Abstract: In order to optimize the recording time, provision is made of a method for recording an X-ray image using an X-ray system with an X-ray detector, an X-ray source, a system control, and a computational unit, wherein information relating to the relative direct radiation component in a reference X-ray image and information relating to the utilized recording geometry and/or the utilized primary X-ray dose and/or the utilized filtering is used to determine a relaxation time, during which a ghosting effect of the X-ray detector resulting from a preceding X-ray image decays at least in part, which relaxation time is adapted to the X-ray image to be recorded, and the determined relaxation time is utilized to actuate the recording of the X-ray image.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing reports of medical procedures includes a biometric data recorder to record and transmit biometric data of a patient, the biometric data being transmitted with a medical report of the medical procedure. The medical report and biometric data are transmitted as an encrypted transmission to an information center for storage. The medical reports of steps in the medical procedure for a patient are linked using the biometric data even if performed by different medical service providers. Medical reports of plural patients undergoing the procedure are stored, linked according to patient using the patient biometric data. Reports generated from the linked data anonymously report a given patient's status following the procedure. Statistical reports are generated on plural patients undergoing the procedure, and competing procedures are compared using the statistical reports.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for guiding image reading for colon screening, includes calculating a centerline for a colon; scrolling through a succession of two dimensional (2D) cross-sectional images of a colon in respective image planes, such that a current image plane includes a respective current focus point formed by an intersection of the centerline with the current image plane. The method further includes performing a three-dimensional (3D) region growing process for growing a region of a suitable given thickness around a current seed point in a current image plane, the current seed point being at the respective current focus point in the current image plane, such that the region growing “floods” folds within a prescribed distance from the current seed point such that part of the region intersects the current image plane.

Abstract: A method and system for displaying unseen areas in guided two dimensional (2D) colon screening, includes calculating segmentation and colon surface for a colon; calculating a centerline for the colon; designating as a current focus point a current point of intersection of a current portion of the centerline and a current cross-sectional image of a colon in a current image plane; and extracting a colon surface portion in a connected colon component containing the current focus point; and marking voxels of the colon surface portion as a “seen” area. Unseen areas of the colon surface are calculated by subtracting seen areas from the total colon area of observation. The unseen areas may then be displayed.

Abstract: A system and method for endoscopic path planning is provided. The method comprises: identifying a target in a lung, wherein the target is located in a peripheral airway of the lung; generating an endoscopic path to the target, wherein a peripheral artery is used as a surrogate for the peripheral airway; and viewing the endoscopic path.

Abstract: A method and system for guiding imaging reading for colon screening includes scrolling through a succession of two dimensional (2D) cross-sectional images of a colon in respective image planes. A point of intersection with a current image plane with the centerline of the colon is marked in a first color in the current cross-sectional image. As the scrolling proceeds and a new current cross-sectional image in a respective image plane is observed. a new point of intersection is marked in the current cross-sectional image in the first color and the prior point of intersection is projected onto the new current cross-sectional image and marked in a second color.

Abstract: Exemplary systems and methods for performing registration applications are provided. An exemplary system includes a central processing unit (CPU) for transferring a plurality of images to a graphics processing unit (GPU); wherein the GPU performs a registration application on the plurality of images to produce a registration result, and wherein the GPU returns the registration result to the CPU. An exemplary method includes the steps of transferring a plurality of images from a central processing unit (CPU) to a graphics processing unit (GPU); performing a registration application on the plurality of images using the GPU; transferring the result of the step of performing from the GPU to CPU.

Abstract: A combination radiography and fluoroscopy system includes in one embodiment a radiography radiation generator and radiography radiation receiver, a fluoroscopy radiation generator and fluoroscopy radiation receiver, and a single computer system connected to receive signals from the radiography radiation receiver and fluoroscopy radiation receiver. The single computer system includes signal processing paths for the radiography signal and for the fluoroscopy signal wherein some processes or modules are common between the paths and some are path specific. The path specific processes are preferably connected in parallel. Common controls and a common interface are provided to the monitor connected to the computer system.

Abstract: A method and system for data dependent multi phase image visualization, includes: acquiring a plurality of series of image data acquisitions; registering the plurality of series of image data acquisitions to a same reference series to create a plurality of registered series; combining information from the registered series to create a new series; creating a further new series by a selection decision based on combination rules from information from the plurality of registered series and the new series; and displaying the further new series.

Abstract: A method for generating a positron emission tomography (PET) attenuation correction map from magnetic resonance (MR) images includes segmenting a 3-dimensional (3D) magnetic resonance (MR) whole-body image of a patient into low-signal regions, fat regions, and soft tissue regions; classifying the low-signal regions as either lungs, bones, or air by identifying lungs, identifying an abdominal station, and identifying a lower body station; and generating an attenuation map from the segmentation result by replacing the segmentation labels with corresponding representative attenuation coefficients.

Abstract: A method for automatic centerline extraction for a virtual endoscopy image of an organ having a boundary surface includes centering on selected points of an initial path through the image, which is derived from an endoscopy dataset, respective spheres exhibiting respective maximal diameters short of contacting the boundary surface; and forming a centered path consecutively joining centers of the spheres.

Abstract: A system and method for creating a panoramic projection of a volumetric image of an object is disclosed. A virtual camera is placed in a center of a cubic space within the object. Images obtained from the camera are projected onto a single plane. A front image is mapped in a window at a center of the plane. A left, right, top and bottom image of the cubic space are mapped around the rectangular window such that the left, right, top and bottom images form a continuous image surrounding the rectangular window.

Abstract: Modern image processing systems for the postprocessing of X-ray images require a large number of input parameters and take a great deal of time. So that calculations do not need to be made sequentially for different sets of input parameters, parallel processors are used, in which the same image processing program is executed in each case, but with different input parameters in each case. A large number of processed X-ray images is thus obtained, which in particular can also be displayed simultaneously. From the multiple processed x-ray images, a repeated postprocessing of a processed x-ray image can take place by mixing.

Abstract: A system and method for colon unfolding via skeletal subspace deformation comprises: performing a centerline computation on a segmented image for deriving a centerline thereof; computing a distance map utilizing said centerline and said segmented image to derive said distance map; generating a polyhedral model of the lumen of said colon; and utilizing said polyhedral model, said distance map, and said centerline for performing a straightening operation on said centerline.

Abstract: A method for automatic centerline extraction for a virtual endoscopy image of an organ having a boundary surface includes centering on selected points of an initial path through the image, which is derived from an endoscopy dataset, respective spheres exhibiting respective maximal diameters short of contacting the boundary surface; and forming a centered path consecutively joining centers of the spheres.

Abstract: A method for virtual endoscopy in a lumen includes acquiring from a patient an imaging dataset exhibiting a lesion external to a lumen wall; deriving a three-dimensional (3-D) volume of the lesion; obtaining data on maximum bend characteristics for a given endoscope; and deriving projection criteria, based on the 3-D volume and the maximum bend, for projecting an endoluminal image of said lesion, indicating an optimal biopsy insertion point.

Abstract: A combination radiography and fluoroscopy system includes in one embodiment a radiography radiation generator and radiography radiation receiver, a fluoroscopy radiation generator and fluoroscopy radiation receiver, and a single computer system connected to receive signals from the radiography radiation receiver and fluoroscopy radiation receiver. The single computer system includes signal processing paths for the radiography signal and for the fluoroscopy signal wherein some processes or modules are common between the paths and some are path specific. The path specific processes are preferably connected in parallel. Common controls and a common interface are provided to the monitor connected to the computer system.

Abstract: A method for automatic centerline extraction for a virtual endoscopy image of an organ having a boundary surface includes centering on selected points of an initial path through the image, which is derived from an endoscopy dataset, respective spheres exhibiting respective maximal diameters short of contacting the boundary surface; and forming a centered path consecutively joining centers of the spheres.

Abstract: A method for automatic centerline extraction for a virtual endoscopy image of an organ having a boundary surface includes centering on selected points of an initial path through the image, which is derived from an endoscopy dataset, respective spheres exhibiting respective maximal diameters short of contacting the boundary surface; and forming a centered path consecutively joining centers of the spheres.

Abstract: A method for automatic centerline extraction for a virtual endoscopy image of an organ having a boundary surface includes centering on selected points of an initial path through the image, which is derived from an endoscopy dataset, respective spheres exhibiting respective maximal diameters short of contacting the boundary surface; and forming a centered path consecutively joining centers of the spheres.