Abstract: A method and apparatus for medical ultrasound imaging. A three dimensional image data of a whole organ is acquired at a first resolution during a cardiac cycle. A three dimensional image data of a sector of the organ is acquired at a second higher resolution during another cardiac cycle. The data are compared so as to allow registration of the sector with respect to the whole organ.

Abstract: An image processing method for processing a sequence of images of a distortable 3-D Object, each image being registered at a corresponding image instant within the interval of time of the sequence having steps to construct and display an image of said 3-D Object represented with regions, each region showing a quantified indication relating to its maximal contraction or relaxation within said interval of time. Each region of the constructed and displayed image is attributed a respective color of a color coded scale that is function of the calculated quantified indication relating to the maximum of contraction or relaxation of said region. The quantified indications may be the instant when a face or region has had its maximum of contraction or relaxation; or the phase value corresponding to said maximum; or the delay to attain said maximum.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an imaging system for displaying image data representative of a structure investigated by scan image data acquisition means. The imaging system comprises display rendering means for processing scan data representative of the configuration of the structure and rendering a display comprising a 3D image of the structure superposed with a scan image representative of the extent of the scan region.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for segmentation of a three-dimensional structure in a three-dimensional data set, especially a medical data set. The method uses a three-dimensional deformable model, wherein the surface of the model consists of a net of polygonal meshes. The meshes are split into groups, and a feature term is assigned to each group. After the model has been placed over the structure of interest, the deformable model is recalculated in consideration of the feature terms of each group.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a medical system comprising a medical instrument to be guided in a patient body, ultrasound acquisition means using an ultrasound probe for acquiring a 3D ultrasound data set and X-ray acquisition means for acquiring a 2D X-Ray image, which comprises a projection of said medical instrument.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for segmenting an image [IM] by path extraction using minimization of at least a potential [POT], said potential being calculated [CAS] from a feature [FEA] of the image [IM] using a cost assignment function [CAF], said calculation [CAS] being realized using the definition of two groups of points [NP and PP] in a neighborhood of a drawn [DRW] contour: the ones that are considered to be relevant to a boundary, called positive points [PP] and the ones that are not considered to be relevant to said boundary, called negative points [NP]. A refined characterization of positive points is constructed by combining characterizations of positive and negative points and the cost assignment function [CAF] is modified [CAL] using this refined characterization. The invention proposes also a fully automatic simultaneous adaptation of the different cost assignment functions of the individual potentials in a total function of potentials, and their relative weightings.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for determining at least one torsion angle of a left ventricle. The method includes the steps of collecting three-dimensional ultrasound data of the left ventricle (36) to obtain at least one first two-dimensional view and at least one second two-dimensional view thereof, wherein the first two-dimensional view is obtained at about the beginning of a cardiac phase and the second two-dimensional view is obtained at about the end of the cardiac phase, placing at least two tracking points (40, 42) on the at least one first two-dimensional view to draw a first torsion line (44), tracking the at least two tracking points to extrapolate the position thereof on the at least one second two-dimensional view and to draw a second torsion line (46), and calculating the at least one torsion angle by measuring an angle (A) formed by the intersection of the first and second torsion lines (44, 46).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an intervention guidance system in which the location of an interventional medical device (30) within a body volume is determined by image processing means (14) from live, three-dimensional ultrsound images thereof, and this localisation is used to generate a control signal for steering an ultrasound beam (20) so as to alter the imaging plane (or region of interest 235) in accordance with the relative location within the body volume of the intervention device (30). The use of image processing techniques to localise the intervention device (30) obviates the need for specific locations on the device.

Abstract: A method for utilizing user input for segmentation and feature detection in diagnostic ultrasound imaging is provided. The method provides border detection to be performed rapidly; a feature, which allows the border detection method to be applied to real-time video imaging with little or no delay. The border detection method may be incorporated within a diagnostic ultrasound imaging system or as a user-installable software application capable of being installed on and executed by an ultrasound imaging system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for guiding a medical instrument in a patient body. Such a system comprises means for acquiring a 2D X-ray image of said medical instrument, means for acquiring a 3D ultrasound data set of said medical instrument using an ultrasound probe, means for localizing said ultrasound probe in a referential of said X-ray acquisition means, means for selecting a region of interest around said medical instrument within the 3D ultrasound data set and means for generating a bimodal representation of said medical instrument detection by combining said 2D X-ray image and said 3D ultrasound data set. A bimodal representation is generated on the basis of the 2D X-ray image by replacing the X-ray intensity value of points belonging to said region of interest by the ultrasound intensity value of the corresponding point in the 3D ultrasound data set.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a medical imaging system for guiding a medical instrument (4) which performs a plurality of actions at a plurality of points (P1, P2, . . . PM) in contact with a structure (3) of a body of a subject. Such a medical system comprises acquisition means for acquiring a plurality of three-dimensional (3D) image data sets (3DIS(t1), 3DIS(t2) . . . 3DIS(t)) of said structure (3), means (9) for associating one of said plurality of points (Pj) with one of said plurality of 3D image data sets (3DIS(ti)), means (10) for computing a reference 2D image data set (3DIS(tR)) from said plurality of 3D image data sets, means (11) for defining a transformation (TR(ti)) to the points (Pj) of said plurality of points which are associated with said one of said 3D image data sets (3DIS(ti)) and means (13) for visualizing said transformed points (TR(ti)Pj).

Abstract: A medical ultrasound viewing system for processing a sequence of three-dimensional (3-D) ultrasound images far performing a quantitative estimation of a flow through a body organ comprising means for performing steps of acquiring a sequence of 3D color flow images, of said flow; assessing the flow velocity values in the 3D images, constructing isovelocity surfaces (6) by segmentation of the flow velocity values; computing the volume (Vol) delimited by the isovelocity surfaces; and using the flow velocity value (V) and the volume (Vol) computed from a segmented surface for computing the surface of an orifice (3) of the organ through which the flow propagates.

Abstract: A method for anatomical imaging includes acquiring image data representative of three-dimensional volume segments of an image volume of interest in a subject. The image data are acquired in synchronism with corresponding physiological cycles of the subject. Each volume segment contains image data distributed in three dimensions. Acquiring image data includes selecting a sequence of scan lines for each respective volume segment configured to minimize an occurrence of motion artifacts throughout the image volume. The image data representative of the volume segments is combined to produce a representation of a three-dimensional anatomical image of the image volume.

Abstract: An image processing method for providing three-dimensional geometric modeling of the spine, using a biplanar image reconstruction, comprising steps of acquisition of a first view (F) of a part of the spine, and a second view (L) of the same part of the spine taken from a different angle around the longitudinal axis of the spine, matching the dimensions of the views (F,L) from two predetermined corresponding landmarks (P1, P2) on each view and deriving three-dimensional coordinates (z, x, y) of corresponding points (P) along the spine. Application: X-ray medical 3-D imaging.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for segmentation of a three-dimensional structure in a three-dimensional data set, especially a medical data set. The method uses a three-dimensional deformable model, wherein the surface of the model consists of a net of polygonal meshes. The meshes are split into groups, and a feature term is assigned to each group. After the model has been placed over the structure of interest, the deformable model is recalculated in consideration of the feature terms of each group.

Abstract: A method for extracting geometrical data from a 2-D digital image of the spine, comprising steps for determining spine outlines, endplates and corners wherein: digitizing the spine center line and end points; constructing a 2-D image band, referred to as Rubber-Band, whose center line is a spline representing the spine center line, and unfolding said Rubber-Band for constructing a 2-D Rectangular-Band; processing the 2-D Rectangular-Band image data in order to estimate best paths going through selected points for determining the spine outlines, then the endplates based on the found outline data and the corners at the intersection of the outlines and endplates.

Abstract: Image processing method for displaying an image sequence of a deformable 3-D object with indications of the object wall motions comprising steps of acquiring image data of an image sequence, segmenting the 3-D object in the images of the sequence for locating the wall of the 3-D object, and coloring voxels or parts of the wall in function of their displacement with respect to the wall of the 3-D object in one image of the sequence chosen as a reference. Color images of the 3-D object with color coded voxels or parts of the wall are displayed in a sequence for the user to estimate the object wall motion. This method is used in medical examination apparatus for studying ultrasound images of organs whose walls have motion.

Abstract: Image processing system for displaying information relating to the amplitude of displacements of wall regions of a deformable 3-D object under study, comprising acquisition means to acquire an image sequence of the simplified 3D object wall; and processing means to process the image data for defining region(s) of interest on the simplified 3D object wall, and computing the maximal amplitudes of displacement of said region(s) of interest over a period of time; constructing two 2D simplified representations (bull's eye representations) of the 3D simplified object wall with projection of the region(s) of interest in respective segments of said 2D simplified representations, respectively denoted by 2D simplified amplitude and phase representations; and further comprising display means to display color coded indications of the maximal amplitudes of displacements of the region(s) of interest over a period of time in the respective segments of the 2D simplified amplitude representation; and the display of color code

Abstract: The invention relates to a viewing system having means for processing a sequence of three-dimensional (3-D) ultrasound images for performing a quantitative estimation of a flow in a body organ. In particular, the invention relates to a medical viewing system and to an image processing method for performing an automatic quantitative estimation of the blood flow through the heart values, and/or of the regurgitant jet, from a sequence of 3-D color flow images. The invention particularly finds an application in the field of medical imaging in cardiology using ultrasound medical apparatus and/or viewing systems.

Abstract: The invention relates to an image processing method of extracting geometrical data of the spine, for extracting the left and right pedicle landmarks of each spine vertebra, comprising steps of: acquiring image data of a 2-D frontal image of the spine; associating spine States to vertebra positions along the spine and estimating locations of left and right pedicle landmark Candidates in each State; defining a State Cost for forming Couples of left and right pedicle landmark Candidates (PL and PR); estimating sets of Best Couple Candidates, in each State, from the lowest State Costs; defining a Path Cost to go from one State to the next State; selecting a pedicle landmark Couple in each spine State (V) among the Best Couple Candidates from the minimum Path Costs, and localizing the left and right pedicle landmarks of each spine vertebra from said selected pedicle landmark Couple. The invention also relates to a system, a medical apparatus and a program product for carrying out the method.