Abstract: A computer-implemented method for comparing follow-up medical findings includes receiving image data showing a body part of a patient at a first time and retrieving, from a database, reference data associated to the image data. The reference data includes reference biometric data and one or more reference medical findings. Thereby the reference biometric data and the one or more reference medical findings have been extracted from reference image data depicting the body part of the patient at a second time, different than the first time. The method further includes processing the received image data to extract, from the image data, biometric data corresponding to the reference biometric data and one or more medical findings; performing a registration of the extracted biometric data with the reference biometric data; and comparing the extracted medical findings with the reference medical findings using the registration.

Abstract: A method for supporting an evaluator in evaluation of a CT data set of a vascular system is provided. The vascular system is segmented, and an evaluation parameters are determined from the segmentation. An abstracted representation of the vascular system up to the limit generation is displayed, where each vascular segment is allocated at least one display element of a predefined minimum size that is the same for all vascular segments. Display elements of a path from the vascular segment of the zeroth generation to a vascular segment of the limit generation are represented in a first direction of the representation in succession, and display elements of the same generation allocated to different paths follow one another in a second direction transverse thereto. Each display element allocated to a vascular segment is represented in a type of representation corresponding to the value of the evaluation parameter for the vascular segment.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for comparing follow-up medical findings includes receiving image data showing a body part of a patient at a first time and retrieving, from a database, reference data associated to the image data. The reference data includes reference biometric data and one or more reference medical findings. Thereby the reference biometric data and the one or more reference medical findings have been extracted from reference image data depicting the body part of the patient at a second time, different than the first time. The method further includes processing the received image data to extract, from the image data, biometric data corresponding to the reference biometric data and one or more medical findings; performing a registration of the extracted biometric data with the reference biometric data; and comparing the extracted medical findings with the reference medical findings using the registration.

Abstract: A method for supporting an evaluator in evaluation of a CT data set of a vascular system is provided. The vascular system is segmented, and an evaluation parameters are determined from the segmentation. An abstracted representation of the vascular system up to the limit generation is displayed, where each vascular segment is allocated at least one display element of a predefined minimum size that is the same for all vascular segments. Display elements of a path from the vascular segment of the zeroth generation to a vascular segment of the limit generation are represented in a first direction of the representation in succession, and display elements of the same generation allocated to different paths follow one another in a second direction transverse thereto. Each display element allocated to a vascular segment is represented in a type of representation corresponding to the value of the evaluation parameter for the vascular segment.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for generating a visualization of a lung fissure. Medical imaging data is processed to identify a lung mesh and fissures data. The lung mesh is augmented with the fissures data and projected onto a straight plane for rendering into a concise two-dimensional image in which completeness of the lung fissure may be detected.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for generating a visualization of a lung fissure. Medical imaging data is processed to identify a lung mesh and fissures data. The lung mesh is augmented with the fissures data and projected onto a straight plane for rendering into a concise two-dimensional image in which completeness of the lung fissure may be detected.

Abstract: A method and a device are disclosed for providing a segmented volume data record for a virtual colonoscopy, the volume data record having image information relating to the intestines of a creature, which intestines have been labeled by a first and a second contrast agent. In at least one embodiment, voxels representing the first contrast agent, voxels representing stool remains labeled by the second contrast agent and voxels representing intestinal tissue are segmented, the segmentation taking place in a volume data record recorded of the body region of the creature having the intestines, which have been labeled by a first and a second contrast agent. In at least one embodiment, at least sections of the intestinal wall are displayed on the basis of the segmentation in the virtual colonoscopy, even if these sections of the intestinal wall are, in the segmented volume data record, covered by stool remains labeled by the second contrast agent.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for generating on at least one display device a graphics display of data descriptors. The data descriptors, describing items of data, are arranged on an interactive timeline as interactive timeline elements along with interactive data elements. The interactive timeline elements and the interactive data elements allow retrieval of the items of data.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the automatic contrast medium phase classification of at least one image data record, of the interior of an examination object, generated by way of an imaging system. In at least one embodiment of the method, firstly at least one image data record of the examination object is acquired and metadata associated with the image data record are determined, the metadata including at least one of body region data containing information about a body region of the examination object that is covered by the image data record, and/or measurement time data containing information about a measurement time of the image data record and/or high contrast data containing information about highly contrasty image areas in the image data record. The assignment of the image data record to a contrast medium phase is effected, in at least one embodiment, in a manner dependent on the metadata.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for improving the accuracy of a bronchial biopsy. In at least one embodiment, the method includes detecting the position and extent of a lesion to be biopsied by way of imaging methods, calculating the maximum biopsy depth with a known biopsy inaccuracy as a function of the extent of the lesion, and producing a biopsy plan on the basis of the calculated maximum biopsy depth and the position of the lesion. A device is also disclosed for carrying out the method.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are disclosed for registering volume data records of the intestine which were recorded in different positions of a patient. In at least one embodiment of the method, an approximate registration is firstly performed on the basis of central lines. In a subsequent detailed registration, the approximate registration is refined on the basis of local anatomical features in the intestine, for example by using the profile of folds and/or the distance of intestinal sections from fixed points of the intestine. At least one embodiment of the method and/or the apparatus permit a more accurate registration of the at least two volume data records.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for visualizing bumps of the inner surface of a hollow organ. In at least one embodiment, the method includes acquiring recorded image data of the hollow organ using an imaging system; drawing a cutting edge in the image data along the surface of the hollow organ in the longitudinal direction; preparing the image data to display the surface of the hollow organ along a plane on which the surface is plotted in an opened-up fashion; and changing a viewing angle and/or an illumination angle during a display of the hollow organ, a rotation of the plane along an axis running parallel to the cutting edge and/or along an axis running transversely to the cutting edge being carried out to change the viewing angle. A visualization module, an image processing device with such a visualization module and a tomographic system with such an image processing system.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are disclosed for registering at least three different image data records for an object. In at least one embodiment, the method involves first of all determining for each image data record the anatomical region which is covered by the image data record. Next, degrees of overlap in these anatomical regions are calculated. These degrees of overlap are taken as a basis for determining the image data record as a master image data record which, in total, has a maximum overlap with the other image data records, ignoring degrees of overlap which are below a prescribable lower threshold. The other image data records are then registered merely with the master image data record. Thus, they are automatically also indirectly registered with one another. At least one embodiment of the present method and the associated apparatus reduce the waiting time for the user who wishes to visualize a plurality of the image data records simultaneously next to one another or superimposed on one another.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for displaying image data of a large intestine of a patient on the basis of tomographic examination data. In at least one embodiment, the method includes scanning of the patient, after ingestion of a contrast agent, in at least two differently aligned positions using a tomography system and generating a tomographic image data record for each position; segmenting the large intestine in the tomographic data records; detecting and marking regions of the segmented large intestine with adjacent remaining stool in the intestine (covered regions); registering the segmented large intestine in the at least two tomographic image data records; displaying a tomographic display of the segmented large intestine including markings of the covered regions; and displaying a selection menu in which tomographic displays of the segmented large intestine in the at least two differently aligned positions of the patient, including a marking of the covered regions, can be selected alternatively.

Abstract: A system and method for colon unfolding via skeletal subspace deformation comprises: performing a centerline computation on a segmented image for deriving a centerline thereof; computing a distance map utilizing said centerline and said segmented image to derive said distance map; generating a polyhedral model of the lumen of said colon; and utilizing said polyhedral model, said distance map, and said centerline for performing a straightening operation on said centerline.

Abstract: A medical diagnostic and data processing system is disclosed. The system includes, in at least one embodiment, an arithmetic logic unit and an imaging diagnostic device that can be connected to the latter for data purposes, and a data memory in which data describing anatomical structures including lymph nodes are stored. The arithmetic logic unit is set up programmatically in such a way to produce an automatic assignment between a lymph node recorded by way of the imaging diagnostic device and data describing the lymph node that are stored in the data memory.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for automatically detecting salient features in medical image data. The apparatus includes a memory device for storing the image data, at least one determination module for determining one or more anatomical regions which are acquired by the image data, a number of different examination modules that respectively include an application for automatically detecting specific salient features in a specific anatomical region, an input unit via which a primary application can be started, a control unit that on the basis of the anatomical regions determined by the determination module automatically selects and executes in the background further applications, as well as an output unit on which the result of the primary application is displayed together with an item of information relating to additional salient features that have been detected automatically with the aid of the applications executed in the background. The apparatus improves the diagnostic evaluation of medical image data.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for automatically determining the rectum distance in a patient's colon, the path in the colon between a selected site, preferably a lesion, and the rectum being determined by processing 3D image data records. At least two 3 image data records are recorded with the patient being differently positioned. Further, the path between the rectum and selected site is determined from the common perusal of the at least two 3D image data records.

Abstract: A method and a device are disclosed for providing a segmented volume data record for a virtual colonoscopy, the volume data record having image information relating to the intestines of a creature, which intestines have been labeled by a first and a second contrast agent. In at least one embodiment, voxels representing the first contrast agent, voxels representing stool remains labeled by the second contrast agent and voxels representing intestinal tissue are segmented, the segmentation taking place in a volume data record recorded of the body region of the creature having the intestines, which have been labeled by a first and a second contrast agent. In at least one embodiment, at least sections of the intestinal wall are displayed on the basis of the segmentation in the virtual colonoscopy, even if these sections of the intestinal wall are, in the segmented volume data record, covered by stool remains labeled by the second contrast agent.

Abstract: A multistage method, according to at least one embodiment of the invention, is disclosed for segmenting an interior region of a hollow structure in a tomographic image. In at least one embodiment of the method, portions of the image are segmented in each of at least two segmentation cycles, respectively, whilst using a substance-specific segmentation criterion. Using this procedure, the interior region of the hollow structure can be completely determined, even in the case where a plurality of substances with different imaging properties, e.g. with different attenuation properties, are present.