Abstract: A system (10) for moving an intravascular medical device (85) in a vascular network (V) comprises a magnetic actuator (40), a controlling unit (50) and a controlling line driver (60). The controlling line driver (60) is adapted to hold and/or to release a controlling line (70) attached to the medical device (85) at different speeds. The magnetic actuator is adapted to generate a magnetic field (41) at a predetermined location in order to pull the medical device (85) in a pre-determined direction. The controlling unit (50) is adapted to balance at least three forces applied on the medical device (85) and to operate the magnetic actuator (40) and/or the controlling line driver (60).

Abstract: A system and method to process an acquired image to differentiate a portion of subject anatomy to protect relative to a portion of anatomy to receive treatment is provided. The system includes a controller with program instructions to perform the steps of receiving an instruction to indicate a zone interest of the imaged anatomy to protect associated with treatment of the subject anatomy; calculating a first set of image elements associated with a first circulatory network in communication to supply a first zone of interest to treat and not in communication to supply a second zone of interest to protect; calculating a second set of image elements of the acquired image associated with a second circulatory network in communication to supply the second zone of interest to protect; and creating a display that differentiates the second set of image elements from a remainder of the acquired image.

Abstract: A system and method to process an acquired image to differentiate a portion of subject anatomy to protect relative to a portion of anatomy to receive treatment is provided. The system includes a controller with program instructions to perform the steps of receiving an instruction to indicate a zone interest of the imaged anatomy to protect associated with treatment of the subject anatomy; calculating a first set of image elements associated with a first circulatory network in communication to supply a first zone of interest to treat and not in communication to supply a second zone of interest to protect; calculating a second set of image elements of the acquired image associated with a second circulatory network in communication to supply the second zone of interest to protect; and creating a display that differentiates the second set of image elements from a remainder of the acquired image.

Abstract: The stereotaxic images being digitized, a target pixel in a target region of interest is selected, a target window of chosen dimensional characteristics and containing the said target region of interest is generated around the selected target pixel, a set of pixels is determined in a second image, according to a predetermined selection criterion, a second window, of the same dimensional characteristics as the said target window, is generated around each selected pixel, a correlation processing between the grey-scale levels of the pixels of each second window and the grey-scale levels of the pixels of the target window is carried out so as to obtain a correlation value for each second window, and the region of interest homologous to the target region of interest is identified on the basis of the analysis of the set of correlation values thus obtained, so as to minimize the risks of matching error between the homologous regions of interest.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system for improved tracking of an internal object, such as an implant or part of the anatomy, during an image-guided operation. In an embodiment, the method may include obtaining a plurality of fiducials for an internal object from a plurality of projection views, obtaining a plurality of measurements for the internal object using the plurality of fiducials, forming a three-dimensional model of the internal object using the plurality of measurements from a plurality of projection views for use in tracking the internal object, and performing an image-guided operation using an image data set and a three-dimensional representation of the internal object. The fiducials may be indentations, curves, grooves and/or identifying features in the internal object. In an embodiment, the representation of the internal object is compared to a computer-generated model of the internal object.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for calibrating an instrument for an image-guided operation. The method includes placing a plurality of fiducials on an instrument, obtaining a plurality of measurements for the instrument using the plurality of fiducials, determining a representation of the instrument in a reference coordinate system using the plurality of measurements for use in tracking the instrument, and performing an image-guided operation using an image data set and representation of the instrument. The representation may be a closed form registration for the instrument. The measurements for the instrument may be obtained using a plurality of fiducials and a sensor. The fiducials may be indentations and/or grooves in the instrument. In an embodiment, the representation of the instrument is dynamically updated during an image-guided operation. In an embodiment, the representation of the instrument is compared to a computer-generated model of the instrument.

Abstract: A process is disclosed which involves automatic position-finding for a point of interest of an object that exhibits high contrast as compared with surrounding tissues, the process being carried out by means of a stereotactic photographic device that includes a digital image acquisition system. The process includes a number of steps for each image belonging to the pair of stereotactic images. An initial analysis of a histogram of the image pixels are made, and a subsequent determination is made of a threshold corresponding to the difference between the high contrast objects and the surrounding tissues. A subsequent determination is made of the threshold of the image, in order to obtain a binary image incorporating two gray levels. This is followed by the filtering of the threshold determined image in the preceding step, based on morphological criteria of the object in which the point of interest is located. This operation is designed to obtain a segmented projection of the object of interest.

Abstract: In order to analyze an image, a search is made, for all the minima of the image, for the dynamic of these minima. When the dynamic of these minima is small it corresponds finally to noise. If this measured dynamic is large, the minimum is regarded as being representative of a sufficiently significant irregularity in the image signal.

Abstract: To carry out an automatic processing operation on radiographic images in mammography, it is shown that it is possible to correct the harmful effects of the linearity defect of the characteristic curve of sensitivity of the radiographic film used for this radiograph by making a statistical study of the noise in this image. It is shown that this statistical study enables the correction elements to be deduced directly using a top hat transformation. The processing is then independent of any prior knowledge that might be had of the sensitivity of the film or of the conditions in which the examined radiographs were acquired as well as subsequently developed.

Abstract: An encoder delivers a pulse input signal in phase with equal angular steps of a rotary component, such as a toothed wheel driven by the crankshaft of an internal combustion engine. A missing tooth defines a reference position at which a synchronizing signal is also delivered. A counter is incremented by the pulse input signal and is reset by the synchronizing signal. A comparator compares the count in the counter with a number in a memory circuit to deliver a signal for triggering an event when the count in the counter coincides with the number in the memory circuit. The counter comprises a first counting circuit providing the least significant outputs of the counter and a second counting circuit providing the most significant outputs. The first counting circuit is reset by the input signal, and the second counting circuit by the synchronizing signal.

Abstract: The process and the device enable the electrical powering of a circuit having a conductor (1) with high thermal inertia by means of a transistor (3) with low thermal inertia. According to the invention, the device comprises a current limiter circuit (4,5,7,11), a voltage detector circuit (8) and a control microprocessor (6) which, according to a pre-established program, controls the flowing and stoppage of current in the power transistor (3) controlling the powering of the conductor (1) with high thermal inertia.Application to the control of lights in automobile vehicles.

Abstract: This system includes hysteresis comparison means (6, 9) whose output goes from a first state to a second state when the voltage of the ignition signal (S.sub.A) passes a predetermined high threshold and returns from the second state to the first state when the voltage of the ignition signal drops below a predetermined low threshold, a flip-flop circuit (8) triggered by the means of comparison (6, 9), and whose output delivers the said synchronous signal (S.sub.S), and a duration discriminator circuit (7) which only authorizes the switching over the flip-flop circuit (8) in response to the change in the output of the comparison means (6, 9) from the second state to the first state when the said output remains in the first state for a duration at least equal to a predetermined value. This invention may be used for measurement of the speed of an internal combustion engine.