Abstract: In some examples, two dimensional (2D) datasets, such as images, may be transformed into three dimensional (3D) datasets (e.g., volumes). The values and material properties of voxels of the 3D dataset may be based, at least in part, on values of pixels in the 2D dataset. A 3D scene of the 3D dataset may be rendered from a plane parallel to a plane of the 2D dataset to generate a “top-down” render that may look like a 2D image. In some examples, additional coloring may be added to the rendered 2D image based on intensity or other properties of the 2D dataset.

Abstract: An end effector state estimation system for use in minimally invasive surgery (MIS) applications performs sensing and prediction algorithms to determine and visualize the state of an implantable therapeutic device during deployment. The end effector state estimation system includes a flexible elongate member, a therapeutic device coupled to a distal portion of the flexible elongate member, a sensor that measures at least one parameter related to the deployment state of the therapeutic device, and a processor. The processor receives image data from an imaging system representative of the therapeutic device positioned within the body cavity of the patient and the at least one parameter from the sensor, determines the deployment state of the therapeutic device based on the image data and the at least one parameter, outputs a graphical representation of the deployment state of the therapeutic device.

Abstract: An image processing method, comprising acquiring an image of a 3-D tubular object of interest to segment; computing a 3-D path that corresponds to the centerline of the tubular object and defining segments on said 3-D path; creating an initial straight deformable cylindrical mesh model, of any kind of mesh, with a length defined along its longitudinal axis equal to the length of the 3-D path; dividing this initial mesh model into segments of length related to the different segments of the 3-D path; computing, for each segment of the mesh, a rigid-body transformation that transforms the initial direction of the mesh into the direction of the related segment of the 3-D path, and applying this transformation to the vertices of the mesh corresponding to that segment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system (200) for delineating an anatomical structure in an image computed from a slice of image data, the system (200) comprising a partition unit (210) for partitioning the image into a plurality of image portions, each image portion depicting a portion of the anatomical structure, and an adaptation unit (220) for adapting a template to the image based on a criterion function, the criterion function being a function of template parameters and of image values and their relative positions in the image, and on a criterion to be satisfied by a computed value of the criterion function, wherein the criterion function is defined on the basis of the plurality of image portions. Having a criterion function defined on the basis of the plurality of image portions allows computing optimal contributions to the criterion function value within each portion of the image.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system (200) for delineating endocardial and epicardial contours of the heart in an image computed from long-axis image data, using a template defining curves for delineating the endocardial and epicardial contours in the image, the system (200) comprising a template-positioning unit (205) for positioning the template on the basis of short-axis image data, a scar map initialization unit (210) for initializing a scar map for use in adapting the template to the image, based on a prior segmentation of the endocardial and epicardial surfaces on the basis of the short-axis image data, and an adaptation unit (220) for adapting the template to the image, using a criterion function, the criterion function comprising terms describing the attraction of the template to image features and terms describing internal interactions within the template, and wherein at least one term of the criterion function is defined on the basis of the scar map.

Abstract: An image processing system having means of automatic adaptation of 3-D surface Model to image features, for Model-based image segmentation, comprising: dynamic adaptation means for adapting the Model resolution to image features including locally setting higher resolution when reliable image features are found and setting lower resolution in the opposite case. This system comprises estimation means for estimating a feature confidence parameter for each image feature. The model resolution is locally adapted according to said parameter. The feature confidence parameter depends on the feature distance and on the estimation of quality of this feature including estimation of noise. The large distances and the noisy, although close features are penalized. The resolution of the Model is decreased in absence of confidence and is gradually increased with the rise of feature confidence.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system (200) for delineating endocardial and epicardial contours of the heart in an image computed from long-axis image data, using a template defining curves for delineating the endocardial and epicardial contours in the image, the system (200) comprising a template-positioning unit (205) for positioning the template on the basis of short-axis image data, a scar map initialization unit (210) for initializing a scar map for use in adapting the template to the image, based on a prior segmentation of the endocardial and epicardial surfaces on the basis of the short-axis image data, and an adaptation unit (220) for adapting the template to the image, using a criterion function, the criterion function comprising terms describing the attraction of the template to image features and terms describing internal interactions within the template, and wherein at least one term of the criterion function is defined on the basis of the scar map.

Abstract: An image processing system, for processing a 3-D image of a 3-D substantially tubular structure (AAA), formed of a lumen (LUM) limited by a wall (5,6), comprising processing means (102) for segmenting the 3-D external or internal surface of the structure; estimating a local parameter such as the local wall thickness (T) or diameters; and display means (105) for displaying the 3-D surface of segmentation with zones colorized according to a color code, so that to indicate the local parameter values in said zones. The system may comprise processing means to generate (107) a 3-D virtual cylinder and projecting (108) the color-coded 3-D segmentation surface onto the 3-D virtual cylinder surface colorized according to the same color-code; and projecting the 3-D virtual cylinder surface onto a 2-D color-coded map; and display means for displaying the 2-D color-coded map with colorized zones indicating the local parameter values (T) in said zones (109).

Abstract: The invention relates to a system (200) for delineating an anatomical structure in an image computed from a slice of image data, the system (200) comprising a partition unit (210) for partitioning the image into a plurality of image portions, each image portion depicting a portion of the anatomical structure, and an adaptation unit (220) for adapting a template to the image based on a criterion function, the criterion function being a function of template parameters and of image values and their relative positions in the image, and on a criterion to be satisfied by a computed value of the criterion function, wherein the criterion function is defined on the basis of the plurality of image portions. Having a criterion function defined on the basis of the plurality of image portions allows computing optimal contributions to the criterion function value within each portion of the image.

Abstract: An image processing system comprising 3D image data processing means of automatic mapping a 3-D Surface Model onto the surface of an object of interest in a 3-D image, for estimating a model-based 3-D segmentation surface, comprising visualizing means and further comprising means of interactive adaptation of the segmentation surface to the actual surface of the object of interest including means of interactive selection of a 2D data plane (DP) that intersects the 3-D segmentation surface along a 2-D Model Curve (MC), said Data Plane having a user-selected orientation with respect to said surface, which is appropriate for the user to visualize a 2-D portion called Aberrant Curve (AC) of said Model Curve to be modified; means of interactive definition of a Guiding Curve (GC) in the 2-D Data Plane; means of interactive adaptation of said Aberrant Curve (AC) to said Guiding Curve (GC); and means of further automatically adapting the 3D segmentation surface within a neighborhood of the interactively adapted Aberra

Abstract: The invention relates to system (100) for segmenting an image dataset based on a deformable model for modeling an object in the image dataset, utilizing a coarse mesh for adapting to the image dataset and a fine mesh for extracting detailed information from the image dataset, the system comprising an initialization unit (110) for initializing the coarse mesh in an image dataset space, a construction unit (120) for constructing the fine mesh in the image dataset space based on the initialized coarse mesh, a computation unit (130) for computing an internal force field on the coarse mesh and an external force field on the coarse mesh, wherein the external force is computed based on the constructed fine mesh and the scalar field of intensities, and an adaptation unit (140) for adapting the coarse mesh to the object in the image dataset, using the computed internal force field and the computed external force field, thereby segmenting the image dataset.

Abstract: A method for delineating a bony structure within a 3D image of a body volume. A non contrast-enhanced tissue (reference) structure and a region comprising the bony structure and contrast-enhanced structures are identified (S2, S3) by thresholding or other image segmentation technique. A deformable model generally representative of the bony structure aligned and centred relative to the reference structure (S4) and the model is then deformed (S5) relative to the region of the image including the bony structure so as to fit the model thereto and thereby to delineate the bony structure in the image.

Abstract: The invention relates to an image processing method for displaying a processed image of a three dimensional (3-D) object using a two-dimensional display means and for interacting with the surface of the displayed 3-D object comprising the construction and display of at least two coupled views of the surface of the 3-D object, including a global 3-D view and a connected local 2-D view of the surface of said object on which local interactions are made. This method further comprises interactive navigation on the object surface in one of the two views and processing data in said view with automatic updating of corresponding data in the other coupled view. Application: Medical Imaging.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for segmentation of a three-dimensional structure in a three-dimensional data set, especially a medical data set. The method uses a three-dimensional deformable model, wherein the surface of the model consists of a net of polygonal meshes. The meshes are split into groups, and a feature term is assigned to each group. After the model has been placed over the structure of interest, the deformable model is recalculated in consideration of the feature terms of each group.

Abstract: An image data processing system with computing means for the automatic segmentation of a treelike tubular structure in a 3-D image comprising: means (20) for computing a treelike center path of the tubular tree-like structure; means (21) for dividing the treelike center path of the tubular treelike structure into segments formed of points; means (40) for generating generic cylindrical meshes formed of cells, for individual segments of the tree-like center path; means (50) for fusing generic cylindrical meshes by two.

Abstract: A medical viewing system having means, for analysing and visualising medical image data corresponding to folded surfaces, comprises means of segmentation of the image data to identify the object surface, means for approximating the object surface by a reference surface, and means for detecting folded portions of the object surface including means for determining points of the reference surface at which a normal to a zone forming a patch on the reference surface intersects with the object surface. If there are more than one point of intersection, then that patch corresponds to a folded portion of the object surface. Fold-portion patches are assigned a code such that, on display or printing of an image (RP) corresponding to the reference surface, the fold-portions will be flagged (for example by coloured or patterned regions (HP).

Abstract: An image processing system, for processing a 3-D image of a 3-D substantially tubular structure (AAA), formed of a lumen (LUTM) limited by a wall (5,6), comprising processing means (102) for segmenting the 3-D external or internal surface of the structure; estimating a local parameter such as the local wall thickness (T) or diameters; and display means (105) for displaying the 3-D surface of segmentation with zones colorized according to a color code, so that to indicate the local parameter values in said zones. The system may comprise processing means to generate (107) a 3-D virtual cylinder and projecting (108) the color-coded 3-D segmentation surface onto the 3-D virtual cylinder surface colorized according to the same color-code; and projecting the 3-D virtual cylinder surface onto a 2-D color-coded map; and display means for displaying the 2-D color-coded map with colorized zones indicating the local parameter values (T) in said zones (109).

Abstract: An image processing system having image data processing means of segmentation of an object of interest using an unstructured deformable mesh model composed of surface (TJ) and internal (THJ) discrete elements, and further means of refining said mesh model by automatically dynamically adapting the size of the internal discrete elements to the local variation of size of the surface discrete elements. This system has means for acquiring size information (LJ) related to the surface discrete elements in order to evaluate the optimal size to be assigned to the internal discrete elements and for propagating this size information from the surface discrete elements to the internal discrete elements while new internal discrete (THJ) elements are created during the refinement process by insertion of new vertices inside said internal discrete elements.

Abstract: An image processing system comprising 3D image data processing means (10) of automatic mapping a 3-D Surface Model onto the surface of an object of interest in a 3-D image, for estimating a model-based 3-D segmentation surface, comprising visualizing means (60) and further comprising means of interactive adaptation (20) of the segmentation surface to the actual surface of the object of interest including means of interactive selection (40) of a 2D data plane (DP) that intersects the 3-D segmentation surface along a 2-D Model Curve (MC), said Data Plane having a user-selected orientation with respect to said surface, which is appropriate for the user to visualize a 2-D portion called Aberrant Curve (AC)of said Model Curve to be modified; means of interactive definition of a Guiding Curve (GC) in the 2-D Data Plane; means of interactive adaptation of said Aberrant Curve (AC) to said Guiding Curve (GC); and means of further automatically adapting the 3D segmentation surface within a neighborhood of the interacti

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for segmentation of a three-dimensional structure in a three-dimensional data set, especially a medical data set. The method uses a three-dimensional deformable model, wherein the surface of the model consists of a net of polygonal meshes. The meshes are split into groups, and a feature term is assigned to each group. After the model has been placed over the structure of interest, the deformable model is recalculated in consideration of the feature terms of each group.