Abstract: A probe (20) generates a plurality of image volumes (13i, 13j) of an anatomical object (10) within a coordinate system (11) and an imaging device (21) generates imaging data (22) representative of the image volumes (13i, 13j) of the anatomical object (10). A position sensor (30) is attached to the probe (20), and a tracking device (31) generates tracking data (22) representative of a tracking of the position sensor (30) within the coordinate system (11). A registration device (40) executes a validation testing of a calibration matrix (51) associated with a spatial relationship between the image volumes (13i, 13j) and the position sensor (30). The validation testing includes a testing of an absolute differential between an image based volume motion (VMIB) and a tracking based volume motion (VMTB) relative to a calibration threshold (CT).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an ultrasonic imaging apparatus (20) for imaging a specular object (such as a biopsy needle) and a target anatomy in a tissue, whereby the specular object remains visible even when its location deviates from a target plane (21) including the target anatomy.

Abstract: An interventional system employing an interventional tool (20) having a tracking point, and an imaging system (30) operable for generating at least one image of at least a portion of the interventional tool (20) relative to an anatomical region of a body. The system further employs a tracking system (40) operable for tracking any movements of the interventional tool (20) and the imaging system (30) within a spatial frame reference relative to the anatomical region of the body, wherein the tracking system (40) is calibrated to the interventional tool (20) and the imaging system (30) and a tracking quality monitor (52) operable for monitoring a tracking quality of the tracking system (40)s as a function of a calibrated location error for each image between a calibrated tracking location of the tracking point within the spatial reference frame and an image coordinate location of the tracking point in the image.

Abstract: A system for accounting for electromagnetic (EM) distortion with an EM tracking system includes a sensor array (144) configured to sense EM energy in a target volume. An EM sensing correction module (140) is configured to analyze data from the sensor array to detect EM distorters in the target volume. The EM sensing correction module is further configured to compare distortion fingerprints stored in a database (142) to identify a distortion source.

Abstract: A method, system, and program product are provided for removing artifacts from an EM field generator from a rotational 3D scan.

Abstract: A method, system, and program product are provided for accurately visualizing soft tissue motion on an x-ray image. Real time ultrasound images are registered to an x-ray image space. A point of interest is defined. Motion of the selected point is determined from the real time ultrasound images. The determined motion is applied to the selected point on the x-ray image.

Abstract: A system employs an interventional tool (30), ultrasound imaging system and a multi-planar reformatting module (40). The interventional tool (30) has one or more image tracking points (31). The ultrasound imaging system includes an ultrasound probe (20) operable for generating an ultrasound volume image (22) of a portion or an entirety of the interventional tool (30) within an anatomical region. The multi-planar reformatting imaging module (40) generates two or more multi- planar reformatting images (41) of the interventional tool (30) within the anatomical region. A generation of the two multi-planar reformatting images (41) includes an identification of each image tracking point (31) within the ultrasound volume image (22), and a utilization of each identified image tracking point (31) as an origin of the multi-planar reformatting images (41).

Abstract: An imaging correction system includes a tracked imaging probe (132) configured to generate imaging volumes of a region of interest from different positions. An image compensation module (115) is configured to process image signals from a medical imaging device associated with the probe and to compare one or more image volumes with a reference to determine aberrations between an assumed wave velocity through the region of interest and a compensated wave velocity through the region of interest. An image correction module (119) is configured to receive the aberrations determined by the image compensation module and generate a corrected image for display based on the compensated wave velocity.

Abstract: Beamforming to image an object (310), such as an interventional tool, is enhanced by initializing the beamformer (308) with the object's location, and optionally its orientation. The initializing uses an estimate of the location/orientation. The estimate is derived from the output of one or more sensors (304, 306). These are disposed external to the imaging array (316) that operates with the beamformer. The estimate is made without the need for a result of any imaging based on data arriving by reflected ultrasound. One or more of the sensors may be attached to the object, which may be elongated, as in the case of a needle or catheter used in medical diagnosis and treatment. In some implementations, one or more of the sensors are attached to the imaging probe (302). The sensors may be, for example, ultrasound, electromagnetic, optical, or shape sensors. Alternatively, ultrasound transmitting transducers may be substituted for the ultrasound sensors.

Abstract: A method, system, and program product are provided for providing a live 3D image of a body lumen. The 3D shape of a flexible surgical tool in the body lumen is determined using optical shape sensing. An x-ray image is taken of the body lumen, with at least one of the body lumen and the surgical tool being radiopaque. The determined 3D surgical tool shape is registered to the x-ray image.

Abstract: An imaging system and method include a medical device (102) having a tracking element (106) mounted thereon. An array (109) of transducers is spaced apart from one another for exchanging energy in a subject between tracking element and the array of transducers. A trilateration module (104) is configured to interpret signals sensed between tracking element and the array of transducers to compute times of flight of signals associated with the transducers in the array such that a position of tracking element is determined in at least two dimensions to locate a position of the medical device in a visual image.

Abstract: Management software for increasing of return on assets (ROA) and, more particularly, to software-enabled systems, methods and apparatus using the metric profit per asset-hour (PPAH) for measuring and increasing profit generated by asset utilization to increase return on assets (ROA) and likewise return on equity (ROE).

Abstract: A method, system, and program product are provided for x-ray pose recovery during an endoscopic procedure. An x-ray image is taken with a C-arm at a first pose, capturing a region of an endoscope with fiducials thereon. The C-arm is moved from the first pose to a second pose at another viewing angle while maintaining the position of the endoscope. Anotherx-ray image is taken with the C-arm at the second C-arm pose, capturing the region of the endoscope with the fiducials thereon. The location of the fiducials on each x-ray image is determined using segmentation. An iterative optimization is performed using the locations of the fiducials in the two x-ray images to form two-dimensional projections of the three dimensional curve of the region of the endoscope with fiducials thereon to determine the three-dimensional translation and rotation of the C-arm from the first x-ray pose to the second x-ray pose.

Abstract: An image-guided system employs an X-ray imaging device (20) for generating one or more X-ray images (25, 26) illustrating a tool (41) within an anatomical region (40) and an ultrasound imaging device (30) for generating an ultrasound image (33) illustrating the tool (41) within the anatomical region (40). The image-guided system further employs a tool tracking device (50) for visually tracking the tool (41) within the anatomical region (40). In operation, the tool tracking device (50) localizes a portion of the tool (41) as located within the ultrasound image (33) responsive to an identification of the portion of the tool (41) as located within the X-ray image(s) (25, 26), and executes an image segmentation of an entirety of the tool (41) as located within the ultrasound image (33) relative to a localization of the portion of the tool (41) as located within the ultrasound image (33).

Abstract: A probe (20) generates a plurality of image volumes (13i, 13j) of an anatomical object (10) within a coordinate system (11) and an imaging device (21) generates imaging data (22) representative of the image volumes (13i, Tracking 13j) of the anatomical object (10). A position sensor (30) is attached to the Device probe (20), and a tracking device (31) generates tracking data (22) representative of a tracking of the position sensor (30) within the coordinate system (11). A registration device (40) executes a validation testing of a calibration matrix (51) associated with a spatial relationship between the image volumes (13i, 13j) and the position sensor (30). The validation testing includes a testing of an absolute differential between an image based volume motion (VMIB) and a tracking based volume motion (VMTB) relative to a calibration threshold (CT).

Abstract: The invention relates to location determination apparatus for determining a location of a first object (2) like a catheter within a second object (3) being, for example, the heart of a person. The first object comprises a first ultrasound unit, and a second ultrasound unit (5) is located outside the second object. A location determination unit determines the location of the first object within the second object based on ultra-sound signals transmitted 5 between the first ultrasound unit and the second ultrasound unit. This allows determining the location of the first object within the second object reliably in a way which is an alternative to using a transmission of electrical signals for determining the location and which may lead to an improved accuracy of determining the location.

Abstract: In one aspect, an ultrasound receive beamformer (212) is configured for one-way only beamforming (112) of transmissive ultrasound using one-way delays. The receive beamforming in some embodiments is used to track, in real time, a catheter, needle or other surgical tool within an image of a region of interest. The tool can have embedded at its tip a small ultrasound transmitter or receiver for transmitting or receiving the transmissive ultrasound. Optionally, additional transducers are fixed along the tool to provide the orientation of the tool.

Abstract: A calibration/surgical tool (90, 160) includes an electromagnetic sensor array (30) of two or more electromagnetic sensors in a known geometrical configuration. Electromagnetic tracking errors are characterized by a mapping of pre-operative absolute and relative errors based on a movement of a calibrated calibration/surgical tool (90, 160) through a pre-operative electromagnetic field. Using statistical mapping, a desired absolute error field (46) is measured either in the clinic as the part of daily quality control checks, or before the patient comes in or in vivo. A resulting error field (46) may be displayed to the physician to provide clear visual feedback about measurement confidence or reliability of localization estimates of the absolute errors in electromagnetic tracking.