Abstract: A system and method for analysis of 3D deformations and regional function of a heart includes: a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner configured to acquire three tagged volume data series with mutually perpendicular tag lines of a heart; a data storage device in communication with the MRI scanner and configured to store the three tagged volume data series; and an image processing machine in communication with data storage device. The image processing machine is configured to: model an intensity distribution around each voxel of each tagged volume data series as a moving sine wave front with a local frequency and an amplitude; and determine a phase and frequency for each voxel from the local frequency and amplitude and a displacement from a quotient of a phase difference and the local frequency.

Abstract: A method and system of automated segmentation of an anatomical object through learned examples include: receiving, by a processing device, an image of the anatomical object; determining a sparse representation of a shape of the anatomical object by iteratively evolving a segmenting surface as a combination of a level set segmentation and a linear combination of training shapes; and outputting, to an output device, the sparse representation of the shape of the anatomical object as the segmentation of the anatomical object.

Abstract: A method and system of automated segmentation of an anatomical object through learned examples include: receiving, by a processing device, an image of the anatomical object; determining a sparse representation of a shape of the anatomical object by iteratively evolving a segmenting surface as a combination of a level set segmentation and a linear combination of training shapes; and outputting, to an output device, the sparse representation of the shape of the anatomical object as the segmentation of the anatomical object.

Abstract: A system and method are provided to allow ticket-holders to exchange their verified seat-rights with other ticket-holders, during the event or after the event has started.

Abstract: A method for cardiac motion estimation includes: receiving a set of echocardiographic images of a heart, the echocardiographic images including B-mode ultrasonic images and Tissue Doppler Imaging (TDI) images; and calculating, by the image processing machine, a motion field representing the motion of the heart using the B-mode ultrasonic images and applying a velocity constraint from the TDI images. A system for cardiac motion estimation, includes: an imaging device configured to acquire a set of echocardiographic images of a heart, the echocardiographic images including B-mode ultrasonic images and TDI images; a data storage device in communication with the imaging device and configured to store the set of echocardiographic images; an image processing machine in communication with the data storage device and configured to calculate a motion field representing the motion of the heart using the B-mode ultrasonic images and applying a velocity constraint from the TDI images.

Abstract: A multimodal cardiac phantom has a body structure with a shape and properties that mimic the elasticity, ultrasound, and magnetic properties of cardiac tissue. The multimodal cardiac phantom is advantageously produced from a polymer such as polyvinyl alcohol. The polyvinyl alcohol may include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) markers and ultrasound markers. The multimodal cardiac phantom can be used to evaluate and to configure apparatuses for imagining cardiac tissue.

Abstract: A method of deformable image registration for thoracic 4-D computed tomography (CT) images includes: receiving, by a processing device, a set of thoracic 4-D CT images; and iteratively solving, by the processing device, an energy function applied to subsequent images of the set of thoracic 4-D CT images to transform the subsequent images into respective optical flow fields between the subsequent images, the energy function enforcing the following constraints on the subsequent images: intensity constancy; mass conservation; gradient constancy; and spatio-temporal smoothness.

Abstract: A multimodal cardiac phantom has a body structure with a shape and properties that mimic the elasticity, ultrasound, and magnetic properties of cardiac tissue. The multimodal cardiac phantom is advantageously produced from a polymer such as polyvinyl alcohol. The polyvinyl alcohol may include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) markers and ultrasound markers. The multimodal cardiac phantom can be used to evaluate and to configure apparatuses for imagining cardiac tissue.

Abstract: Aspects relate to an energy recovery unit comprising a vessel having a condensate inlet and a condensate outlet and a fluid feed line defining a fluid path. First and second heat exchangers are located within the vessel and are arranged to transfer heat from flash vapor and condensate respectively, to fluid in the fluid feed line. The energy recovery unit can be used to recover waste energy from condensate and flash steam and use it to pre-heat process water, such as boiler feed water.

Abstract: A method for tracking motion of tissue in three or four dimensions by obtaining a model from imaging data having tag planes from which a grid of control points may be defined. First, knot planes are calculated from the grid of control points of the imaging data. Next, the knot planes are fitted to the tag planes to obtain the model of the tissue. Next, motion of tissue in three or four dimensions is represented with the model of the tissue. Also disclosed is a method for reconstructing tag surfaces with B-spline surfaces from imaging data having sets of image slices with tag data and calculating motion between the B-spline surfaces, comprising the steps of: reconstructing at least a first B-spline surface from B-spline curves corresponding to a first tag surface from a first set of image slices; reconstructing at least a second B-spline surface from B-spline curves corresponding to a second tag surface from a second set of image slices; and calculating motion between B-spline surfaces.