Abstract: A system and method for simultaneously imaging a structure using two different imaging modalities and blending the images into a single blended two dimensional image, is provided. The system and method include obtaining two dimensional (2D) x-ray image data (132) using an x-ray system (102) and three dimensional (3D) ultrasound image volume data (134) using an ultrasound imaging system (122). A 2D representation of the 3D ultrasound image volume data (134) is created with respect to an area of interest corresponding to the 2D x-ray image data (132). The 2D representation of the 3D ultrasound image volume data (134) is blended with the 2D x-ray image data (132) using a computer (130) to render a 2D blended image (140) of the structure that can be displayed in real-time. The computer (130) may be part of the x-ray system (102), part of the ultrasound system (122) or a standalone unit with its own display device (136).

Abstract: A system and method for simultaneously imaging a structure using two different imaging modalities and blending the images into a single blended two dimensional image, is provided. The system and method include obtaining two dimensional (2D) x-ray image data (132) using an x-ray system (102) and three dimensional (3D) ultrasound image volume data (134) using an ultrasound imaging system (122). A 2D representation of the 3D ultrasound image volume data (134) is created with respect to an area of interest corresponding to the 2D x-ray image data (132). The 2D representation of the 3D ultrasound image volume data (134) is blended with the 2D x-ray image data (132) using a computer (130) to render a 2D blended image (140) of the structure that can be displayed in real-time. The computer (130) may be part of the x-ray system (102), part of the ultrasound system (122) or a standalone unit with its own display device (136).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a stereoscopic imaging apparatus (2). The apparatus (2) comprises a real time ultrasound imaging device (14, 20, 22) for generating a real time 3D model of a patient's heart (4), combining the real time 3D model with a static 3D model of the region surrounding the heart (4) previously stored in memory (24), and generating stereoscopic image data of the combined real time and static 3D model. The apparatus also comprises a display (30) for simultaneously displaying the real time stereoscopic image of the heart (4) and a static stereoscopic image of the region surrounding the heart (4). By enabling a real time stereoscopic image of the heart (4) and a static stereoscopic image of the region surrounding the heart to be simultaneously displayed on the display (30), this improves the user's depth perception in viewing the real time image.