Abstract: Visualization of a region of interest and planning a location of at least one injection point for a medical procedure is provided. At least one volume of imaging data for a region of interest is received. At least one virtual injection point is obtained. The at least one injection point indicates a location in a network of blood vessels for at least one injection. First and second rendering modules are controlled to construct a combined volume presentation including a first volume region rendered by a first rendering module at a relatively low level of detail and a second volume region is rendered at a higher level of detail by a second rendering module. The first and second volume regions are designated based on the at least one virtual injection point.

Abstract: Visualization of a region of interest and planning a location of at least one injection point for a medical procedure is provided. At least one volume of imaging data for a region of interest is received. At least one virtual injection point is obtained. The at least one injection point indicates a location in a network of blood vessels for at least one injection. First and second rendering modules are controlled to construct a combined volume presentation including a first volume region rendered by a first rendering module at a relatively low level of detail and a second volume region is rendered at a higher level of detail by a second rendering module. The first and second volume regions are designated based on the at least one virtual injection point.

Abstract: The positions of the images and a display mode of at least two images of an object are selected based on a comparison of a provided distance value between the edges of the two displayed images and a distance threshold value. By continuously varying the distance value, the corresponding images and the display mode are adapted to an actual distance value.

Abstract: The invention relates to an energy application planning apparatus for planning an application of energy to an object (3) like a tumor. An energy application element representation represents an energy application element (5) like an ablation needle including an energy application part for applying energy and a sensing part (7). An arrangement of the energy application element (5) with respect to the object (3) is determined depending on the positions of the energy application part and the sensing part (7) with respect to the energy application element (5) as defined by the energy application element representation and depending on the object representation. The application of energy can therefore not only be planned such that the application of energy is performed as desired, but also such that the object and/or a surrounding of the object are sensible as desired. In this way, the planning procedure can be improved.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for determining a display mode for displaying at least two images of an object. The positions of the images and the display mode of the images are selected based on a comparison of a provided distance value between the edges of the two displayed images and a distance threshold value. By e.g. continuously varying the distance value, the corresponding images and display mode are adapted to the actual distance value.

Abstract: 2D images are registered with 3D volume data. In order to provide 2D/3D registration with a facilitated workflow 3D volume data (112) of an object, having a frame of reference is received. A transformation plane (116) is defined in relation to the 3D volume data. A 2D image of the object with an image plane is received. The transformation plane is projected on the image plane. The frame of reference is aligned with the 2D image. At least one alignment interaction value (128) is projected (130) on the transformation plane to determine (134) at least one transformed interaction value (132). The frame of reference is translated with the at least one transformed interaction value.

Abstract: Ablation treatment planning comprises: acquiring a three-dimensional (3D) image data set of a region of interest; introducing 3D model data of an ablation volume into the 3D image data set; and drawing, as a 2D image, what remains of a cross sectional multiplanar reformatting (MPR) slice of the region of interest and the ablation volume within an MPR plane by virtue of using the MPR plane as a clipping plane. The introduction is doable by tagging image pixels using a stencil buffer and possibly by culling specific inside areas and/or outside areas of the ablation volume. An ablation volume, for, e.g., receiving a cryoablation needle to eliminate tumor tissue and having any arbitrary shape, may be visualized within a 3D image space by drawing 2D images in any desired MPR plane such that also oblique orientations of the ablation volume can be represented. Subsequently, an ablation needle may be guided to a location and in an orientation as previously planned.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for examination and visualization of an object of interest. The apparatus comprises a display, an input device, and a calculation unit, wherein the calculation unit is adapted for performing the following steps: acquiring a first data set; acquiring a second data set; fusing the first and second data sets; determining image parameters entered by means of the input device, related to at least one of an image plane, an angle of view, a contrast and a transparency; rendering an image on the basis of the data sets and the determined parameters, resulting in a combined image with selected areas of transparency and selected areas of visible contrast information, wherein the image is visualized on the display.

Abstract: A coiling parameterization tool includes a processor and a display for displaying values of lumen volume, packing and coiling parameters for filling a lumen in relation to a desired packing. The processor is configured to detect a change in one of the displayed values and, in response to the change, to automatically evaluate, change and display remaining values displayed on the display.

Abstract: This invention will introduce a fast and effective target approach planning method preferably for needle guided percutaneous interventions using a rotational X-ray device. According to an exemplary embodiment A targeting method for targeting a first object in an object under examination is provided, wherein the method comprises selecting a first two-dimensional image of an three-dimensional data volume representing the object under examination, determining a target point in the first two-dimensional image, displaying an image of the three-dimensional data volume with the selected target point.

Abstract: The invention relates to an energy application planning apparatus for planning an application of energy to an object (3) like a tumor. An energy application element representation represents an energy application element (5) like an ablation needle including an energy application part for applying energy and a sensing part (7). An arrangement of the energy application element (5) with respect to the object (3) is determined depending on the positions of the energy application part and the sensing part (7) with respect to the energy application element (5) as defined by the energy application element representation and depending on the object representation. The application of energy can therefore not only be planned such that the application of energy is performed as desired, but also such that the object and/or a surrounding of the object are sensible as desired. In this way, the planning procedure can be improved.

Abstract: The present invention relates to interactive registration of 2D images with 3D volume data, and in particular relates to the registration of two 2D images with 3D volume data.

Abstract: An ablation treatment planning and, optionally, guiding method usable for e.g. tumour tissue ablation with a cryoablation needle which cools down an adjacent tumour tissue to thereby generate an ablation volume is proposed. In order to be able to plan an ablation treatment, a 3D image data set of a region of interest may be acquired by e.g. X-ray imaging using e.g. a C-arm system. Then, 3D model data of the ablation volume are introduced into the 3D image data set for example by tagging image pixels using a stencil buffer and possibly by culling specific inside areas and/or outside areas of the ablation volume. Finally, a 2D image to be visualized to a physician and comprising a projection of the region of interest and the ablation volume is drawn wherein an MPR (multi planar reformatting) plane in which the 2D image is drawn is used as a clipping plane.

Abstract: The invention relates to a coiling parameterisation tool that allows a user to interactively evaluate coiling parameters for filling a lumen in relation to a desired packing and the automatically determined or manually indicated volume of the lumen.

Abstract: A medical viewing system in which 3DRA images of a body volume are acquired and two dimensional live image data is acquired within the body volume during an intervention. Direct volume silhouette rendering is performed in respect of the 3D image so as to generate a silhouette rendering of the 3D image comprised of values proportional to the translucency of voxels of the 3D image data, and the live sequence of 2D images (18) is displayed within the resultant silhouette rendering of the body volume. A user can control the levels of shading and/or contrast in the displayed silhouette rendering.

Abstract: According to an exemplary embodiment a targeting method for targeting a first object from an entry point to a target point in an object (110) under examination is provided, wherein the method comprises selecting a two-dimensional image (301) of the object under examination depicting the entry point (305) and the target point (303) and determining a planned path (304) from the entry point to the target point, wherein the planned path has a first direction. Furthermore, the method comprises recording data representing a fluoroscopic image of the object under examination, wherein the fluoroscopic image is recorded under a second direction so that a normal of the image coincide with the first direction and determining whether the first object is on the determined planned path based on shape and/or position of the projection of the first object in the fluoroscopic image.

Abstract: One of two data sets, originating from two different radiological methods is processed to generate interim results, yielded by an operation on one of the data sets. The interim results are used to modify the other data set. Different imaging capabilities of the employed radiological methods promote a particular task, e.g. the segmentation of a given type of tissue. When the combined data of both methods is displayed, clinical users benefit from the complementary information. Care is taken, that only relevant information is presented to the user, as to avoid irrelevant data obscuring any data of interest. Therefore, the data to be displayed is filtered based on content, e.g. the type of tissue, and on location. Three-dimensional computer tomography and three-dimensional rotational angiography are particularly applicable radiological methods.

Abstract: To reduce the contrast fluid and X-ray load on patients during interventional procedures, a real-time visualization architecture combines 2D live images with 3D reconstructed volume information. In general, 2D X-ray images are recorded from below (Posterior Anterior) and presented head up (Anterior Posterior) by applying a mirroring operation on the image data. In order to ensure a correct alignment of the 2D live images within the reconstructed 3D volume, the 3D information is displayed under the same inverse viewing angle as the 2D live images by applying a mirroring around the Y-axis to the 3D information and by presenting the 3D information in a reverse sorting order. Furthermore, transparent surface/volume rendering combined with silhouette rendering maintains the contrast in the 2D information while preserving the 3D impression.

Abstract: Original 2D rotational projections are combined preferably in an overlaying manner with corresponding viewings of a 3D reconstruction. By showing the 2D rotational projections in combination with the 3D reconstruction, 3D vessel information can be compared with the original 2D rotational image information over different rotational angles. In a clinical setup the combined visualization will allow for an easy check if findings in the 3D RA volume such as stenosis or aneurysms are not overestimated or underestimated due to e.g. an incomplete filling with contrast agent and/or a spectral beam hardening during the rotational scan.

Abstract: Prior to an intervention, a 3D rotational scan is acquired (at block 10) in respect of a body volume and reconstructed. In addition, three-dimensional image data in respect of the body volume is acquired (at block 12) using another modality, such as computerised tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance (MR), reconstructed, and prepared for visualisation. During the actual intervention, live two-dimensional fluoroscopic images are acquired (at block 14), using the imaging system employed to acquire the 3D rotational scan, and processed for visualisation.