Abstract: An imaging apparatus (24) images an introduction element (17) like a needle or a catheter for performing a biopsy or a brachytherapy. The introduction element (17) includes at least one ultrasound receiver (21) arranged at a known location. An ultrasound probe (12) for being inserted into a living being (2) emits ultrasound signals for acquiring ultrasound data of an inner part (19) of the living being (2). A first tracking unit (3) tracks the location of the introduction element (17) based on a reception of the emitted ultrasound signals by the at least one ultrasound receiver (21). An imaging unit (4) generates an indicator image showing the inner part (19) and an indicator of the introduction element (17) based on the tracked location. A display (5) displays the indicator image providing feedback about the location of the introduction element (17).

Abstract: There is provided a computer-implemented method for detecting an incidental finding in a radiology report associated with an imaging examination of a subject. The method comprises acquiring a first finding from the radiology report, the first finding being indicative of at least one of: an imaging observation, a disorder, and an abnormality identified from the imaging examination, acquiring information associated with the radiology report, wherein the acquired information associated with the radiology report comprises a reason for performing the imaging examination, a modality of the imaging examination, and a body part of the subject examined in the imaging examination, and determining whether the first finding is an incidental finding based on the acquired information associated with the radiology report, wherein the incidental finding is an unanticipated finding not related to a diagnostic inquiry associated with the imaging examination.

Abstract: A system for planning and performing a repeat interventional procedure includes a registration device (116) and an image generation device (120) which map current targets in a reference image (104) for a first interventional procedure to at least one guidance image (112) acquired from a different imaging modality. Biopsy locations are recorded to the guidance images during the first interventional procedure and the biopsy locations are mapped to the reference image to provide a planning image for use in a subsequent interventional procedure on the patient. In a subsequent interventional procedure, the prior planning image (124) may be registered to a current reference image (126) and the prior biopsy locations and prior and current targets are mapped to a guidance image acquired from a different imaging modality. Biopsy locations are then mapped to the guidance image (115) and mapped back to the current reference image.

Abstract: A system for registration feedback includes a segmentation module configured to segment a relevant three-dimensional structure in a first image to be registered and to segment a same relevant structure in a second image to be registered to provide three-dimensional segmentations of the first and second images. A registration module is configured to register the three-dimensional segmentations of the first and second images by applying a registration transformation to one of the three-dimensional segmentations to map one three-dimensional segmentation onto the coordinate space of the other.

Abstract: The present system is configured to obtain training information related to patients, and obtain a user input indicating prediction criteria that are to be used by a prediction model for generating patient-related predictions. The prediction criteria include which and how many prediction-contributing features are to be used by the prediction model for generating patient-related predictions. The system is configured to generate the prediction model based on the prediction criteria and the training information; and generate, based on the prediction model and patient information associated with a patient, a prediction related to a health outcome of the patient. The system is also configured to cause display of the prediction and other predictions, wherein the display comprises a scaled display of two or more of the prediction-contributing features.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging apparatus may acquire a two-dimensional, flat image of a curved region within a curved plane. The apparatus includes a processor for localizing the region with respect to a transducer array and a processor for operating the transducer array for the imaging of the region and for projecting the region onto a flat image plane. An ultrasound imaging apparatus may acquire a flat image of a curved region within a curved plane. The apparatus may include a module for extracting a centerline of a curved object that contains the curved region, and a processor for: projecting the centerline onto a face of an array, selecting, from among the elements, a set along the projection onto the face, receive beamforming, specifically using the set, to image the curved region and thereby acquire a curved image, and projecting the curved region onto a flat image plane.

Abstract: A registration apparatus registers an elongated introduction element (18), like a catheter or a needle, during an interventional procedure, for instance, a brachytherapy or a biopsy. A guide element (13) includes at least one opening which guides the introduction element when being introduced into a living being (2) through the opening. A temperature profile generation element (14) associated with the opening generates a characteristic temperature profile at the opening for being transferred to the introduction element when being present in the opening. A temperature determination unit (15) determines a temperature along the introduction element, and a registration unit (16) registers the introduction element. The registering includes identifying the transferred characteristic temperature profile on the introduction element based on the determined temperature. This allows the registration unit to register the introduction element during the introduction process in a simple and efficient manner.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes ultrasound imaging systems and methods configured to delineate sub-regions of bodily tissue within a target region and determine a biopsy path for sampling the tissue. Systems may include an ultrasound transducer configured to image a biopsy plane within a target region. A processor communicating with the transducer can obtain a time series of sequential data frames associated with echo signals acquired by the transducer and apply a neural network to the data frames. The neural network can determine spatial locations and identities of various tissue types in the data frames. A spatial distribution map labeling the coordinates of the tissue types identified within the target region can also be generated and displayed on a user interface.

Abstract: An electromagnetic field quality assurance system employing an electromagnetic field generator (10) for emitting an electromagnetic field (12), and one or more quality assurance electromagnetic sensors (11, 21, 31, 41, 50) for sensing the emission of the electromagnetic field (12). The system further employs a quality assurance controller (74) for assessing a tracking quality of the electromagnetic field (12) derived from a monitoring of a sensed position of each quality assurance electromagnetic sensor (11, 21, 31, 41, 50) within a field-of-view of the electromagnetic field (12). The electromagnetic field generator (10), an ultrasound probe (20), an ultrasound stepper (30) and/or a patient table (40) may be equipped with the quality assurance electromagnetic sensor(s) (11, 21, 31, 41, 50).

Abstract: An electromagnetic (“EM”) tracking configuration system employs an EM quality assurance (“EMQA”) (30) and EM data coordination (“DC”) system (70). For the EMQA system (30), an EM sensor block (40) includes EM sensor(s) (22) positioned and oriented to represent a simulated electromagnetic tracking of interventional tool(s) inserted through electromagnetic sensor block (40) into an anatomical region. As an EM field generator (20) generates an EM field (21) encircling EM sensor(s) (22), an EMQA workstation (50) tests an EM tracking accuracy of an insertion of the interventional tool(s) through the EM sensor block (40) into the anatomical region.

Abstract: A radiology workstation (14) used to interpret a radiology examination (48) includes a display (20, 22), a user input device (24, 26, 28), and an electronic processor (12, 16). A radiology image of the radiology examination is displayed on the display. A radiology report is entered. An imaged anatomical region (54) is determined from the stored radiology examination. An examination basis medical condition is identified from the reason for examination (52). At least one additional medical condition is determined based on information on the patient retrieved from one or more medical databases (10, 44, 46) and is classified as reviewable or not reviewable based on the imaging modality (50) and the imaged anatomical region. An attention list (40) is created with items directed to the examination basis medical condition and to each reviewable additional medical condition.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods and apparatus for validating and authenticating use of machine learning models. For example, various techniques are described herein to limit the vulnerability of machine learning models to attack and/or exploitation of the model for malicious use, and for detecting when such attack/exploitation has occurred. Additionally, various embodiments described herein promote the protection of sensitive and/or valuable data, for example by ensuring only licensed use is permissible. Moreover, techniques are described for version tracking, usage tracking, permission tracking, and evolution of machine learning models.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods and apparatus for validating and authenticating use of machine learning models. For example, various techniques are described herein to limit the vulnerability of machine learning models to attack and/or exploitation of the model for malicious use, and for detecting when such attack/exploitation has occurred. Additionally, various embodiments described herein promote the protection of sensitive and/or valuable data, for example by ensuring only licensed use is permissible. Moreover, techniques are described for version tracking, usage tracking, permission tracking, and evolution of machine learning models.

Abstract: System and method for generating structured finding object (“SFO”) description recommendations. The system and method are configured to extract a plurality of first findings for a patient, assemble the first findings into a timeline for the patient, extract a plurality of second findings for a population of patients, determine a set of timelines for the population of patients, and determine conditional probabilities of findings occurring for each of the second findings in the set of timelines. Further, the system and method are configured to display the SFO description recommendations for each of the first findings in the patient's timeline based, at least in part, on the conditional probabilities for the first finding.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging apparatus (10) for segmenting an anatomical object in a field of view (29) of an ultrasound acquisition unit (14) is disclosed. The ultrasound imaging apparatus comprises a data interface (32) configured to receive a two-dimensional ultrasound data (30) of the object in the field of view in an image plane from the ultrasound acquisition unit and to receive a three-dimensional segmentation model (46) as a three-dimensional representation of the object from a segmentation unit (36). An image processor (34) is configured to determine a two-dimensional segmentation model (50) on the basis of the three-dimensional segmentation model and a segmentation plane (48), wherein the segmentation plane and an image plane of the two-dimensional ultrasound data correspond to each other.

Abstract: The invention relates to an imaging apparatus (24) for imaging an introduction element (17) like a needle or a catheter for performing a brachytherapy or a biopsy. A tracking unit (3, 4) tracks the location of the introduction element within a living being (2), an imaging unit (6) like an ultrasound imaging unit generates an image showing an inner part of the living being, which includes the tracked location of the introduction element, based on the tracked location, and a display (7) displays the image. During the brachytherapy or biopsy the display can always show the introduction element, without requiring a manual control. For instance, it is not necessary that a physician manually controls the position and image plane of the imaging unit. This allows for an accurate and fast insertion of the introduction element into the living being such that a target region is reliably reached.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to computer-assisted search of image slices. In some embodiments, an image slice having a detected finding (and representing a cross section of at least a portion of an individual) may be determined. A search space may be reduce to a subset of image slices respectively representing a cross section corresponding to the cross section represented by the determined image slice. The search space reduction may comprise filtering a set of image slices based on the cross section represented by the determined image slice. Image slice information related to the determined image slice and related one or more image slices (of the image slices subset) may be obtained based on the search space reduction. A determination of whether indications of the detected finding exist in the image slices (of the image slices subset) may be effectuated based on the image slice information.

Abstract: A radiology viewer includes at least one electronic processor (10, 20), at least one display (12), and at least one user input device (14, 16, 18). The display shows at least a portion of a radiology image (30) in an image window (40), and at least a portion of a radiology report (32) in a report window (42). A selection is received of an anatomical feature shown in the image window, and a corresponding passage of the radiology report is identified and highlighted in the report window. A selection is received of a passage of the radiology report shown in the report window, and a corresponding anatomical feature of the at least one radiology image is identified and highlighted in the image window. The highlighting operations use image anatomical feature tags and report clinical concept tags generated using a medical ontology (56) and an anatomical atlas (62).

Abstract: A system (100) includes an end point prediction engine (150) that predicts an end point (302) using a machine learning model (132) and one or more clinical report objects (152) for a patient, wherein the machine learning model inputs the one or more clinical report objects and outputs the predicted end point according to phrases or n-grams in the one or more clinical report objects. An end point visualization interface (160) visualizes the predicted end point (302) using a scorecard (162) or a timeline (164). An end point modeling engine (130) generates the machine learning model from training data that includes validated end points (122) and clinical report objects (116).

Abstract: A system for tracking an instrument including an intraoperative transducer array configured to generate signals from array positions to generate real-time images of an area of interest. The instrument can be a penetrating instrument having a sensor mounted at a position of interest and being responsive to the signals from the array positions. A signal processing module can be provided and configured to determine a position and orientation of the instrument in accordance with the signals and to classify media of the position of interest based upon a response of the sensor to the signals from the array positions. An overlay module can be provided and configured to generate an overlay image registered to the real-time images to identify a position of the position of interest and provide feedback on the media in which the position of interest is positioned. A display can be provided and configured to provide visual feedback of the overlay image on the real-time images.