Abstract: Disclosed are method and apparatus for guiding a needle during an interventional radiology procedure. The target and skin entry point are pre-determined in three-dimensional medical imaging scans. The needle trajectory is defined by the target and skin entry point, which is physically marked on the skin. A dual-headed laser emitting two laser beams is positioned and aligned such that one laser beam is aimed at the skin entry point and the other laser beam is aimed at an external reference point, which is determined such that the axis of the laser beam aimed at the skin entry point is substantially collinear with the needle trajectory. The needle is inserted while maintaining the axis of the needle substantially collinear with the axis of the laser beam aimed at the skin entry point.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting and tracking an ablation catheter tip in a fluoroscopic image sequence is disclosed. Catheter tip candidates are detected in each frame of the fluoroscopic image sequence using marginal space learning. The detected catheter tip candidates are then tracked over all the frames of the fluoroscopic image sequence in order to determine an ablation catheter tip location in each frame.

Abstract: A system determines static background medical image data by receiving pixel luminance data comprising multiple sequential medical images of a patient anatomical portion and luminance data of an individual image that comprises multiple pixel luminance representative values of multiple individual pixels of the individual image. A filter includes a first filter function having a first response time for filtering received luminance representative values of a particular individual pixel varying in response to a first motion disturbance in the multiple sequential medical images for use in identifying a substantially minimum luminance value of the particular individual pixel in the multiple sequential medical images. The filter filters luminance representative values of individual pixels of the multiple sequential medical images to identify substantially minimum luminance values of individual pixels in the multiple sequential medical images as background image data of the multiple sequential medical images.

Abstract: A system processes pixel representative image data of medical images of patient anatomy to automatically identify an interventional instrument. The system includes an acquisition processor that receives pixel luminance data comprising multiple sequential medical images of a patient anatomical portion and luminance data of an individual image comprises multiple pixel luminance representative values of multiple individual pixels of the individual image. An image data processor detects and subtracts background image data from the pixel luminance data comprising the multiple sequential medical images to provide processed pixel luminance data comprising multiple processed sequential medical images. The image data processor computes gradient components of individual pixels of the processed pixel luminance data.

Abstract: A method is provided for accelerating non-rigid image registration, using parallel processors. To that end, on a commercially available graphics card, a block-matching algorithm is implemented, which, by histogram-based similarity standards, calculates the motion vectors for individual blocks. All the blocks are processed simultaneously and individually. The complete motion vector field is obtained by bilinear interpolation. Optimized search methods, such as conjugate direction searching, are employed. The algorithm terminates once the optimal displacement has been found for all the blocks. The registration is done completely on the graphics card. The algorithm is fully automatic, precise, and fast. The program may be employed for instance in registration for digital subtraction angiography.

Abstract: A method to obtain a patient based organ model from patient data, having steps of obtaining a computerized organ model based upon at least one data set of patients, the computerized organ model having a set of classifiers that are used to determine physical parameters of the patients heart, placing the patient in a diagnostic scanner device, taking representative data images of a patients organ while changing position of the image scan, the data images taken with ECG synchronization; and preparing the patient based organ model by evaluating the representative data images of the patients organ with the set of classifiers in the computerized organ model.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for planning a percutaneous procedure and for guiding an instrument to engage a target within a patient's body. A patient 3-dimensional image data set is provided, within which a user selects a skin entry point and a target point. A line, or “planned path,” is generated between the points which is used to align a movable arm to achieve a “Bull's Eye View,” in which the two points are superimposed. The instrument is placed at the skin entry point and aligned using the Bull's Eye View along a desired trajectory that intersects the target. Initial alignment is verified using fluoroscopy. Progression fluoroscopic views are used during the insertion procedure to ensure the instrument remains on the planned path. When the instrument reaches the target, a procedure may be performed, such as a biopsy, a drainage procedure, a radiofrequency ablation, or other medical interventional procedure.

Abstract: A system determines static background medical image data by receiving pixel luminance data comprising multiple sequential medical images of a patient anatomical portion and luminance data of an individual image that comprises multiple pixel luminance representative values of multiple individual pixels of the individual image. A filter includes a first filter function having a first response time for filtering received luminance representative values of a particular individual pixel varying in response to a first motion disturbance in the multiple sequential medical images for use in identifying a substantially minimum luminance value of the particular individual pixel in the multiple sequential medical images. The filter filters luminance representative values of individual pixels of the multiple sequential medical images to identify substantially minimum luminance values of individual pixels in the multiple sequential medical images as background image data of the multiple sequential medical images.

Abstract: A system processes pixel representative image data of medical images of patient anatomy to automatically identify an interventional instrument. The system includes an acquisition processor that receives pixel luminance data comprising multiple sequential medical images of a patient anatomical portion and luminance data of an individual image comprises multiple pixel luminance representative values of multiple individual pixels of the individual image. An image data processor detects and subtracts background image data from the pixel luminance data comprising the multiple sequential medical images to provide processed pixel luminance data comprising multiple processed sequential medical images. The image data processor computes gradient components of individual pixels of the processed pixel luminance data.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting and tracking an ablation catheter tip in a fluoroscopic image sequence is disclosed. Catheter tip candidates are detected in each frame of the fluoroscopic image sequence using marginal space learning. The detected catheter tip candidates are then tracked over all the frames of the fluoroscopic image sequence in order to determine an ablation catheter tip location in each frame.

Abstract: A method to obtain a patient based organ model from patient data, having steps of obtaining a computerized organ model based upon at least one data set of patients, the computerized organ model having a set of classifiers that are used to determine physical parameters of the patients heart, placing the patient in a diagnostic scanner device, taking representative data images of a patients organ while changing position of the image scan, the data images taken with ECG synchronization; and preparing the patient based organ model by evaluating the representative data images of the patients organ with the set of classifiers in the computerized organ model.

Abstract: Disclosed are method and apparatus for guiding a needle during an interventional radiology procedure. The target and skin entry point are pre-determined in three-dimensional medical imaging scans. The needle trajectory is defined by the target and skin entry point, which is physically marked on the skin. A dual-headed laser emitting two laser beams is positioned and aligned such that one laser beam is aimed at the skin entry point and the other laser beam is aimed at an external reference point, which is determined such that the axis of the laser beam aimed at the skin entry point is substantially collinear with the needle trajectory. The needle is inserted while maintaining the axis of the needle substantially collinear with the axis of the laser beam aimed at the skin entry point.