Abstract: An ultrasound imager provides for LAA closure guidance. Using ultrasound imaging allows for modeling over time (e.g., throughout a heart cycle). An anatomy model of the LAA over time is used to create a biomechanical model personalized to the patient. The personalized models and a model of one or more closure devices are used to select a closure device for the patient appropriate for the entire heart cycle and to guide placement of the selected closure device during an implantation.

Abstract: An ultrasound imager provides for LAA closure guidance. Using ultrasound imaging allows for modeling over time (e.g., throughout a heart cycle). An anatomy model of the LAA over time is used to create a biomechanical model personalized to the patient. The personalized models and a model of one or more closure devices are used to select a closure device for the patient appropriate for the entire heart cycle and to guide placement of the selected closure device during an implantation.

Abstract: An ultrasound imager provides for LAA closure guidance. Using ultrasound imaging allows for modeling over time (e.g., throughout a heart cycle). An anatomy model of the LAA over time is used to create a biomechanical model personalized to the patient. The personalized models and a model of one or more closure devices are used to select a closure device for the patient appropriate for the entire heart cycle and to guide placement of the selected closure device during an implantation.

Abstract: Different intracardiac echocardiography volumes are stitched together. Different volumes of a patient are scanned with ICE. To stitch the volumes together, creating a larger volume, the volumes are spatially aligned. The alignment is based on feature, surface, or both feature and surface matching of the ICE volumes with a preoperative model of the same patient. The matching with the model indicates a relative position of the ICE volumes with each other. Using machine-trained classifiers may speed performance, allowing for real-time assembling of a volume from ICE data as the catheter is moved within the patient.

Abstract: A method for registration of ultrasound device in three dimensions to a C-arm scan, the method including acquiring a baseline volume, acquiring images in which the ultrasound device is disposed, locating the device within the images, registering the location of the device to the baseline volume, acquiring an ultrasound volume from the ultrasound device, registering the ultrasound volume to the baseline volume, and performing fusion imaging to display a view of the ultrasound device in the baseline volume.

Abstract: A method for positioning a stent able to be deployed to support a vessel in a blood vessel, especially in the cardiology, with the stent after its provisional placement in a not yet deployed state in an area intended for the support of the vessel, being at least partly automatically deployed as a function of at least one triggering signal for final positioning in the blood vessel.

Abstract: 2-D projection images show the variation over time of the distribution of a contrast medium in an examination subject. Each projection image comprises pixels having pixel values corresponding to one another in the projection images that are determined by identical areas of the examination subject. A computer subdivides an image that is to be displayed from the projection images into parcels in one perfusion region. For each parcel, the computer determines a characteristic value and, based on the characteristic value, a projection color. It assigns the projection color to the parcel. The characteristic value is determined based on the pixel values occurring in the parcel of the projection image or their differences from the pixel values of a corresponding parcel of another projection image. The computer outputs a subarea of the projection image containing the perfusion region. It represents each parcel of the perfusion region in its assigned projection color.

Abstract: A system and method for obtaining perfusion images is disclosed. The system and method includes hardware and software for determining physiological characteristics of a patient and determining imaging parameter values for an imaging modality based on the patient's physiological characteristics. The system also includes a controller operative to receive the imaging parameter values for controlling an X-ray device. The X-ray device is coupled with the controller and acquires projection images of the patient, and outputs the projection images to a perfusion evaluation computer for evaluating the perfusion of an region of interest represented in the projection images. The perfusion rate of the region of interest is then output to an output device, such as a display or printer.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for optically-based acquisition of slice images from a vessel of a subject, and for combining the slice images to provide an intuitively recognizable visualization of a pathology in the vessel, slice images of the vessel are acquired during pullback of an optical probe of the optically-based slice imaging system, while simultaneously acquiring an ECG signal from the subject. The slice images and the ECG signal are registered, and slice images acquired at a selected cardiac phase are combined into a scene. The slice images in the scene are subjected to a first data transformation to shift the vessel midpoint in each slice image to the image center of each slice image. After the first data transformation, the slice images in the scene are subjected to a second data transformation to produce the visualization. The second transformation, for example, can be a curved planar reformation to allow the vessel to be shown in longitudinal section.

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for assisting a percutaneous intervention, comprising an imaging system for tomographic imaging, a robot registered therewith and devices for capturing movements of the patient. A processing unit registers a 4D image dataset recorded before the intervention with a 2D or 3D image dataset of the patient which was recorded immediately before the intervention by the imaging system at a defined respiratory position. From this image data, the access path is transmitted to the robot as a function of the movements captured during recording the 4D image dataset and registration, said robot in turn, depending on the instantaneous movement data, holding the instrument on a predetermined target path and preventing the instrument from being advanced by the person if and as long as the instantaneous movement data does not match the previously recorded movement data. The arrangement reduces the risk of puncture errors.

Abstract: Different intracardiac echocardiography volumes are stitched together. Different volumes of a patient are scanned with ICE. To stitch the volumes together, creating a larger volume, the volumes are spatially aligned. The alignment is based on feature, surface, or both feature and surface matching of the ICE volumes with a preoperative model of the same patient. The matching with the model indicates a relative position of the ICE volumes with each other. Using machine-trained classifiers may speed performance, allowing for real-time assembling of a volume from ICE data as the catheter is moved within the patient.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for reconstructing a 3D presentation of a hollow organ based on two-dimensional catheter images, comprising: detecting at least two fluoroscopy images at two different angles of the hollow organ; determining a start position of the catheter from the fluoroscopy images in a three-dimensional model of the hollow organ or a catheter guide; determining a probable withdrawal path of the catheter based on the three-dimensional model; withdrawing the catheter while recording the catheter images and assigning a withdrawal length to each catheter image; determining the deviation of the position of the catheter from a central path running through the middle of the hollow organ and the orientation of the catheter for each catheter image based on the withdrawal path and the withdrawal length; and reconstructing the 3D presentation from the two-dimensional catheter images as well as the deviation of the position of the catheter.

Abstract: There is described an analysis method for at least one image data record of an examination object, wherein each image data record features a multiplicity of image data elements. A position in a multidimensional space is assigned to each image data element. Each image data element features an image data value. The image data values of positionally corresponding image data elements of the image data records are specified by means of at least essentially positionally identical regions of the examination object. A computer automatically divides the image data records into empty regions and signal regions, applying an overall assignment rule which is based on the image data values of the image data elements of a plurality of image data records, such that each image data element of each image data record is assigned to either its empty region or its signal region.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for assisting with percutaneous interventions, wherein 2D x-ray images of an object region are recorded before the intervention using a C-arm x-ray system or a robot-based x-ray system at different projection angles and 3D x-ray image data of the object region is reconstructed from the 2D x-ray recordings. One or more 2D or 3D ultrasound images are recorded before and/or during the intervention using an external ultrasound system and registered with the 3D image data. The 2D or 3D ultrasound images are then overlaid with the 3D image data record or a target region segmented therefrom or displayed next to one another in the same perspective. The method allows a puncture or biopsy to be monitored with a low level of radiation.

Abstract: A device for the magnet-assisted catheter intervention comprises magnets for controlling a magnetic tip of a catheter. An x-ray device serves to generate three dimensional ambient images of a patient. A data processing unit calculates the probability of the magnetic tip colliding with an obstacle in the body of the patient from the ambient images and the current position of the magnetic tip and if necessary acts mechanically on the guide element so as to generate a haptically perceivable signal, with which guide element the movement of the catheter is controlled.

Abstract: A method and system for modeling the aortic valve in 4D image data, such as 4D CT and echocardiography, is disclosed. An initial estimate of a physiological aortic valve model is determined for at least one reference frame of a 4D image sequence based on anatomic features in the reference frame. The initial estimate is refined to generate a final estimate in the reference frame. A dynamic model of the aortic valve is then generated by estimating the physiological aortic valve model for each remaining frame of the 4D image sequence based on the final estimate in the reference frame. The aortic valve can be quantitatively evaluated using the dynamic model.

Abstract: Data of an examination object comprises a volume-data record and a plurality of two-dimensional projection images. The volume-data record includes voxels where each voxel is assigned to a location in three-dimensional space. Each projection image includes pixels where each pixel is assigned to a location in a two-dimensional-projection plane and has a value. Each pixel is assigned a projection volume, this being specified in that it is mapped by the radioscopy onto the pixel to which it is assigned. A sub-volume of the volume-data record is selected. The projection images are registered in relation to the volume-data record. A functional parameter of the examination object is specified for the pixels of the projection images, depending on their values. For each pixel, when specifying the functional parameter, consideration is given to the locations and/or the number of those voxels which are positioned both within the sub-volume and within the projection volume.

Abstract: 2-D projection images show the temporal profile of the distribution of a contrast medium in an examination object, which contains a vascular system and its surroundings. Each projection image comprises pixels with pixel values. The pixel values of pixels corresponding to one another in the projection images are defined by at least essentially locationally identical areas of the examination object. A computer assigns a uniform 2-D evaluation core that is uniform for all corresponding pixels at least in a sub-area of pixels corresponding to one another in the projection images that is uniform for the projection images. The computer defines at least one characteristic value for each pixel within each projection image based on the evaluation core assigned to the pixel and assigns it to the relevant pixel.

Abstract: The invention can be summarized as follows: A collision protection device for a patient examination table of a medical X-ray device is provided for the purpose of assuring simple and reliable avoidance of collisions between very fast moving device parts of a medical X-ray device and a patient, which collision protection device has a protective element made of an X-ray transparent material, wherein the collision protection device can be arranged relative to the patient examination table and brought into a position such that in said position the protective element mechanically shields at least a part of the lying surface of the patient examination table.

Abstract: A sequence of groups of projection images shows an object under examination comprising a vascular system and its environment. A computer determines a 2-dimensional evaluation image having a plurality of pixels based on combination images determined from the projection images of a group. The combination images have a plurality of pixels with pixel values. The sequence of the combination images shows the time characteristic of the distribution of a contrast medium in the object. The pixels of the evaluation image correspond to those of the projection images. The computer assigns each pixel, at least in a part area of the evaluation image, a type that is characteristic of whether the respective pixel corresponds to a vessel of the vascular system, a perfusion area or a background. It performs the assignment of the type on the basis of the time characteristic of the pixel values of the combination images.