Abstract: The present invention relates to positioning guidance for image acquisition. In order to facilitate positioning of a patient for medical image acquisition, a guiding system (14) is provided. The system comprises a patient detecting device (22) and a patient position prescribing device (24). The patient detecting device is configured to detect an anatomy of interest (36) of a patient for image acquisition and to detect current spatial information of the anatomy of interest. The patient position prescribing device is configured to provide an initial target position (40) for the detected anatomy of interest, wherein the initial target position is provided as a reference for the image acquisition. The patient position prescribing device is further configured to register the initial target position with the current spatial information, and to determine an adapted target position (42) by adapting the initial target position based inter alia on the current spatial information.

Abstract: An X-ray apparatus for image acquisition and a related method. The apparatus comprises a field-of-view corrector (CS) configured to receive a scout image (SI) acquired by the imager with a tentative collimator setting in a pre-shot imaging phase where said imager operates with a low dosage radiation cone causing the detector to register the scout image. The low dosage cone has, in the detector's image plane, a first cross section smaller than the total area of the detector surface. The field-of-view corrector (CS) uses said scout image to establish field-of-view correction information for a subsequent imaging phase where the imager is to operate with a high dosage radiation cone, the high dosage higher than the low dosage.

Abstract: The quality of thoracic X-rays is depends on the inspiration state of an imaged patient. If the lungs of a patient are not significantly inflated during a thoracic X-ray, tissue from surrounding organs can cause the image to become cloudier, and the lung parenchyma is not effectively shown. Thus, there is a reliance on a medical professional to ensure that the patient is in an appropriate posture and inspiration state at the point of image exposure. This can be difficult with patients suffering from chronic conditions, though. Therefore, this application discusses a means to assess the inspiration state using the position of rib bones, and the diaphragm line in the X-ray image. Thus, an accurate estimate of inspiration state can automatically be reported to a medical professional, before a patient leaves the examination room, allowing an X-ray to be retaken, if necessary.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for producing a representation of an object in image data, based on a template coupled to a model of the object, the system comprising a model unit for adapting the model to the object in the image data, and a template unit for adapting the template to the adapted model on the basis of the coupling between the template and the model. The template defines a representation of the object which is simpler to interpret than the model. Because the template of the invention is coupled to the model, the position, orientation and/or shape of the template is determined by the model adapted to the object in the image data. Hence, the template is adapted to the image data. The adapted template is capable of representing the object and its individual characteristics.

Abstract: A biomarker of lung condition can conventionally be obtained using a spirometer. A spirometer provides an estimate of the volume of air expelled by the lungs. This is a rather indirect biomarker of the staging of a lung condition, because a reduction in lung volume may only manifest itself at a point where symptoms are well advanced. A lung condition such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD) is typically not visible on conventional X-ray attenuation images, because the relevant tissue (alve-oli-bearing microstructured lung tissue) contains a lot of air. The X-ray dark- field can successfully indicate microstructure, such as lung alveoli. Therefore, imaging the lungs using the dark-field can provide information on the status of COPD.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for obtaining an improved visualization of bone objects comprised in a projection X-ray image. The projection X-ray image comprises bone objects which at least in part overlap. According to the system and method, a number of the bone objects are delineated by a contour, thereby obtaining a number of delineated bone objects. For each of the number of delineated bone object, a bone suppression technique is applied to the image to obtain respective bone image data individually showing the respective delineated bone object while suppressing shadows of obstructing objects. The bone image data generated for each of the number of delineated bone objects is used to generate an output image in which the bone objects do not overlap. An advantage of the system and method is that a non-overlapping, shadow-suppressed, presentation of the bone objects may be created from an X-ray image which was obtained by projectional radiography.

Abstract: The present invention relates to positioning guidance for image acquisition. In order to facilitate positioning of a patient for medical image acquisition, a guiding system (14) is provided. The system comprises a patient detecting device (22) and a patient position prescribing device (24). The patient detecting device is configured to detect an anatomy of interest (36) of a patient for image acquisition and to detect current spatial information of the anatomy of interest. The patient position prescribing device is configured to provide an initial target position (40) for the detected anatomy of interest, wherein the initial target position is provided as a reference for the image acquisition. The patient position prescribing device is further configured to register the initial target position with the current spatial information, and to determine an adapted target position (42) by adapting the initial target position based inter alia on the current spatial information.

Abstract: A device (1) for determining image quality of a radiogram image includes: an acquiring module (10), which is configured to acquire the radiogram image; a segmentation module (20), which is configured to segment a thoracic bone structure on the acquired radiogram image into segmented thoracic bone structure contours and a tissue structure on the acquired radiogram image into segmented tissue structure contours; and a quality-determination module (30), which is configured to determine a image quality coefficient for the acquired radiogram image based on a comparison of a first position of the segmented thoracic bone structure contours with a second position of the segmented tissue structure contours.

Abstract: An X-ray imaging guiding system for positioning a region of interest of a patient for X-ray image acquisition includes an X-ray detector arrangement, and graphical positioning information. The graphical positioning information includes a graphical target anatomy representation. The graphical target positioning information is provided in spatial relation with the X-ray detector arrangement. The graphical target anatomy representation indicates a target position of a respective anatomy of the patient for a determined X-ray image acquisition. Further, the graphical positioning information is adaptable in accordance with the determined X-ray image acquisition.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for obtaining an improved visualization of bone objects comprised in a projection X-ray image. The projection X-ray image comprises bone objects which at least in part overlap. According to the system and method, a number of the bone objects are delineated by a contour, thereby obtaining a number of delineated bone objects. For each of the number of delineated bone object, a bone suppression technique is applied to the image to obtain respective bone image data individually showing the respective delineated bone object while suppressing shadows of obstructing objects. The bone image data generated for each of the number of delineated bone objects is used to generate an output image in which the bone objects do not overlap. An advantage of the system and method is that a non-overlapping, shadow-suppressed, presentation of the bone objects may be created from an X-ray image which was obtained by projectional radiography.

Abstract: The present invention relates to medical image viewing in relation with navigation in X-ray imaging. In order to provide improved X-ray images, for example for cardiac procedures, allowing a facilitated perception while ensuring that increased details are visible, a medical image viewing device (10) for navigation in X-ray imaging is provided that comprises an image data providing unit (12), a processing unit (14), and a display unit (16). The image data providing unit is configured to provide an angiographic image of a region of interest of an object. The processing unit is configured to identify a suppression area for partial bone suppression within the angiographic image, and to identify and locally suppress predetermined bone structures in the angiographic image in the suppression area, and to generate a partly-bone-suppressed image. Further, the display unit is configured to display the partly-bone-suppressed image.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device (1) for determining image quality of a radiogram image, the device comprising: an acquiring module (10), which is configured to acquire the radiogram image; a segmentation module (20), which is configured to segment a thoracic bone structure on the acquired radiogram image into segmented thoracic bone structure contours and a tissue structure on the acquired radiogram image into segmented tissue structure contours; and a quality-determination module (30), which is configured to determine a image quality coefficient for the acquired radiogram image based on a comparison of a first position of the segmented thoracic bone structure contours with a second position of the segmented tissue structure contours.

Abstract: Apparatuses (IP) and related methods to visualize previously suppressed image structures in a radiograph (RD). A graphical indicator (505, 510, 515) is superimposed on the radiograph (RD) to indicate the suppressed image structure (412). The apparatuses allow toggling in our out the graphical indicator (505, 510, 515) or to toggle between different graphical renderings thereof.

Abstract: A method includes planning a follow up three dimensional image acquisition of tissue of interest of a patient based on first and second two dimensional surview projection images, wherein the first two dimensional surview projection image was used to plan a previously performed baseline three dimensional image acquisition of the tissue of interest of the patient, wherein the first two dimensional surview projection image includes information corresponding to at least one region of interest identified in the first two dimensional surview projection image for the previously performed baseline three dimensional image acquisition, wherein the first two dimensional surview projection image includes information corresponding to a z-axis scanning extent identified in the first two dimensional surview projection image for the previously performed baseline three dimensional baseline image acquisition, and wherein the second two dimensional surview projection image was acquired for planning the follow up three dimension

Abstract: A system and method are provided for obtaining an improved visualization of bone objects comprised in a projection X-ray image. The projection X-ray image comprises bone objects which at least in part overlap. According to the system and method, a number of the bone objects are delineated by a contour, thereby obtaining a number of delineated bone objects. For each of the number of delineated bone object, a bone suppression technique is applied to the image to obtain respective bone image data individually showing the respective delineated bone object while suppressing shadows of obstructing objects. The bone image data generated for each of the number of delineated bone objects is used to generate an output image in which the bone objects do not overlap. An advantage of the system and method is that a non-overlapping, shadow-suppressed, presentation of the bone objects may be created from an X-ray image which was obtained by projectional radiography.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging scan using a MR scanner receives via a user interface a MR imaging protocol categorizable into a MR scan type of a predefined set of MR scan types. Further, a database is queried by providing to the database scan information permitting the database to identify the MR scan type of the MR imaging protocol. Statistical information on the MR scan type which can include statistics on modifications of individual scan parameters of the MR scan type is received from a database, and the statistical information is provided to the user interface. Modifications of the MR imaging protocol can be received from the user interface, resulting in a modified MR imaging protocol, according to which the MR imaging scan can be performed.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining electronically formatted information about previously performed imaging procedures, classifying the information into groups of protocols based on initially selected protocols for the previously performed imaging procedures and generating data indicative thereof, identifying deviations between the classified information and the corresponding initially selected protocols for the previously performed imaging procedures, and generating a signal indicative of the deviations. A method includes recommending at least one of a plurality of protocols for an imaging procedure based on at least one of a score, a probability, or a pre-determined rule, which is based on extracted medical concepts from patient information and extracted medical concepts from previously imaged patient information, and generating a signal indicative of the recommendation.

Abstract: A system for generating a digital subtraction image of at least two input images. The system comprises a registration subsystem (1) for generating a plurality of different registrations of the input images (7, 8), based on different values of a registration parameter (6). The system further comprises a subtraction subsystem (2) for generating a plurality of subtracted images by subtracting the input images in accordance with respective ones of the plurality of registrations. The system further comprises a combining subsystem (3) for combining the plurality of subtracted images into a combined subtracted image (9). The registration parameter (6) represents an assumed depth of an object which is visible in the input images (7, 8). The combining subsystem (3) is arranged for assigning a combined pixel value to a pixel position of the combined subtracted image, based on pixel values of or around corresponding pixel positions in the plurality of subtracted images.

Abstract: An X-ray apparatus for image acquisition and a related method. The apparatus comprises a field-of-view corrector (CS) configured to receive a scout image (SI) acquired by the imager with a tentative collimator setting in a pre-shot imaging phase where said imager operates with a low dosage radiation cone causing the detector to register the scout image. The low dosage cone has, in the detector's image plane, a first cross section smaller than the total area of the detector surface. The field-of-view corrector (CS) uses said scout image to establish field-of-view correction information for a subsequent imaging phase where the imager is to operate with a high dosage radiation cone, the high dosage higher than the low dosage.

Abstract: The present invention relates to medical image viewing in relation with navigation in X-ray imaging. In order to provide improved X-ray images, for example for cardiac procedures, allowing a facilitated perception while ensuring that increased details are visible, a medical image viewing device (10) for navigation in X-ray imaging is provided that comprises an image data providing unit (12), a processing unit (14), and a display unit (16). The image data providing unit is configured to provide an angiographic image of a region of interest of an object. The processing unit is configured to identify a suppression area for partial bone suppression within the angiographic image, and to identify and locally suppress predetermined bone structures in the angiographic image in the suppression area, and to generate a partly-bone-suppressed image. Further, the display unit is configured to display the partly-bone-suppressed image.