Abstract: Characterizing myocardial perfusion pathology includes analyzing a plurality of medical images of at least a portion of the heart of a subject of interest (20), acquired in a consecutive manner by a medical imaging modality (10). Intensities of selected myocardial image positions from the plurality of medical images are sampled and assigned an index representing an order of acquisition to the respective sampled intensities of the myocardial image positions to obtain intensity curves (60). An index number (64, 66) indicative of a spatio-temporal perfusion inhomogeneity or perfusion dephasing among at least a subset of myocardial segments of the plurality of myocardial segments is calculated, based on the obtained intensity curves (60).

Abstract: A method of determining microvascular architecture is disclosed. Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance data acquired from a contrast agent administered to at least a part of a subject to be examined. From the dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance data a leakage parameter (kep) and a dispersion parameter (k) are computed. Effects of both convective dispersion and extravasation kinetics of contrast agent are taken into account.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for analyzing a multidimensional cardiac image set, the multidimensional cardiac image set comprising: a first image set of a heart; and a second image set of a heart, wherein the first image set is segmented resulting into respective first cardiac contours for each image within the first image set; and the second image set is segmented resulting into respective second cardiac contours for each image within the second image set, the method comprising: determining resulting cardiac contours for each image within the first image set and for each image within the second image set from the first cardiac contours and the second cardiac contours.

Abstract: A measurement apparatus (800) to measure cortical thickness, the measurement apparatus may include at least one controller (810) which may be configured to: obtain magnetic resonance (MR) scan information of a region-of-interest of at least a portion of a cerebral cortex of a subject; form first, second and third meshes each comprising a plurality of points situated apart from each other, the first and third meshes being situated at inner and outer cortical boundary layers, respectively, of the cerebral cortex and the second mesh being situated between the first and third meshes; and/or for each of a plurality of points of the second mesh: determine a closest point of the first mesh and a closest point of the third mesh, determine a distance between the corresponding closest point of the first mesh and the corresponding closest point of the third mesh, said distance being corresponding with a cortical thickness.

Abstract: A method of characterizing myocardial perfusion pathology by analyzing a plurality of medical images of at least a portion of the heart of a subject of interest (20), acquired in a consecutive manner by a medical imaging modality (10), the method comprising steps of: sampling intensities of selected myocardial image positions from the plurality of medical images and assigning an index representing an order of acquisition to the respective sampled intensities of the myocardial image positions to obtain intensity curves (60); and—calculating an index number (64, 66) indicative of a spatio-temporal perfusion inhomogeneity or perfusion dephasing among at least a subset of myocardial segments of the plurality of myocardial segments, based on the obtained intensity curves (60); a system (52) for myocardial perfusion pathology characterization by analyzing a plurality of medical images by carrying out such method; a medical imaging modality (10) comprising such system (52); a software module (48) for carrying out su

Abstract: A method of determining microvascular architecture is disclosed. Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance data acquired from a contrast agent administered to at least a part of a subject to be examined. From the dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance data a leakage parameter (kep) and a dispersion parameter (?) are computed. Effects of both convective dispersion and extravasation kinetics of contrast agent are taken into account.

Abstract: The invention relates to visualization of medical images, and in embodiments to the visualization of the left ventricle of the human heart or other organs. A method of visualizing one or more sets of voxel data is disclosed. The method comprising: providing one or more sets of voxel data, providing and segmenting the voxel data in accordance with a segment model. The segmented voxel data is reformatted to fit a reference shape (20) being defined by at least an inner (22) reference surface and an outer (23) reference surface. The reformatted voxel data is mapped to a target shape being defined by at least a first (29) target surface and a second (200) target surface. The target shape is moreover visualized.

Abstract: The invention relates to the processing of a series of images. A multi-dimensional data set is formed from the series of images, for example, by stacking the images in order of succession. A cut plane is taken through the stack, that is, in the direction of succession and a slice through the stack is taken along the cut plane. A region of interest is derived from the slice. The invention is particularly useful for cardiology where a stack of successive MR images of a moving heart is formed. The ventricles of the heart are accurately segmented while using the slice in the direction of the time axis.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system (100) for visualizing a cardiac parameter at a plurality of positions in a myocardium and at a plurality of stress levels, the system comprising a determination unit (110) for determining a value of the cardiac parameter at a position from the plurality of positions in the myocardium and at a stress level from the plurality of stress levels on the basis of stress level cardiac functional data, and a visualization unit (120) for visualizing the determined value of the cardiac parameter by displaying a point in a viewing plane. The visualized points are defined by their polar coordinates in a polar coordinate system in the viewing plane. A radial coordinate of the point visualizes the determined value of the cardiac parameter. An angular coordinate of the point visualizes an angular coordinate of the position in the myocardium in a cylindrical coordinate system. Thus, the system allows easy numerical comparison of local myocardial contractions at different stress level values.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system (1) and method for registration of medical image (10,11). Furthermore the invention relates to a computer program (5) for registration of medical images (10,11), when the computer program (5) is executed in a computer (2). In order to provide a more accurate registration transformation of medical images it is suggested to detect insufficiently similar areas (14,14?,25,26) and to exclude them from the registration by means of an exclusion mask (22,24,27) that indicates which pixels/voxels should not be included during the registration process.

Abstract: A method of determining wall stress in an abdominal aortic aneurysm is disclosed. The method includes determining, from anatomical image data, respective first stress values at locations on the wall, based on the aorta having substantially uniform stiffness. The primary direction of stress those locations are determined, and the locations of calcified regions (20) are then determined. The distance to the nearest calcified region is then determined for each location not corresponding to a calcified region, and the additional stress caused by the calcified regions is then determined from values stored in a memory.

Abstract: A method and Computer Program Product for segmenting a three-dimensional digital representation of an anatomical structure, in which a temporary replacement of intensity values is performed in a specified volume with a substitute intensity value corresponding to healthy anatomical structure. The segmentation of an outer boundary of the blood vessel is performed, before the original intensity values are restored. After restoration of the original intensity values, a thorough segmentation of the specified volume and any lesions contained therein is performed.

Abstract: In a computer-readable medium, device and method for quantitative assessment of cardiac perfusion, a myocardium is depicted on a series of cardiac images and is divided into image segments. A cardiac perfusion parameter is determined for each of the image segments. At least one image segment with a normal perfusion parameter value is selected. The cardiac perfusion parameters of the remaining image segments are normalized based on the normal perfusion parameter value of said image segment with normal perfusion. The perfusion parameter can be a maximum upslope of a time-intensity profile for distribution of a contrast agent in said myocardium. A normal maximum upslope is derived for at least one image segment with normal perfusion and a relative maximum upslope is calculated for each other segment with relation to the normal maximum upslope.

Abstract: The invention relates to visualization of medical images, and in embodiments to the visualization of the left ventricle of the human heart or other organs. A method of visualizing one or more sets of voxel data is disclosed. The method comprising: providing one or more sets of voxel data, providing and segmenting the voxel data in accordance with a segment model. The segmented voxel data is reformatted to fit a reference shape (20) being defined by at least an inner (22) reference surface and an outer (23) reference surface. The reformatted voxel data is mapped to a target shape being defined by at least a first (29) target surface and a second (200) target surface. The target shape is moreover visualized.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for analyzing a multidimensional cardiac image set, the multidimensional cardiac image set comprising: a first image set of a heart; and a second image set of a heart, wherein the first image set is segmented resulting into respective first cardiac contours for each image within the first image set; and the second image set is segmented resulting into respective second cardiac contours for each image within the second image set, the method comprising: determining resulting cardiac contours for each image within the first image set and for each image within the second image set from the first cardiac contours and the second cardiac contours.

Abstract: In a method of analyzing a quantity having temporal and spatial variations a multidimensional output data array is formed. The multidimensional output data array comprises array positions arranged along at least a first data-axis and a second data-axis, such as a spatial axis and a temporal axis. Values of the quantity are entered in the multidimensional output data array. Values of the quantity at substantially the same instant are entered at respective positions in the multidimensional output data array at equal positions along the first data-axis. Values of the quantity at substantially the same spatial position are entered at respective positions in the multidimensional output data array at equal positions along the second data-axis.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for segmenting a series of 2D or 3D images obtained by monitoring a patient's organ or other body part, wherein a first segmentation is carried out on a first image of the series of images and wherein the first segmentation is used for the subsequent segmentation of the remainder of images of the series of images. A series of transformations are carried out wherein each separate transformation embodies a fitting operation between two images of the series of images, and wherein substantially all images of the series of images are subject of such a transformation. The first segmentation on the first image of the series of images is modified and subsequently applied to any further image of the series of images according to the transformation or sequence of transformations that fits the first image to a further image of the series of images.

Abstract: An invention is described wherein a medical image analysis process which utilizes information contained in at least one medical image and in which a quantitative evaluation is derived from the medical image analysis process and delivered as an output, also delivers as an output the result of an error analysis, performed in order to provide information relating to the accuracy of the quantitative evaluation. This error analysis may be based on an evaluation of the artifacts which have an effect on the image. This error analysis may also be based on an evaluation of the imaging processes which have an effect on the image.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system (100) for visualizing a cardiac parameter at a plurality of positions in a myocardium and at a plurality of stress levels, the system comprising a determination unit parameter at a position from the plurality of positions in the myocardium and at a stress level from the plurality of stress levels on the basis of stress level cardiac functional data, and a visualization unit (120) for visualizing the determined value of the cardiac parameter by displaying a point in a viewing plane. The visualized points are defined by their polar coordinates in a polar coordinate system in the viewing plane. A radial coordinate of the point visualizes the determined value of the cardiac parameter. An angular coordinate of the point visualizes an angular coordinate of the position in the myocardium in a cylindrical coordinate system. Thus, the system allows easy numerical comparison of local myocardial contractions at different stress level values.

Abstract: A method for calculating total left ventricular (LV) volume during a cardiac cycle includes estimating the LV volume using only endocardial contours in a cardiac 3D image that was acquired at end diastole (ED), i.e. the moment at which the heart is fully relaxed. These contours are manually specified or (semi-)automatically derived. Based on these contours and on the pixel intensity in all other images, the LV volume is estimated based on intensity variations within the area enclosed by the contours (ED LV blood pool) . These variations are proportional to the change in size of the ventricle. Hence ventricle volume and other derivable cardiac functionality parameters as well as the phase in the cardiac cycle are derived.