Abstract: A system and method to compensate for respiratory motion in imaging of instruments introduced into the subject anatomy is provided. The system can include an imaging system in communication with a controller. The controller can include a memory with program instructions for execution by the processor to perform the steps of: detecting an illustration of at least a portion of the plurality of instruments introduced into the subject anatomy in a first image and a second image, comparing and calculating a displacement of the plurality of instruments between the first and second images, calculating one of an average or median displacement of the plurality of instruments between the first and second images, and applying one of the average and the median displacement to adjust at least a portion of the first or second images or a pre-acquired three-dimensional model of the internal region of interest.

Abstract: A medical imaging method for the navigation of a guidable medical instrument intended to be moved inside the body of a patient, comprising: receiving at least one 2D image of a cavity of a patient, acquired by an acquisition device, for which cavity a 3D representation is available; receiving at least one data item on the force applied to the medical instrument to control a guiding of the medical instrument inside the patient's body; and combining data derived from information on applied force, the 2D image and the 3D representation to determine the position of the medical instrument.

Abstract: A method of detection and compensation for respiratory motion improves the registration between a 3D pre-operation image and X-ray images acquired during a cardiac intervention. By synchronizing the X-ray images with the electrocardiogram, the disclosed method thus eliminates the motion related to the heart cycle from these images, thus isolating the contribution of the respiratory motion. From this point, an algorithm is proposed capable of attributing the motion remaining in the radiography images to respiration. The algorithm also enables this motion to be detected and compensated for in order to obtain a registration between 3D cardiac images and radiography images.

Abstract: A method for generating a registered image relative to a cardiac cycle and a respiratory cycle of a person is provided. The method includes generating a plurality of 2-D images of an anatomical region of the person. The method further includes generating a 3-D model of the anatomical region of the person. The 3-D model is associated with a predetermined phase of the cardiac cycle and a predetermined phase of the respiratory cycle. The method further includes selecting a first 2-D image from the plurality of 2-D images associated with the predetermined phase of the cardiac cycle and the predetermined phase of the respiratory cycle. The method further includes generating the registered image of the anatomical region utilizing the first 2-D image and the 3-D model. The method further includes storing the registered image in a memory device.

Abstract: Methods for displaying a location of a point of interest on a 3-D model of an anatomical region of a person are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, the method includes generating first and second 2-D images of the anatomical region utilizing an image acquisition system when an X-ray source of the image acquisition system is disposed at first and second positions, respectively, in a 3-D coordinate system of the image acquisition system. The method further includes selecting first and second points in the first and second 2-D images, respectively. The method further includes utilizing a triangulation technique utilizing the first and second points to determine a point of interest in a 3-D coordinate system of the 3-D model of the anatomical region.

Abstract: A system and method to compensate for respiratory motion in imaging of instruments introduced into the subject anatomy is provided. The system can include an imaging system in communication with a controller.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention relates to a process for acquiring a three-dimensional radiological image of an organ in movement of a patient, according to which a control unit executes steps of: (53, 54) receiving a signal representative of a movement parameter of the organ, (53, 54) detecting variation in the signal due to artificial maintenance of the organ in a reduced state of movement, and in response to detection, (59, 510) triggering acquisition of a sequence of images by a radiological imaging device to reconstruct a three-dimensional radiological image of the organ from the sequence of images.

Abstract: A method using an imaging device to define an acquisition geometry for 2D images of an observation region, a region for which there exists a 3D representation. 2D views of the 3D representation can be determined following the acquisition geometry of the imaging device for a plurality of viewing points, so that each acquired 2D image can be superimposed with any of this plurality of views. As a variant, in the 3D representation two views are determined corresponding to the viewing point at which the eye is positioned at the formation plane of the acquired image (front view and corresponds to the 2D image) and to the viewing point at which the eye is positioned at the focal point of the projective geometry (back view which is opposite to the viewing point of the 2D image).

Abstract: A medical imaging method for the navigation of a guidable medical instrument intended to be moved inside the body of a patient, comprising: receiving at least one 2D image of a cavity of a patient, acquired by an acquisition device, for which cavity a 3D representation is available; receiving at least one data item on the force applied to the medical instrument to control a guiding of the medical instrument inside the patient's body; and combining data derived from information on applied force, the 2D image and the 3D representation to determine the position of the medical instrument.

Abstract: A method for generating a registered image relative to a cardiac cycle and a respiratory cycle of a person is provided. The method includes generating a plurality of 2-D images of an anatomical region of the person. The method further includes generating a 3-D model of the anatomical region of the person. The 3-D model is associated with a predetermined phase of the cardiac cycle and a predetermined phase of the respiratory cycle. The method further includes selecting a first 2-D image from the plurality of 2-D images associated with the predetermined phase of the cardiac cycle and the predetermined phase of the respiratory cycle. The method further includes generating the registered image of the anatomical region utilizing the first 2-D image and the 3-D model. The method further includes storing the registered image in a memory device.

Abstract: In a method for processing radiography cardiac images in order to obtain a subtracted and registered fusion image, at the start of a medical intervention, a radiology image of the heart is obtained by injection of a contrast product into one of the anatomical structures of the heart. Radioscopy images are acquired and are viewed in real time. A subtraction algorithm is implemented. This subtraction algorithm uses the radiology images to make the anatomical structures of the heart visible in the radioscopy images. A registration algorithm is implemented. This algorithm is capable of registering these two images by means of a catheter placed in the coronary sinus. This registration makes it possible to obtain perfect concordance between the two subtracted images.

Abstract: A method of detection and compensation for respiratory motion improves the registration between a 3D pre-operation image and X-ray images acquired during a cardiac intervention. By synchronizing the X-ray images with the electrocardiogram, the disclosed method thus eliminates the motion related to the heart cycle from these images, thus isolating the contribution of the respiratory motion. From this point, an algorithm is proposed capable of attributing the motion remaining in the radiography images to respiration. The algorithm also enables this motion to be detected and compensated for in order to obtain a registration between 3D cardiac images and radiography images.

Abstract: A system and method to track movement of a tool in percutaneous replacement of a heart valve of a subject is provided. The system includes an imaging system, a navigation system operable to track movement of the tool through the patient and to illustrate a representation of a position the tool in spatial relation relative to images acquired by the imaging system, and a controller. The controller is operable to identify one of a series of pathways to move the tool through a patient in percutaneous replacement of the heart valve, to identify a sequence of models illustrative of the one of the plurality of pathways, to detect the position of the tool within a threshold of one of the models in the sequence, and to generate display including a representation of the tool superimposed relative to the model within the threshold.

Abstract: Methods for displaying a location of a point of interest on a 3-D model of an anatomical region of a person are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, the method includes generating first and second 2-D images of the anatomical region utilizing an image acquisition system when an X-ray source of the image acquisition system is disposed at first and second positions, respectively, in a 3-D coordinate system of the image acquisition system. The method further includes selecting first and second points in the first and second 2-D images, respectively. The method further includes utilizing a triangulation technique utilizing the first and second points to determine a point of interest in a 3-D coordinate system of the 3-D model of the anatomical region.

Abstract: A region of interest is selected in an input image, such as a digital or analog image form a mammography apparatus. Display parameters for the input image or a part thereof are determined as a function of the region of interest. The image or a part thereof is displayed using the determined parameters. Choosing display parameters as a function of the region of interest optimizes the display of the possible region of interest without any adjustment by the operator.

Abstract: The regions of interest of images of both breasts of a patient are defined as regions of the image of minimal surface area and containing views of the breasts. These regions of interest are aligned for simultaneous display of the images. The display now allows simple and direct comparison of the images of both breasts, notably allowing immediate comparison of structural disorganizations within the two breasts.

Abstract: A region of interest is selected in an input image, such as a digital or analog image form a mammography apparatus. Display parameters for the input image or a part thereof are determined as a function of the region of interest. The image or a part thereof is displayed using the determined parameters. Choosing display parameters as a function of the region of interest optimizes the display of the possible region of interest without any adjustment by the operator.

Abstract: The regions of interest of images of both breasts of a patient are defined as regions of the image of minimal surface area and containing views of the breasts. These regions of interest are aligned for simultaneous display of the images. The display now allows simple and direct comparison of the images of both breasts, notably allowing immediate comparison of structural disorganizations within the two breasts.

Abstract: Method and system for compensating for the thickness of an organ in a radiology instrument, in which an image of the radiological thicknesses of the organ through which the X-ray beam has passed is calculated on the basis of a digitized image, the thickness image is filtered using a low-pass filter in order to obtain a low-frequency image, the low-frequency image is subtracted from the radiological thickness image in order to obtain a contrast image, the low-frequency image is processed using a pre-recorded table taking into account a contract &khgr; selected by a user in order to obtain an image with reduced dynamic range, and the image with reduced dynamic range is added to the contrast image in order to obtain a compensated thickness image, the pixels having a level below or above a predetermined threshold being returned at least to the value of the threshold, while preserving the differences and real ratios between the anatomical structures.

Abstract: Method and system for compensating for the thickness of an organ in a radiology instrument, in which an image of the radiological thicknesses of the organ through which the X-ray beam has passed is calculated on the basis of a digitized image, the thickness image is filtered using a low-pass filter in order to obtain a low-frequency image, the low-frequency image is subtracted from the radiological thickness image in order to obtain a contrast image, the lowfrequency image is processed using a pre-recorded table taking into account a contract &khgr; selected by a user in order to obtain an image with reduced dynamic range, and the image with reduced dynamic range is added to the contrast image in order to obtain a compensated thickness image, the pixels having a level below or above a predetermined threshold being returned at least to the value of the said threshold, while preserving the differences and real ratios between the anatomical structures.