Abstract: A method is disclosed for post-processing of a 3D image data record which has been recorded by way of an imaging tomographic appliance of a body area, and covers at least one hollow organ which is at least partially filled with contrast agent. An imaging apparatus is also disclosed. In the method, an automatic three-dimensional edge detection process is carried out in the 3D image data record in order to determine transitions between areas which have contrast agent and a wall of the hollow organ as boundary surfaces. A weighted high-pass filtering process is carried out at right angles to the boundary surfaces and leads to removal of the areas which have contrast agent and in which process areas around the transitions are given a lower weighting than areas which are further away from the transitions.

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 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: Disclosed is an automated technique for analyzing the affected region due to an embolism in an organ. A segmented image of the organ vasculature is generated using image volume data received, for example, from a Computed Tomography (CT) machine. An embolus is then identified (either manually or automatically) within the segmented image, and the volume of the organ affected by the embolism is automatically determined. The volume of the organ affected by the embolism may be determined by computing a sub-tree within the segmented image, where the sub-tree comprises vessels that are distal to the identified embolus point. In one embodiment, the sub-tree is generated by determining a plane perpendicular to a vessel at the embolus point such that the sub-tree comprises a distal portion of the vasculature with respect to the plane. Unwanted overlapping trees are identified (e.g., by analyzing branch angles) and removed from the sub-tree.

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: 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 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 system and method provide automatic image visualization of an object of interest. One or more data sets may include image data of the object of interest. The image data may include medical images and the object of interest may be an anatomical structure or region. One or more of the data sets may be analyzed to characterize the object. Subsequently, without requiring any user input, the image visualization may include automatically selecting a standard view at which to display the object of interest. For instance, based upon object classification, a predetermined orientation at which to display the object may be automatically selected. Additionally, to enhance the resolution of images displayed, the object of interest may be automatically resized or otherwise adapted based upon characteristics/settings of a display. For instance, the object of interest may be automatically resized to maximize the size of the object displayed within a window.

Abstract: Embodiments generally relate to the automatic diagnosis of tumors. At least one embodiment of the invention relates to a medical appliance, to a method and/or to a computer program for automatically determining the tumor load from data records from imaging methods. According to at least one embodiment of the present invention, the medical appliance for determining the tumor load from data records from imaging methods includes at least one device/module for determining the size of lesions on the basis of given data records of imaging methods and tumor size determination criteria, at least one device/module for determining target lesions, at least one device/module for determining tumor loads on the basis of the determined lesion sizes of the target lesions and on the basis of tumor load criteria.

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 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: A method for assigning a lymph node in a medical image with an anatomical name, the method including: identifying landmarks in a medical image; computing features relative to the landmarks given a location of a lymph node in the medical image; and assigning an anatomical name to the location of the lymph node by using a classifier that compares the computed features with classification rules.

Abstract: A tomography system and a method are disclosed for visualizing a tomographic display. The system, in at least one embodiment, includes a detector system for scanning an object, an arithmetic logic unit for conditioning the data determined by the scanning, and a device for visualizing tomographic image data of the scanned object with a first image resolution. According to at least one embodiment of the invention, the device for visualizing the tomographic image data has a selectable display function by which a subregion of the visualization is marked, and this marked subregion is simultaneously displayed in a second, relatively higher image resolution in addition to the visualization in the first image resolution, the calculation of the tomographic display being performed with the first, relatively low resolution, and a recalculation with the set, relatively higher resolution being carried out for the marked subregion.

Abstract: A method and a device are disclosed for visualizing a sequence of tomographic image data records of an examination volume that has been recorded at a time interval from one another. In at least one embodiment of the method, the image data records are firstly registered with one another. On the basis of the registration with regard to a display perspective and a displayed volume region identical views are generated from at least three of the image data records and displayed on an imaging surface of a graphic display unit in a fashion superposed on one another with adjustable. weighting and/or adjustable transparency. For the superposed display, there are inserted on the imaging surface one or more controllers by whose interactive operation an operator can adjust or vary the weighting and/or transparency with which the at least three views are superposed.

Abstract: A method and a device are disclosed for processing image data for automatic detection and/or segmentation of anatomical features from computed tomography pictures. In the case of an embodiment of the method, an image reconstruction procedure which exhibits a filter characteristic having an actual filter frequency response desired for a pictorial representation generates an image data record from measured data of a computed tomography picture of an examination area. A corrected image data record is obtained from the image data record with the aid of a correction filter and is subjected to an algorithm for automatic detection or segmentation of anatomical features in the examination area. The correction filter is obtained from the quotient of a desired filter frequency response, suitable for optimum automatic detection or segmentation, and the actual filter frequency response.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are disclosed for automatically detecting salient features in medical image data of a body area of a patient. In an embodiment of the method, a number of image data records of the body area that are to be examined for salient features are provided and are automatically examined on an image computer with the aid of a detection algorithm to detect salient features in the image data records. The image data records are registered in the case of an embodiment of the present method to obtain transformations with the aid of which image regions in one of the image data records are assigned to corresponding image regions in other ones of the image data records that represent the same site of the body area.

Abstract: A method and a device for virtual endoscopy in a hollow tract is disclosed in which at least one volume record of the hollow tract, recorded by tomographic imaging, is provided from which a virtual flight through the hollow tract in endoscopic perspective is calculated and visualized on a display device. In at least one embodiment, in the method and the device, before the visualization of the virtual flight, a virtual test flight without visualization is first simulated in which unobservable areas of the hollow tract are detected during the test flight. Subsequently, the observer is notified of the unobservable areas close to the location during the visualization of the virtual flight or the unobservable areas are automatically visualized during the virtual flight. Using the present method and the associated device, in at least one embodiment, the time consumption during virtual endoscopy may be reduced for the observer without overloading him with redundant information.

Abstract: At least one nonlinear filter is used, in at least one embodiment, on reconstructed tomographic display data of a patient. The display data thus filtered serves the purpose of computer aided detection of high contrast objects. Moreover, in at least one embodiment, a system is disclosed for computer aided detection of high contrast objects in tomographic displays of a patient, preferably in CT, NMR or tomographic ultrasound displays. The system includes at least one recording apparatus and at computer with computer programs for operating the system, in the case of which at least one nonlinear filter is applied to reconstructed tomographic display data of a patient in order subsequently to use these filtered display data to carry out computer aided detection of high contrast objects.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for post-processing of a 3D image data record which has been recorded by way of an imaging tomographic appliance of a body area, and covers at least one hollow organ which is at least partially filled with contrast agent. An imaging apparatus is also disclosed. In the method, an automatic three-dimensional edge detection process is carried out in the 3D image data record in order to determine transitions between areas which have contrast agent and a wall of the hollow organ as boundary surfaces. A weighted high-pass filtering process is carried out at right angles to the boundary surfaces and leads to removal of the areas which have contrast agent and in which process areas around the transitions are given a lower weighting than areas which are further away from the transitions.

Abstract: A device and a method are disclosed for automated planning of an access path for a percutaneous, minimally invasive intervention on an area of the body, in particular on the lungs. In the method, 3D image data of the body area are prepared, from which bones and elements endangered by the intervention are automatically segmented. In a display of the 3D image data and/or of image data derived therefrom, a target position is marked in the 3D image data by a user. On the basis of one or more predefined path geometries, the target position and the segmented data, a planning module automatically determines one or more access paths to the target position which do not run through bones and which do not intersect any elements endangered by the intervention, or intersect only a minimal number of elements endangered by the intervention.