Abstract: A controller for displaying a puncture site of an intra-atrial septum for heart repairs includes a memory and a processor (710). The processor (710) executes instructions (784) to perform a process based on image data of a heart that includes a mitral valve and an intra-atrial septum. The process includes defining a mitral valve annulus plane along a mitral valve annulus of the mitral valve and a normal vector perpendicular to the mitral valve annulus plane. The process also includes defining an offset plane that intersects with the intra-atrial septum and that is parallel to the mitral valve annulus plane. A safe zone for the puncture site is identified and displayed on the intra-atrial septum. The safe zone is between a lower boundary plane (456) and an upper boundary plane (455) that are each parallel to the offset plane by specified distances.

Abstract: A controller for displaying a puncture site of an intra-atrial septum for heart repairs includes a memory and a processor (710). The processor (710) executes instructions (784) to perform a process based on image data of a heart that includes a mitral valve and an intra-atrial septum. The process includes defining a mitral valve annulus plane along a mitral valve annulus of the mitral valve and a normal vector perpendicular to the mitral valve annulus plane. The process also includes defining an offset plane that intersects with the intra-atrial septum and that is parallel to the mitral valve annulus plane. A safe zone for the puncture site is identified and displayed on the intra-atrial septum. The safe zone is between a lower boundary plane (456) and an upper boundary plane (455) that are each parallel to the offset plane by specified distances.

Abstract: A system and method is described by which so-called standard angiographic views can be generated using a 3-or 4-D reconstructed image of the object of interest. One preferred example is the reconstruction of coronary angiograms from rotational angiography sequences. Once the 3D image is created, it can be forward projected into the user-defined “standard” views for live presentation during the procedure. It is anticipated that these standard views, which more closely mimic what a physician is accustomed to see, will be more readily accepted by the interventional community.

Abstract: A method for determining an optimal trajectory for 3-dimensional rotational X-ray coronary angiography for a C-arm X-ray system that has at least two degrees of freedom, where the C-arm X-ray system is defined by a rotational movement of the C-arm expressed in a left/right coronary artery oblique angle, and a roll motion of the C-arm expressed in a caudal/cranial angle. The method includes generating of a 3-dimensional representation of a center-line of a body vessel in a region of interest. generating at least one optimal view map. Further, an optimal trajectory for the X-ray system within the optimal view map is determined, where an optimal trajectory is at least determined by movements of the C-arm within its two degrees of freedom allowing image projections with minimal foreshortening and/or overlap while minimizing an exposure to X-rays.

Abstract: A method is disclosed which allows for optimally viewing a portion of a patient vascular system to facilitate at least one of diagnosis and treatment the vascular system. The method includes acquiring a model of said vascular system based on image data generated by an imaging device, identifying a portion of interest of the vascular system including determining a central vessel axis for a vessel of interest, generating a foreshortening map of the portion of interest based on viewing angle of the imaging device position, with respect to the patient, generating an overlap map to determine an amount of overlap present for particular viewing angles based on imaging device position, and generating a feasibility map to model dimensions of the patient based on patient characteristics, imaging device configuration, foreshortening and overlap.

Abstract: It is described a virtual pullback as a visualization and quantification tool that allows an interventional cardiologist to easily assess stent expansion. The virtual pullback visualizes the stent and/or the vessel lumen similar to an Intravascular Ultrasound (IVUS) pullback. The virtual pullback is performed in volumetric data along a reference line. The volumetric data can be a reconstruction of rotational 2D X-ray attenuation data. Planes perpendicular to the reference line are visualized as the position along the reference line changes. This view is for interventional cardiologists a very familiar view as they resemble IVUS data and may show a section plane through a vessel lumen or a stent. In these perpendicular section planes automatic measurements, such as minimum and maximum diameter, and cross sectional area of the stent can be calculated and displayed. Combining these 2D measurements allows also volumetric measurements to be calculated and displayed.

Abstract: It is described a method for determining an optimal trajectory (25) for 3-dimensional rotational X-ray coronary angiography for a C-arm X-ray system. The C-arm X-ray system has at least two degrees of freedom. They are defined by a rotational movement of the C-arm (11) expressed in a left/right coronary artery oblique angle, and a roll motion of the C-arm (11) expressed in a caudal/cranial angle. The method performs the following steps in a sequence. Firstly, a generation of a 3-dimensional representation of a centre-line of a body vessel in a region of interest is performed. Secondly, at least one optimal view map is generated. Finally, an optimal trajectory (25) for the X-ray system within the optimal view map is determined, wherein an optimal trajectory (25) is at least determined by movements of the C-arm within its two degrees of freedom allowing image projections with minimal foreshortening and/or overlap while minimizing an exposure to X-rays.

Abstract: A control processor (30) causes the drives (22, 24, 26) of a mechanical arm scanner to move an x-ray source (12) and a detector along an elliptical trajectory (50). The trajectory can be customized (38) to deviate from a true mathematical ellipse or to be only an arc segment. As the x-ray source and detector move along the trajectory, a large multiplicity of projection images are generated, at least when a contrast agent is present in the region-of-interest. A selectable limited subset of the generated projection images are selected for display in order to make an angiographic diagnosis.

Abstract: A control processor (30) causes the drives (22, 24, 26) of a mechanical arm scanner to move an x-ray source (12) and a detector along an elliptical trajectory (50). The trajectory can be customized (38) to deviate from a true mathematical ellipse or to be only an arc segment. As the x-ray source and detector move along the trajectory, a large multiplicity of projection images are generated, at least when a contrast agent is present in the region-of-interest. A selectable limited subset of the generated projection images are selected for display in order to make an angiographic diagnosis.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of generating a hybrid three dimensional reconstruction of a vascular structure affected by periodic motion is disclosed. At least two x-ray images of the vascular structure are acquired. Indicia of the phases of periodic motion are obtained and correlated. Images from a similar phase of periodic motion are selected and a three dimensional modeled segment of a region of interest in the vascular structure is generated. A three dimensional volumetric reconstruction of a vascular structure is generated that is larger than the modeled segment. The modeled segment of interest and the volumetric reconstruction of the larger vascular structure are combined and displayed in human readable form.

Abstract: A method is disclosed which allows for optimally viewing a portion of a patient vascular system to facilitate at least one of diagnosis and treatment the vascular system. The method includes acquiring a model of said vascular system based on image data generated by an imaging device, identifying a portion of interest of the vascular system including determining a central vessel axis for a vessel of interest, generating a foreshortening map of the portion of interest based on viewing angle of the imaging device position, with respect to the patient, generating an overlap map to determine an amount of overlap present for particular viewing angles based on imaging device position, and generating a feasibility map to model dimensions of the patient based on patient characteristics, imaging device configuration, foreshortening and overlap.

Abstract: A method is disclosed which allows for optimally viewing a portion of a patient vascular system to facilitate at least one of diagnosis and treatment the vascular system. The method includes acquiring a model of said vascular system based on image data generated by an imaging device, identifying a portion of interest of the vascular system including determining a central vessel axis for a vessel of interest, generating a foreshortening map of the portion of interest based on viewing angle of the imaging device position, with respect to the patient, generating an overlap map to determine an amount of overlap present for particular viewing angles based on imaging device position, and generating a feasibility map to model dimensions of the patient based on patient characteristics, imaging device configuration, foreshortening and overlap.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of generating a hybrid three dimensional reconstruction of a vascular structure affected by periodic motion comprises placing an object (50) affected by periodic motion to be imaged in an imaging region of an x-ray system 22, the object having a vascular structure. At least two x-ray images of the vascular structure are acquired (104, 204). Indicia of the phases of periodic motion are obtained (104, 52) and are correlated with each of the x-ray images. At least two x-ray images from a similar phase of periodic motion are selected (108). A three dimensional modeled segment of a region of interest in the vascular structure is generated (110, 210), the modeled segment reconstructed using the selected x-ray images from a similar phase of periodic motion and the region of interest only a portion of the imaged vascular structure. A three dimensional volumetric reconstruction of a vascular structure is generated (112, 212, 207) that is larger than the modeled segment.

Abstract: A method is disclosed which allows for optimally viewing a portion of a patient vascular system to facilitate at least one of diagnosis and treatment the vascular system. The method includes acquiring a model of said vascular system based on image data generated by an imaging device, identifying a portion of interest of the vascular system including determining a central vessel axis for a vessel of interest, generating a foreshortening map of the portion of interest based on viewing angle of the imaging device position, with respect to the patient, generating an overlap map to determine an amount of overlap present for particular viewing angles based on imaging device position, and generating a feasibility map to model dimensions of the patient based on patient characteristics, imaging device configuration, foreshortening and overlap.