Abstract: A system and method includes detection of a trigger event, automatic injection, in response to detecting the trigger event, of a bolus of contrast medium into a patient volume after expiration of a predetermined injection delay period, automatic acquisition, in response to detecting the trigger event, of a plurality of images after expiration of a predetermined imaging delay period, where two or more of the plurality of images comprise an image of the bolus at respective different locations within vasculature of the patient volume, generation of a composite image based on the plurality of images, the composite image including a representation of the vasculature of the patient volume, and display of the composite image.

Abstract: A system and method includes detection of a trigger event, automatic injection, in response to detecting the trigger event, of a bolus of contrast medium into a patient volume after expiration of a predetermined injection delay period, automatic acquisition, in response to detecting the trigger event, of a plurality of images after expiration of a predetermined imaging delay period, where two or more of the plurality of images comprise an image of the bolus at respective different locations within vasculature of the patient volume, generation of a composite image based on the plurality of images, the composite image including a representation of the vasculature of the patient volume, and display of the composite image.

Abstract: A system and method includes detection of a trigger event, automatic injection, in response to detecting the trigger event, of a bolus of contrast medium into a patient volume after expiration of a predetermined injection delay period, automatic acquisition, in response to detecting the trigger event, of a plurality of images after expiration of a predetermined imaging delay period, where two or more of the plurality of images comprise an image of the bolus at respective different locations within vasculature of the patient volume, generation of a composite image based on the plurality of images, the composite image including a representation of the vasculature of the patient volume, and display of the composite image.

Abstract: A system comprises a catheter including a lens, for acquiring optical coherence tomography images within the vessel of interest as the catheter is being retracted from the vessel in the presence of contrast agent. An X-ray imaging system interface receives a first set of X-ray images of an anatomical region including the vessel of interest containing the catheter. The first set of X-ray images are acquired at points corresponding to the particular points within a heart cycle, while the catheter is stationary in the vessel, in response to a heart electrical activity representative signal and in the absence of contrast agent. An image data processor associates the received X-ray images and corresponding optical coherence tomography image data derived at corresponding time points within respective acquisition heart cycles.

Abstract: A system and method includes detection of a trigger event, automatic injection, in response to detecting the trigger event, of a bolus of contrast medium into a patient volume after expiration of a predetermined injection delay period, automatic acquisition, in response to detecting the trigger event, of a plurality of images after expiration of a predetermined imaging delay period, where two or more of the plurality of images comprise an image of the bolus at respective different locations within vasculature of the patient volume, generation of a composite image based on the plurality of images, the composite image including a representation of the vasculature of the patient volume, and display of the composite image.

Abstract: A steerable body insertion device is provided that includes a bendable non-piezoelectric element configured to move within patient anatomy. The non-piezoelectric element extends an element length between a proximal end and a distal end and having an element center axis extending along the element length when the non-piezoelectric element is in a non-bent state. The insertion device also includes a first piezoelectric strand coupled to a surface of the non-piezoelectric element and extending a first strand length. The first piezoelectric strand has a first strand center axis extending substantially parallel to the element center axis along the first stand length. When a first voltage is applied to the first piezoelectric strand, the first piezoelectric strand is configured to contract and cause the non-piezoelectric element to bend away from the element center axis.

Abstract: An image data processing system automatically indicates an image of a digitally subtracted Angiography (DSA) image sequence is associated with at least one of, arterial, venous, or capillary phases of blood flow. The system includes an interface for acquiring data representing a DSA sequence of digitally subtracted images enhancing vessel structure. An image data processor automatically indicates an image of the DSA sequence is associated with at least one of, arterial, venous, or capillary phases of blood flow by determining individual minimum luminance intensity level values of individual images of the DSA sequence and using the determined individual minimum luminance intensity level values in identifying images of the DSA sequence are associated with at least one of, arterial, venous, or capillary phases of blood flow. An output processor automatically assigns an attribute to image data to identify vessel phase in response to the identifying images of the DSA sequence.

Abstract: A system comprises a catheter including a lens, for acquiring optical coherence tomography images within the vessel of interest as the catheter is being retracted from the vessel in the presence of contrast agent. An X-ray imaging system interface receives a first set of X-ray images of an anatomical region including the vessel of interest containing the catheter. The first set of X-ray images are acquired at points corresponding to the particular points within a heart cycle, while the catheter is stationary in the vessel, in response to a heart electrical activity representative signal and in the absence of contrast agent. An image data processor associates the received X-ray images and corresponding optical coherence tomography image data derived at corresponding time points within respective acquisition heart cycles.

Abstract: A motion compensated digitally subtracted Angiography (DSA) image processing system includes an interface for acquiring a sequence of images of patient vessels both prior to and following introduction of contrast agent into the vessels. An image data processor automatically, (a) determines a first shift vector for a first image of the sequence for compensating for shift between the first image and a first reference image of the sequence, (b) applies the determined first shift vector to the first image of the sequence to produce a shifted image, (c) subtracts the first reference image from the shifted image to produce a subtracted image enhancing vessel structure, (d) determines a second shift vector for compensating for shift between the subtracted image and a second reference image and (e) shifts content of the subtracted image relative to the second reference image in response to the second shift vector, to provide a shifted subtracted image enhancing and aligning vessel structure.

Abstract: A system automatically processes different medical image sequences facilitating comparison of the sequences in adjacent respective display areas. An image data processor, identifies first and second mask images of first and second image sequences respectively as images preceding introduction of contrast agent and determines a translational shift between the first and second mask images. The image data processor transforms data representing individual images of at least one of the first image sequence and the second image sequence in response to the determined translational shift to reduce mis-alignment of the individual images of the first image sequence relative to the individual images of the second image sequence. A display presents first and second image sequences corrected for mis-alignment, in substantially adjacent display areas to facilitate user comparison.

Abstract: A system automatically processes different medical image sequences facilitating comparison of the sequences in adjacent respective display areas. An image data processor, identifies first and second mask images of first and second image sequences respectively as images preceding introduction of contrast agent and determines a translational shift between the first and second mask images. The image data processor transforms data representing individual images of at least one of the first image sequence and the second image sequence in response to the determined translational shift to reduce mis-alignment of the individual images of the first image sequence relative to the individual images of the second image sequence. A display presents first and second image sequences corrected for mis-alignment, in substantially adjacent display areas to facilitate user comparison.

Abstract: A motion compensated digitally subtracted Angiography (DSA) image processing system includes an interface for acquiring a sequence of images of patient vessels both prior to and following introduction of contrast agent into the vessels. An image data processor automatically, (a) determines a first shift vector for a first image of the sequence for compensating for shift between the first image and a first reference image of the sequence, (b) applies the determined first shift vector to the first image of the sequence to produce a shifted image, (c) subtracts the first reference image from the shifted image to produce a subtracted image enhancing vessel structure, (d) determines a second shift vector for compensating for shift between the subtracted image and a second reference image and (e) shifts content of the subtracted image relative to the second reference image in response to the second shift vector, to provide a shifted subtracted image enhancing and aligning vessel structure.

Abstract: A method and system provides medical image processing and 3-dimensional image construction of an examination subject. A user is enabled to selectively orient an x-ray imaging system having a variable 3-dimensional acquisition axis relative to an examination subject support for holding an examination subject. A non-planar image data acquisition path is set for the x-ray imaging system oriented around the variable 3-dimensional acquisition axis in response to user instruction. Acquisition of image data of the examination subject is initiated by the x-ray imaging system at a plurality of points along the non-planar image data acquisition path. A 3-dimensional image is constructed from the acquired image data such that any metal artifacts introduced by radio-opaque objects within the examination subject are minimized. The 3-dimensional image is displayed.

Abstract: An image data processing system automatically indicates an image of a digitally subtracted Angiography (DSA) image sequence is associated with at least one of, arterial, venous, or capillary phases of blood flow. The system includes an interface for acquiring data representing a DSA sequence of digitally subtracted images enhancing vessel structure. An image data processor automatically indicates an image of the DSA sequence is associated with at least one of, arterial, venous, or capillary phases of blood flow by determining individual minimum luminance intensity level values of individual images of the DSA sequence and using the determined individual minimum luminance intensity level values in identifying images of the DSA sequence are associated with at least one of, arterial, venous, or capillary phases of blood flow.

Abstract: An automated medical image storage system comprises an interface, a configuration interface and an output processor. The interface acquires a sequence of images of patient vessels both prior to and following introduction of contrast agent into the vessels and subtracts a mask image representing background detail in the absence of a contrast agent to produce data representing a DSA sequence of digitally subtracted images enhancing vessel structure. The configuration interface enables a user to configure image processing (e.g., pixel shift, edge enhancement) and selection of images from the sequence of images for automatic documented archiving in an archival system by determining criteria to select images associated with one of arterial, venous, or capillary phases of blood flow. The output processor automatically initiates storage of images selected from the sequence of images in response to the determined criteria.

Abstract: A method generates a two dimensional (2D) medical image through a three dimensional (3D) imaged volume of patient anatomy at a desired position, by storing 3D image data representing a 3D imaging volume including vessels in the presence of a contrast agent. The 3D image data comprises, data identifying multiple voxels representing multiple individual volume image element luminance values and luminance distribution data for individual voxels of a vessel in the 3D image data. For multiple individual voxels of a 2D image, the method determines composite luminance distribution data of an individual voxel in the 2D image by combining luminance distribution data of the 3D image data of multiple identified voxels substantially lying on a projection line from a source point to the individual voxel and generating data representing the 2D image using the determined composite luminance distribution data of the multiple individual voxels.

Abstract: A system creates a visually (e.g., color) coded 3D image that depicts 3D vascular function information including transit time of blood flow through the anatomy. A system combines 3D medical image data with vessel blood flow information. The system uses at least one repository for storing, 3D image data representing a 3D imaging volume including vessels, in the presence of a contrast agent and 2D image data representing a 2D X-ray image through the imaging volume in the presence of a contrast agent. An image data processor uses the 3D image data and the 2D image data in deriving blood flow related information for the vessels. A display processor provides data representing a composite single displayed image including a vessel structure provided by the 3D image data and the derived blood flow related information.

Abstract: In a method for acquiring a 3D image rotational acquisition and reconstructed 3D image of an examination subject in whom a highly dense object is located, the 3D acquisition axis for acquiring the 3D image rotational acquisition is selected prior to acquisition, such that the orientation of the region of interest with respect to an artifact inducing object is not perpendicular to the 3D acquisition axis.

Abstract: A workflow for a minimally invasive intervention, such as a treatment for a cancerous tumor, includes positioning a patient at a multi-functional imaging apparatus, obtaining pre-interventional images of the anatomy of the patient using a computed tomography or angiography imaging function, performing the minimally invasive intervention while the patient is positioned at the multi-functional imaging apparatus and while using a fluoroscopic imaging function, and performing a post-interventional imaging of the patient's anatomy while the patient is positioned at the multi-functional imaging apparatus using the computed tomography or angiographic imaging function. If the post-interventional imaging determines that additional intervention is in order, the additional intervention is performed while the patient is positioned at the imaging apparatus. Pre-intervention images and data sets from other sources may be combined with or used during the intervention.

Abstract: A method and system provides medical image processing and 3-dimensional image construction of an examination subject. A user is enabled to selectively orient an x-ray imaging system having a variable 3-dimensional acquisition axis relative to an examination subject support for holding an examination subject. A non-planar image data acquisition path is set for the x-ray imaging system oriented around the variable 3-dimensional acquisition axis in response to user instruction. Acquisition of image data of the examination subject is initiated by the x-ray imaging system at a plurality of points along the non-planar image data acquisition path. A 3-dimensional image is constructed from the acquired image data such that any metal artifacts introduced by radio-opaque objects within the examination subject are minimized. The 3-dimensional image is displayed.