Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for use with a portion of a body of a subject including acquiring a plurality of images of the portion, and displaying one of the images. In response to receiving an input that is indicative of a given location within the image, an indication of a region within the portion is generated on the image. In response to receiving a further input, a dimension of the region that is indicated within the image is modified. In response thereto, at least one tool that is suitable for being placed at the region is identified, and/or a dimension of at least one tool that is suitable for being placed at the region is identified. An output is generated is response to the identification. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including designating within an image of blood vessels of a subject, a target portion of the blood vessels. In response to a first input from a user that designates a single point on the image, a first location within the blood vessels in a vicinity of the designated point is designated. In response to second and third inputs from the user, proximal and distal locations within the target portion are designated. The target portion is designated such that the target portion passes from the proximal location of the target portion to the distal location of the target portion, and such that the target portion includes the first location. Quantitative vessel analysis is performed on the target portion of the blood vessels, and an output is generated based upon the quantitative vessel analysis. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for imaging a portion of a body of a subject that undergoes motion. A plurality of image frames of the portion are acquired. A stream of image frames is generated in which a vicinity of a given feature of the image frames is enhanced, by (a) automatically identifying the given feature in each of the image frames, (b) aligning the given feature in two or more of the image frames, (c) averaging sets of two or more of the aligned frames to generate a plurality of averaged image frames, and (d) displaying as a stream of image frames the plurality of averaged image frames. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including inserting a tool into a blood vessel, and, while the tool is within the blood vessel, acquiring an extraluminal image of the blood vessel. In the extraluminal image of the blood vessel, a location of a portion of the tool with respect to the blood vessel is detected automatically. In response to detecting the location of the portion of the tool, a target portion of the blood vessel that is in a vicinity of the portion of the tool is designated automatically. Using the extraluminal image, quantitative vessel analysis is performed on the target portion of the blood vessel. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for use with an endoluminal data-acquisition device configured to be moved through a lumen, the device having a radiopaque marker coupled thereto. While the device is being moved through the lumen (a) endoluminal data points of the lumen are acquired using the device, (b) contrast agent is continuously injected into the lumen, and (c) angiographic images of the device are acquired. It is determined that endoluminal data points correspond to respective locations within the lumen, by determining locations of the radiopaque marker within the angiographic images of the lumen, by performing image processing on the angiographic images, the locations of the radiopaque marker within the angiographic images of the lumen corresponding to respective endoluminal data points. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for use with an endoluminal data-acquisition device having a radiopaque portion coupled thereto, including, while the endoluminal data-acquisition device is being moved through the lumen, acquiring a plurality of endoluminal data points of the lumen using the endoluminal data-acquisition device. A combined extraluminal image of the lumen is generated that contains images of the radiopaque portion at first and second locations within the lumen, by co-registering first and second extraluminal images with each other. At least one location on the combined extraluminal image is identified as corresponding to a location within the lumen at which a given one of the endoluminal data points was acquired, by identifying the first and second locations of the radiopaque portion within the combined extraluminal image. An output is generated, in response thereto. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for deploying an implantable tool at an implantation location of a blood vessel. The tool is placed at the implantation location in a non-deployed configuration. A plurality of image frames are acquired of the non-deployed tool at the implantation location, during respective phases of the vessel's motion cycle. A stabilized image stream is generated of the non-deployed tool at the implantation location. It is determined based upon the stabilized image stream of the non-deployed tool that, during the vessel's motion cycle, the tool moves from the implantation location by a given distance in a first direction. Movement of the tool by the given distance is accounted for, by deploying the tool at a deployment location that is distant from the implantation location in the opposite direction to the first direction. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for use with an input angiogram image of a device inserted inside a portion of subject's body, the angiogram image being acquired in the presence of contrast agent. At least one processor (11) includes background-image-generation functionality (13) configured to generate a background image in which a relative value is assigned to a first pixel with respect to a second pixel, at least partially based upon relative values of surroundings of the first pixel and the surroundings of the second pixel in the input image. Cleaned-image-generation functionality (14) generates a cleaned image in which visibility of the radiopaque portions of the device is increased relative to the input image, by dividing the input image by the background image. Output-generation functionality (15) drives a display (16) to display an output based upon the cleaned image. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including acquiring a plurality of image frames of a portion of a subject's body. At least one of the image frames is designated as a baseline image frame, a shape of the portion in the first baseline image frame being designated as a baseline shape. A non-baseline-shape image frame is deformed, such that the shape of the portion becomes more similar to the baseline shape of the portion than when the portion in the non-baseline-shape image frame is not deformed. A composite image is formed that is of higher clarity with respect to anatomy of the portion, relative to each of the acquired image frames, by averaging at least the deformed non-baseline-shape image frame with the baseline image frame. The composite image is displayed on a display. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described, for use with a contrast agent that is injected into a blood vessel of a subject. The apparatus and methods include acquiring a plurality of image frames of the subject's blood vessel, acquisition of the image frames commencing prior to injection of the contrast agent into the blood vessel. Using at least one processor, one of the image frames is automatically identified as being an image frame in which an angiographic sequence commenced, by determining that, in the image frame, there is a change in a characteristic of the image frame relative to at least one image frame acquired prior to the image frame that is indicative of a presence of contrast agent within the image. An output is generated at least partially in response thereto. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for use with a tool that is inserted into a portion of a body of a subject that undergoes cyclic motion. The apparatus and methods include using an imaging device, acquiring a plurality of images of the tool inside the portion of the body, at respective phases of the cyclic motion. Using at least one computer processor, an extent of movement of the tool with respect to the portion of the body that is due to the cyclic motion of the portion of the body is determined. In response thereto, an output is generated that is indicative of the determined extent of the movement of the tool with respect to the portion of the body. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for use with an endoluminal data-acquisition device having a radiopaque portion coupled thereto, including, while the endoluminal data-acquisition device is being moved through the lumen, acquiring a plurality of endoluminal data points of the lumen using the endoluminal data-acquisition device. A combined extraluminal image of the lumen is generated that contains images of the radiopaque portion at first and second locations within the lumen, by co-registering first and second extraluminal images with each other. At least one location on the combined extraluminal image is identified as corresponding to a location within the lumen at which a given one of the endoluminal data points was acquired, by identifying the first and second locations of the radiopaque portion within the combined extraluminal image. An output is generated, in response thereto. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described, including, using an imaging device, acquiring a plurality of images of a portion of a body of a subject. Using a processor, a first feature within each of the images is aligned. At least one enhanced image that is enhanced with respect to the first feature is generated, using the aligned images. Visibility of a second feature is reduced in the enhanced image, and the at least one image that is enhanced with respect to the first feature is displayed upon a display. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including acquiring a first set of extraluminal images of a lumen, using an extraluminal imaging device. At least one of the first set of images is designated as a roadmap image. While an endoluminal device is being moved through the lumen, a second set of extraluminal images is acquired. A plurality of features that are visible within images belonging to the second set of extraluminal images are identified. In response to the identified features in the images belonging to the second set of extraluminal images, a plurality of local calibration factors associated with respective portions of the roadmap image are determined. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including, while an endoluminal data-acquisition device is being moved through a lumen, acquiring a plurality of endoluminal data points of the lumen using the endoluminal data-acquisition device. The endoluminal data points are displayed in a stack, and are co-registered to respective locations along the lumen in an extraluminal image of the lumen. Based upon the co-registering of the endoluminal data points to respective locations along the lumen in the extraluminal image of the lumen, a parameter of a portion of the lumen that corresponds to a portion of the stack of endoluminal data points is determined. An output is generated in response thereto. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided including, while an endoluminal data-acquisition device is being moved through a lumen of a subject, acquiring a plurality of endoluminal data points of the lumen using the endoluminal data-acquisition device. At at least one location it is determined that an event occurred, the event causing the endoluminal data-acquisition device not to acquire a single endoluminal data point at the location. The endoluminal data points are displayed in a stack, in which the endoluminal data points are positioned at locations corresponding to relative locations within the lumen at which the endoluminal data points were acquired, and in which the event is accounted for. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including acquiring a first set of extraluminal images of a lumen, using an extraluminal imaging device. At least one of the first set of images is designated as a roadmap image. While an endoluminal device is being moved through the lumen, a second set of extraluminal images is acquired. A plurality of features that are visible within images belonging to the second set of extraluminal images are identified. In response to the identified features in the images belonging to the second set of extraluminal images, a plurality of local calibration factors associated with respective portions of the roadmap image are determined. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including acquiring a plurality of image frames of a blood vessel of a subject, acquisition of the image frames commencing prior to injection of a contrast agent into the blood vessel. A first image frame is identified as being the image frame in which an angiographic sequence commenced by calculating a vesselness descriptor for each one of the image frames, by determining an extent to which pixels within the image frame are likely to correspond to the blood vessel, and by determining that, in the first image frame, there was an increase in the vesselness descriptor relative to at least one image frame acquired prior to the first image frame. An output is generated at least partially in response to identifying the first image frame. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including generating a road map of a blood vessel. Subsequent to the generation of the road map, a tool is inserted into the blood vessel. While the tool is inside the blood vessel, the position of the tool is determined. The road map is modified to account for the determined position of the tool. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for imaging a portion of a body of a subject that undergoes a motion cycle, including acquiring a plurality of image frames of the portion of the subject's body. A given feature is identified in at least some of the image frames. At least some image frames are image tracked with respect to the feature, and the image frames that have been image tracked with respect to the given feature are displayed as a stream of image frames. Visibility of a periphery of the displayed stream of image frames is at least partially reduced. Other applications are also described.