Abstract: A mechanism for generating an estimated gestational age (GA). Imaging data of a target fetus is obtained, and compared to a plurality of different models. Each model represents the structure of the brain/head of a fetus at a different gestational age. The model that most closely resembles the structure of the target fetus, as representing by the imaging data, is identified. The associated gestational age of this model is used to generate the estimated gestational age of the subject.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for guiding the acquisition of an ultrasound image. A 3D ultrasound image is acquired by an ultrasound probe at a first position and an anatomical structure is identified within the 3D ultrasound image. A target imaging plane is estimated based on the identified anatomical structure and it is determined whether the target imaging plane is present within the 3D ultrasound image. If the target imaging plane is present, a displacement between a central plane of the 3D ultrasound image and the target plane is determined. If the displacement is below a predetermined threshold, the target imaging plane is extracted and if the displacement is above the predetermined threshold, an instruction to acquire a 3D ultrasound image with the ultrasound probe at a second position, different from the first position, is generated based on the displacement. The invention further provides a method for estimating a target imaging plane.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for assessing an area of interest in the circulatory system of a subject. The method comprises: obtaining (210) a temporal sequence of ultrasound image frames of the area of interest; obtaining (220, 320) one or more trained models; inputting (250, 350) the temporal sequence of ultrasound image frames into the one or more trained models; and analysing (260, 360) the temporal sequence of ultrasound image frames, using the one or more trained models, to produce output data characterising a condition of the area of interest, wherein the output data characterises an extent of atherosclerosis or calcification of the area of interest, and wherein the area of interest is the aortic valve. An associated training method for training the one or more models is also provided.

Abstract: A method of analyzing an ultrasound image involves assessing the quality of the image in terms of which features of interest have been identified in the image and assessing a segmentation quality relating to the quality of a segmentation of the image. The two quality assessments are combined to derive and output an overall quality assessment for biometry measurements obtained from the image.

Abstract: A method for segmenting a target anatomy in ultrasound data. Scan-converted ultrasound data is obtained within a scan-converted space in the Cartesian coordinate system. The scan-converted ultrasound data is transformed to de-scanned ultrasound data within a de-scanned space in the Toroidal coordinate system. The de-scanned ultrasound data is an estimate of the ultrasound data as obtained by an original acquisition procedure. A segmentation of a target anatomy can thus be performed on the ultrasound data in the de-scanned space The resulting segmentation data can then be re-scanned back to the Cartesian coordinate system for display with the ultrasound data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to localizing stenoses. In order to provide improved and facilitated stenosis localization, a device (10) for localizing a stenosis in an angiogram is provided. The device comprises an image supply (12), a data processor (14) and an output (16). The image supply is configured to provide a first image (18) and a second image (20). The first image is an angiographic image that comprises image data representative of a region of interest of a vascular structure in a visible and distinct manner, wherein the vascular structure comprises at least one vessel with at least a part of a stenosis. The second image is a treatment X-ray image that comprises image data representative of at least a part of an interventional device arranged within the vascular structure in a state when the stenosis of the vascular structure is treated.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for determining a global confidence index for a 2D ultrasound image extracted from a 3D ultrasound volume, wherein the global confidence index indicates the suitability of the 2D ultrasound image for medical measure-ments. The method comprises obtaining a 3D ultrasound volume of a subject and extracting a set of at least one 2D ultrasound image from the 3D ultrasound volume. A set of geometrical indicators are then obtained with a first neural network, wherein each geometrical indicator indicates geometrical features of the anatomy of the subject. The set of 2D ultrasound images are then processed with a second neural network, wherein the output of the second neural network is a set of anatomical indicators and wherein the anatomical indicators indicate at least the presence of anatomical landmarks. A global confidence index is then determined for each one of the set of 2D ultrasound images based on the geometrical indicators and the anatomical indicators.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for performing an assessment of a placenta. The method includes obtaining a 3D ultrasound image of a uterus (210) and segmenting the placenta (220). A 3D rendering (200) of the uterus is then generated, wherein the generating includes: identifying a position of the placenta within the uterus with respect to an anatomical structure such as the cervix (250); obtaining anatomical reference data relating to a potential risk associated with the position of the placenta within the uterus; and comparing the position of the placenta and the anatomical reference data. A 3D rendering of the uterus is generated that comprises a 3D rendering of the placenta, marked with an indicator that is altered based on the comparison of the position of the placenta and the anatomical reference data. The appearance of the indicator may vary according to e.g. risk type/severity.

Abstract: A method, system and computer-program product for identifying neural network inputs for a neural network that may have been incorrectly processed by the neural network. A set of activation values (of a subset of neurons of a single layer) associated with a neural network input is obtained. A neural network output associated with the neural network input is also obtained. A determination is made as to whether a first and second neural network input share similar sets of activation values, but dissimilar neural network outputs or vice versa. In this way a prediction can be made as to whether one of the first and second neural network inputs has been incorrectly processed by the neural network.

Abstract: An ultrasound image processing apparatus (16) is disclosed comprising a processor arrangement (46, 50) adapted to receive a temporal sequence (15) of ultrasound images (150) of at least a chest region (151) of a fetal entity (62) from an ultrasound probe (14), said chest region including the fetal heart (171), said temporal sequence capturing at least part of a cardiac cycle of the fetal heart; identify the chest region of the fetal entity in one or more of the ultrasound images of said temporal sequence; identify a portion of the spine in the identified chest region; calculate an orientation axis (160) of the fetal chest from the identified chest region and the identified spine portion; identify the septum of the fetal heart as a linear structure which is temporally more stable than its surrounding structures in said temporal sequence of ultrasound images and which defines a region of convergence of the movements of the fetal heart during said cardiac cycle; calculate an orientation axis (170) of the fetal h

Abstract: A number of anti-angiogenic strategies connected with the VEGF signalling pathway are used in current clinical treatment or trial phase, but they either cause adverse effects or are not specific. Various strategies were aimed at identifying peptides inhibiting the VEGF-A165/NRP-1 interaction. A well-known antiangiogenic peptide is the heptapeptide termed “A7R” having the amino acid sequence ATWLPPR, for which various derivatives have been synthesized, which include peptides having the general sequence Lys(hArg)-AA2-AA3-Arg. However, the ability of the known peptides to inhibit the VEGF-A165/NRP-1 interaction was too low for their use as candidate drugs for inhibiting angiogenesis in subjects in need thereof. The present inventors have now conceived a family of novel peptide-like compounds having a nanomolar affinity for NRP-1, which are thus endowed with a powerful capacity to inhibit the VEGF-A165/NRP-1 interaction.

Abstract: A computer implemented method is provided for processing a 3D fetal ultrasound image. A 3D fetal ultrasound image is obtained (either acquired or received from memory), and the spine is detected within the image. This enables a first reference axis to be defined. A second reference axis is defined perpendicular to the first reference axis, and the 3D fetal ultrasound image is updated (e.g. rotated in 3D space) using the first and second reference axes and an up/down (elevation) orientation detection. This provides a normalization of the orientation of the image, so that a machine learning approach is better able to identify landmarks within new images.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a guidance for treatment of a chronic total occlusion. In order to provide improved guidance information for chronic total occlusion treatment, a device (10) for guidance for treatment of a chronic total occlusion is provided that comprises an image supply (12), a data processor (14) and an output (16). The image supply provides a sequence of angiographic images comprising a vascular structure. The data processor detects at least one portion of the vascular structure indicating a total occlusion of a vessel based on the sequence of angiographic images; and determines an image of the sequence of images that shows at least one segment of the vessel next to the total occlusion; and generates guidance image data based on the determined image. The output provides the generated guidance image data. Thus, additional information relating to spatial aspects is provided to the user based on 2D image data.

Abstract: The invention provides an ultrasound imaging method for determining complementary views of interest based on an anomalous feature identified in a region of interest of an ultrasound image. The method includes obtaining an ultrasound image of a region of interest of a subject and identifying an anomalous feature within said region. The identified anomalous feature may then be used to determine one or more available complementary ultrasound images of interest of the subject. The one or more available complementary ultrasound images may then be displayed to a user and the complementary ultrasound views to be reviewed may then be selected by the user from the displayed available complementary ultrasound images.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for guiding the acquisition of an ultrasound image. A 3D ultrasound image is acquired by an ultrasound probe at a first position and an anatomical structure is identified within the 3D ultrasound image. A target imaging plane is estimated based on the identified anatomical structure and it is determined whether the target imaging plane is present within the 3D ultrasound image. If the target imaging plane is present, a displacement between a central plane of the 3D ultrasound image and the target plane is determined. If the displacement is below a predetermined threshold, the target imaging plane is extracted and if the displacement is above the predetermined threshold, an instruction to acquire a 3D ultrasound image with the ultrasound probe at a second position, different from the first position, is generated based on the displacement. The invention further provides a method for estimating a target imaging plane.

Abstract: A method, system and computer-program product for identifying neural network inputs for a neural network that may have been incorrectly processed by the neural network. A set of activation values (of a subset of neurons of a single layer) associated with a neural network input is obtained. A neural network output associated with the neural network input is also obtained. A determination is made as to whether a first and second neural network input share similar sets of activation values, but dissimilar neural network outputs or vice versa. In this way a prediction can be made as to whether one of the first and second neural network inputs has been incorrectly processed by the neural network.

Abstract: A computer implemented method is provided for processing a 3D fetal ultrasound image. A 3D fetal ultrasound image is obtained (either acquired or received from memory), and the spine is detected within the image. This enables a first reference axis to be defined. A second reference axis is defined perpendicular to the first reference axis, and the 3D fetal ultrasound image is updated (e.g. rotated in 3D space) using the first and second reference axes and an up/down (elevation) orientation detection. This provides a normalization of the orientation of the image, so that a machine learning approach is better able to identify landmarks within new images.

Abstract: An ultrasound image processing apparatus (16) is disclosed comprising a processor arrangement (46, 50) adapted to receive a temporal sequence (15) of ultrasound images (150) of at least a chest region (151) of a fetal entity (62) from an ultrasound probe (14), said chest region including the fetal heart (171), said temporal sequence capturing at least part of a cardiac cycle of the fetal heart; identify the chest region of the fetal entity in one or more of the ultrasound images of said temporal sequence; identify a portion of the spine in the identified chest region; calculate an orientation axis (160) of the fetal chest from the identified chest region and the identified spine portion; identify the septum of the fetal heart as a linear structure which is temporally more stable than its surrounding structures in said temporal sequence of ultrasound images and which defines a region of convergence of the movements of the fetal heart during said cardiac cycle; calculate an orientation axis (170) of the fetal h

Abstract: The gasification process according to the invention involves an installation comprising a treatment chamber in which the materials to be treated pass successively through a drying/pyrolysis zone of variable dimensions in which a pyrolysis gas extraction takes place, then through a gasification zone of variable dimensions in which a syngas extraction takes place. The pyrolysis gas is injected into the roof of the treatment chamber (8) with an oxidizing gas, so as to generate an exothermic oxidation reaction provides the energy necessary for the pyrolysis and gasification reactions. The dimensions and/or the position of the drying/pyrolysis and gasification zones are controlled as a function of the amounts of material to be treated introduced into the treatment chamber (8), their nature and/or energy requirements.