Abstract: A method and system for non-invasive assessment of coronary artery stenosis is disclosed. Patient-specific anatomical measurements of the coronary arteries are extracted from medical image data of a patient acquired during rest state. Patient-specific rest state boundary conditions of a model of coronary circulation representing the coronary arteries are calculated based on the patient-specific anatomical measurements and non-invasive clinical measurements of the patient at rest. Patient-specific rest state boundary conditions of the model of coronary circulation representing the coronary arteries are calculated based on the patient-specific anatomical measurements and non-invasive clinical measurements of the patient at rest. Hyperemic blood flow and pressure across at least one stenosis region of the coronary arteries are simulated using the model of coronary circulation and the patient-specific hyperemic boundary conditions.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for visualizing bumps of the inner surface of a hollow organ. In at least one embodiment, the method includes acquiring recorded image data of the hollow organ using an imaging system; drawing a cutting edge in the image data along the surface of the hollow organ in the longitudinal direction; preparing the image data to display the surface of the hollow organ along a plane on which the surface is plotted in an opened-up fashion; and changing a viewing angle and/or an illumination angle during a display of the hollow organ, a rotation of the plane along an axis running parallel to the cutting edge and/or along an axis running transversely to the cutting edge being carried out to change the viewing angle. A visualization module, an image processing device with such a visualization module and a tomographic system with such an image processing system.

Abstract: A method and CT system are disclosed for recording and distributing whole-body CT data of a polytraumatized patient. In at least one embodiment the method includes producing a whole-body topogram including division and assignment of z- coordinate regions of the whole-body topogram to different body regions; performing a whole-body CT scan with the recording of CT raw data; assigning the CT raw data to the different body regions; reconstructing CT image datasets on a computer of the CT system; and sending only body region-specific CT image datasets to a number of remote workstations operated by technical specialists.

Abstract: In a method for image generation and image evaluation in the medical field, raw data are generated by a selected medical modality, in particular a computed tomography scanner, depending on given modality parameters, and image data are generated from the raw data using an image reconstruction depending on given reconstruction parameters. The image data are evaluated by a given analysis application. Before acquiring the raw data, a secondary application automatically proposes a set of parameter values for the modality parameters and/or for the reconstruction parameters coordinated to the given analysis application and/or given patient information.

Abstract: A system and method for colon unfolding via skeletal subspace deformation comprises: performing a centerline computation on a segmented image for deriving a centerline thereof; computing a distance map utilizing said centerline and said segmented image to derive said distance map; generating a polyhedral model of the lumen of said colon; and utilizing said polyhedral model, said distance map, and said centerline for performing a straightening operation on said centerline.

Abstract: A method and a workstation are disclosed for visualizing a three-dimensional image data record having a multiplicity of voxels of a heart of a patient, recorded with the aid of an x-ray CT examination carried out with contrast agent present in the bloodstream. In at least one embodiment, the method includes saving the CT image data record including a multiplicity of voxels defined by absorption values, determining the voxels associated with the chamber of the heart by segmenting the chambers of the heart filled with blood containing the contrast agent, removing the image information from the voxels associated with the chambers of the heart, calculating a two-dimensional virtual projection from the remaining CT image data record, and displaying the virtual two-dimensional projection.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for determining and visualizing the perfusion of the myocardial muscle with the aid of static CCTA images. In at least one embodiment, the device includes a segmentation unit for segmenting the coronary blood vessels and the left myocardial muscle from a CCTA image of the heart; a first simulation unit for simulating the blood flow through the coronary blood vessels; and a second simulation unit by which the local perfusion of the myocardial muscle is determined on the basis of the ascertained blood flow into different regions of the myocardial muscle. The perfusion of the different regions of the myocardial muscle is visualized in a schematized image on a visualization unit. By virtue of the proposed device it is possible to dispense with further imaging examinations after the performance of a CCTA scan, thereby relieving the pressure both on the part of the physician and on the part of the patient.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are disclosed for visualizing tubular anatomical structures, in particular vessel structures, in medical 3D image records.

Abstract: A method and system for left ventricle (LV) endocardium surface segmentation using constrained optimal mesh smoothing is disclosed. The LV endocardium surface in the 3D cardiac volume is initially segmented in a 3D cardiac volume, such as a CT volume, resulting in an LV endocardium surface mesh. A smoothed LV endocardium surface mesh is generated by smoothing the LV endocardium surface mesh using constrained optimal mesh smoothing. The constrained optimal mesh smoothing determines an optimal adjustment for each point on the LV endocardium surface mesh by minimizing an objective function based at least on a smoothness measure, subject to a constraint bounding the adjustment for each point. The adjustment for each point can be constrained to prevent adjustments inward toward the blood pool in order to ensure that the smoothed LV endocardium surface mesh encloses the entire blood pool.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting 3D anatomical objects in medical images using constrained marginal space learning (MSL) is disclosed. A constrained search range is determined for an input medical image volume based on training data. A first trained classifier is used to detect position candidates in the constrained search range. Position-orientation hypotheses are generated from the position candidates using orientation examples in the training data. A second trained classifier is used to detect position-orientation candidates from the position-orientation hypotheses. Similarity transformation hypotheses are generated from the position-orientation candidates based on scale examples in the training data. A third trained classifier is used to detect similarity transformation candidates from the similarity transformation hypotheses, and the similarity transformation candidates define the position, translation, and scale of the 3D anatomic object in the medical image volume.

Abstract: A method and system for measuring the volume of the left ventricle (LV) in a 3D medical image, such as a CT, volume is disclosed. Heart chambers are segmented in the CT volume, including at least the LV endocardium and the LV epicardium. An optimal threshold value is automatically determined based on voxel intensities within the LV endocardium and voxel intensities between the LV endocardium and the LV epicardium. Voxels within the LV endocardium are labeled as blood pool voxels or papillary muscle voxels based on the optimal threshold value. The LV volume can be measured excluding the papillary muscles based on the number of blood pool voxels, and the LV volume can be measured including the papillary muscles based on the total number of voxels within the LV endocardium.

Abstract: A method for automatic detection of a contrast agent inflow in a blood vessel of a patient with a CT system, and CT system for carrying out this method, are disclosed. At least one embodiment of the invention relates to a method which determines the position of at least one blood vessel in section image representations in a CT examination without external intervention with the aid of an active shape or active appearance model, measures the inflow of contrast agent in this region in a targeted way and automatically initiates at least one action in the event of inflowing contrast agent.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the segmented representation of vessel-like structures of an object under examination, on the basis of tomographic data, wherein a three-dimensional tomographic volume data record of the object under examination is generated and a segmentation is carried out which enhances the vessel-like structures in the representation of the tomographic data. According to an embodiment of the invention, for each voxel, the probability with which the voxel is located in a vessel structure is determined from the environmental data of the voxel with the aid of a vessel-specific filter of a spatial dimension which corresponds to the tomographic volume data record, on the basis of Gaussian functions, and these determined probabilities are additionally used as criterion for the presence of a vessel in the segmentation process for the representation of vessel structures.

Abstract: A method and system for modeling the aortic valve in 4D image data, such as 4D CT and echocardiography, is disclosed. An initial estimate of a physiological aortic valve model is determined for at least one reference frame of a 4D image sequence based on anatomic features in the reference frame. The initial estimate is refined to generate a final estimate in the reference frame. A dynamic model of the aortic valve is then generated by estimating the physiological aortic valve model for each remaining frame of the 4D image sequence based on the final estimate in the reference frame. The aortic valve can be quantitatively evaluated using the dynamic model.

Abstract: A method and a device are disclosed for automated detection of at least one part of the central line of at least one portion of a tubular tissue structure. In at least one embodiment of the method, characteristic landmarks of the tubular tissue structure are detected in a 3D data record of the tubular tissue structure; the detected characteristic landmarks of the tubular tissue structure and landmarks of a model of landmarks, which model belongs to the tubular tissue structure and takes into account the position of the landmarks relative to one another, are related to one another such that at least one portion of the tubular tissue structure is identified in the 3D data record of the tubular tissue structure. The central line of the identified portion of the tubular tissue structure is determined at least in part on the basis of at least one detected characteristic landmark and/or at least one landmark of the model of landmarks.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for visualizing damage in the myocardium. In such a method, CT image data of the heart are made available which were recorded with injection of contrast medium. The myocardium is isolated by segmentation from the CT image data. One or more views of the isolated myocardium are displayed on an image display device, density values being visualized with color coding in the display. At least one embodiment of the method permits visualization of damage of the myocardium based on CT image data, in which damaged areas of the myocardium can immediately be identified without time-consuming analysis.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for visualization of plaque deposits from 3D image data records of vessel structures, in particular of the coronary vascular system, in which at least one predeterminable section of the vessel structure with the plaque deposits is segmented in the 3D image data record in order to obtain segmented 3D image data. A synthetic 3D model image of the at least one section of the vessel structure and of the plaque deposits is produced from the segmented image data, and includes only boundary surfaces of the vessel structure and of the plaque deposits. The synthetic 3D model image is produced by three-dimensional interpolation between pixels which are associated with boundary surfaces of the vessel structure, and between pixels which are associated with boundary surfaces of the plaque deposits in order to obtain a uniform grid at pixels for the 3D model image. Finally, the synthetic 3D model image or a partial volume of it is visualized.

Abstract: A system and method for segmenting chambers of a heart in three dimensional images is disclosed. A set of three dimensional images of a heart is received. The shape of the heart in the three dimensional images is localized. Boundaries of the chambers of the heart in the localized shape are identified using steerable features.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for segmentation of anatomical structures, in particular of the coronary vascular system, from a sequence of 3D image data records recorded in a time sequence, in which the anatomical structure is first of all segmented from a first of the 3D image data records. In the method, during the segmentation of the anatomical structure, search areas of the segmentation are restricted and/or segmentation parameters associated with the three-dimensional relationships from the other 3D image data records are used, on the basis of known spatial conditions of the structure to be segmented, with respect to anatomical objects which are located in the surrounding area and of results of the segmentation from a respective next 3D image data record in the sequence from which the structure has already been segmented.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for post-processing measured values of a tissue region including at least part of a heart, which measured values were registered by way of an imaging system. In at least one embodiment, the method includes at least: generating an at least three-dimensional data record from the measured values; analyzing the at least three-dimensional data record and generating parameter maps in respect of at least two of the following parameters: thickness and/or change in thickness of a myocardial wall, movement of the myocardial wall, local blood-supply values for defined spatial regions of the heart; automatically generating a results parameter map on the basis of the generated parameter maps according to fixed rules; and outputting the results parameter map. Moreover, at least one embodiment of the invention relates to a correspondingly designed device.