Abstract: A segmentation selection system includes a transducer (14) configured to transmit and receive imaging energy for imaging a subject. A signal processor (26) is configured to process imaging data received to generate processed image data. A segmentation module (50) is configured to generate a plurality of segmentations of the subject based on features or combinations of features of the imaging data and/or the processed image data. A selection mechanism (52) is configured to select one of the plurality of segmentations that best meets a criterion for performing a task.

Abstract: An imaging quality control system (80) employing an imaging quality controller (84) and a monitor (81). In operation, the imaging quality controller (84) executes an image processing of subject image data of the anatomical object (e.g., subject non-segmentation-based or segmentation-based image registration of US, CT and/or MRI anatomical images), and assessing an accuracy of the image processing of the subject image data of the anatomical object as a function of a subject Eigen weight set relative to a training Eigen range set (e.g., previously registered or segmented US, CT and/or MRI anatomical images). The subject Eigen weight set is derived from the subject image data of the anatomical object, and the training Eigen range set is derived from training image data of anatomical object. The monitor (81) displays the assessment of the accuracy of the image processing of the subject image data of the anatomical object by the imaging quality controller (84).

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 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: A method and system track a location of an object while the object is disposed within a region of interest within biological tissue, the location of the object being determined with respect to a tracking coordinate frame; generate acoustic images of the region of interest, the acoustic images being generated with respect to an acoustic image coordinate frame which is different from the tracking coordinate frame; transform the location of the object from the tracking coordinate frame to the acoustic image coordinate frame; and automatically adjust at least one image resolution parameter of the acoustic images in response to the location of the object with respect to the acoustic image coordinate frame.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging apparatus is configurable for acquiring a two-dimensional, flat image of a curved region (206) within a curved plane. The apparatus includes a transducer array for imaging the region; a processor for localizing the region with respect to the transducer array; and a processor for operating the transducer array for the imaging of the region and for projecting the region onto a two-dimensional (2D), flat image plane.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for mesh registration including an extraction of a preoperative anatomical mesh from a preoperative anatomical image based on a base topology of an anatomical mesh template, an extraction of an intraoperative anatomical mesh from an intraoperative anatomical image based on a preoperative topology of the preoperative anatomical mesh derived from the base topology of an anatomical mesh template, and a registration of the preoperative anatomical image and the intraoperative anatomical image based on a mapping correspondence between the preoperative anatomical mesh and the intraoperative anatomical mesh established by an intraoperative topology of the intraoperative anatomical mesh derived from the preoperative topology of the preoperative anatomical mesh.

Abstract: A method and system track a location of an object while the object is disposed within a region of interest within biological tissue, the location of the object being determined with respect to a tracking coordinate frame; generate acoustic images of the region of interest, the acoustic images being generated with respect to an acoustic image coordinate frame which is different from the tracking coordinate frame; transform the location of the object from the tracking coordinate frame to the acoustic image coordinate frame; and automatically adjust at least one image resolution parameter of the acoustic images in response to the location of the object with respect to the acoustic image coordinate frame.

Abstract: Image co-registration (S390) entails: emitting energy, and responsively and dynamically acquiring images (216), the acquired images having a given dimensionality; selecting, repeatedly, and dynamically with the acquiring, from among the acquired images and, as a result of the selecting, changing, repeatedly, and dynamically, membership in a set (226) of images of the given dimensionality; and, synchronously with the change (S376), dynamically and iteratively registering the set to an image having a dimensionality higher than the given dimensionality. The co-registration is realizable with an imaging probe (140) for the acquiring, and a tracking system for tracking a location, and orientation, of the probe, the registering being specialized for the acquiring with the probe being dynamically, during the acquiring, any one or more of angulated, rotated and translated.

Abstract: The invention relates to a registration apparatus for registering 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) comprising at least one opening 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, wherein the registering comprises identifying the transferred characteristic temperature profile on the introduction element based on the determined temperature.

Abstract: A tool navigation system employing an ultrasound imager (21), a tool tracker (41), a tissue classifier (50) and an image navigator (60). In operation, ultrasound imager (21) generates an ultrasound image of an anatomical region from a scan of the anatomical region by an ultrasound probe (20). As an interventional tool (40) is navigated within the anatomical region, the tool tracker (41) tracks a position of the interventional tool (40) relative to the anatomical region, tissue classifier (50) characterizes the tissue of the anatomical region adjacent the interventional tool (40), and image navigator (60) displays a navigational guide relative to a display of the ultrasound image of the anatomical region.

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.

Abstract: A radiation therapy delivery system (10) includes an ultrasound imaging unit (26), a radiation therapy delivery mechanism (12, 56, 70, 88), a plurality of fiducials (22, 90) located internal to the subject, an image fusion unit (40), and a delivery evaluation unit (38). The ultrasound imaging unit (26) includes a transducer (30) that emits ultrasonic sound waves to image in real-time an anatomic portion of a subject (16) in a first coordinate system. The radiation therapy delivery mechanism (12, 56, 70, 88) delivers amounts of therapeutic radiation in the anatomic portion of the subject in a second coordinate system. The fiducials (22, 90) include implants or a trans-rectal ultrasound probe (80). The image fusion unit (40) registers locations of the plurality of fiducials to at least one of the first and the second coordinate system and tracks the locations of the fiducials in real-time.

Abstract: A method for deformable registration involves a reconstruction of a preoperative anatomical image (23) into a preoperative multi-zone image (41) including a plurality of color zones and a reconstruction of an intraoperative anatomical image (33) into an intraoperative multi-zone image (42) including the plurality of color zones, Each color zone represents a different variation of a non-uniform biomechanical property associated with the preoperative anatomical image (23) and the intraoperative anatomical image (33) or a different biomechanical property associated with the preoperative anatomical image (23) and the intraoperative anatomical image (33).

Abstract: The invention relates to a HDR brachytherapy system comprising an ultrasound sensor for being arranged at the location of a brachytherapy catheter (12), wherein the ultrasound sensor is adapted to generate an ultrasound signal based on ultrasound radiation, which has been sent by an ultrasound imaging device preferentially comprising a TRUS probe (40) and which has been received by the ultrasound sensor. The position of the ultrasound sensor is determined based on the generated ultrasound signal, and based on this position of the ultrasound sensor the pose and shape of the brachytherapy catheter and/or the position of a HDR radiation source are determined. This allows for a very accurate determination of the pose and shape of the brachytherapy catheter and/or of the position of the HDR radiation source, which in turn can lead to an improved HDR brachytherapy.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method in which a Foley catheter (70) or other medical tool which is equipped with ultrasound (US) sensor(s) (72) is inserted into the prostatic urethra. Based on analysis of the US signal received by these US sensors (72) as the US beams from a transrectal US (TRUS) probe (40) or other ultrasound probe sweep the field of view, it is possible to precisely detect and track these US sensors (72) in the same frame of reference as the TRUS images, thereby precisely delineating the Foley catheter and the course of the prostatic urethra. During the procedure, before each seed is dropped, the delivered dose to the prostatic urethra can be computed based on real-time tracking and segmentation of prostatic urethra and dose radiation based on previously dropped seeds and if necessary, the procedure can be re-planned automatically.

Abstract: The invention relates to an imaging apparatus (24) for imaging an introduction element (17) like a needle or a catheter for performing a biopsy or a brachytherapy. The introduction element (17) comprises at least one ultrasound receiver (21) arranged at a known location thereof. 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, and a display (5) displays the indicator image. This allows receiving a feedback about the location of the introduction element (17).

Abstract: A method for multi-modal tissue classification of an anatomical tissue involves a generation of a tissue classification volume (40) of the anatomical tissue derived from a spatial registration and an image extraction of one or more MRI features of the anatomical tissue and one or more ultrasound image features of the anatomical tissue. The method further involves a classification of each voxel of the tissue classification volume (40) as one of a plurality of tissue types including a healthy tissue voxel and an unhealthy tissue voxel.

Abstract: A method for a mesh segmentation and a mesh registration involves an extraction of a preoperative anatomical mesh (51) from a preoperative anatomical image (50) based on a base topology of an anatomical mesh template (40), an extraction of an intraoperative anatomical mesh (61) from an intraoperative anatomical image (60) based on a preoperative topology of the preoperative anatomical mesh (51) derived from the base topology of an anatomical mesh template (40), and a registration of the preoperative anatomical image (50) and the intraoperative anatomical image (60) based on a mapping correspondence between the preoperative anatomical mesh (51) and the intraoperative anatomical mesh (61) established by an intraoperative topology of the intraoperative anatomical mesh (61) derived from the preoperative topology of the preoperative anatomical mesh (51).

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.