Abstract: This invention relates to a medical imaging method comprising: emitting a radiation beam from a radiation source of a rotating gantry, preferably of a rotating C-arm, on a volume of interest, varying collimation of said emitted radiation beam so as to change at least part-time a field of view of said emitted radiation beam so that there are at least a first part and a second part of said volume of interest such that, when said first part of said volume of interest is imaged, said second part of said volume of interest is shuttered, and when said second part of said volume of interest is imaged, said first part of said volume of interest is shuttered.

Abstract: An interventional device configured for placement in or near an internal organ or tissue is provided. The interventional device includes a reference portion having three or more sensor elements. In one implementation, the interventional device and associated sensor elements provide dynamic referencing of the internal organ, tissue or associated vasculature after registration of the sensor data with images and/or volumetric representations of the internal organ or tissue.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for collision avoidance in cone-beam computed tomography (CT) systems. In one embodiment, a method for an imaging apparatus comprises calculating a likelihood of a collision between the imaging apparatus and a subject and/or its support based on a model of the subject, performing a scan of the subject responsive to the likelihood below a threshold, and not performing the scan otherwise. In this way, collisions between the patient and the imaging apparatus can be avoided.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a three dimensional visualization method for visualizing and/or displaying a limited zone of a patient's vasculature, the method comprising selecting an entry point within an imaged vasculature and three dimensionally visualizing a simulated contrast agent propagation from the selected entry point in a limited zone of the imaged vasculature.

Abstract: Systems and methods of object reconstruction from x-ray imaging include receiving an input of a first angulation for a first x-ray image. A first score representative of a quality of a reconstruction of an object from an x-ray image acquired at the first angulation is calculated. The first x-ray image is acquired at the first angulation. An input of a second angulation for a second x-ray image is received. A second score representative of the quality of the reconstruction of the object from the first x-ray image and an x-ray image acquired at the second angulation is calculated. The second x-ray image is acquired at the second angulation. The object is reconstructed from the first x-ray image and the second x-ray image.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for collision avoidance in cone-beam computed tomography (CT) systems. In one embodiment, a method for an imaging apparatus comprises calculating a likelihood of a collision between the imaging apparatus and a subject and/or its support based on a model of the subject, performing a scan of the subject responsive to the likelihood below a threshold, and not performing the scan otherwise. In this way, collisions between the patient and the imaging apparatus can be avoided.

Abstract: Systems and methods of object reconstruction from x-ray imaging include receiving an input of a first angulation for a first x-ray image. A first score representative of a quality of a reconstruction of an object from an x-ray image acquired at the first angulation is calculated. The first x-ray image is acquired at the first angulation. An input of a second angulation for a second x-ray image is received. A second score representative of the quality of the reconstruction of the object from the first x-ray image and an x-ray image acquired at the second angulation is calculated. The second x-ray image is acquired at the second angulation. The object is reconstructed from the first x-ray image and the second x-ray image.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a three dimensional visualization method for visualizing and/or displaying a limited zone of a patient's vasculature, the method comprising selecting an entry point within an imaged vasculature, and three dimensionally visualizing a simulated contrast agent propagation from the selected entry point in a limited zone of the imaged vasculature.

Abstract: This invention relates to a medical imaging method comprising: emitting a radiation beam from a radiation source of a rotating gantry, preferably of a rotating C-arm, on a volume of interest, varying collimation of said emitted radiation beam so as to change at least part-time a field of view of said emitted radiation beam so that there are at least a first part and a second part of said volume of interest such that, when said first part of said volume of interest is imaged, said second part of said volume of interest is shuttered, and when said second part of said volume of interest is imaged, said first part of said volume of interest is shuttered.

Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein relates to X-ray imaging systems, and more specifically to digital X-ray imaging systems. In one embodiment, an imaging system includes an X-ray source configured to emit X-rays. The imaging system also includes an X-ray detector configured to detect the emitted X-rays and produce a corresponding electrical signal. The imaging system also includes a gantry configured to at least partially revolve the X-ray source and the X-ray detector about a primary rotational axis. The X-ray detector is coupled to the gantry so that a diagonal of the X-ray detector is oriented substantially perpendicular to the primary rotational axis.

Abstract: A method for processing an image of a body region is provided, the region comprising a plurality of vessels capable of propagating a fluid of the body, the image comprising a plurality of pixels each being associated with an intensity. The method comprising determining, for each pixel, a probability that the pixel belongs to a vessel, based on the intensity of the pixel; simulating a propagation of the fluid from at least one source pixel towards the pixels of the image, the propagation being simulated to have a velocity that is function of the probability that the pixels of the image belong to a vessel; and inferring from the simulation a propagation time between the source pixel and each of the pixels of the image.

Abstract: An interventional device configured for placement in or near an internal organ or tissue is provided. The interventional device includes a reference portion having three or more sensor elements. In one implementation, the interventional device and associated sensor elements provide dynamic referencing of the internal organ, tissue or associated vasculature after registration of the sensor data with images and/or volumetric representations of the internal organ or tissue.

Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein relates to X-ray imaging systems, and more specifically to digital X-ray imaging systems. In one embodiment, an imaging system includes an X-ray source configured to emit X-rays. The imaging system also includes an X-ray detector configured to detect the emitted X-rays and produce a corresponding electrical signal. The imaging system also includes a gantry configured to at least partially revolve the X-ray source and the X-ray detector about a primary rotational axis. The X-ray detector is coupled to the gantry so that a diagonal of the X-ray detector is oriented substantially perpendicular to the primary rotational axis.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a mechanical model of behavior and movement of an interventional radiology table by moving the table over at least one degree of freedom, acquiring at least one set of images corresponding to different positions of the table and C-arm, obtaining at least one set of images of a test object from different positions, using the images of the test object to determine parameters of the mechanical model of table behavior and movement, and combining these parameters with data given by table movement sensors so as to deduce the true relative positions of the table with respect to the medical imaging system.

Abstract: A system and method for correcting the registration of a 3D image and a 2D image acquired with medical imaging systems is disclosed. The system and method determines acquisition geometry of the imaging system by calculating an initial projection matrix associated with the 2D image. The system performs a projection of the 3D image using the initial projection matrix resulting in a 2D projection of the 3D image. The system registers the 2D projection of the 3D image and the 2D image. A new projection matrix is determined based on the registration of the 2D image and the 2D projection of the 3D image. The 3D image is then registered with the 2D image using the new projection matrix. An associated medical imaging system is disclosed. Method embodiments use previously acquired 3D images or images acquired using imaging modalities different than the one used to acquire the 2D image.

Abstract: The invention relates to a control process for a medical imaging device comprising an anti-collision unit, a source of X-rays, an image detector, a control unit for the source of X-rays and for the image detector. The process comprises determining at least one trajectory of the source of X-rays and of the image detector as a function of at least one previously fixed control parameter by means of the control unit, locating in space at least one object that may be on the at least one trajectory, and verifying that the at least one trajectory of the source of X-rays and the image detector will not risk a collision between the source of X-rays and the at least one object or the image detector and the at least one object.

Abstract: A method for processing an image of a body region is provided, the region comprising a plurality of vessels capable of propagating a fluid of the body, the image comprising a plurality of pixels each being associated with an intensity. The method comprising determining, for each pixel, a probability that the pixel belongs to a vessel, based on the intensity of the pixel; simulating a propagation of the fluid from at least one source pixel towards the pixels of the image, the propagation being simulated to have a velocity that is function of the probability that the pixels of the image belong to a vessel; and inferring from the simulation a propagation time between the source pixel and each of the pixels of the image.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a mechanical model of behaviour and movement of an interventional radiology table by moving the table over at least one degree of freedom, acquiring at least one set of images corresponding to different positions of the table and C-arm, obtaining at least one set of images of a test object from different positions, using the images of the test object to determine parameters of the mechanical model of table behaviour and movement, and combining these parameters with data given by table movement sensors so as to deduce the true relative positions of the table with respect to the medical imaging system.

Abstract: A method for determining acquisition geometry of an imaging system from a set of calibration matrices for an arbitrary position of the system, a projection matrix makes a point in a 2D image correspond to a point of an object in a space. This matrix is produced for any unspecified position of the system from knowledge of a limited number of pre-computed calibration matrices. For instance, a projection matrix may be computed by interpolating coefficients of calibration matrices and/or applying a transformation with a rigid model defined comprehensively or locally to a particular calibration matrix.

Abstract: An interventional device configured for placement in or near an internal organ or tissue is provided. The interventional device includes a reference portion having three or more sensor elements. In one implementation, the interventional device and associated sensor elements provide dynamic referencing of the internal organ, tissue or associated vasculature after registration of the sensor data with images and/or volumetric representations of the internal organ or tissue.