray image according to a second transformation. The system and method includes registering the ultrasound image to the x-ray image based on the first transformation and the second transformation and co-displaying ultrasound information registered to the x-ray image. The ultrasound information is based on the ultrasound data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for guiding a medical instrument in a patient body. Such a system comprises means for acquiring a 2D X-ray image of said medical instrument, means for acquiring a 3D ultrasound data set of said medical instrument using an ultrasound probe, means for localizing said ultrasound probe in a referential of said X-ray acquisition means, means for selecting a region of interest around said medical instrument within the 3D ultrasound data set and means for generating a bimodal representation of said medical instrument detection by combining said 2D X-ray image and said 3D ultrasound data set. A bimodal representation is generated on the basis of the 2D X-ray image by replacing the X-ray intensity value of points belonging to said region of interest by the ultrasound intensity value of the corresponding point in the 3D ultrasound data set.