Abstract: A method is provided for processing medical images, the method including receiving a first image and a second image different from the first image, where the second image is of the same subject matter as the first image. The method further includes identifying a plurality of anatomical structures in the first image and defining a plurality of image segments in the second image based N on locations of the anatomical structures identified in the first image. The method then applies a processing routine associated with a first anatomical structure to the first image segment in the second image and a processing routine associated with a second anatomical structure to the second image segment in the second image. Also provided is an imaging system for implementing the described method and a non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program for processing medical images.

Abstract: Proposed concepts aim to provide schemes, solutions, concepts, designs, methods and systems pertaining to compressing projection data. In particular, the projection data is analysed in order to classify parts of said data into at least three classifications. Projection data in a first classification is compressed in a weakly-lossy/lossless manner, projection data in a second classification is compressed in a strongly-lossy manner, and projection data in a third classification is discarded. In this way, a high overall compression rate may be achieved whilst maintaining an appropriate quality of the projection data for reconstruction. In other words, a quality of the resultant reconstructed image may be ensured (i.e. by appropriately compressing parts of the projection data), while enabling suitable compression rates for the transmission of the projection data for remote reconstruction (i.e. by strongly compressing parts of the projection data).

Abstract: An apparatus for determining a functional index for stenosis assessment of a vessel is provided. The apparatus comprises an input interface (40) and a processing unit (50). The input interface is configured to obtain image data (30) representing a two-dimensional representation of a vessel (6). The processing unit (50) is configured to determine a course of the vessel (6) and a width (w1, w2) of the vessel along its course in the image data and is further configured to determine the functional index for stenosis assessment of the vessel based on the width of the vessel in the image data.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for data reduction in the context of spectral CT imaging. The method comprises reducing the number of spectral channels of the acquired CT data by a reduced set of synthetic energy channels, each from a weighted combination of the original measured energy channel. The weights are selected in an optimization process in which an error metric associated with an output of a material decomposition procedure to be applied to the CT data is estimated, and the weights adjusted to minimize a value of the error metric. The error might for example be a noise estimate, and/or a bias estimate.

Abstract: A method is provided for implementing invasive diagnostic testing in advance of a procedure. Such a method includes retrieving an image including at least a portion of a blood vessel, and extracting cross-sectional profiles at distinct locations along the blood vessel from the image. The method then proceeds to generate a hemodynamic model based on the image and at least partially based on the cross-sectional profiles. The hemodynamic model models blood flow at each of the distinct locations for which cross-sectional profiles have been extracted. The method then extracts, from the image, a determination of plaque features and generates or retrieves an initial treatment plan based at least partially on the hemodynamic model and the determined plaque features. The method then determines, based on the hemodynamic model and the determination of plaque features, that a defined invasive diagnostic test is likely to change the initial treatment plan.

Abstract: A method for use in image reconstruction of CT projection data, which aims at reducing motion artefacts in reconstructed images caused by movement of anatomical bodies. Embodiments are based on mitigating motion artefacts based on restricting the range of data that is used for reconstructing each slice. More particularly, a sub-range of the projection data corresponding to each slice is selected, this sub-range being chosen based on determining one or more sub-windows of visibility of a target anatomical object or event within the projection data sequence. The event may be a particular phase of a movement cycle of the anatomical body. The structure could be a particular portion of the anatomical body which is of interest. Either approach leads to reduction of motion artefacts within a single slice, by restricting the data range, and focusing upon the data which is most relevant clinically.

Abstract: There is provided a computer-implemented method of estimating a diffuse plaque burden of a vessel. The computer-implemented method comprises receiving S1 an angiogram 1000 including the vessel; identifying S2 a lumen of the vessel in the angiogram; approximating S3 a healthy lumen of the vessel based on determining a change in the lumen along a length of the vessel; and estimating S4 the diffuse plaque burden of the vessel based on subtracting the approximation of the healthy lumen from the lumen.

Abstract: Data processing systems (DPS) and related methods for nuclear medicine imaging. At an input interface (IN), first projection data (?), or a first image (V) reconstructable from the first projection data, is received. The first projection data is associated with a first waiting period (?T*). The first waiting period indicates the time period from administration of a tracer agent to a start of acquisition by a nuclear medicine imaging apparatus (IA) of the projection date. A trained machine learning module (MLM) estimates, based on the first projection data (?) or on the first image (V), a second projection data (??) or a second image (V?) associable with a second waiting period (?T), longer than the first waiting period (?T*). Nuclear imaging can thus be conducted quicker. Similar machine learning based data processing systems and related methods are also envisaged to reduce acquisition time periods or the time it takes to reconstruct imagery.

Abstract: Tetraisopentyl esters of butanetetracarboxylic acid are useful as plasticizers or as part of a plasticizer composition for polymers. A process for the production thereof, plasticizer compositions containing the tetraisopentyl esters of butanetetracarboxylic acid, and plastics compositions containing the tetraisopentyl esters of butanetetracarboxylic acid are also provided.

Abstract: A method includes receiving from a client computing device (“CCD)” a request to perform a given post-processing type on compressed image data, receiving from the CCD a first amount of compressed image data, obtaining an image from the first amount of compressed image data, post-processing the image obtained from the first amount of compressed image data with a post-processing algorithm, in response to a result of the post-processing failing to satisfy a predetermined requirement, iteratively, and until the result of the post-processing satisfies the predetermined requirement: requesting a greater amount of compressed image data from the CCD, receiving the greater amount of compressed image data from the CCD, obtaining an image using the greater amount of compressed image data, and post-processing the image obtained using the greater amount of compressed image data with the post-processing algorithm, and returning to the CCD the result of the post-processing satisfying the predetermined requirement.

Abstract: Tetraisopentyl esters of butanetetracarboxylic acid are useful as plasticizers or as part of a plasticizer composition for polymers. A process for the production thereof, plasticizer compositions containing the tetraisopentyl esters of butanetetracarboxylic acid, and plastics compositions containing the tetraisopentyl esters of butanetetracarboxylic acid are also provided.

Abstract: Proposed concepts aim to provide schemes, solutions, concepts, designs, methods and systems pertaining to the storage, retrieval and/or communication of medical images. In particular, the medical image is de-noised to generate a (substantially) noise-free medical image. De-noising the medical image to this extent allows for a high compression ratio, and thus space-efficient storage of the medical image. However, typically the level to which medical image is de-noised has to be carefully controlled in order to minimise the chance of introducing errors to ratio the medical image. In the present invention, noise information describing residual noise data removed from the medical image is also stored. This allows for the compressed noise-free medical image to be combined with the compression noise information at a receiver, restoring any potentially lost information.

Abstract: A tracking system for tracking a marker device for being attached to a medical device is provided, whereby the marker device includes a sensing unit comprising a magnetic object which may be excited by an external magnetic or electromagnetic excitation field into a mechanical oscillation of the magnetic object, and the tracking system comprises a field generator for generating a predetermined magnetic or electromagnetic excitation field for inducing mechanical oscillations of the magnetic object, a transducer for transducing a magnetic or electromagnetic field generated by the induced mechanical oscillations of the magnetic object into one or more electrical response signals, and a position determination unit for determining the position of the marker device on the basis of the one or more electrical response signals.

Abstract: A mechanism for generating a partially denoised image. A residual noise image, obtained by processing an image using a convolutional neural network, is weighted. The blending or combination of the weighted residual noise image and the (original) image generates the partially denoised image.

Abstract: A medical system (100) comprising a local memory (138) storing local machine executable instructions (140) and pulse sequence commands (142), a magnetic resonance imaging system (103), and a local computational system (132). The execution of the local machine executable instructions causes the local computational system to transmit (200) metadata descriptive of the magnetic resonance imaging protocol to a remote computational system (132?) via a network connection (137). The execution of the local machine executable instructions causes the computational system to repeatedly: control (202) the magnetic resonance imaging system with the pulse sequence commands to acquire one (146) of the series of discrete k-space acquisitions; construct (204) a compressed k-space acquisition (148) by compressing the one of the series of k-space acquisitions using a compression module; and transmit (206) the compressed k-space acquisition to the remote computational system via the network connection.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for planning a medical intervention, such as a coronary intervention. At least one image is retrieved, where the image includes at least a portion of a coronary artery. Based on the at least one image, a position and composition of plaque in the coronary artery are determined. A mechanical model of the portion of the coronary artery and the plaque in the coronary artery is generated, and a plurality of potential interventions is simulated in the context of the mechanical model. Following such simulations, an intervention for implementation is selected from the plurality of potential interventions.

Abstract: Whether to deploy a cerebral embolic protection (CEP) device is determined by initially retrieving one or more image of at least part of an aorta. The image includes an aortic valve. The image is segmented to identify the aortic valve, an aortic arch, and a plurality of branching blood vessels downstream of the aortic valve. Plaque in a segment of the image at or adjacent the aortic valve is identified, and a vulnerability score associated with the plaque is generated. Dynamics of blood flow in the aortic arch and at least one of the plurality of branching blood vessels is evaluated. It is then determined whether a CEP device should be deployed at least partially based on the vulnerability score. A CEP device is selected at least partially based on the dynamics of blood flow in the aortic arch.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of providing plaque data (110) for a plaque deposit (120) in a vessel (130), is provided. The method includes: receiving (S110) computed tomography, CT, data (140) representing the vessel (130); generating (S120), from the CT data (140), a cross-sectional representation (150) of the vessel (130) at each of a plurality of positions (A-A?, B-B?) along the vessel; extracting (S130), from the cross-sectional representations, plaque data (110) comprising at least one measurement of the plaque deposit (120) at the plurality of positions along the vessel; and outputting (S140) a graphical representation of the plaque data (110).

Abstract: A system (200) for providing guidance information for an implantable device extraction procedure, is provided. The system includes one or more processors (210) configured to: receive (S110) attenuation data (110) representing an implantable device (120) in an anatomical region, the attenuation data defining X-ray attenuation within the anatomical region; analyze (S120) the attenuation data (110) to determine an amount of adhesion (130) between the implantable device (120) and a tissue (140) contacting the implantable device; and output (S130) guidance information for the implantable device extraction procedure based on the amount of adhesion (130).

Abstract: An electrochemical process produces tetraalkyl 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylates having alkyl groups with 1 to 6 carbon atoms. The process employs an electrohydrodimerization of dialkyl maleates having alkyl groups having 1 to 6 carbon atoms in a reactant solution with an alcohol and a conducting salt.