Abstract: The present invention relates to a medical imaging system (10) for planning an implantation of a cardiac implant (42), comprising: a receiving unit (12) for receiving a plurality of three-dimensional (3D) cardiac images (14, 14?) showing different conditions of a heart (32) during a cardiac cycle; a segmentation unit (22) for segmenting within the plurality of 3D cardiac images (14, 14?) a target implant region (38) and a locally adjacent region (40) that could interfere with the cardiac implant (42); a simulation unit (24) for simulating the implantation of the cardiac implant (42) within the target implant region (40) in at least two of the plurality of 3D cardiac images (14, 14?); a collision evaluation unit (26) for evaluating an overlap (46) of the simulated cardiac implant (42) with the segmented locally adjacent region (40) in at least two of the plurality of 3D cardiac images (14, 14?); and a feedback unit (28) for providing feedback information to a user concerning the evaluated overlap (46).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a medical image processing device (10), comprising:—a receiving unit (60) for receiving a first and a second medical image (72, 74) of an anatomical object of interest (84), wherein each of the first and the second medical images (72, 74) comprises a different field of view of the anatomical object of interest (84), and wherein the first medical image and the second medical image (72, 74) show a same or similar anatomical state of the anatomical object of interest (84);—a registration unit (64) that is configured to determine a transformation from an image space of the second medical image (74) to an image space of the first medical image (72);—a transformation unit (66) that is configured to transform the second medical image (74) into the image space of the first medical image (72) based on said transformation in order to receive a transformed second medical image (74?); and—a segmentation unit (68) that is configured to perform an overall segmentation that makes use of both

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system has a user control by which a user positions the user's selection of a heart chamber border in relation to two myocardial boundaries identified by a deformable heart model. The user's border is positioned by a single degree of freedom control which positions the border as a function of a single user- determined value. This overcomes the vagaries of machine-drawn borders and their mixed acceptance by clinicians, who can now create repeatably-drawn borders and exchange the control value for use by others to obtain the same results.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a medical imaging system (10) for planning an implantation of a cardiac implant (42), comprising: a receiving unit (12) for receiving a plurality of three-dimensional (3D) cardiac images (14, 14?) showing different conditions of a heart (32) during a cardiac cycle; a segmentation unit (22) for segmenting within the plurality of 3D cardiac images (14, 14?) a target implant region (38) and a locally adjacent region (40) that could interfere with the cardiac implant (42); a simulation unit (24) for simulating the implantation of the cardiac implant (42) within the target implant region (40) in at least two of the plurality of 3D cardiac images (14, 14?); a collision evaluation unit (26) for evaluating an overlap (46) of the simulated cardiac implant (42) with the segmented locally adjacent region (40) in at least two of the plurality of 3D cardiac images (14, 14?); and a feedback unit (28) for providing feedback information to a user concerning the evaluated overlap (46).

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging apparatus is disclosed comprising an ultrasound acquisition unit (10) connected to a plurality of ultrasound probes (42, 44, 46, 70, 72, 74) each for providing ultrasound data suitable for ultrasound imaging of a patient (12) in a field of view (32) of the ultrasound probes. The ultrasound imaging apparatus further comprises a detection unit (20) for detecting an anatomical object (36) of the patient in the field of view on the basis of the ultrasound data received from at least one of the ultrasound probes and for determining a spatial relationship of the anatomical object and each of the ultrasound probes.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for performing a model-based segmentation of a medical image which only partially shows an anatomical structure. In accordance therewith, a model is applied to the image data of the medical image, the model-based segmentation providing an adapted model having a first model part having been adapted to the first part of the anatomical structure in the medical image of the patient, and a second model part representing the second part of the anatomical structure not having been adapted to a corresponding part of the medical image. Metadata is generated which identifies the first model part to enable the first model part to be distinguished from the second model part in a further processing of the adapted model. Advantageously, the metadata can be used to generate an output image which visually indicates to the user which part of the model has been personalized and which part of the model has not been personalized.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging apparatus (10) for providing ultrasound images of a patient (12) is disclosed. The imaging apparatus (10) comprises an ultrasound acquisition unit (14) for acquiring ultrasound data (42) of a patient's body in a field of view (16), a position determining unit (24) for determining a position (26) within the patient's body. An ultrasound data transformation unit (30) is provided for transforming the ultrasound data in the filed of view on the basis of the determined position to transformed ultrasound data (42) in a virtual field of view (20) having a virtual viewing direction (28) different from the viewing direction of the ultrasound acquisition unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for segmenting MR Dixon image data. A processor and a computer program product are also disclosed for use in connection with the method. The invention finds application in the MR imaging field in general and more specifically may be used in the generation of an attenuation map to correct for attenuation by cortical bone during the reconstruction of PET images. In the method, a surface mesh is adapted to a region of interest by: for each mesh element in the surface mesh: selecting a water target position based on a water image feature response in the MR Dixon water image; selecting a fat target position based on a fat image feature response in the MR Dixon fat image; and displacing each mesh element from its current position to a new position based on both its water target position and its corresponding fat target position.

Abstract: A method is provided for generating a deformable model (300) for segmenting an anatomical structure in a medical image. The anatomical structure comprises a wall. The deformable model (300) is generated such that it comprises, in addition to two surface meshes (320, 360), an intermediate layer mesh (340) for being applied in-between a first surface layer of the wall and a second surface layer of the wall. In generating the intermediate layer mesh (340), the mesh topology of at least part (400) of the intermediate layer mesh is matched to the mesh topology of one of the surface meshes (320, 360), thereby establishing matching mesh topologies. The deformable model (300), as generated, better matches the composition of such walls, thereby providing a more accurate segmentation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for determining electrical characteristics like electrical potentials on a surface of a heart (5). An esophageal electrode structure (6) measures electrical characteristics within an esophagus and a position determination unit (34) determines the position of the esophageal electrode structure within the esophagus and the position of the surface of the heart (5). The electrical characteristics on the surface of the heart (5) are then determined based on the measured electrical characteristics and based on the determined positions of the esophageal electrode structure (6) and the surface of the heart (5). Since for measuring the electrical characteristics the esophageal electrode structure (6) is used, the electrical characteristics can be measured within the esophagus and thus close to the surface of the heart (5), thereby allowing for an improved accuracy of determining the electrical characteristics on the surface of the heart (5).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a medical imaging system (10) for planning an implantation of a cardiac implant (42), comprising: a receiving unit (12) for receiving a plurality of three-dimensional (3D) cardiac images (14, 14?) showing different conditions of a heart (32) during a cardiac cycle; a segmentation unit (22) for segmenting within the plurality of 3D cardiac images (14, 14?) a target implant region (38) and a locally adjacent region (40) that could interfere with the cardiac implant (42); a simulation unit (24) for simulating the implantation of the cardiac implant (42) within the target implant region (40) in at least two of the plurality of 3D cardiac images (14, 14?); a collision evaluation unit (26) for evaluating an overlap (46) of the simulated cardiac implant (42) with the segmented locally adjacent region (40) in at least two of the plurality of 3D cardiac images (14, 14?); and a feedback unit (28) for providing feedback information to a user concerning the evaluated overlap (46).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for segmenting MR Dixon image data. A processor and a computer program product are also disclosed for use in connection with the method. The invention finds application in the MR imaging field in general and more specifically may be used in the generation of an attenuation map to correct for attenuation by cortical bone during the reconstruction of PET images. In the method, a surface mesh is adapted to a region of interest by: for each mesh element in the surface mesh: selecting a water target position based on a water image feature response in the MR Dixon water image; selecting a fat target position based on a fat image feature response in the MR Dixon fat image; and displacing each mesh element from its current position to a new position based on both its water target position and its corresponding fat target position.

Abstract: In the case of a horizontally and vertically acting viscous vibration damper for damping vibrations of large masses exhibiting large amplitudes, at least one tube is disposed within the damper casing filled with viscous damping medium. Although this tube is able to move freely in the horizontal direction, i.e. parallel to the damper casing base, it is prevented from moving in the axial direction. The damping characteristics are thereby maintained, even in the event of vertical vibration movements.

Abstract: In a horizontally and vertically acting vibration damper, there is arranged within the damper housing filled with damping medium a series of annular discs, at least one of which is assigned to the damper strut and which are horizontally and vertically movable relative to one another as a whole, the two movements being designated as telescopic. Some of the discs have at their outer edge a driver, so that the horizontal or radial movement of the annular discs can be transmitted to adjacent annular discs after a predetermined travel has been exceeded. By an appropriate calculation of the diameter of the discs, these can be arranged nested one in the other, so that, even with large movements, small constructional sizes are guaranteed.

Abstract: A damper which comprises a damper housing and a damper plunger in which the damper plunger comprises a top plate for the reception of an object that is to be damped, and a plunger tube. The plunger tube is frustoconical in configuration and can be moved into and out of a damping medium present in the damper housing, the larger cone diameter end of the plunger tube being directed into the damper medium.