Abstract: There is proposed a mechanism for determining whether or not an imaging probe, such as an ultrasound imaging probe, is at a desired orientation and/or position with respect to an anatomical structure. Image data of the imaging probe is processed to generate a 3D landmark model that contains anatomical landmarks of the anatomical structure. The 3D landmark model is then processed to determine whether or not the imaging probe is at the desired orientation and/or position.

Abstract: There is proposed a mechanism for generating and displaying a 3D representation of an anatomical structure of an individual. Image data of the anatomical structure is obtained and processed to obtain 2D images or image sequences corresponding to predetermined views of the anatomical structure. Anatomical landmarks are identified in the 2D images or image sequences and used to determine a 3D landmark model of the anatomical 5structure. The 3D landmark model is used to render and display a 3D representation of the anatomical structure.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes ultrasound imaging systems and methods configured to identify ovarian follicles by applying a neural network to pre-processed ultrasound image frames. Systems may include an ultrasound transducer configured to acquire echo signals responsive to ultrasound pulses transmitted toward a target region. One or more processors communicatively coupled with the ultrasound transducer may be configured to generate at least one image from the ultrasound echoes. A threshold may be applied to the image frame that differentiates pixels representative of an ovarian follicle present in the target region from other subject matter. The processors may apply a neural network to the thresholded image frame, in which the neural network determines the presence of the ovarian follicle in the thresholded image frame. The processors also may generate an indicator based on the presence of the ovarian follicle and display the indicator on a user interface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device (10) for detecting a misuse of a medical imaging system (20), comprising a data interface (12) for acquiring medical image data (24) and audit log data (26) from the medical imaging system (20); a processing unit (14) which is configured to configured to analyse the medical image data (24) to determine whether or not a part of a fetus is imaged in the medical image data (24), to compare the medical image data (24) and the audit log data (26) with each other, and to determine based on said comparison whether there is a mismatch between the medical image data (24) and the audit log data (26); and a feedback unit (16) which is configured to generate a misuse alert signal if a mismatch is detected by the processing unit (14).

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for visualization of an elongated anatomical structure (20), for example of a fetal spine using ultrasound is provided.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for deriving a biometric parameter of a fetal heart. The method includes acquiring a plurality of ultrasound images of a region of interest, wherein the region of interest comprises a fetal heart and comparing the plurality of ultrasound images to a predefined clinical view. A group of ultrasound images related to the predefined clinical view are selected based on the comparison, wherein the group of ultrasound images represents at least one cardiac cycle. An anatomical landmark of the fetal heart is detected within an ultrasound image of the group of ultrasound images and the anatomical landmark of the fetal heart is detected or tracked across the group of ultrasound images. A biometric parameter of the fetal heart is then determined based on the detected or tracked anatomical landmark from one or more ultrasound images of the group of ultrasound images.

Abstract: The invention relates to a computer-implemented method for automatically detecting anatomical structures (3) in a medical image (1) of a subject, the method comprising applying an object detector function (4) to the medical image, wherein the object detector function performs the steps of: (A) applying a first neural network (40) to the medical image, wherein the first neural network is trained to detect a first plurality of classes of larger-sized anatomical structures (3a), thereby generating as output the coordinates of at least one first bounding box (51) and the confidence score of it containing a larger-sized anatomical structure; (B) cropping (42) the medical image to the first bounding box, thereby generating a cropped image (11) containing the image content within the first bounding box (51); and (C) applying a second neural network (44) to the cropped medical image, wherein the second neural network is trained to detect at least one second class of smaller-sized anatomical structures (3b), thereby g

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device (2) and a method (100) for determining at least one final two-dimensional image or slice for visualizing an object of interest in a three-dimensional ultrasound volume.

Abstract: The invention provides for a method of obtaining a composite 3D ultrasound image of a region of interest. The method includes obtaining preliminary ultrasound data from a region of interest of a subject and identifying an anatomical feature within the region of interest based on the preliminary ultrasound data. A first imaging position and one or more additional imaging positions are then determined based on the anatomical feature. A first 3D ultrasound image is obtained from the first imaging position and one or more additional 3D ultrasound images are obtained from the one or more additional imaging positions, wherein a portion of the first 3D ultrasound image overlaps a portion of the one or more additional 3D ultrasound images, thereby forming an overlapping portion comprising the anatomical feature.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device (2) and a method (100) for determining at least one final two-dimensional image or slice for visualizing an object of interest in a three-dimensional ultrasound volume.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ultrasound device for measuring blood flow velocity in a blood vessel of a subject without imaging functionality in the device. The measurement depends upon reflections of a collimated beam of ultrasound from a subject's body part. Received electrical signals representative of the reflected ultrasound energy is used for generating a representation of blood flow at a plurality of predetermined locations in the volume and calculating a first blood flow velocity at each of the locations. The representation of flow is used for delineating the blood flow in the blood vessel in the volume. An angle calculating unit calculates the Doppler angle between the direction of the radiated collimated beam in the delineated blood flow at each point. A velocity calculator calculates a second blood flow velocity at the plurality of points based on the calculated first velocities and the calculated angle at the point.

Abstract: The quality of thoracic X-rays is depends on the inspiration state of an imaged patient. If the lungs of a patient are not significantly inflated during a thoracic X-ray, tissue from surrounding organs can cause the image to become cloudier, and the lung parenchyma is not effectively shown. Thus, there is a reliance on a medical professional to ensure that the patient is in an appropriate posture and inspiration state at the point of image exposure. This can be difficult with patients suffering from chronic conditions, though. Therefore, this application discusses a means to assess the inspiration state using the position of rib bones, and the diaphragm line in the X-ray image. Thus, an accurate estimate of inspiration state can automatically be reported to a medical professional, before a patient leaves the examination room, allowing an X-ray to be retaken, if necessary.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes ultrasound imaging systems and methods configured to identify ovarian follicles by applying a neural network to pre-processed ultrasound image frames. Systems may include an ultrasound transducer configured to acquire echo signals responsive to ultrasound pulses transmitted toward a target region. One or more processors communicatively coupled with the ultrasound transducer may be configured to generate at least one image from the ultrasound echoes. A threshold may be applied to the image frame that differentiates pixels representative of an ovarian follicle present in the target region from other subject matter. The processors may apply a neural network to the thresholded image frame, in which the neural network determines the presence of the ovarian follicle in the thresholded image frame. The processors also may generate an indicator based on the presence of the ovarian follicle and display the indicator on a user interface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device (10) for detecting a misuse of a medical imaging system (20), comprising a data interface (12) for acquiring medical image data (24) and audit log data (26) from the medical imaging system (20); a processing unit (14) which is configured to configured to analyse the medical image data (24) to determine whether or not a part of a fetus is imaged in the medical image data (24), to compare the medical image data (24) and the audit log data (26) with each other, and to determine based on said comparison whether there is a mismatch between the medical image data (24) and the audit log data (26); and a feedback unit (16) which is configured to generate a misuse alert signal if a mismatch is detected by the processing unit (14).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for cervical image analysis, wherein a transformation zone is identified in an acetic acid image by registering with its Lugol's iodine counterpart. Then, regions in the transformation zone which show significant changes in whiteness are identified as aceto-white regions and registered with the corresponding Lugol's iodine image, and it is determined if the identified regions in the Lugol's iodine image are iodine negative or positive. Based thereon, the aceto-white region can be categorized as one of metaplasia, inflammation or premalignant lesion region.

Abstract: A device is configured for interrogating a blood vessel to derive flow characteristics (S628) and for, responsive to the deriving and based on the derived characteristics, anatomically identifying the vessel. A spatial map of the vessels may be generated based on the interrogating, and specifically the Doppler power computed from data acquired in the interrogating. Subsequent interrogating (S668) may occur, based on the map and on a user-selected set of vessels and/or vessel categories, to derive clinical Doppler indices. The device can be designed to automatically set a sample volume (509) for the subsequent interrogating, and to operate automatically from the user selection to display of the indices. The display may further include an image (524) of the vessels summoned by the set, annotated by their individual anatomical names, and optionally a diagnosis relating to blood flow. The displayed image may be enlarged to zoom in on the user's onscreen selection.

Abstract: The invention relates to a brachytherapy system for supporting application of radiation to a patient body. The system cooperates with an applicator (1) configured for fixating at least one radiation source in a body region and comprises an ultrasound device (3) configured for generating a three-dimensional image of the body region including the applicator (1). Further, an image generation unit (9) comprises a pre-stored three-dimensional model of the applicator (1) and is configured to obtain position information relating the applicator (1) on the basis of the three-dimensional image of the body region and to align the three-dimensional image of the body region and the pre-stored three-dimensional model of the applicator (1) on the basis of the position information.

Abstract: The invention provides a system (100) for acquiring cervical images which comprises an image acquisition subsystem (120) for acquiring cervical images (122) of a cervical region of a patient during a colposcopy procedure, and a display subsystem (160) for displaying the cervical images on a display (060) by providing image data (162) of the cervical images to the display. According to the invention, the image acquisition subsystem (120) is arranged for, when operating in an interval mode, acquiring the cervical images (122) at predetermined time intervals to obtain a time-series of cervical images showing changes in the cervical region over time, and reporting a progress of said acquiring to the display subsystem. Moreover, the display subsystem (160) is arranged for establishing a progress indicator (400-416) on the display by generating indicator data (164) and providing the indicator data to the display (060), the progress indicator providing visual feedback on the progress of said acquiring to a user.

Abstract: The quality of thoracic X-rays is depends on the inspiration state of an imaged patient. If the lungs of a patient are not significantly inflated during a thoracic X-ray, tissue from surrounding organs can cause the image to become cloudier, and the lung parenchyma is not effectively shown. Thus, there is a reliance on a medical professional to ensure that the patient is in an appropriate posture and inspiration state at the point of image exposure. This can be difficult with patients suffering from chronic conditions, though. Therefore, this application discusses a means to assess the inspiration state using the position of rib bones, and the diaphragm line in the X-ray image. Thus, an accurate estimate of inspiration state can automatically be reported to a medical professional, before a patient leaves the examination room, allowing an X-ray to be retaken, if necessary.

Abstract: A device images time-wise in parallel using transducer elements of a group. The elements are of a current group and imaging is time-wise sequential by group. The groups may be spatially disposed with respect to each other so as to mutually intermesh element-wise. The imaging may include volumetric imaging. The device may be configured for not collectively using any of the elements to focus, nor to steer, a beam used in the imaging. The device may further be operable to transition between spacing states at least one of which is characterized by a respective minimum, nonzero, degree of intra-group, element-to-element non-adjacency, or may be fixed at a selected spacing state. The transitioning may be automatic, in response to input indicative of blood vessel size and/or depth.