Abstract: A method is disclosed for identification of a contrasted blood vessel in digital 3D image data.

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 automatically determining the position and orientation of the left ventricle and/or adjacent regions in 3D image data records of the heart that have been recorded with the aid of an imaging, tomographic method after injection of contrast agent. In the method, the left ventricle is firstly coarsely segmented, and the long main axis is determined from the segmented image data. Starting from this long main axis, end points of a boundary line of the septum are determined in a plane by using search beams. The segmented image data, the long main axis and the end points fix the position and orientation of the left ventricle in the image data record.

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 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. This makes it possible to considerably speed up the segmentation of the anatomical structures from the overall 4D image data record, and to carry out the process with increased reliability.

Abstract: In an apparatus and a method for modeling momentary conditions of a medical object dependent on at least one time-variable body function, at least one further status value of the time-variable body function is calculated on the basis of the geometry of the medical object that is acquired from data obtained with a medical imaging method for at least one status value of the time-variable body function, and the geometry of the medical object is made available approximately synchronously with the currently measured status value of the time-variable body function.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for visualizing tubular anatomical structures from 3D recorded medical images, in particular coronary vessel structures, in the case of which segmented 3D image data of the tubular structure are firstly provided. The tubular structure represented by the segmented 3D image data is approximated via a multiplicity of mutually adjacent cylindrical and/or conically tapering elements. The mutually adjacent elements are subsequently displayed without the segmented 3D image data of the tubular structure. The method enables a simplified geometric display of the tubular structure that enables the person skilled in the art to make a simple interpretation of the structure, particularly in the case of transmission as a 2D image display.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for matching at least one visualized medical measured result of a test subject with at least one dataset of the test subject by means of landmarks, landmarks with respect to the displayed test subject are defined in every visualized measured result to be matched and every dataset to be matched. The geometrical arrangement of the landmarks in every measured result and each dataset is analyzed by a first algorithm, and subsequently an allocation of corresponding landmarks of the at least one visualized measured result and of the at least one dataset to form a landmark pair ensues with a second algorithm.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are disclosed for visualizing deposits in blood vessels, particularly in coronary vessels. In such a method, 2D slice images may be reconstructed from the measurement data, with image data of the 2D slice images being post-processed for local determination of brightness values and/or of default values on which these are based in the 2D slice images. In the presentation of the 2D slice images, one or more image areas are marked in which, in the post-processing, pixels are automatically color-coded and presented according to a predeterminable transfer function which assigns different colors to different value ranges of brightness values and/or of default values on which these are based.

Abstract: A method is for automatic object marking in medical imaging. The method includes coupled displaying of different display modes of at least one image data record containing at least one object to be marked, in different display windows on at least one computer screen. The method further includes transferring the position of an initial point, selected by the user as part of an object-determining first marking, to the computer. Then, pattern recognition techniques are applied to the environment of the initial point of the first marking, resulting in a detailed high-resolution second marking of the object. Thereafter, reversible coding of the second marking of the image data records present in the computer takes place. Finally, the marked object is accentuated relative to its environment in the image data records on the screen.

Abstract: In an image post-processing method and apparatus for 3D visualization of 2D/3D fused image data for use in catheter angiography in an endovascular interventional procedure, upon forward movement of a micro-catheter through blood vessel in the interventional procedure, x-ray images are acquired from different projection directions and are subjected to a pattern recognition algorithm for edge-based segmentation of the image regions filled by the micro-catheter, with all remaining image regions being masked out. The segmented projection exposures are prepared by a 3D reconstruction algorithm to obtain an image data set for (pseudo-) three-dimensional representation of the micro-catheter. This image data set are intraoperatively registered and fused with an image data set acquired from an angiographic pre-examination for three-dimensional visualization of the vessel topography.

Abstract: In an apparatus and a method for modeling momentary conditions of a medical object dependent on at least one time-variable body function, at least one further status value of the time-variable body function is calculated on the basis of the geometry of the medical object that is acquired from data obtained with a medical imaging method for at least one status value of the time-variable body function, and the geometry of the medical object is made available approximately synchronously with the currently measured status value of the time-variable body function.

Abstract: In a method an apparatus for matching at least one visualized medical measured result of a test subject with at least one dataset of the test subject by means of landmarks, landmarks with respect to the displayed test subject are defined in every visualized measured result to be matched and every dataset to be matched. The geometrical arrangement of the landmarks in every measured result and each dataset is analyzed by a first algorithm, and subsequently an allocation of corresponding landmarks of the at least one visualized measured result and of the at least one dataset to form a landmark pair ensues with a second algorithm.