Abstract: Systems and methods for the optimization of volume rendering of a region of interest in a 3D data set are presented. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a method of optimizing the volume rendering of a 3D data set comprises dividing a region of interest into a set of blocks S, computing a tension vector for each block, translating each block as a function of its respective tension vector, and removing any empty blocks to create a new set of blocks S?, with lesser voxels to render. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention this process can be iterated until some defined condition occurs, and the region of interest can then be rendered using S?.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a fully integrated contour editor are presented. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention a 2D interface which allows a user to define and edit contours on one image slice of the data set at a time is provided along with a 3D interface which allows a user to interact with the entire 3D data set. The 2D interface and the 3D interface are fully integrated, and contours defined or edited within the 2D interface are simultaneously displayed in the appropriate location of the 3D data set. The 2D contour can be created and edited with various readily available tools, and a region of interest indicated within the 3D data set causes the relevant 2D slice to be displayed in the 2D interface with an indication of the user selected area of interest. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, systems can automatically generate contours based on user definition of a top and bottom contour, and can implement contour remapping across multiple data sets.

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented for substantially simultaneously displaying two or more views of a 3D rendering. Such methods include generating a stereo pair of projections from a 3D model, receiving display mode information, processing the stereo pair of projections in accordance with the display mode information to create output data streams, and distributing each data streams to an appropriate display device. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention such methods can be implemented using a rendering engine, a post-scene processor communicably connected to the rendering engine, a scene distributor communicably connected to the post-scene processor, and one or more display devices communicably connected to the post-scene processor, wherein in operation the rendering engine generates 2D projections of a 3D model and the post-scene processor processes said projections for display in various formats.

Abstract: The present invention relates to agents for the diagnosis and treatment of tumours that expose altered proteins on the cell surface.

Abstract: The invention provides chemical conjugates between an immunoglobulin Fab fragment and molecular entities imparting diagnostic or therapeutic utility, whereby the only sites of conjugation on the Fab fragment are one or both of the sulfhydryl groups deriving from the selective and quantitative reduction of the inter-chain disulfide bond of said Fab fragment and whereby said molecular entities imparting diagnostic or therapeutic utility have at least one free sulfhydryl-reactive group, characterized in that the conjugation stoichiometric molar ratio molecular entity to Fab fragment is in the range from 0.95 to 1.05 or in the range from 1.95 to 2.05. The invention also provides a process for preparing said conjugates and pharmaceutical compositions thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to paramagnetic complexes based on lantanides or transition metals administered in the form of particulates internalysed by cells and whose presence in the cells can be detected by MRI techniques.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of (S)-N,N?-bis[2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)ethyl]-5-[(2-hydroxy-1-oxo-propyl)amino]-2,4,6-triiodo-1,3-benzendicarboxamide (iopamidol) starting from 5-amino-N,N?-bis[2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)ethyl]-2,4,6-triiodo-1,3-benzenedicarboxamide (II) which process comprises a) reacting the compound of formula (II) with a suitable protecting agent, to give a compound of formula (III) wherein R is a group of formula A or B wherein R1 is a hydrogen atom, a C1÷C4 straight or branched alkoxy group, R2 is hydrogen, a C1÷C4 straight or branched alkoxy group and R3 ?is a C1÷C4 straight or branched alkyl group, a trifuoromethyl or a trichloromethyl group; b) acylating the amino group in position 5 of the intermediate compound of formula (III), by reaction with a (S)-2-(acetyloxy)propanoyl chloride to give a compound of formula (IV) wherein R is as defined above; and c) removing all the acyl groups present in the compound of formula (IV) under basic conditions, with prior cleavage of the cyclic pr

Abstract: A process for the preparation of (S)-N,N?-bis[2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)ethyl]-5-[(2-hydroxy-1-oxo-propyl)amino]-2,4,6-triiodo-1,3-benzendicarboxamide (iopamidol) starting from 5-amino-N,N?-bis[2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)ethyl]-2,4,6-triiodo-1,3-benzenedicarboxamide (II) which process comprises a) reacting the compound of formula (II) with a suitable protecting agent, to give a compound of formula (III) wherein R is a group of formula A or B wherein R1 is a hydrogen atom, a C1÷C4 straight or branched alkoxy group, R2 is hydrogen, a C1÷C4 straight or branched alkoxy group and R3 ?is a C1÷C4 straight or branched alkyl group, a trifuoromethyl or a trichloromethyl group; b) acylating the amino group in position 5 of the intermediate compound of formula (III), by reaction with a (S)-2-(acetyloxy)propanoyl chloride to give a compound of formula (IV) wherein R is as defined above; and c) removing all the acyl groups present in the compound of formula (IV) under basic conditions, with prior cleavage of the cyclic pr

Abstract: New and improved compounds for use in diagnostic imaging or therapy having the formula M-N—O—P-G, wherein M is a metal chelator having the structure: wherein R1-R5 and FG are as defined herein (in the form complexed with a metal radionuclide or not), N—O—P is the linker containing at least one non-alpha amino acid with a cyclic group, at least one substituted bile acid or at least one non-alpha amino acid, and G is the GRP receptor targeting peptide. In the preferred embodiment, M is an Aazta metal chelator or a derivative thereof. Methods for imaging a patient and/or providing radiotherapy or phototherapy to a patient using the compounds of the invention are also provided. Methods and kits for preparing a diagnostic imaging agent from the compound is further provided. Methods and kits for preparing a radiotherapeutic agent are further provided.

Abstract: A system and method for the imaging management of a 3D space where various substantially real-time scan images have been acquired is presented. In exemplary embodiments according to the present invention, a user can visualize images of a portion of a body or object obtained from a substantially real-time scanner not just as 2D images, but as positionally and orientationally located slices within a particular 3D space. In such exemplary embodiments a user can convert such slices into volumes whenever needed, and can process the images or volumes using known image processing and/or volume rendering techniques. Alternatively, a user can acquire ultrasound images in 3D using the techniques of UltraSonar or 4D Ultrasound.

Abstract: A system and method for creating a surface for an arbitrary segment of a three-dimensional data set are presented. In exemplary embodiments according to the present invention the method includes initially identifying a set of surface voxels of the segment. For each voxel in the set information as to which of its neighbors are inside voxels can be obtained, and the results can be utilized to determine the location and direction of a polygonal surface dividing the voxel. The surface can then be obtained by connecting all of the polygonal surfaces. In exemplary embodiments according to the present invention the polygonal surfaces can comprise triangles. In exemplary embodiments according to the present invention the surface can be displayed in either a wireframe mode or a solid mode. In exemplary embodiments according to the present invention mesh reduction can be implemented to reduce the number of polygons in the final surface.

Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring overlay error in a video-based augmented reality enhanced surgical navigation system are presented. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention the system and method include providing a test object, creating a virtual object which is a computer model of the test object, registering the test object, capturing images of control points on the test object at various positions within an augmented reality system's measurement space, and extracting positions of control points on the test object from the captured images, calculating the positions of the control points in virtual image, and calculating the positional difference of positions of corresponding control points between the respective video and virtual images of the test object. The method and system can further assess if the overlay accuracy meets an acceptable standard.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a process for the preparation of pure non-ionic contrast agents. The invention also includes a method for purifying the non-ionic contrast agents.

Abstract: The invention provides MRI detectable species of formula (I): Dp-Sn-Nm, wherein D is a MRI detectable moiety; S is a spacer; N is a molecule of a nutrient or pseudo-nutrient; n is 0 or an integer, m is an integer and p is an integer. These compounds are useful for internalising into tumor cells an amount of the MRI detectable moiety that is distinguishably higher than the amount internalised in normal healthy cells thus allowing the diagnosis of tumors. The internalisation of the MRI detectable moiety involves the nutrients or pseudo-nutrients transporting system. Preferred compounds of formula (I) are those wherein D is the chelated complex of a paramagnetic metal ion.

Abstract: Improved systems and methods for stereoscopically displaying and virtually viewing tube-like anatomical structures are presented. Stereoscopic display of such structures can provide a user with better depth perception of the structure being viewed and thus make a virtual examination more real. In exemplary embodiments according to the present invention, ray shooting, coupled with appropriate error correction techniques, can be utilized for dynamic adjustment of an eye convergence point for stereo display. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the correctness of a convergence point can be verified to avoid a distractive and uncomfortable visualization. Additionally, in exemplary embodiments of the present invention, convergence points in consecutive time frames can be compared. If rapid changes are detected, the system can compensate by interpolating transitional convergence points.

Abstract: Methods and systems for dynamically determining a crop box to optimize the display of a subset of a 3D data set, such as, for example, an endoscopic view of a tube-like structure, are presented. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a “ray shooting” technique can be used to dynamically determine the size and location of a crop box. In such embodiments, shot rays are distributed evenly into a given volume and their intersection with the inner lumen determines the crop box boundaries. In alternate exemplary embodiments, rays need not be shot into fixed directions, but rather may be shot using a random offset which changes form frame to frame in order to more thoroughly cover a display area. In other exemplary embodiments, in order to get even better results, more rays can be shot at areas of possible error, such as, for example, where the centerline of a tube-like structure is leading to. In such embodiments rays need not be distributed evenly, but can be varied in space and time, i.e.

Abstract: Various methods and a system for the display of a luminal organ are presented. In exemplary embodiments according to the present invention numerous two dimensional images of a body portion containing a luminal organ are obtained from scan process. This data is converted to a volume and rendered to a user in various visualizations according to defined parameters. In exemplary embodiments according to the present invention, a user's viewpoint is placed outside the luminal organ, and a user can move the organ along any of its longitudinal topological features (for example, its centerline, but it could also be a line along the outer wall). In order to explore such an organ as a whole, from the outside of the organ, a tube-like structure can be displayed transparently/semi-transparently and stereoscopically.

Abstract: Radiopharmaceuticals comprising molecules that target to N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLF) receptor on leukocytes in order to target sites of inflammation for diagnostic imaging are described. The targeting molecules are attached to capping groups that make the entire molecule either antagonists or weak agonists of fMLF receptor and therefore do not elicit a chemotactic response resulting in neutropenia. The preferred targeting molecule is ReO-Gly-lys(Dimethylgly-t-Butylgly-cys-gly)-glu-trp-phe-leu-nle-NHCOcyclopropyl. The invention also relates to the use of combinatorial chemistry to obtain preferred molecules that target sites of inflammation for diagnostic imaging.

Abstract: A compound and salts and enantiomers thereof, having the formula: wherein R7 is an acyl group.

Abstract: Radiopharmaceuticals comprising molecules that target to N-formyl-methionyl-leucy-phenylalanine (fMLF) receptor on leukocytes in order to target sites of inflammation for diagnostic imaging are described. The targeting molecules are attached to capping groups that make the entire molecule either antagonists or weak agonists of fMLF receptor and therefore do not elicit a chemotactic response resulting in neutropenia. The preferred targeting molecule is ReO-Gly-lys(Dimethylgly-t-Butylgly-cys-gly)glu-trp-phe-leu-nle-NHCOcyclopropyl (wherein the peptide sequence NLeu-Leu-Phe-Trp-Glu-Lys-Gly is SEQ. ID No. 1.) The invention also relates to the use of combinatorial chemistry to obtain preferred molecules that target sites of inflammation for diagnostic imaging.