Abstract: A system and method to compensate for respiratory motion in imaging of instruments introduced into the subject anatomy is provided. The system can include an imaging system in communication with a controller. The controller can include a memory with program instructions for execution by the processor to perform the steps of: detecting an illustration of at least a portion of the plurality of instruments introduced into the subject anatomy in a first image and a second image, comparing and calculating a displacement of the plurality of instruments between the first and second images, calculating one of an average or median displacement of the plurality of instruments between the first and second images, and applying one of the average and the median displacement to adjust at least a portion of the first or second images or a pre-acquired three-dimensional model of the internal region of interest.

Abstract: A method of detection and compensation for respiratory motion improves the registration between a 3D pre-operation image and X-ray images acquired during a cardiac intervention. By synchronizing the X-ray images with the electrocardiogram, the disclosed method thus eliminates the motion related to the heart cycle from these images, thus isolating the contribution of the respiratory motion. From this point, an algorithm is proposed capable of attributing the motion remaining in the radiography images to respiration. The algorithm also enables this motion to be detected and compensated for in order to obtain a registration between 3D cardiac images and radiography images.

Abstract: A method for processing images in interventional radioscopy for detecting guiding instrumentation equipment. The method of the invention enables objects of longilinear or very curved shapes to be detected within the radioscopic image having very low contrast to noise ratios. In one embodiment, an algorithm enables the measured contrast to noise ratio of long or curved structures in the image to be considerably improved. To do this, an embodiment of the invention uses oriented, separable, recursive and rapid steerable detection filters. Said detection filters have a low calculation cost, even for long filters having several orientations.

Abstract: A process and system for improving a digital image of an object defined by pixels, acquired at the instant t and generated from an X-ray detector receiving X-rays emitted by a source. The process includes: determining a predicted image of the object at the instant t as a function of the images of the object acquired at the instants t?i, i being a positive whole number greater than or equal to 1, and moving of each of the layers constituting the image acquired at the instant t, the number of layers being previously fixed and the moving of each of the layers being previously determined; and generating a visualized image corresponding to a weighted sum of the predicted image and the image of the object acquired at the instant t, so as to attenuate the noise of the image of the object acquired at the instant t.

Abstract: A method for the processing of images in interventional radioscopy to produce a sequence of de-noised images in which elongated objects of guiding instrumentation equipment are preserved and enhanced. The method of the invention uses a tool for indicating the confidence to be placed in a given pixel as regards its belonging to a piece of guidance equipment. This tool is used to create a combination algorithm capable of re-injecting the pixels having a low contrast-to-noise ratio into the de-noised image. This combination algorithm enables the enhancement solely of the pixels of the guidance equipment with a high confidence value so as not to produce artifacts with the enhancement of false positives.

Abstract: A system and method to compensate for respiratory motion in imaging of instruments introduced into the subject anatomy is provided. The system can include an imaging system in communication with a controller.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically estimating a correction to be made to an image deformed with respect to a sequence of images. The method includes detecting of information pixels in the images; calculation of a region of interest located in a binary mapping image made from the images; for each image, search in the image, for the position of a mobile region that maximizes a similarity criterion to the region; and the estimated correction to be made to the image is compared with each image being the affine transformation of the mobile region moving from its found position at which similarity criterion is maximized to the region. The correction is only applied if the balance is equal to the improvement to the similarity criterion in the region of interest and the deterioration of the similarity criterion outside the region of interest is positive.

Abstract: A method for radiological imaging of a region of interest including blood vessels. The method has the steps of acquiring a real-time fluoroscopic image of the region of interest by exposing the region of interest to a first dose of X-rays, the fluoroscopic image showing background structures and instrument introduced into the vessels; subtracting a mask image from the acquired real-time fluoroscopic image to generate a subtracted fluoroscopic image showing only the instrument; combining the subtracted fluoroscopic image and a pre-recorded diagnostic image of the region of interest showing only the blood vessels to generate a combined image showing both the blood vessels and the instrument; and displaying the combined image on a screen for viewing. The mask image is determined from a fluoroscopic image acquired prior to the introduction of the instrument into the vessels by exposing the region to an X-ray does equivalent to the first dose.

Abstract: An imaging system of an object in an imaged subject is provided. The imaging system includes an image detector and a guidewire in support of a pair of markers. The imaging system also includes a controller in communication with the image detector. The controller includes a processor in communication to execute a series of programmable instructions stored in a memory, the programmable instructions including acquiring a plurality of acquired images, detecting a position of the pair of markers, calculating a first mathematical representation of an alignment of the guidewire between the markers and a second mathematical representation of an alignment of the guidewire not between the markers, and registering the first and second mathematical representations of the guidewire extending through the object relative to more than one of the acquired images so as to locate the object in at least one of the acquired images.

Abstract: A first method for processing of a radiological image to be used as a mask image in subtracted angiography wherein processing for reduction of noise present in the mask image adapted to preserve the aspect of the noise in the mask image. A second method for processing of a sequence of subtracted images (Jn) obtained by subtraction of a mask image from each of the images in a sequence of images (In) acquired during angiography of blood vessels in an area of interest (104) of a patient (200), wherein processing for reduction of noise present in the subtracted images (Jn) adapted to preserve the aspect of vessels (80) in the subtracted images. A radiography apparatus for implementing a method according to one and/or the other of the first and second methods.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reduction of noise in an image of a sequence of fluoroscopic images of an object in motion having a differentiation of the pixels of the image between pixels in motion and fixed pixels, and a processing wherein a time filtering operation of the fixed pixels. For each pixel of the image, the differentiation between a pixel in motion and a fixed pixel is performed as a function of the result of a detection of motion during which, in a zone of the image covering a set of pixels in the vicinity of the pixel, the existence or respectively the absence of motion of the object relative to a preceding image is detected.

Abstract: A method for the processing of images in interventional radioscopy to produce a sequence of de-noised images in which elongated objects of guiding instrumentation equipment are preserved and enhanced. The method of the invention uses a tool for indicating the confidence to be placed in a given pixel as regards its belonging to a piece of guidance equipment. This tool is used to create a combination algorithm capable of re-injecting the pixels having a low contrast-to-noise ratio into the de-noised image. This combination algorithm enables the enhancement solely of the pixels of the guidance equipment with a high confidence value so as not to produce artifacts with the enhancement of false positives.

Abstract: A method for processing images in interventional radioscopy for detecting guiding instrumentation equipment. The method of the invention enables objects of longilinear or very curved shapes to be detected within the radioscopic image having very low contrast to noise ratios. In one embodiment, an algorithm enables the measured contrast to noise ratio of long or curved structures in the image to be considerably improved. To do this, an embodiment of the invention uses oriented, separable, recursive and rapid steerable detection filters.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring cardiac activity starting from a series of images of the heart made by X-rays. Attenuation of the X-rays is sampled on an area subject to repetitive thickenings of at least one wall of the heart, and a repetitive attenuation signal is interpreted as a signal representative of the heart activity.

Abstract: A method of detection and compensation for respiratory motion improves the registration between a 3D pre-operation image and X-ray images acquired during a cardiac intervention. By synchronizing the X-ray images with the electrocardiogram, the disclosed method thus eliminates the motion related to the heart cycle from these images, thus isolating the contribution of the respiratory motion. From this point, an algorithm is proposed capable of attributing the motion remaining in the radiography images to respiration. The algorithm also enables this motion to be detected and compensated for in order to obtain a registration between 3D cardiac images and radiography images.

Abstract: An imaging system of an object in an imaged subject is provided. The imaging system includes an image detector and a guidewire in support of a pair of markers. The imaging system also includes a controller in communication with the image detector. The controller includes a processor in communication to execute a series of programmable instructions stored in a memory, the programmable instructions including acquiring a plurality of acquired images, detecting a position of the pair of markers, calculating a first mathematical representation of an alignment of the guidewire between the markers and a second mathematical representation of an alignment of the guidewire not between the markers, and registering the first and second mathematical representations of the guidewire extending through the object relative to more than one of the acquired images so as to locate the object in at least one of the acquired images.

Abstract: A process and radiography device for aiding vascular navigation suitable for an area of interest wherein a series of successive images In of the region of interest is acquired by a image recording. From the series of images In thus acquired a determination is made of a first mask presenting background structures and blood vessels of the region of interest, and a second mask presenting the only background structures. An image IL is acquired exhibiting at least one instrument introduced into one of the vessels of the region of interest. An image Iv is determined for visualizing by combination of the first and second masks and the image. The image to be visualized thus determined is displayed.

Abstract: A process and system for improving a digital image of an object defined by pixels, acquired at the instant t and generated from an X-ray detector receiving X-rays emitted by a source. The process includes: determining a predicted image of the object at the instant t as a function of the images of the object acquired at the instants t-i, i being a positive whole number greater than or equal to 1, and moving of each of the layers constituting the image acquired at the instant t, the number of layers being previously fixed and the moving of each of the layers being previously determined; and generating a visualized image corresponding to a weighted sum of the predicted image and the image of the object acquired at the instant t, so as to attenuate the noise of the image of the object acquired at the instant t.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reduction of noise in an image of a sequence of fluoroscopic images of an object in motion having a differentiation of the pixels of the image between pixels in motion and fixed pixels, and a processing wherein a time filtering operation of the fixed pixels. For each pixel of the image, the differentiation between a pixel in motion and a fixed pixel is performed as a function of the result of a detection of motion during which, in a zone of the image covering a set of pixels in the vicinity of the pixel, the existence or respectively the absence of motion of the object relative to a preceding image is detected.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically estimating a correction to be made to an image deformed with respect to a sequence of images. The method includes detecting of information pixels in the images; calculation of a region of interest located in a binary mapping image made from the images; for each image, search in the image, for the position of a mobile region that maximizes a similarity criterion to the region; and the estimated correction to be made to the image is compared with each image being the affine transformation of the mobile region moving from its found position at which similarity criterion is maximized to the region. The correction is only applied if the balance is equal to the improvement to the similarity criterion in the region of interest and the deterioration of the similarity criterion outside the region of interest is positive.