Abstract: The cross-sectional area of a tubular cardiovascular structure to assess blood flow wherein the segmentation of the lumen is applied with a deformable model to the three-dimensional image and fitting the deformable model to the three-dimensional image to obtain a fitted model representing the segmentation of the lumen.

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: An imaging steering apparatus includes sensors and an imaging processor configured for: acquiring, via multiple ones of the sensors and from a current position (322), and current orientation (324), an image of an object of interest; based on a model, segmenting the acquired image; and determining, based on a result of the segmenting, a target position (318), and target orientation (320), with the target position and/or target orientation differing correspondingly from the current position and/or current orientation. An electronic steering parameter effective toward improving the current field of view may be computed, and a user may be provided instructional feedback (144) in navigating an imaging probe toward the improving. A robot can be configured for, automatically and without need for user intervention, imparting force (142) to the probe to move it responsive to the determination.

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: Image processing method or apparatus (IP) to transform a 3D image data set (DS) into a visually protected one (DSX). The 3D image set includes an object region (OR) and a background region (BR) that defines s silhouette of an imaged object (P). An inadvertent or malicious direct volume rendering of the silhouette (IF) of the object is prevented by applying a randomization operation to at least the background region (BR).

Abstract: An imaging apparatus for imaging an object includes a geometric relation determination unit configured to determine a geometric relation between first and second images of the object. A marker determination unit configured to determine corresponding marker locations in the first and second images and marker appearances based on the geometric relation such that the marker appearances of a first marker to be located at a first location in the first image and of a second marker to be located at a second corresponding location in the second image are indicative of the geometric relation. The images with the markers at the respective corresponding locations are shown on a display unit. Since the marker appearances are indicative of the geometric relation between the images, a comparative reviewing of the images can be facilitated, in particular, if they correspond to different viewing geometries.

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 system (100) and method are provided for determining an effective cross-sectional area of a tubular cardiovascular structure (400), which may be used in the assessment of blood flow through the tubular cardiovascular structure. Said determining comprises obtaining a three-dimensional Image'of the tubular cardiovascular structure, segmenting the image to obtain a segmentation of the lumen inside the tubular cardiovascular structure, and determining a centerline (430) of the tubular cardiovascular structure. Then, using the segmentation of the lumen, an apparent flow aperture of the tubular cardiovascular structure is determined in the direction of the centerline, e.g., by projecting the segmentation along the direction of the centerline and determining the area in the projection which is free of projected parts.

Abstract: A model-based segmentation system includes a plurality of clusters (48), each cluster being formed to represent an orientation of a target to be segmented. One or more models (140) are associated with each cluster. The one or more models include an aspect associated with the orientation of the cluster, for example, the appearance of the target to be segmented. A comparison unit (124), configured in memory storage media, is configured to compare an ultra-sound image to the clusters to determine a closest matching orientation and is configured to select the one or more models based upon the cluster with the closest matching orientation. A model adaptation module (126) is configured to adapt the one or more models to the ultrasound image.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus (16) is disclosed for segmenting a region of interest (15) in a multi-dimensional image data of an object (12). The image processing apparatus comprises an interface for receiving an image data of the object including the region of interest to be segmented. A selection unit selects a deformable model 30 of an anatomical structure corresponding to the object in the image data. A processing unit segments the region of interest by adapting the deformable model on the basis of the image data (xt) and additional information of the object.

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 includes identifying a plurality of different anatomical sub-regions of the cardiovascular system of a subject in image data of the subject based on a subject specific cardiovascular anatomical model, wherein the plurality of different regions corresponds to regions where calcifications occur, searching for and identifying calcifications in the sub-regions based on voxel grey value intensity values of the image data, and generating a signal indicative of one or more regions of voxels of the image data respectively corresponding to sub-regions including identified calcifications. A computing system (118) includes a processor that automatically determines a plurality of different groups of voxels of image data of a subject, wherein each group of voxels corresponds to a different sub-region of the cardiovascular system of the subject and each group of voxels corresponds to a region that includes a calcification identified in the image data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ultrasound imaging system (10) comprising:—an image processor (34) configured to receive at least one set of volume data resulting from a three-dimensional ultrasound scan of a body (12) and to provide corresponding display data,—an anatomy detector (38) configured to detect a position and orientation of an anatomical object of interest within the at least one set of volume data,—a slice generator (40) for generating a plurality of two-dimensional slices from the at least one set of volume data, wherein said slice generator (40) is configured to define respective slice locations based on the results of the anatomy detector for the anatomical object of interest so as to obtain a set of two-dimensional standard views of the anatomical object of interest, wherein the slice generator (40) is further configured to define for each two-dimensional standard view which anatomical features of the anatomical object of interest are expected to be contained, and—an evaluation unit (42)

Abstract: An apparatus includes an imaging probe and is configured for dynamically arranging presentation of visual feedback (144) for guiding manual adjustment, via the probe, of a location, and orientation, associated with the probe. The arranging is selectively based on comparisons (321) between fields of view of the probe and respective results of segmenting image data acquired via the probe. In an embodiment, the feedback does not include (175) a grayscale depiction of the image data. Coordinate system trans formations corresponding to respective comparisons may be computed. The selecting may be based upon and dynamically responsive to content of imaging being dynamically acquired via the probe.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the determination of the specific orientation of an object. In order to provide enhanced positioning information of an object to a user, a medical imaging system and a method for operating of a medical imaging system are proposed wherein 2D image data (14) of an object is acquired (12) with an imaging system, wherein the object is provided with at least three markers visible in the 2D image; and wherein (16) the markers are detected in the 2D image; and wherein the spatial positioning and rotation angle (20) of the object in relation to the system geometry is identified (18) on behalf of the markers; and wherein an object-indicator (24) is displayed (22) indicating the spatial positioning and rotation angle of the object.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for motion visualization of a moving object in angiographic images are described. In a preferred embodiment of the method, first a mask image of the object of interest is acquired and a sequence of angiographic images of the object in different phases of motion of the object is acquired. Then, a first angiographic subtraction image and at least a second angiographic subtraction image are generated by subtracting the angiographic images from the mask image. Subsequently, a twice subtracted image is generated by subtracting the first angiographic subtraction image from the second angiographic subtraction image. In this way a double subtraction, i.e. a twice subtracted angiography is performed, to facilitate the assessment of the motion.

Abstract: System (100) for enabling an interactive inspection of a region of interest (122) in a medical image (102), the system comprising display means (160) for displaying user interface elements (310, 320, 330) of actions associated with the interactive inspection of the region of interest and a processor (180) for executing one of the actions when a user selects an associated one of the user interface elements, the system further comprising establishing means (120) for establishing the region of interest in the medical image, determining means (140) for determining an anatomical property (142) of the region of interest in dependence on an image property of the region of interest, and the display means (160) being arranged for (i), in dependence on the anatomical property, establishing a display configuration (162) of the user interface elements, and (ii) displaying the user interface elements in accordance with the display configuration.

Abstract: The invention relates to an imaging apparatus for imaging an object. A geometric relation determination unit (10) determines a geometric relation between first and second images of the object, wherein a marker determination unit (14) determines corresponding marker locations in the first and second images and marker appearances based on the geometric relation such that the marker appearances of a first marker to be located at a first location in the first image and of a second marker to be located at a second corresponding location in the second image are indicative of the geometric relation. The images with the markers at the respective corresponding locations are shown on a display unit (16). Since the marker appearances are indicative of the geometric relation between the images, a comparative reviewing of the images can be facilitated, in particular, if they correspond to different viewing geometries.