Abstract: The invention proposes an apparatus for transporting a container relative to a filling station, comprising at least one filling station (48) for filling at least one container (36), and also comprising at least one container mount (38) for transporting the container (36) relative to the filling station (48), characterized in that at least one drive surface (13) and at least one mover (20), which can be coupled in particular magnetically to the drive surface (13), are provided, wherein the mover (20) is arranged on the drive surface (13) such that it can be displaced and/or rotated in at least two degrees of freedom, and in that the container mount (38) is connected to the mover (20).

Abstract: The present invention relates to medical image editing. In order to facilitate the medical image editing process, a medical image editing device (50) is provided that comprises a processor unit (52), an output unit (54), and an interface unit (56). The processor unit (52) is configured to provide a 3D surface model of an anatomical structure of an object of interest. The 3D surface model comprises a plurality of surface sub-portions. The surface sub-portions each comprise a number of vertices, and each vertex is assigned by a ranking value. The processor unit (52) is further configured to identify at least one vertex of vertices adjacent to the determined point of interest as an intended vertex. The identification is based on a function of a detected proximity distance to the point of interest and the assigned ranking value. The output unit (54) is configured to provide a visual presentation of the 3D surface model.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging apparatus (10) for segmenting an anatomical object in a field of view (29) of an ultrasound acquisition unit (14) is disclosed. The ultrasound imaging apparatus comprises a data interface (32) configured to receive a two-dimensional ultrasound data (30) of the object in the field of view in an image plane from the ultrasound acquisition unit and to receive a three-dimensional segmentation model (46) as a three-dimensional representation of the object from a segmentation unit (36). An image processor (34) is configured to determine a two-dimensional segmentation model (50) on the basis of the three-dimensional segmentation model and a segmentation plane (48), wherein the segmentation plane and an image plane of the two-dimensional ultrasound data correspond to each other.

Abstract: A system for establishing a contour of a structure is disclosed. An initialization subsystem (1) is used for initializing an adaptive mesh representing an approximate contour of the structure, the structure being represented at least partly by a first image, and the structure being represented at least partly by a second image. A deforming subsystem (2) is used for deforming the adaptive mesh, based on feature information of the first image and feature information of the second image. The deforming subsystem comprises a force-establishing subsystem (3) for establishing a force acting on at least part of the adaptive mesh, in dependence on the feature information of the first image and the feature information of the second image. A transform-establishing subsystem (4) is used for establishing a coordinate transform reflecting a registration mismatch between the first image, the second image, and the adaptive mesh.

Abstract: A system and a method are provided for analyzing an image of an aortic valve structure to enable assessment of aortic valve calcifications. The system comprises an image interface for obtaining an image of an aortic valve structure, the aortic valve structure comprising aortic valve leaflets and an aortic bulbus. The system further comprises a segmentation subsystem for segmenting the aortic valve structure in the image to obtain a segmentation of the aortic valve structure. The system further comprises an identification subsystem for identifying a calcification on the aortic valve leaflets by analyzing the image of the aortic valve structure.

Abstract: A coupling including a tubular body with two ends of the body each including a portion of internal threading for joining to a tubular element, and a central portion separating the two ends each including a portion of threading and having a wall thickness greater than the wall thickness of the ends of the body. The coupling includes an extension segment that extends from one of the ends of the tubular body, after the portion of internal threading, the extension segment having same outside diameter as that of the tubular body and an inside diameter greater than or equal to that of the portion of internal threading. Moreover, the extension segment includes a housing, including an opening onto an external surface of the coupling, in which an electronically responsive identification tag is housed.

Abstract: The invention proposes an apparatus for transporting a container relative to a filling station, comprising at least one filling station (48) for filling at least one container (36), and also comprising at least one container mount (38) for transporting the container (36) relative to the filling station (48), characterized in that at least one drive surface (13) and at least one mover (20), which can be coupled in particular magnetically to the drive surface (13), are provided, wherein the mover (20) is arranged on the drive surface (13) such that it can be displaced and/or rotated in at least two degrees of freedom, and in that the container mount (38) is connected to the mover (20).

Abstract: A system (100) is provided for performing a model-based segmentation of an anatomical structure in a medical image. The system comprises a processor (140) configured for performing a model-based segmentation of the anatomical structure by applying a deformable model to image data (042). Moreover, definition data (220) is provided which defines a geometric relation between a first part and a second part of the deformable model of which a corresponding first part of the anatomical structure is presumed to be better visible in the image data than a corresponding second part of the anatomical structure. The definition data is then used to adjust a fit of the second part of the deformable model. As a result, a better fit of the second part of the deformable model to the second part of the anatomical structure is obtained despite said part being relatively poorly visible in the image data.

Abstract: The invention relates to a labeling apparatus (1) for labeling structures of an object shown in an object image. A probability map providing unit (3) provides a probability map, the probability map indicating for different labels, which are indicative of different structures of the object, and for different positions in the probability map the probability that the respective structure, which is indicated by the respective label, is present at the respective position, wherein the probability depends on the position in the probability map. The probability map is mapped to the object image by a mapping unit (4), wherein a label assigning unit (5) assigns to a provided contour, which represents a structure in the object image, a label based on the mapped probability map. This allows automatically labeling structures of the object, which are indicated by provided contours in the object image, with relatively low computational efforts.

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 process for producing a multilayer pipe by expansion is disclosed, with or without heating, in which a multilayer pipe (1 ) comprises at least one outer pipe of metallic material (10) and an inner pipe of metallic material (20), the inner pipe of metallic material (20) having a yield strength lower than the yield strength of the outer pipe (23) and an external diameter smaller than the internal diameter of the outer pipe. The process for producing the multilayer pipe comprises a mounting step (34) between the pipes (10, 20), wherein the inner pipe is inserted inside the outer pipe, and at least one mechanical expansion step (36), comprising moving a mandrel (2) longitudinally and internally in the inner pipe (20) while the outer pipe and the inner pipe are held at a fixed position, wherein at least part of the mandrel (2) has a greater external diameter than the internal diameter of the inner pipe.

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: An apparatus and user interface (155) for aiding in navigating and modifying delineations (117a-c) in or associated with 2D sub-volumes (110a-c) of a 3D or higher dimensional image dataset (100). States and position of the sub-volumes visualized. Both, states and position can be changed by using the functionalities of the user interface generated (155) by said apparatus. The apparatus can be used in medical image post-processing system.

Abstract: A system and method for automatic segmentation, performed by selecting a deformable model of an anatomical structure of interest imaged in a volumetric image, the deformable model formed of a plurality of polygons including vertices and edges, displaying the deformable model on a display, detecting a feature point of the anatomical structure of interest corresponding to each of the plurality of polygons and adapting the deformable model by moving each of the vertices toward the corresponding feature points until the deformable model morphs to a boundary of the anatomical structure of interest, forming a segmentation of the anatomical structure of interest.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for simulating blood flow through a cardiovascular structure, e.g. a blood cavity such as the left ventricle outflow tract, the aortic root including the AV, plus ascending aorta, a ventricle volume, the aorta or any other cavity where blood flows through, under patient-specific boundary conditions derived from the cardiac ejection output per heart stroke. The cardiac ejection output can be estimated from volumes of a heart chamber of the patient in different filling states at two or more different points in time. The results of the flow simulation can be used to derive at least one physiological parameter or can be visualized and virtual Doppler ultrasound images may be generated to allow a physician assessing the result.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method, a computer program product, a segmentation system and a user interface for structuring an unstructured text by making use of statistical models trained on annotated training data. The method performs text segmentation into text sections and assigns labels to text sections as section headings. The performed segmentation and assignment is provided to a user for general review. Additionally, alternative segmentations and label assignments are provided to the user being capable to select alternative segmentations and alternative labels as well as to enter a user defined segmentation and user defined label. In response to the modifications introduced by the user, a plurality of different actions are initiated incorporating the re-segmentation and re-labeling of successive parts of the document or the entire document.

Abstract: The invention relates to an image registration apparatus for registering a first image and a second image with respect to each other. A model, which has a fixed topology, is adapted to the first image for generating a first adapted model and to the second image for generating a second adapted model, and corresponding image elements (40, 48, 49; 50, 58, 9) are determined in the first image and in the second image based on spatial positions of first image elements in the first image with respect to the first adapted model and spatial positions of second image elements in the second image with respect to the second adapted model. Since the model has a fixed topology, corresponding image elements can relatively reliably be found based on the adapted models, even if the first and second images show objects having complex properties like a heart, thereby improving the registration quality.

Abstract: The invention relates to a labeling apparatus (1) for labeling structures of an object shown in an object image. A probability map providing unit (3) provides a probability map, the probability map indicating for different labels, which are indicative of different structures of the object, and for different positions in the probability map the probability that the respective structure, which is indicated by the respective label, is present at the respective position, wherein the probability depends on the position in the probability map. The probability map is mapped to the object image by a mapping unit (4), wherein a label assigning unit (5) assigns to a provided contour, which represents a structure in the object image, a label based on the mapped probability map. This allows automatically labeling structures of the object, which are indicated by provided contours in the object image, with relatively low computational efforts.