Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method, and system (1) for implementing same, to compensate for patient motion in series recordings in medical imaging, in which a plurality of images of an examination area of a patient (17) are recorded at time intervals with an imaging system (1) and related to each other. Before the start of the series recordings a 3D image data set is recorded by a 3D recording of the examination area, which establishes a reference system. A first spatial position of the examination area in the reference system is obtained by recording a first image of the series recordings and then registering it or by calculating it. Each further image of the series recordings is registered immediately after recording to obtain the current spatial position of the examination area. Differences in spatial position are compensated for at least approximately by changing geometric relationships of the imaging system (1).

Abstract: The invention relates to a pivotal poly-plane imaging unit having a first and a second imaging planes arranged relative to each other at an offset angle and recording projection images of an moving examination object at a fan angle ?. First and second projection images are recorded in different relative positions at respective instants by pivoting the imaging planes at an angle at least 180°+?. Characteristic structures in the first and second projection images are detected. The characteristic structures are segmented by a vectorial representation and triangulated to obtain a three-dimensional representation of the characteristic structures. Three-dimensional displacement vector fields are determined that indicate displacements of the three-dimensional representation of the characteristic structures relative to a reference instant. A three-dimensional image is reconstructed using the three-dimensional displacement vector fields to display a state of the moving examination object at the reference instant.

Abstract: A computer receives a plurality of two-dimensional fluoroscopy images of an examination object, capture time points and projection parameters and combines the images into image groups. Each image group contains all the images, the capture time point of which is between a minimum and a maximum time point specific to the respective image group. When the image groups are sorted by ascending minimum time points, the corresponding maximum time points form a strictly monotonously ascending order. The respective minimum and maximum time points are determined so that the computer reconstructs a three-dimensional object reconstruction of the examination object based on the images assigned to the respective image group. A respective two-dimensional reconstruction display is determined by the respective three-dimensional object reconstruction and outputted to a user in a coding specific to the respective image group by a display device.

Abstract: To make optimum use of an x-ray image recording system with an x-ray C-arm, which has an x-ray radiation source and an x-ray detector and can be pivoted about any axis, 2D axis lines are plotted in two x-ray images of an object to be imaged more precisely and these 2D axis lines are used to define a 3D axis line and the x-ray image recording system is set so that it can be directly pivoted precisely about this 3D axis line. A sequence of x-ray images is then recorded in positions of the x-ray C-arm, between which the same can be pivoted about this defined axis. This displays the object optimally.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for motion correction of medical image data of a patient are provided. Medical image data is obtained in a tomographic image recording process by back-projection from a number of projection images. The position of a magnetic location sensor, which is arranged on a medical implant inserted into a patient is also determined as a function of time while the projection images are being recorded, by means of an electromagnetic location system and the position is taken into account in the back-projection of the projection images for motion correction purposes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method or x-ray device for creating a series of two-dimensional medical x-ray images to be related to each other in an evaluation of a patient with initially a first x-ray image and subsequently a further x-ray image being created, a deviation caused by a patient movement in each case between the further x-ray image and an x-ray image of the previously created x-ray images being determined and a relative position between an x-ray emitter and x-ray detector used to create the x-ray images and the patient being set in the sense of compensating for the patient movement depending on the relevant deviation, in order to guarantee over the entire extent of the series recording x-ray images which can be related to each other with few errors in an inexpensive manner despite movement of the patient.

Abstract: It is possible that at a predetermined position of the imaging components of a radiographic imaging system the object is not fully viewed. The object can be a calibration phantom, which means that it is not possible to directly determine an imaging rule with the aid of the calibration phantom at this position of the imaging components. According to the invention, an imaging of the calibration phantom at a different position takes place and an imaging rule for this position is determined. This is then converted, provided a movement parameter is known which describes the movement from the position with the record of the calibration phantom to a different position. The imaging rule obtained in this way can be further improved, e.g. with the aid of a recording of the calibration phantom from the position in question, including if the calibration phantom is not completely imaged.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for generating a 3D reconstruction of an especially large body that cannot be captured by a single projection by capturing at least two projections, which together capture the body, at each of the positions taken up by a C-arm X-ray unit. Data from the two projections is projected onto a virtual detector and the data from the virtual detector is then used for the filtered back projection procedure. It is assumed here that the real source remains motionless and that only the detector moves. A virtual detector D1?/D2? is only used in order to carry out large scale filtering in the event that real sources Q1 and Q2 for the two projections do not coincide. A return is then made to two independent projections. These two independent projections are used separately in the filtered back projection procedure to generate the 3D reconstruction.

Abstract: To make optimum use of an x-ray image recording system with an x-ray C-arm, which has an x-ray radiation source and an x-ray detector and can be pivoted about any axis, 2D axis lines are plotted in two x-ray images of an object to be imaged more precisely and these 2D axis lines are used to define a 3D axis line and the x-ray image recording system is set so that it can be directly pivoted precisely about this 3D axis line. A sequence of x-ray images is then recorded in positions of the x-ray C-arm, between which the same can be pivoted about this defined axis. This displays the object optimally.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining gray-scale values for volume elements of bodies to be mapped using an x-ray image recording system. When a body to be mapped is not mapped in full on a single projection image for a rotational position, a second projection image must be made and a virtual projection image derived from the two projection images, this being back-projected onto the volume elements. For calibration the present invention proposes making the same two projection images in each case at a calibration phantom and additionally a further projection image, corresponding to the position and orientation of the virtual projection image. As a result the mathematical relationships between the projection images and the virtual projection image and for the back-projection can be derived.

Abstract: To enable an artifact free reconstruction even in the case of large regions of interest and with scanning paths of below 360°, provision is made for a method, with which a three-dimensional image volume is reconstructed from a number of two-dimensional projection images of a region of interest, which were recorded about the region of interest during a rotation of a recording system, comprising an x-ray source with a focal point and a detector, by calculating the gray scale values of the voxels of the image volume by back projection of the projection images, with which each two-dimensional projection images is composed in each instance from at least two individual projection images to form an extended two-dimensional projection image, with the respectively at least two individual projection images being recorded with a constant relative position between the focal point and the region of interest.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for presenting a number of two- or three-dimensional images from different modalities registered with each other, with points of interest being able to be assigned to an individual image of the modalities and in all images selectable graphics primitives being overlaid on the assigned points of interest so that a visual assignment of points of interest or area of interest between simultaneously displayed two- or three-dimensional images occurs, as well as an imaging system of a workstation for executing the method.

Abstract: In a method and system for dual rendering of images, a first volume image is reconstructed with a computer. A second volume image is reconstructed with the computer. The first reconstructed volume image is adjusted for a desired rendering. The second volume image is adjusted for desired rendering. A dual rendering of the first and second volume images is displayed where one of the volume images can be seen through the other volume image. Also, a simultaneous generation of different types of reconstructed data sets out of a single acquisition run for those data sets corresponding to the dual rendered images is provided for. The diagnostic questions is shown in FIG. 5.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for reconstructing a three-dimensional image volume from two-dimensional projection images of a subject which have been taken from different projection directions by rotating the recording system around the subject, wherein the grayscale values of the voxels of the image volume are calculated by back projection of the projection images. The invention is characterized in that prior to back projection at least one projection image is modified in such a way that it corresponds to a projection image taken with a virtual detector whose axes are aligned parallel to the rotational axis of the recording system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method or x-ray device for creating a series of two-dimensional medical x-ray images to be related to each other in an evaluation of a patient with initially a first x-ray image and subsequently a further x-ray image being created, a deviation caused by a patient movement in each case between the further x-ray image and an x-ray image of the previously created x-ray images being determined and a relative position between an x-ray emitter and x-ray detector used to create the x-ray images and the patient being set in the sense of compensating for the patient movement depending on the relevant deviation, in order to guarantee over the entire extent of the series recording x-ray images which can be related to each other with few errors in an inexpensive manner despite movement of the patient.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the registration and superimposition of image data when taking serial radiographs in medical imaging, wherein a plurality of image data sets for a region of a patient (17) that is being investigated are constructed at time intervals using an imaging system (1) and are referenced with a first image data set for the region that is being investigated that was constructed previously using said imaging system (1). In the above method, a location system (2) is used during the production of serial radiographs constantly, or at least at a respective proximity in time to the construction of individual data sets, to determine a current spatial position of the region being investigated in a reference system that is firmly connected to the imaging system (1), whereby in the construction of the first image data set, a first spatial position of the region that is being investigated is recorded.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method to compensate for patient motion in series recordings in medical imaging, in which a plurality of images of an examination area of a patient (17) are recorded at time intervals with an imaging system (1) and related to each other. The invention also relates to an imaging system (1) for implementing the method. With the method, before the start of the series recordings a 3D image data set is recorded by a 3D recording of the examination area, which establishes a reference system. A first spatial position of the examination area in the reference system is then either obtained by recording a first image of the series recordings and registering it with the 3D image data set or by calculating it from a known calibration of the imaging system (1). Each further image of the series recordings is registered immediately after recording with the 3D image data set, to obtain the current spatial position of the examination area in the reference system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an x-ray imaging device as well as a method for its calibration. With the method for calibrating the x-ray imaging device with at least two separate recording systems arranged for different recording planes (1 to 4) a 2D x-ray image (9, 10) of an area under examination is recorded during an intervention with an instrument (8) at any different positions of the instrument (8) with the two recording systems (1 to 4) simultaneously or immediately adjacent in time in order to obtain in number of pairs of images. From the 2D x-ray images (9, 10) a marker point (5) of the instrument (8) recognizable in the 2D x-ray images (9, 10) is extracted with an image processing algorithm. The image coordinates of the extracted point (5) of each pair of images are assigned to one another and from the assignments a relative imaging geometry of the two recording systems (1 to 4) is calculated.

Abstract: A volume dataset describes at least one tubular vessel and its environment. For processing the volume dataset, an operating point is first defined. A computer then determines slice planes containing the operating point and a sectional area enclosed by the vessel and contained in the respective slice plane for each of the slice planes. Finally, the computer determines the slice plane with the minimum sectional area and determines a working slice plane on the basis of this slice plane.

Abstract: A volume dataset describes at least one tubular vessel and its environment. For processing the volume dataset, an operating point is first defined. A computer then determines slice planes containing the operating point and a sectional area enclosed by the vessel and contained in the respective slice plane for each of the slice planes. Finally, the computer determines the slice plane with the minimum sectional area and determines a working slice plane on the basis of this slice plane.