Abstract: A device (10) for controlling an image acquisition of a multi-slice computed tomography system (1), MSCT, is disclosed. The device comprises an input (11) for receiving projection image data from the MSCT (1), an output (12) for controlling operation of the MSCT (1) and a processor (13). The processor (13) is adapted for controlling the MSCT to acquire a large volume localizer radiograph, and for defining an organ region in the localizer radiograph that delimits an organ of interest. The processor is adapted for acquiring a large volume helical CT scan of the subject, in which an X-ray cone angle is increased when the organ region in the subject is translated into the examination volume and decreased when the organ region is translated out of the examination volume.

Abstract: A method for visualization may include: obtaining data of a first perfusion measure of myocardial tissues of a patient; obtaining data of a geometry of a coronary artery of the patient; obtaining data of a second perfusion measure of the coronary artery; obtaining data of a flow impediment measure along the coronary artery based on the data of the second perfusion measure of the coronary artery; and visualizing, on a single image, the first perfusion measure of the myocardial tissues and the coronary artery, the coronary artery being overlaid with the first perfusion measure on the single image, the visualized coronary artery representing the geometry of the coronary artery and the flow impediment measure along the coronary artery.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining a functional index for stenosis assessment of a vessel is provided. The apparatus comprises an input interface (40) and a processing unit (50). The input interface is configured to obtain image data (30) representing a two-dimensional representation of a vessel (6). The processing unit (50) is configured to determine a course of the vessel (6) and a width (w1, w2) of the vessel along its course in the image data and is further configured to determine the functional index for stenosis assessment of the vessel based on the width of the vessel in the image data.

Abstract: A device for positioning a shadow mask includes a mask application tool, the mask application tool comprising an inner body comprising, at an end surface of the inner body, one or more magnets. The mask application tool further comprises a hollow outer body for receiving the inner body, the outer body comprising, at an end surface of the outer body, a mask socket and one or more guide elements for positioning the mask application tool on a substrate tray.

Abstract: An apparatus for assessing a patient's vasculature and a corresponding method are provided, in which the bifurcations in a vessel of interest are identified on the basis of a local change in at least one geometric parameter value of the vessel of interest and the fluid dynamics inside the vessel of interest are adjusted to take account for said bifurcations.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining a functional index for stenosis assessment of a vessel is provided. The apparatus comprises an input interface (40) and a processing unit (50). The input interface is configured to obtain image data (30) representing a two-dimensional representation of a vessel (6). The processing unit (50) is configured to determine a course of the vessel (6) and a width (w1, w2) of the vessel along its course in the image data and is further configured to determine the functional index for stenosis assessment of the vessel based on the width of the vessel in the image data.

Abstract: An apparatus for assessing a patient's vasculature and a corresponding method identify the bifurcations in a vessel of interest on the basis of a local change in at least one geometric parameter value of the vessel of interest and adjust the fluid dynamics inside the vessel of interest to take account for said bifurcations.

Abstract: A computing system (118) includes a computer readable storage medium (122) with computer executable instructions (124), including a biophysical simulator (126), and a reference location (128), and a processor (120) configured to the biophysical simulator and simulate a reference FFR value at a predetermined location along a segmented coronary vessel indicated by the reference location. A computer readable storage medium encoded with computer readable instructions, which, when executed by a processor of a computing system, causes the processor to simulate a reference FFR value at a predetermined location along a segmented coronary vessel indicated by a predetermined reference location. A method including simulating a reference FFR value at a predetermined location along a segmented coronary vessel indicated by a predetermined reference location.

Abstract: The invention refers to an apparatus for monitoring a subject (121) during an imaging procedure, e.g. CT-imaging The apparatus (110) comprises a monitoring image providing unit (111) providing a first monitoring image and a second monitoring image acquired at different support positions, a monitoring position providing unit (112) providing a first monitoring position of a region of interest in the first monitoring image, a support position providing unit (113) providing support position data of the support positions, a position map providing unit (114) providing a position map mapping calibration support positions to calibration monitoring positions, and a region of interest position determination unit (115) determining a position of the region of interest in the second monitoring image based on the first monitoring position, the support position data, and the position map. This allows to determine the position of the region of interest accurately and with low computational effort.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device (1) for fractional flow reserve determination. The device (1) comprises a model generator (10) configured to generate a three-dimensional model (3DM) of a portion of an imaged vascular vessel tree (VVT) surrounding a stenosed vessel segment (SVS), based on a partial segmentation of the imaged vascular vessel tree (VVT). Further, the device comprises an image processor (20) configured to calculate a blood flow (Q) through the stenosed vessel segment (SVS) based on an analysis of a time-series of X-ray images of the vascular vessel tree (VVT). Still further, the device comprises a fractional-flow-reserve determiner (30) configured to determine a fractional flow reserve (FFR) based on the three-dimensional model (3DM) and the calculated blood flow.

Abstract: A system (100) includes a computer readable storage medium (122) with computer executable instructions (124), including: a predictor (126) configured to determine a baseline coronary state and a predicted coronary state from contrast enhanced cardiac computed tomography volumetric image data and a model of an effect of one or more substances on characteristics effecting the coronary state. The system further includes a processor (120) configured to execute the predictor to determine the baseline coronary state and the predicted coronary state from the contrast enhanced cardiac computed tomography volumetric image data and the model of the effect of one or more of the substances on the characteristics effecting the coronary state. The system further includes a display configured to display the baseline coronary state and the predicted coronary state.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining a functional index for stenosis assessment of a vessel is provided. The apparatus comprises an input interface (40) and a processing unit (50). The input interface is configured to obtain image data (30) representing a two-dimensional representation of a vessel (6). The processing unit (50) is configured to determine a course of the vessel (6) and a width (w1, w2) of the vessel along its course in the image data and is further configured to determine the functional index for stenosis assessment of the vessel based on the width of the vessel in the image data.

Abstract: A device (10) for controlling an image acquisition of a multi-slice computed tomography system (1), MSCT, is disclosed. The device comprises an input (11) for receiving projection image data from the MSCT (1), an output (12) for controlling operation of the MSCT (1) and a processor (13). The processor (13) is adapted for controlling the MSCT to acquire a large volume localizer radiograph, and for defining an organ region in the localizer radiograph that delimits an organ of interest. The processor is adapted for acquiring a large volume helical CT scan of the subject, in which an X-ray cone angle is increased when the organ region in the subject is translated into the examination volume and decreased when the organ region is translated out of the examination volume.

Abstract: An apparatus for assessing a vessel of interest and a corresponding method are provided in which the modeling of the hemodynamic parameters using a fluid dynamics model can be verified by deriving feature values from the segmented vessel of interest and inputting these feature values into a classifier. The classifier may then determine, based on the feature values whether the segmentation has been performed from proximal to distal, from distal to proximal or cannot be determined from the provided data. An incorrect segmentation order can thus be identified and potentially be corrected, thereby avoiding inaccurate simulation results.

Abstract: A computing system (118) includes a computer readable storage medium (122) with computer executable instructions (124), including a including a biophysical simulator (126) with a segmentor (202) and a boundary condition determiner (206). The computing system further includes a processor (120) configured to execute the biophysical simulator to compute a fractional flow reserve index with cardiac imaging data and at least one of an adapted coronary tree segmentation and an adapted boundary condition.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining a functional index for stenosis assessment of a vessel is provided. The apparatus comprises an input interface (40) and a processing unit (50). The input interface is configured to obtain image data (30) representing a two-dimensional representation of a vessel (6). The processing unit (50) is configured to determine a course of the vessel (6) and a width (w1, w2) of the vessel along its course in the image data and is further configured to determine the functional index for stenosis assessment of the vessel based on the width of the vessel in the image data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device (1) for fractional flow reserve determination. The device (1) comprises a model generator (10) configured to generate a three-dimensional model (3DM) of a portion of an imaged vascular vessel tree (VVT) surrounding a stenosed vessel segment (SVS), based on a partial segmentation of the imaged vascular vessel tree (VVT). Further, the device comprises an image processor (20) configured to calculate a blood flow (Q) through the stenosed vessel segment (SVS) based on an analysis of a time-series of X-ray images of the vascular vessel tree (VVT). Still further, the device comprises a fractional-flow-reserve determiner (30) configured to determine a fractional flow reserve (FFR) based on the three-dimensional model (3DM) and the calculated blood flow.

Abstract: A method includes determining at least one characteristic about a stenosis in a vessel of a patient from image data of the stenosis, mapping the characteristic to a predefined stenosis characteristic to fractional flow reserve value look up table, identifying the fractional flow reserve value in the look up table corresponding to the characteristic, and visually presenting the image data and the identified fractional flow reserve value. A system includes memory storing a pre-defined stenosis characteristic to fractional flow reserve value look up table, a metric determiner (118) that maps at least one characteristic about a stenosis in a vessel of a patient, which is determined from image data of the stenosis, to a characteristic in the look up table and identifies a fractional flow reserve value corresponding to the characteristic, and a display (116) that visually presents the image data and the identified fractional flow reserve value.

Abstract: A computing system (126) includes a computer readable storage medium (130) with computer executable instructions (128), including: a segmentation standardizer (120) configured to determine a standardized vascular tree from a segmented vascular tree segmented of volumetric image data and a predetermined set of pruning rules (206), and a biophysical simulator (122) configured to perform a biophysical simulation based on the standardized vascular tree. The computing system further includes a processor (124) configured to execute the segmentation standardizer to determine the standardized vascular tree from the segmented vascular tree segmented of volumetric image data and the predetermined set of pruning rules, and configured to execute the biophysical simulator to perform a biophysical simulation based on the standardized vascular tree. The computing system further includes a display configured to display at least one of the standardized vascular tree and a result of the biophysical simulation.

Abstract: A computing system (118) includes a computer readable storage medium (122) with computer executable instructions (124), including a including a biophysical simulator (126) with a segmentor (202) and a boundary condition determiner (206). The computing system further includes a processor (120) configured to execute the biophysical simulator to compute a fractional flow reserve index with cardiac imaging data and at least one of an adapted coronary tree segmentation and an adapted boundary condition.