Abstract: It is described an improved visualization of an object under examination (107). Thereby, 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: 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 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. Provided with such images, the physician will be able to easily identify structures of interest and to localize said structures in the anatomical environment.

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: It is described a 2D image processing of an object under examination in particular for enhancing the visualization of an image composition between the 2D image and a 3D image. Thereby, (a) a first dataset representing a 3D image of the object is acquired, (b) a second dataset representing the 2D image of the object is acquired, (c) the first dataset and the second dataset are registered and (d) the 2D image is processed. Thereby, based on image information of the 3D image, within the 2D image processing there is at least identified a first region (231, 331) and a second region being spatially different from the first region (231, 331), and the first region (231, 331) and the second region are processed in a different manner.

Abstract: To reduce the contrast fluid and X-ray load on patients during interventional procedures, a real-time visualisation architecture is proposed to combine 2D live images with 3D reconstructed volume information. In general, 2D X-ray images arc 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, as is proposed to display the 3D information 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 may be combined with silhouette rendering to maintain the contrast in the 2D information while preserving the 3D impression.

Abstract: A system and method for combined processing and displaying of two data sets, originating from two different radiological methods, capable of making interim results, yielded by an operation on one of the data sets, available for further processing of the other data set. Different imaging capabilities of the employed radiological methods promote predestine the data acquired using a particular method for 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 has to be 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. The invention is particularly useful with computer tomography and three-dimensional rotational angiography.

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: 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.

Abstract: A method of producing a resultant object data set is presented in which a reference object data set and a contrast object data set containing extrinsic contrast information are both provided. Both object data sets contain information describing the same part of the body. Extrinsic contrast information from the contrast object data set is segmented to produce a segmented data set and this data is dilated to produce a dilated data set. A mask is then created from the dilated data set and the reference object data set is filtered by the mask to produce a resultant object data set. Sometimes a further method is found to be useful, in which information which occurs in both object data sets is segmented from the reference object data set to produce a data set which is used to create a further mask for filtering.

Abstract: A device, a method and a computer program to model and report an anatomic structure, for example for coronary angiography is provided. The graphical editor models and reports the morphology/topology of the coronary anatomy with its clinical relevant items, i.e. grafts, stents, stenosis/occlusion and turtuosity. From the model different presentations (views) with adjustable display attribute settings, like scale and shape of the arteries can be constructed.

Abstract: A method of producing a resultant object data set is presented in which a reference object data set and a contrast object data set containing extrinsic contrast information are both provided. Both object data sets contain information describing the same part of the body. Extrinsic contrast information from the contrast object data set is segmented to produce a segmented data set and this data is dilated to produce a dilated data set. A mask is then created from the dilated data set and the reference object data set is filtered by the mask to produce a resultant object data set. Sometimes a further method is found to be useful, in which information which occurs in both object data sets is segmented from the reference object data set to produce a data set which is used to create a further mask for filtering.

Abstract: A device, a method and a computer program to model and report an anatomic structure, for example for coronary angiography is provided. The graphical editor models and reports the morphology/topology of the coronary anatomy with its clinical relevant items, i.e. grafts, stents, stenosis/occlusion and turtuosity. From the model different presentations (views) with adjustable display attribute settings, like scale and shape of the arteries can be constructed.