Abstract: A device for combined optical and nuclear image comprises a nuclear image acquisition module and a reference image acquisition module. The reference image acquisition module has: an optical image sensor and an optical imaging system for deflecting the optical radiation from a reference field of view to the image sensor, wherein the optical imaging system comprises a mirror for the optical radiation, which mirror is arranged between the reference field of view and the optical image sensor. On the image sensor, a respective image area is assigned to at least one of nuclear partial fields of view. The optical imaging system is arranged such that the optical radiation coming from the at least one nuclear partial field of view is deflected substantially exactly to the respectively assigned of the image areas.

Abstract: A virtual penetrating mirror device for visualizing at least one virtual object within an augmented reality environment includes a tracking system tracking a plurality of markers attached to a tangible object, and a displaying device associated with at least one additional marker, characterized in that the displaying device displays a first view of the tangible object and at least one virtual penetrating mirror virtually reflecting a second view of the tangible object according to a localized position of the displaying device relative to the markers attached to the tangible object, wherein the virtual penetrating mirror is virtually disposed within the first view of the tangible object.

Abstract: A method for carrying out comparison between the as-built state of an industrial plant and the associated CAD planning model, characterized in that the comparison is achieved by superimposition of unreliable components of the CAD model and digital images on the plant, whereby the superimposition is computed without any particular instrumentation within the plant, but only based on selected reliable components from the CAD model, whose physical installations are visible in the images.

Abstract: In an imaging system and method for preparing x-ray images and optical images, at least two x-ray images of an examination subject are acquired by emitting x-rays from at least two different x-ray image acquisition points in space. At least two optical exposures are acquired from the examination subject at respective optical exposure origination points that respectively optically correspond to the x-ray image acquisition points. The optical exposures and the x-ray images are superimposed so that each optical image is superimposed with the x-ray image that originated from an x-ray image origination point corresponding to the optical exposure origination point of that optical exposure.

Abstract: A virtual mirror device for visualizing virtual objects in angiographic applications, having an interactive virtual mirror, a 3D or 4D medical image of a patient's anatomy co-registered with a calibrated 2D X-ray image of the patient's anatomy, and a displaying device provided such that the 2D X-ray image of the patient's anatomy, the co-registered 3D or 4D medical image of the patient's anatomy and the interactive virtual mirror viewed from the viewpoint of the X-ray source of the X-ray imaging system, are presented in a common coordinate system, providing full integration and combined visualization of the reconstruction of 3D or 4D medical image of the patient's anatomy, the 2D X-ray image of the patient's anatomy and the virtual mirror onto the displaying device.

Abstract: An image generating apparatus for image generation is provided. The image generating apparatus includes a movable detector for detecting nuclear radiation during a detection period and an evaluation system. The evaluation system includes an interface system for transmitting detector data to the evaluation system. The detector data include information about the detected radiation for image generation. The evaluation system further includes a data memory portion for storing the detector data. The evaluation system further includes a program memory portion with a program for repeatedly determining at least one quality value with respect to image generation during the detection period.

Abstract: The CV-CAD (computer vision-computer-aided design) model is an enhanced CAD (computer-aided design) model that integrates local and global computer vision data in order to represent an object not only geometrically but also in terms of computer vision. The CV-CAD model provides a scalable solution for intelligent and automatic object recognition, tracking and augmentation based on generic models of objects.

Abstract: A method for determining a pose of a user is provided including the steps of capturing a video image sequence of an environment including at least one coded marker; detecting if the coded marker is present in the video images; if the marker is present, extracting feature correspondences of the coded marker; determining a code of the coded marker using the feature correspondences; and comparing the determined code with a database of predetermined codes to determine the pose of the user. According to an embodiment, the coded marker includes four color blocks arranged in a square formation and the determining a code of the at least one marker further includes determining a color of each of the four blocks. According to another embodiment, the marker includes a coding matrix and a code of the marker being determined by numbered squares of the coding matrix being covered by a circle.

Abstract: A virtual penetrating mirror device for visualizing virtual objects in endoscopic applications, having an interactive virtual mirror (1), a 3D or 4D medical image of a patient's anatomy (52), a displaying device (21), a display of displaying device (22), a tracking system (4) and a tracked endoscopic camera (2), is provided by means of presenting the interactive virtual mirror (1), in a common coordinate system with the 3D or 4D medical image of the patient's anatomy (52), that provides full integration and combined visualization of the reconstruction of the 3D or 4D medical image of the patient's anatomy (52), the endoscopic image (26) and the virtual mirror (1) on the display of displaying device (22).

Abstract: A virtual mirror device for visualizing virtual objects in angiographic applications, having an interactive virtual mirror, a 3D or 4D medical image of a patient's anatomy co-registered with a calibrated 2D X-ray image of the patient's anatomy, and a displaying device provided such that the 2D X-ray image of the patient's anatomy, the co-registered 3D or 4D medical image of the patient's anatomy and the interactive virtual mirror viewed from the viewpoint of the X-ray source of the X-ray imaging system, are presented in a common coordinate system, providing full integration and combined visualization of the reconstruction of 3D or 4D medical image of the patient's anatomy, the 2D X-ray image of the patient's anatomy and the virtual mirror onto the displaying device.

Abstract: A virtual penetrating mirror (1) for visualizing at least one virtual object (5) within an augmented reality environment, with a tracking system (4) and a displaying device (3), is provided by means of visualizing an image of at least one virtual mirror, an image of the at least one virtual object and an image (16) of the virtual object reflected by the virtual minor on the display (2). The virtual mirror (1) is movable by means of a tracked interaction device (11). The image of the virtual object reflected by the virtual mirror on display is displayed in-situ. The virtual mirror is able to reflect surfaces, rendered volumes and digitally reconstructed radiograph images. The virtual mirror is able to provide images of the virtual object reflected by the virtual mirror on display, in real time, whereby the virtual mirror or the virtual object or both of them are in movement with or without a varying view point (31).

Abstract: A method is disclosed for combining a first image and a second image of an examination object, which images have an overlap region. A corresponding magnetic resonance scanner is also disclosed. In at least one embodiment, a superposed image is determined in the overlap region as a weighted superposition of the first image and the second image with a spatially variable weighting function. The first image and the second image are transformed on the basis of a comparison of the first image and/or the second image with the superposed image.

Abstract: A system and method for registering pre-operative images of an object with an intra-operative image of the object is disclosed. Prior to an operative procedure, Digitally Reconstructed Radiographs (DRRs) are generated for the pre-operative images of each individual patient. Signatures are extracted from the DRRs. The signatures are stored in a knowledge base. During the operative procedure, a signature is extracted from the intra-operative image. The intra-operative signature is compared to the stored pre-operative signatures. A pre-operative image having a best signature match to the intra-operative signature is retrieved. The retrieved pre-operative image is registered with the intra-operative image.

Abstract: A device for 3D acquisition, 3D visualization and computer guided surgery with a tracking system, which can be for example an external optical tracking system (4), a tracked nuclear probe (1) having a nuclear probe (11) and a tip of nuclear probe (14), which measures a radioactivity, is achieved by providing a time synchronized recording of the spatial position and orientation of the tip of nuclear probes (14) and its measured counts of radioactivity. Thus a 3D radioactive surface distribution (8) is generated and may be visualized spatially registered with the viewing geometry of any in a superimposed image (81). Moreover using the said device, a method for 3D acquisition, 3D visualization and computer guided surgery is introduced for invasive or minimally invasive interventions.

Abstract: In an imaging system and method for preparing x-ray images and optical images, at least two x-ray images of an examination subject are acquired by emitting x-rays from at least two different x-ray image acquisition points in space. At least two optical exposures are acquired from the examination subject at respective optical exposure origination points that respectively optically correspond to the x-ray image acquisition points. The optical exposures and the x-ray images are superimposed so that each optical image is superimposed with the x-ray image that originated from an x-ray image origination point corresponding to the optical exposure origination point of that optical exposure.

Abstract: Method for carrying out comparison between the as-built state of an industrial plant and the associated CAD planning model, characterized in that the comparison is achieved by superimposition of unreliable components of the CAD model (see FIG. 1, 2b) and digital images of the plant (3), whereby the superimposition is computed without any particular instrumentation within the plant, but only based on selected reliable components (2a) from the CAD model (2), whose physical installations are visible in the images (3).

Abstract: There is provided a method for augmented reality guided instrument positioning. A viewpoint is established, from which a line of sight to a point on a target defines a path for an instrument to follow during a positioning of the instrument to the point on the target. The instrument is aligned along the line of sight to the point on the target.

Abstract: A method for calibrating real and virtual views includes tracking a calibration screen, wherein a real reference point, generated by a real reference point generator, is projected on the calibration screen, aligning a view of a virtual reference point to a view of the real reference point in a display, wherein the real reference point generator and the display have a fixed relative position, determining a point correspondence between the virtual reference point and the real reference point, and determining one or more parameters for rendering a virtual object in the real scene.

Abstract: A method for determining the best entry point for a percutaneous procedure, such as with a biopsy needle, comprises selecting first and second arbitrary entry points on a patient; determining the three dimensional (3-D) orientation of the needle at the first arbitrary entry point for pointing the needle at the primary target; determining the 3-D orientation of the needle at the first arbitrary entry point for pointing the needle at the secondary target; determining the 3-D dimensional orientation of the needle at the second arbitrary entry point for pointing the needle at the primary target; determining the 3-D orientation of the needle at the second arbitrary entry point for pointing the needle at the secondary target; determining a 3-D line representing the intersection of a first plane containing the first arbitrary entry point, the primary target point, and the secondary target point, and a second plane containing the second arbitrary entry point, the primary target, and the secondary target point, whereb

Abstract: A method for determining the best entry point for a percutaneous procedure, such as with a biopsy needle, comprises selecting first and second arbitrary entry points on a patient; determining the three dimensional (3-D) orientation of the needle at the first arbitrary entry point for pointing the needle at the primary target; determining the 3-D orientation of the needle at the first arbitrary entry point for pointing the needle at the secondary target; determining the 3-D dimensional orientation of the needle at the second arbitrary entry point for pointing the needle at the primary target; determining the 3-D orientation of the needle at the second arbitrary entry point for pointing the needle at the secondary target; determining a 3-D line representing the intersection of a first plane containing the first arbitrary entry point, the primary target point, and the secondary target point, and a second plane containing the second arbitrary entry point, the primary target, and the secondary target point, whereb