Abstract: The invention relates to a method for differentially representing myocardial tissue in different states of damage, comprising the following steps: administering a myocardium-suitable contrast agent to a patient under examination; entering at least one patient-specific parameter affecting the speed of uptake by and elimination from the myocardium of said contrast agent; calculating a point in time after administration of the contrast agent at which a difference between a contrast agent content in necrotic myocardial tissue and a contrast agent content in non-necrotic myocardial tissue attains a maximum value, on the basis of the at least one patient-specific parameter, and carrying out, at the point in time calculated, a late-phase CT scan for accentuation of necrotic myocardial tissue compared to non-necrotic myocardial tissue. The invention likewise relates to apparatus, in particular for carrying out the method.

Abstract: A system and method for performing shape-constrained aortic valve landmark detection using 3D medical images is provided. A rigid global shape defining initial positions of a plurality of aortic valve landmarks is detected within a 3D image. Each of the plurality of aortic valve landmarks is detected based on the initial positions.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for processing of diagnostic image data. In one embodiment, the method includes determination of three-dimensional image information using an imaging medico-technical method, in which an examined volume is subdivided into a plurality of voxels and each voxel is allocated one measurement value, and selection of a subset of the voxels, with the measurement values which are associated with the selected voxels satisfying a specific relationship with a limit value. The method further includes identification of at least one cohesive volume area within the selected subset of the voxels, determination of a surface of the identified cohesive volume area, and determination of the distance between voxels within the cohesive volume area and the surface.

Abstract: A method and system for determining an angulation of a C-arm image acquisition system for aortic valve implantation is disclosed. One or more landmarks of the aortic root is detected in a 3D image. A plane representing an aortic annulus direction is defined in the 3D image based on the detected anatomic landmarks. A viewing angle is determined that is perpendicular to the defined plane.

Abstract: A method as a workflow for imaging for a heart valve implant procedure includes positioning the patient and an articulated imaging apparatus relative to one another, inducing rapid ventricular pacing in the patient, and imaging a region of the patient's heart to obtain image date for a three-dimensional image. The three-dimensional data is used to construct a three-dimensional image of the region of the patient's heart an the three-dimensional image is displayed for use in the implanting of the replacement heart valve. Optional steps may include obtaining a real time two-dimensional image of the patient's heart and superimposing the real time two-dimensional image with the constructed three dimensional image. The replacement valve is moved into position in the patient's heart during rapid ventricular pacing and breath hold using the superimposed two-dimensional and three-dimensional image information.

Abstract: An intuitive user interface is provided for endoscopic view visualization. The user interface may permit individual or simultaneous navigation through images displayed in an endoscopic view window, a three dimensional overview window, and a multi-planar reformatted window. An operation performed directly on one of the windows may commence the navigation. The endoscopic view window may be divided into a plurality of sub-regions, each sub-region having a corresponding navigation function. The endoscopic view window and the three dimensional overview window may have corresponding icons related to a single location in corresponding images being displayed. The corresponding icons may be color coded to facilitate intuitive alignment of the corresponding images displayed in the different windows. The three dimensional overview window may have a geometric icon to facilitate intuitive alignment of the corresponding images.

Abstract: An optoelectronic detector and method of using same. In order to avoid any condensation on a surface, it has been known to heat such a surface. However, heating an optoelectronic detector will create a stronger hissing noise due to the greater dark current that is caused thereby. The invention is intended to avoid any condensation on an optoelectronic detector without airtight encapsulation. To this end, the detector is cooled and equipped with a sensor for the determination of a current value of one of the variables ambient humidity and ambient dew point temperature and a control unit that is connected with the sensor and designed to control the cooling device in dependence of such a value. By taking into account the ambient humidity or, respectively, the dew point temperature in the control of the cooling device, condensation on the detector can be avoided. An airtight encapsulation of the detector and the cooling device is not required.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, a device, a system and a computer program are disclosed for three-dimensional displaying of medical body structures within the framework of a medical procedure, in particular cardiac surgery, wherein movement information is derived from a dynamic image of a body structure to be examined. In at least one embodiment, movement information is derived from vector analysis. After acquiring a static image of the respective body structure, vector analysis is applied to the static image to derive a modified static image with movement information of the body structure. The static image can then be displayed after it has moved.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) having a nucleotide sequence which is less that 30 nucleotides in length and which is substantially identical to at least a part of a 3?-untranslated region (3?-UTR) of a (+) strand RNA virus, such as HCV, as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising the dsRNA, together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The pharmaceutical compositions are useful for treating infections and diseases caused by the replication or activity of the (+) strand RNA virus, as well as methods for inhibiting viral replication.

Abstract: A method for registration of ultrasound device in three dimensions to a C-arm scan, the method including acquiring a baseline volume, acquiring images in which the ultrasound device is disposed, locating the device within the images, registering the location of the device to the baseline volume, acquiring an ultrasound volume from the ultrasound device, registering the ultrasound volume to the baseline volume, and performing fusion imaging to display a view of the ultrasound device in the baseline volume.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) for inhibiting the expression of a mutant gene, comprising a complementary RNA strand having a complementary region that is substantially complementary to a portion of the mutant gene, and which is partially complementary to the corresponding wild-type gene. The invention further relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the dsRNA and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The pharmaceutical compositions are useful for inhibiting the expression of a target mutant gene, as well as for treating diseases caused by expression of the target gene. The invention also relates to methods for inhibiting the expression of a target mutant gene, as well as methods for treating diseases caused by the expression of the target gene.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the targeted selection of a double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) consisting of two single strands that exhibits increased effectiveness in inhibiting the expression of a target gene by means of RNA interference, wherein at least end of the dsRNA comprises a nucleotide overhang of 1 to 4 unpaired nucleotides in length; wherein the unpaired nucleotide adjacent to the terminal nucleotide pair comprises a purine base; and wherein the terminal nucleotide pair on both ends of the dsRNA is a G-C pair, or at least two of the last four consecutive terminal nucleotide pairs are G-C pairs.

Abstract: A method and system for aorta segmentation in a 3D volume, such as a C-arm CT volume is disclosed. The aortic root is detected in the 3D volume using marginal space learning (MSL) based segmentation. The aortic arch is detected in the 3D volume using MSL based segmentation. The ascending aorta is tracked from the aortic root to the aortic arch in the 3D volume, and the descending aorta is tracked from the aortic arch in the 3D volume.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the targeted selection of a double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) consisting of two single strands that exhibits increased effectiveness in inhibiting the expression of a target gene by means of RNA interference, wherein at least end of the dsRNA comprises a nucleotide overhang of 1 to 4 unpaired nucleotides in length; wherein the unpaired nucleotide adjacent to the terminal nucleotide pair comprises a purine base; and wherein the terminal nucleotide pair on both ends of the dsRNA is a G-C pair, or at least two of the last four consecutive terminal nucleotide pairs are G-C pairs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) for inhibiting the expression of a mutant gene, comprising a complementary RNA strand having a complementary region that is substantially complementary to a portion of the mutant gene, and which is partially complementary to the corresponding wild-type gene. The invention further relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the dsRNA and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The pharmaceutical compositions are useful for inhibiting the expression of a target mutant gene, as well as for treating diseases caused by expression of the target gene. The invention also relates to methods for inhibiting the expression of a target mutant gene, as well as methods for treating diseases caused by the expression of the target gene.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) having a nucleotide sequence which is less that 30 nucleotides in length and which is substantially identical to at least a part of a 3?-untranslated region (3?-UTR) of a (+) strand RNA virus, such as HCV, as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising the dsRNA, together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The pharmaceutical compositions are useful for treating infections and diseases caused by the replication or activity of the (+) strand RNA virus, as well as methods for inhibiting viral replication.

Abstract: A method and a device for obtaining a volume data set of a mobile tissue or organ of a patient by a C-arm X-ray device are provided. An electromagnetic sensor of a position detection system is arranged indirectly on the tissue or organ. The X-ray device obtains a plurality of X-ray projections from the tissue or organ from various projection directions. A first method consists of reconstructing a volume data set from the X-ray projections, in which the electromagnetic sensor adopts a position characterizing a displacement phase of the tissue or organ. A second method consists of reconstructing a volume data set from the X-ray projections captured when the electromagnetic sensor was located in a position characterizing a displacement phase of the tissue or organ. A third method does not capture an X-ray projection for the reconstruction if the electromagnetic sensor is located in a position characterizing a displacement phase.

Abstract: A method and a device for visually assisting a catheter application on the heart of a patient using an image of the patient obtained by a C-arm X-ray device and using electroanatomical mapping data of the patient obtained by an electromagnetic position detection system and mapping system. The C-arm X-ray device and the electromagnetic position detection system and mapping system are calibrated in relation to each other, by determining a co-ordinate transformation between a co-ordinate system assigned to the C-arm x-ray device and/or a co-ordinate system assigned to the image generated by the C-arm X-ray device and a co-ordinate system assigned to the electromagnetic position detection system and mapping system. The position of the patient is determined during the detection of the image and/or during the detection of the electroanatomic mapping-data and is at least indirectly assigned to the image and/or the electroanatomic mapping-data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for assisting with percutaneous interventions, wherein 2D x-ray images of an object region are recorded before the intervention using a C-arm x-ray system or a robot-based x-ray system at different projection angles and 3D x-ray image data of the object region is reconstructed from the 2D x-ray recordings. One or more 2D or 3D ultrasound images are recorded before and/or during the intervention using an external ultrasound system and registered with the 3D image data. The 2D or 3D ultrasound images are then overlaid with the 3D image data record or a target region segmented therefrom or displayed next to one another in the same perspective. The method allows a puncture or biopsy to be monitored with a low level of radiation.

Abstract: A method is proposed for calibrating an instrument location facility with an imaging apparatus. The instrument location apparatus and the imaging apparatus are synchronized temporally with one another. According to such synchronization at least three points of the position of a medical instrument relative to a tracking coordinate system of the instrument location apparatus and/or relative to an image coordinate system of the imaging apparatus are measured simultaneously both by the instrument location apparatus and by the imaging apparatus. The instrument and/or the imaging apparatus are moved relative to one another between the measurements. The measured points parameterize a predetermined transformation rule for mapping the tracking coordinate system onto the image coordinate system.