Abstract: An imaging method for identifying abnormal tissue in the lung is provided, comprising the recording of slice images of the lung by means of X-ray radiation, recording of blood vessels, differentiation of blood vessels and abnormal tissue, segmentation of the abnormal tissue and display of the segmented abnormal tissue on an output device. In addition, a computer tomograph for identifying abnormal tissue in the lung is provided, having a radiation source for recording slice images of the lung and blood vessels by means of X-ray radiation, a computer unit for differentiating the blood vessels from the abnormal tissue and for segmenting the abnormal tissue, as well as an output device for displaying the segmented abnormal tissue.

Abstract: An imaging method for identifying abnormal tissue in the lung is provided, comprising the recording of slice images of the lung by means of X-ray radiation, recording of blood vessels, differentiation of blood vessels and abnormal tissue, segmentation of the abnormal tissue and display of the segmented abnormal tissue on an output device. In addition, a computer tomograph for identifying abnormal tissue in the lung is provided, having a radiation source for recording slice images of the lung and blood vessels by means of X-ray radiation, a computer unit for differentiating the blood vessels from the abnormal tissue and for segmenting the abnormal tissue, as well as an output device for displaying the segmented abnormal tissue.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for post processing 2D image slices (110a-c) defining a 3D image volume. The apparatus comprises a graphical user interface controller (160), a 2D segmenter (170) and a 3D segmenter (180). The apparatus allows a user to effect calculation and display of a 2D segmentation of a cross section of an object shown in a slice (110a) and calculation and display of a 3D segmentation of the object across the 3D image volume, the 3D segmentation based on the object's previously calculated 2D segmentation.

Abstract: A system for displaying lung ventilation information, the system comprising an input (12) and a processing unit (15). The input being provided for receiving multiple CT images (71) of a lung, each CT image (71) corresponding to one phase of at least two different phases in a respiratory cycle. The processing unit (15) being configured to compare CT images (71) corresponding to different phases in the respiratory cycle for determining a deformation vector field for each phase, to generate for each phase a ventilation image (72) based on the corresponding deformation vector field, to spatially align the ventilation images (72), and to generate for at least one common position (62) in each one of the aligned ventilation images (72), a function (81) of a time course of a ventilation value for said common position (62), each ventilation value in the function (81) being based on the deformation vector fields corresponding to the aligned ventilation images (73).

Abstract: The invention relates to a respiratory motion determination apparatus for determining respiratory motion of a living being (3). A raw data providing unit (2) provides raw data assigned to different times, wherein the raw data are indicative of a structure like the apex of the heart muscle, which is influenced by cardiac motion and by respiratory motion, and a reconstruction unit (6) reconstructs intermediate images of the structure from the provided raw data. A structure detection unit (7) detects the structure in the reconstructed intermediate images, and a respiratory motion determination unit (10) determines the respiratory motion of the living being based on the structure detected in the reconstructed intermediate images. This allows determining respiratory motion with high accuracy, without relying on, for example, a stable correlation between a tracking signal of an external respiratory gating device and respiratory phases.

Abstract: A system is provided for obtaining a nuclear image of a moving object. The system comprises an input (14), a processing unit (15) and an output (17). The input (14) is provided for receiving a nuclear image and morphological images of the object. The processing unit (15) is configured to process the morphological images to obtain sparse motion information of the object, to use the sparse motion information and a motion model for obtaining estimated motion information about the object, and to generate a motion-corrected nuclear image based on the estimated motion information and the acquired nuclear image. The output (17) provides the corrected nuclear image.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system (100) for segmenting a plurality of objects in image data using simultaneous model-based image segmentation. A surface mesh is adapted to each object to be segmented. To avoid or reduce the possibility of mesh collision, a plurality of connecting edges for connecting two proximal meshes are used. A connection energy defined for the plurality of connecting edges allows controlling the spatial relationship between the first and second mesh. This is achieved by including in the connection energy expression terms that will increase the connection energy when the lengths of edges of the plurality of connecting edges connecting the first and second mesh decrease. Using the reference configuration of the plurality of connecting edges defined based on the pre-positioned first and second mesh allows taking into account prior knowledge about a typical spatial relationship between the first and second object of the plurality of objects.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system (100) for segmenting an object in an image, comprising a first adapter (110) for adapting a first model for segmenting the object to the image, an analyzer (115) for extracting a feature from the image based on the adapted first model, a selector (120) for selecting a second model for segmenting the object from a plurality of models for segmenting the object, based on the feature extracted from the image, wherein the second model comprises additional detail of the object, an initializer (125) for initializing the second model based on the adapted first model and/or the feature extracted from the image, and a second adapter (130) for adapting the initialized second model to the image. The features extracted from the image based on the adapted first model help the system (100) to select the second model for segmenting the object from a plurality of models for segmenting the object.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus (1) for segmenting an object comprising sub-objects shown in an object image. The apparatus comprises a feature image generation unit (2) for generating a feature image showing features related to intermediate regions between the sub-objects and a segmentation unit (3) for segmenting the sub-objects by using the object image and the feature image. Preferentially, the feature image generation unit (2) is adapted for generating a feature image from the object image. In a further embodiment, the feature image generation unit (2) comprises a feature enhancing unit for enhancing features related to intermediate regions between the sub-objects in the object image.

Abstract: A system for validating motion estimation comprising a field unit (110) for obtaining a deformation vector field (DVF) estimating the motion by transforming a first image at a first phase of the motion into a second image at a second phase of the motion, a metric unit (120) for computing a metric of a local volume change at a plurality of locations, and a conformity unit (130) for computing a conformity measure based on the computed metric of the local volume change at the plurality of locations and a local property of the first or second image defined at the plurality of locations. Based on the value of the conformity measure, the DFV estimating the motion is validated. Experiments show that the conformity measure based on the computed metric of a local volume change at a plurality of locations and the local property of the first or second image, defined at the plurality of locations, does not necessarily favor a large weight for the outer force to provide a more accurate registration.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system (100) for propagating a model mesh based on a first mean model mesh and on a second mean model mesh, the system comprising: a registration unit (110) for computing a registration transformation for registering the first model mesh with the first mean model mesh; a forward transformation unit (120) for transforming the model mesh into a registered model mesh using the registration transformation; a computation unit (130) for computing a propagation field for propagating the registered model mesh, the propagation field comprising vectors of displacements of vertices of the second mean model mesh relative to respective vertices of the first mean model mesh; a propagation unit (140) for transforming the registered model mesh into the propagated registered model mesh based on applying the vertex displacement vectors comprised in the propagation field to respective vertices of the registered model mesh; and an inverse transformation unit (150) for transforming the propagated regist

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for adapting a plurality of model meshes to a plurality of image data. The system has a registration unit for registering the plurality of model meshes with the plurality of image data on the basis of a computation of a registration transformation for transforming the plurality of model meshes, and an adaptation unit for adapting the plurality of registered model meshes to the plurality of image data on the basis of a computation of locations of mesh vertices of the plurality of model meshes. The described system is capable of reducing motion artifacts in tomographic images computed from data acquired at a plurality of different cardiac cycle phases.

Abstract: A system including a display and a processor and a corresponding method for identifying a tumor in a patient image, classifying the tumor based on a predetermined classification system and determining a recommendation regarding a lymph node biopsy based on the tumor identified in the patient image, the classification of the tumor and a predetermined rule.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system (100) for registering a vessel model with an image data set based on a joined model comprising a reference object model and the vessel model, the system comprising: a placement unit (110) for placing the joined model in a space of the image data set, thereby creating a placed joined model comprising a placed reference object model and a placed vessel model; a computation unit (120) for computing a deformation field based on a landmark displacement field comprising displacements of landmarks of the placed reference object model relative to corresponding landmarks in the image data set; a transformation unit (130) for transforming the placed joined model using the deformation field, thereby creating a transformed joined model comprising a transformed reference object model and a transformed vessel model; and a registration unit (140) for registering the transformed vessel model with the image data set based on modifying the transformed vessel model and optimizing an objective f

Abstract: The invention relates to a visualization apparatus (1) for visualizing an image data set. The visualization apparatus (1) comprises an image data set providing unit (2) for providing the image data set, a differential property determination unit (5) for determining local differential properties for different regions of the image data set, an assigning unit (6) for assigning visualization properties to the different regions of the image data set depending on the determined local differential properties, wherein a visualization property defines the visualization of a region, to which the visualization property is assigned, and a display unit (7) for displaying the visualization properties assigned to the different regions of the image data set. By displaying the visualization properties assigned to the different regions of the image data set different objects can visually be separated from each other without requiring large computational costs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image processing device and a corresponding image processing method for processing medical image data showing at least two image objects, including a segmentation unit for detection and/or segmentation of image objects in said image data.

Abstract: A reconstruction unit is provided for receiving a sequence of data sets, the data sets representing structural information of the object. The reconstruction unit performs receiving scheduling information related to the data sets of the sequence of data sets. Then reconstructing a sequence of coarse reconstructions of the object by using the sequence of data sets and the scheduling information. Afterwards a sequence of adapted models of the object is generated by adapting a respective model to each of the coarse reconstructions. Then a motion of a predetermined portion of each of the adapted models is determined and a specific data set of the sequence of data sets is selected, wherein the specific data set corresponds to the adapted model with the minimum motion of the predetermined portion. Finally the reconstruction unit performs reconstructing a fine reconstruction of at least the part of the object using the specific data set.

Abstract: A system for displaying lung ventilation information, the system comprising an input (12) and a processing unit (15). The input being provided for receiving multiple CT images (71) of a lung, each CT image (71) corresponding to one phase of at least two different phases in a respiratory cycle. The processing unit (15) being configured to compare CT images (71) corresponding to different phases in the respiratory cycle for determining a deformation vector field for each phase, to generate for each phase a ventilation image (72) based on the corresponding deformation vector field, to spatially align the ventilation images (72), and to generate for at least one common position (62) in each one of the aligned ventilation images (72), a function (81) of a time course of a ventilation value for said common position (62), each ventilation value in the function (81) being based on the deformation vector fields corresponding to the aligned ventilation images (73).

Abstract: A system is provided for obtaining a nuclear image of a moving object. The system comprises an input (14), a processing unit (15) and an output (17). The input (14) is provided for receiving a nuclear image and morphological images of the object. The processing unit (15) is configured to process the morphological images to obtain sparse motion information of the object, to use the sparse motion information and a motion model for obtaining estimated motion information about the object, and to generate a motion-corrected nuclear image based on the estimated motion information and the acquired nuclear image. The output (17) provides the corrected nuclear image.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of segmenting a surface in a multi dimensional dataset comprising a plurality of images. In accordance with the method of the invention, at step 4 shape parameters and topology parameters for the object under consideration are acquired. Preferably that the multi-dimensional data set imaging the object is acquired at an acquisition step 1 and is subsequently stored in a computer-readable file 2. At step 5 the default shape parameters and topology parameters of a suitable segmentation algorithm 3 based on a deformable model are adapted with the value of the actual shape parameters and the topology parameters 4 for the given object. Subsequently, at step 6 the images constituting the multi-dimensional dataset are segmented using deformable model algorithm 6a with the adapted shape parameters and the adapted topology parameters yielding respective portions of the sought surface.