Abstract: This disclosure presents an improved method for registering anatomical medical images and functional medical images. The example deals with the registration of x-ray computer tomography images with positron emission tomography images. The process is characterized by clinically useful registration with minimal computer calculations and minimal delay for computation. A nonrigid B-Spline free form deformation is used in both a preliminary coarse registration and the finished fine registration. Additional steps are used to insure accurate and complete registrations.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process of quantification of the radioactivity of living tissue structures by emission tomography to determine the concentration of a radioactive tracer. It includes the acquisition of images in three dimensions, the determination of the point dispersion function of the imaging system, its convolution with a high-resolution model to obtain a low resolution model, a readjustment, an appraisal of the match between the low-resolution model and the images, in case of a negative test, iterative steps of deformation of the high-resolution model and of performing the preceding steps until the test remains negative, the segmentation of the images into regions, the calculation of the activity of the regions, the determination of a geometrical transfer matrix, its inversion and the multiplication, so as to obtain data for correction of the partial volume effect.

Abstract: This process substantially reduces the time and effort required in analysis of recorded cardioangiograms. This process takes advantage of cardiac twist, the slight rotation of the heart about a vertical axis when the heart beats. A frame near or at the beginning of cardiac twist is selected and a second frame later on in the twist is also selected. Selection of the frames can be manual or automatic. The frames are viewed by conventional stereoscopic methods. The positions of the coronary arteries with respect to the heart are clearly shown in the three dimensional visualization.