Abstract: A system and method for registering a sequence of inter-operative two dimensional (2D) medical images of a target feature with pre-operative three dimensional (3D) medical images of the target feature is disclosed. The 3D image of the target feature is converted to a first skeletal graph. The 2D image of the target feature is converted to a second skeletal graph. Graph matching of the first and second skeletal graphs is performed to obtain a rough alignment of the graphs, and the first and second skeletal graph registered.

Abstract: A system and method for local deformable motion analysis accurately tracks the motion of an object such that local motion of an object is isolated from global motion of an object. The object is viewed in an image sequence and image regions are sampled to identify object image regions and background image regions. The motion of at least one of the identified background image regions is estimated to identify those background image regions affected by global motion. Motion from multiple background image regions are combined to measure the global motion in that image frame. The measured global motion in the object image regions are compensated to measure local motion of the object and the local motion of the object is tracked.

Abstract: A method of registering a digital image with a polygonal mesh comprising the steps of providing a digital image, providing a polygonal mesh comprising a plurality of vertices that approximates an object in the digital image, propagating a ray from a vertex of the polygonal mesh into the digital image and calculating a line integral of opacity values wherein each opacity value corresponds to the intensity of a pixel of the image through which said ray passes, terminating the ray at a point in the image when an opacity threshold is reached, and adding the termination point to a set of closest points. A registration is computed between the vertices of the polygonal mesh and the set of closest points, and the registration is applied to the polygonal mesh to obtain a new set of vertices.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for visualizing a tumor in a volume data includes providing a plurality of tumors, detected and segmented from the volume data, storing locations of a plurality of voxels corresponding to each of the plurality of tumors, and determining a mesh of surface voxels for each of the plurality of tumors from the stored locations. The method further includes rendering the meshes for each of the plurality of tumors in a volume rendering window, selecting a tumor of interest from the plurality of tumors rendered in the volume rendering window, and determining a correspondence of the selected tumor to a slice of the volume data, wherein the slice of the volume data is displayed in a main window.

Abstract: A method for aligning a pair of digital images includes providing a pair of digital images, wherein each said image comprises a plurality of intensities corresponding to a domain of points in a D-dimensional space, and the pair of images present adjacent views of a same object of interest. A weighting function is applied to each image of the pair of images, wherein the weighting function is centered on the object of interest, the weighting function has a maximum value on the object of interest, and the value of the weighting function decreases with increasing distance from the object of interest. The pair of images is aligned by correlated the weighted intensities on one image with those in the other image.

Abstract: A method for providing a virtual age estimation for predicting the remaining lifetime of a device of a given type, comprises the steps of monitoring a predetermined number of significant parameters of respective ones of a training set of devices of the given type, the parameters contributing respective wear increments, determining coefficients of a multivariate Hermite polynomial for modeling the wear increments determined from the training set operated to failure and whereof the respective virtual ages are normalized substantially to a desired norm value, deriving from the multivariate Hermite polynomial a formula for virtual age of a device of the given type, and applying the formula to the significant parameters from a further device of the given type for deriving wear increments for the further device.

Abstract: A method for determining the best entry point for a percutaneous procedure, such as with a biopsy needle, comprises selecting first and second arbitrary entry points on a patient; determining the three dimensional (3-D) orientation of the needle at the first arbitrary entry point for pointing the needle at the primary target; determining the 3-D orientation of the needle at the first arbitrary entry point for pointing the needle at the secondary target; determining the 3-D dimensional orientation of the needle at the second arbitrary entry point for pointing the needle at the primary target; determining the 3-D orientation of the needle at the second arbitrary entry point for pointing the needle at the secondary target; determining a 3-D line representing the intersection of a first plane containing the first arbitrary entry point, the primary target point, and the secondary target point, and a second plane containing the second arbitrary entry point, the primary target, and the secondary target point, whereb

Abstract: A system and method for detecting a passing vehicle is disclosed. A video sequence comprising a plurality of image frames is received. Image intensity is measured and image motion is estimated in each image frame. A hypothesis model describing background dynamics is formulated. The measured image intensity and motion estimation is used to determine if the background dynamics has been violated in a given image frame. If the background dynamics has been violated, motion coherency is used to determine whether the violation of the background dynamics is caused by a passing vehicle.

Abstract: Apparatus for determining a proper insertion depth of a biopsy needle to be inserted at a selected point on the body of a patient so that a sampling end of the needle just reaches to a designated target area within the body, comprises at least one straight calibrated pointing device, having a pivot point at one end thereof, and aligned to point through the selected point in a straight line passing through the designated target region, an image of the pointing device being formed on each of first and second image planes by utilizing radiation from respective first and second radiation source positions, along with images corresponding to the selected point and the target area. Needles are provided for casting an image on one at least one of the image planes, the needles being pivotably mounted at a further pivot point different from the pivot point of the pointing device and being constrained for movement in plane defined by the pivot point, the further pivot point and by the pointing device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sorting or pre-sorting objects contains a system of conveyors and crossover diverters incorporating the topology of an omega network. The sorter interconnects a series of perfect shuffle networks, interleaved with banks of crossover switches. Collision avoidance is implemented by controlling flow on accumulator conveyors entering the crossover switches. Extra banks of crossover switches may be added to provide redundancy and load-balancing capabilities to the system.

Abstract: A method for analyzing biological data includes classifying a first set of biological data in a first classifier, classifying a second set of biological data in a second classifier, combining the results of the first classifier with the results of the second classifier, and analyzing the results as a function of the similarity measure of the first classifier and the similarity measure of the second classifier.

Abstract: There is provided a method for augmented reality guided instrument positioning. A graphics guide is determined for positioning an instrument that provides a substantially unobstructed view of the instrument during the positioning. The graphics guide is rendered in alignment with a predetermined path to be traversed during the positioning of the instrument.

Abstract: A user interface for augmented reality (AR) systems and virtual reality (VR) systems which include a computer and virtual graphics and in which a user experiences a virtual viewing direction, includes: a virtual line pointer included in the virtual graphics and fixed with respect to the virtual viewing direction; a representation of the virtual line pointer to the user; and a user-operable device coupled to the computer for optionally marking an object intersecting the virtual line pointer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting out-of-range conditions representing normal operations is disclosed. A support vector machine is used to generate an improved representation of historical training data from power generation equipment that facilitates a more accurate determination of the boundary between measurements that should be considered faults and those that represent normal operating conditions. The SVM receives data collected from a plurality of independent sensors associated with the power generating equipment in order to generate a boundary substantially separating a first class of data (e.g., a fault) from a second class of data (e.g., a normal operating condition) in a support vector machine feature space. Elements of operational data are collected and compared to the boundary generated from historical training data. A determination is then made whether the element of operational data is in a particular class, such as a class associated with out-of-range conditions.

Abstract: There is provided a method for augmented reality guided instrument positioning. A graphics guide is determined for positioning an instrument. The graphics guide is rendered such that an appearance of at least one portion of the graphics guide is modulated with respect to at least one of space and time.

Abstract: A method for determining a gesture includes determining a change in a background of an image from a plurality of images, determining a object in the image, determining a trajectory of the object through the plurality of images, and classifying a gesture according to the trajectory of the object.

Abstract: A system and method for assigning feature sensitivity values to a set of potential measurements to be taken during a medical procedure of a patient in order to provide a medical diagnosis is disclosed. Data is received from a sensor that represents a particular medical measurement. The received data and context data are analyzed with respect to one or more sets of training models. Feature sensitivity values are derived for the particular medical measurement and other potential measurements to be taken based the analysis, and the feature sensitivity values are outputted.

Abstract: A system and method for tracking an object is disclosed. A video sequence including a plurality of image frames are received. A sample based representation of object appearance distribution is maintained. An object is divided into one or more components. For each component, its location and uncertainty with respect to the sample based representation are estimated. Variable-Bandwidth Density Based Fusion (VBDF) is applied to each component to determine a most dominant motion. The motion estimate is used to determine the track of the object.

Abstract: An interaction/input device for use in systems utilizing infrared video-based trackers is provided. The interaction/input device is employed by placing markers, e.g., small retroreflective disks, in a predetermined configuration on a planar surface to simulate physical buttons. Once in view of the infrared tracker, the system will recognize the predetermined configuration as the input device which can then be physically manipulated by the user. The user will put their fingers on one of these markers or disks, and in turn, the infrared video-based tracker will recognize this action and process it accordingly. Optionally, an augmented reality system employing the input device of the present invention can also augment simulated menus in the user's view, via a head-mounted display, giving the user the necessary feedback for interaction.

Abstract: A method for providing a virtual age estimation for predicting the remaining lifetime of a device of a given type, comprises the steps of monitoring a predetermined number of significant parameters of respective ones of a training set of devices of the given type, the parameters contributing respective wear increments, determining coefficients of a radial basis function neural network for modeling the wear increments determined from the training set operated to failure and whereof the respective virtual ages are normalized substantially to a desired norm value, deriving from the radial basis function neural network a formula for virtual age of a device of the given type, and applying the formula to the significant parameters from a further device of the given type for deriving wear increments for the further device.