Abstract: It is described a method for medical image comparison purposes, comprising the step of generating a first global image or mask with increased similarity to a second global image, wherein the first global image comprises at least partially a composition of different pre-captured images of a patient; wherein the pre-captured images are captured at different times.

Abstract: A method includes executing, via a data analyzer (122), computer executable instructions that select, without user interaction, a processing protocol (212) from an electronic repository (210) of protocols based on imaging data and non-imaging data corresponding to the patient, processing, via the data analyzer (122), functional imaging data for a subject with the selected processing protocol (212) under a first processing mode, and performing a plausibility check on the processed data.

Abstract: A method includes using a pre-scan image to define a scan field of view for a region of interest of a patient to be scanned for at least one image acquisition of a series of image acquisitions of a scan plan, performing an image acquisition of the series based on a corresponding scan field of view for the image acquisition, and determining, via a processor (120), a next field of view for a next image acquisition of the series based on available image related data.

Abstract: A method includes using a pre-scan image to define a scan field of view for a region of interest of a patient to be scanned for at least one image acquisition of a series of image acquisitions of a scan plan, performing an image acquisition of the series based on a corresponding scan field of view for the image acquisition, and determining, via a processor (120), a next field of view for a next image acquisition of the series based on available image related data.

Abstract: A method includes using a pre-scan image to define a scan field of view for a region of interest of a patient to be scanned for at least one image acquisition of a series of image acquisitions of a scan plan, performing an image acquisition of the series based on a corresponding scan field of view for the image acquisition, and determining, via a processor (120), a next field of view for a next image acquisition of the series based on available image related data.

Abstract: A method includes using a pre-scan image to define a scan field of view for a region of interest of a patient to be scanned for at least one image acquisition of a series of image acquisitions of a scan plan, performing an image acquisition of the series based on a corresponding scan field of view for the image acquisition, and determining, via a processor (120), a next field of view for a next image acquisition of the series based on available image related data.

Abstract: A method includes executing, via a data analyzer (122), computer executable instructions that select, without user interaction, a processing protocol (212) from an electronic repository (210) of protocols based on imaging data and non-imaging data corresponding to the patient, processing, via the data analyzer (122), functional imaging data for a subject with the selected processing protocol (212) under a first processing mode, and performing a plausibility check on the processed data.

Abstract: Methods for displaying a vessel with the aid of intravascular ultrasound images and current location and cycle information provided by detectors and sensors. A sequence of intravascular ultrasound images are stored and indexed-by location and by heartbeat and breathing phase. During a subsequent medical intervention, ultrasound images that correspond to the current phase and location of an object of interest such as a catheter can be selected and displayed on a monitor in real time along with an x-ray image of the vessel, the display showing the geometric position of the ultrasound images with reference to the x-ray image.

Abstract: It is disclosed a method and a device for measurement of a flow in an object, especially a lumen or a vessel, comprising: generating a temporal sequence of images of the object; determining reliability maps, whereas a reliability map corresponds to an image of the object. Another exemplary embodiment is a method and a device for calculating flow parameters (13), comprising: comparing (15) of a predicted image of a flow (16) with an image of a flow (17) with respect to a reliability map (18) of an image of the flow; and adaptation (12) of the predicted flow (16) with respect to the result of the comparing (15). Furthermore, it is described a computer program having instructions recorded thereon in order to execute one of the above-mentioned methods.

Abstract: Images of static vascular maps (B), which were taken at different phases of the cardiac cycle and/or the respiratory cycle and were archived in a memory (6), are superimposed on a current image (A) of a catheter (2, 8) in the vascular system (9). In the method, a defined section of a map image (B) around the estimated actual position of the catheter is selected and is displayed superimposed on the current image (A) on a monitor (10). The map image (B) used for this is preferably selected by an electrocardiogram to match the particular cardiac cycle. The position of the catheter relative to the map image (B) is estimated using a distance image (D).

Abstract: In real-time three-dimensional imaging the choice of the visualization method and orientation is crucial for intervention success. The key question is what to ignore and what to show in real-time applications, where user control is not appropriate. An intervention (caused by a user) to an object of interest is visualized without the requirement of an interactive input by the user. Parameters for a visualization procedure are automatically chosen during data acquisition which may allow for an efficient tracking of the actual orientation and relative position of the structure with respect to the object of interest.

Abstract: Scattered radiation has non-intuitive properties. A signalling system (28) is presented which provides a perceptible signal (34) being indicative of a predicted or measured spatial distribution of scattered radiation. An embodiment provides for easy assessment of the individual risk of scattered radiation exposure for personnel working in an environment exposed to scattered radiation. A method for predicting a distribution of scattered radiation takes into account at least one object related parameter (18) and at least one radiation related parameter (22) and, in response hereto, predicts a distribution of scattered radiation.

Abstract: It is described a method for medical image comparison purposes, comprising the step of generating a first global image or mask with increased similarity to a second global image, wherein the first global image comprises at least partially a composition of different pre-captured images of a patient; wherein the pre-captured images are captured at different times.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for displaying a vessel (2) with the aid of intravascular ultrasound images (I). A sequence of intravascular ultrasound images (I(E,x)) is generated by means of a probe (5) and stored in a memory (10) in a manner indexed by the associated location (x) where they were generated and also the associated heartbeat phase (E) and/or breathing phase. During a subsequent medical intervention, those ultrasound images (I1, I2, I3) which best correspond to the heartbeat phase of a current fluoroscopic image (At) or belong to the current stopping location of a catheter (13) can be selected from the memory (10) and displayed on a monitor (12).

Abstract: Linking of interventional and real time ultrasonic information with nonereal time anatomical information of, for example, a vessel or a tumor vascularization provided by x-ray rotational angiography requires high computational performance. According to an aspect of the present invention, an ultrasonic reference image is calibrated with respect to a high quality image acquired by a different imaging system. Then, during operational intervention, a registration or calibration of a data set acquired during the intervention is performed with respect to the reference image and not (as in state of the art devices) to the high quality image. Advantageously, this may allow for a fast fusion of the high quality image with the real time images and therefore allow for an improved tracking of operational interventions performed on a patient.

Abstract: In real-time three-dimensional imaging the choice of the visualization method and orientation is crucial for intervention success. The key question is what to ignore and what to show in real-time applications, where user control is not appropriate. The invention addresses this problem by visualizing an intervention (caused by a user) to an object of interest without the requirement of an interactive input by the user. Advantageously, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, parameters for a visualization procedure are automatically chosen during data acquisition which may allow for an efficient tracking of the actual orientation and relative position of the structure with respect to the object of interest.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for providing an angiographic image (A) based on a database (2) with angiograms (3, 3a) from various heartbeat phases (H) and respiratory phases (R). From the available angiograms (3, 3a), a function (f) is first calculated, which describes the position (x) of the heart (1) dependent upon the respiratory phase (R). With the aid of this function (f) an angiographic image (A) may be generated which matches the heartbeat phase (Hd) and the respiratory phase (Rd) for given values of the heartbeat phase (Hd) and the respiratory phase (Rd), by transformation of an available angiogram (3a) which matches the heartbeat phase (Hd).

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for displaying a vessel (2) with the aid of intravascular ultrasound images (1). A sequence of intravascular ultrasound images (I(E,x)) is generated by means of a probe (5) and stored in a memory (10) in a manner indexed by the associated location (x) where they were generated and also the associated heartbeat phase (E) and/or breathing phase. During a subsequent medical intervention, those ultrasound images (I1,12,13) which best correspond to the heartbeat phase of a current fluoroscopic image (At) or belong to the current stopping location of a catheter (13) can be selected from the memory (10) and displayed on a monitor (12).

Abstract: During catheter or guide wire intervention, a road map of, for example, the coronary vessel tree based on pre-interventional angiograms is displayed. This road map, however, is naturally static and hence not consistent with the instantaneous heart and respiration cycles in the life image, which may be displayed on the screen next to the road map. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, images of a series of x-ray images of an object of interest are determined, where the object of interest is not sufficiently filled with the contrast agent. Advantageously, these images may be used to provide for an improved road map.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and to a method for combining two images, especially for superimposition of static vascular maps (B), which were taken at different phases of the cardiac cycle and/or the respiratory cycle and were archived in a memory (6), on a current image (A) of a catheter (2, 8) in the vascular system (9). In the method, a defined section of a map image (B) around the estimated actual position of the catheter is selected and is displayed superimposed on the current image (A) in an image (C) on a monitor (10). The map image (B) used for this is preferably selected by means of an electrocardiogram to match the particular cardiac cycle. The position of the catheter relative to the map image (B) can be estimated using a distance image (D).