Patents by Inventor Régis Vaillant

Régis Vaillant has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8160318
    Abstract: A method for processing images in interventional radioscopy for detecting guiding instrumentation equipment. The method of the invention enables objects of longilinear or very curved shapes to be detected within the radioscopic image having very low contrast to noise ratios. In one embodiment, an algorithm enables the measured contrast to noise ratio of long or curved structures in the image to be considerably improved. To do this, an embodiment of the invention uses oriented, separable, recursive and rapid steerable detection filters. Said detection filters have a low calculation cost, even for long filters having several orientations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Vincent Bismuth, Vincent Auvray, Jean Lienard, Régis Vaillant
  • Patent number: 8121192
    Abstract: A process and system for improving a digital image of an object defined by pixels, acquired at the instant t and generated from an X-ray detector receiving X-rays emitted by a source. The process includes: determining a predicted image of the object at the instant t as a function of the images of the object acquired at the instants t?i, i being a positive whole number greater than or equal to 1, and moving of each of the layers constituting the image acquired at the instant t, the number of layers being previously fixed and the moving of each of the layers being previously determined; and generating a visualized image corresponding to a weighted sum of the predicted image and the image of the object acquired at the instant t, so as to attenuate the noise of the image of the object acquired at the instant t.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jean Lienard, Vincent Auvray, Régis Vaillant
  • Publication number: 20120022845
    Abstract: The embodiments of the invention pertain to a method, a computer program, and an imaging system used to monitor the dose of radiation accumulated in a body or a part of a body being or having been subject to radiation exposure during an acquisition of at least one radiological image, comprising: processing the at least one radiological image to determine a 3D model of the body or of the part of a body; applying a theoretical model for the interactions between matter and radiation to the 3D model; storing in memory the parameters characteristic of the emission of radiation produced during the acquisition of the at least one radiological image; and calculating a distribution of an accumulated radiation dose in the body or the part of a body which has been the subject of the acquisition of the at least one radiological image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventors: Vincent Bismuth, Sebastien Gorges, Regis Vaillant, Lionel Desponds
  • Patent number: 8094897
    Abstract: A method for the processing of images in interventional radioscopy to produce a sequence of de-noised images in which elongated objects of guiding instrumentation equipment are preserved and enhanced. The method of the invention uses a tool for indicating the confidence to be placed in a given pixel as regards its belonging to a piece of guidance equipment. This tool is used to create a combination algorithm capable of re-injecting the pixels having a low contrast-to-noise ratio into the de-noised image. This combination algorithm enables the enhancement solely of the pixels of the guidance equipment with a high confidence value so as not to produce artifacts with the enhancement of false positives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Vincent Bismuth, Vincent Auvray, Régis Vaillant, Jean Lienard
  • Patent number: 8073213
    Abstract: A method for generating a registered image relative to a cardiac cycle and a respiratory cycle of a person is provided. The method includes generating a plurality of 2-D images of an anatomical region of the person. The method further includes generating a 3-D model of the anatomical region of the person. The 3-D model is associated with a predetermined phase of the cardiac cycle and a predetermined phase of the respiratory cycle. The method further includes selecting a first 2-D image from the plurality of 2-D images associated with the predetermined phase of the cardiac cycle and the predetermined phase of the respiratory cycle. The method further includes generating the registered image of the anatomical region utilizing the first 2-D image and the 3-D model. The method further includes storing the registered image in a memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignees: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Regis Vaillant, Elisabeth Soubelet, Jasbir Singh Sra
  • Publication number: 20110268340
    Abstract: A method to process radiological images is provided. The method comprises partitioning a radiological image of a region to be treated into a superimposition of layers, the region to be treated comprising at least one first structure and a second structure, wherein one layer solely comprises part of the first structure to be isolated from the remainder of the image, the layer solely comprising that part of the first structure to be isolated from the remainder of the image being determined by means of a parametric model of the first structure. The method further comprises determining an image of the region to be treated from the layering thus obtained, in which the isolated part of the first structure is omitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventors: Vincent Bismuth, Regis Vaillant
  • Publication number: 20110249790
    Abstract: A method for processing radiological images is provided. The method includes extracting at least two image portions from at least two radiological images of an area to be treated. The method also includes defining an area in a final image for each extracted image portion. The method further includes laying out the extracted image portions in the final image so that each area of the final image comprises an extracted image portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Inventors: Vincent Bismuth, Regis Vaillant
  • Patent number: 7995819
    Abstract: Methods for displaying a location of a point of interest on a 3-D model of an anatomical region of a person are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, the method includes generating first and second 2-D images of the anatomical region utilizing an image acquisition system when an X-ray source of the image acquisition system is disposed at first and second positions, respectively, in a 3-D coordinate system of the image acquisition system. The method further includes selecting first and second points in the first and second 2-D images, respectively. The method further includes utilizing a triangulation technique utilizing the first and second points to determine a point of interest in a 3-D coordinate system of the 3-D model of the anatomical region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Regis Vaillant, Elisabeth Soubelet, Jasbir Singh Sra
  • Publication number: 20110019878
    Abstract: A system and method to compensate for respiratory motion in imaging of instruments introduced into the subject anatomy is provided. The system can include an imaging system in communication with a controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Elisabeth Soubelet, Jean Lienard, Regis Vaillant
  • Publication number: 20100331675
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention relates to a process for acquiring a three-dimensional radiological image of an organ in movement of a patient, according to which a control unit executes steps of: (53, 54) receiving a signal representative of a movement parameter of the organ, (53, 54) detecting variation in the signal due to artificial maintenance of the organ in a reduced state of movement, and in response to detection, (59, 510) triggering acquisition of a sequence of images by a radiological imaging device to reconstruct a three-dimensional radiological image of the organ from the sequence of images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Inventors: Francois Kotian, Regis Vaillant, Elisabeth Soubelet
  • Publication number: 20100261999
    Abstract: A medical imaging method for the navigation of a guidable medical instrument intended to be moved inside the body of a patient, comprising: receiving at least one 2D image of a cavity of a patient, acquired by an acquisition device, for which cavity a 3D representation is available; receiving at least one data item on the force applied to the medical instrument to control a guiding of the medical instrument inside the patient's body; and combining data derived from information on applied force, the 2D image and the 3D representation to determine the position of the medical instrument.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Inventors: Elisabeth Soubelet, Regis Vaillant
  • Publication number: 20100208973
    Abstract: A method for radiological imaging of a region of interest including blood vessels. The method has the steps of acquiring a real-time fluoroscopic image of the region of interest by exposing the region of interest to a first dose of X-rays, the fluoroscopic image showing background structures and instrument introduced into the vessels; subtracting a mask image from the acquired real-time fluoroscopic image to generate a subtracted fluoroscopic image showing only the instrument; combining the subtracted fluoroscopic image and a pre-recorded diagnostic image of the region of interest showing only the blood vessels to generate a combined image showing both the blood vessels and the instrument; and displaying the combined image on a screen for viewing. The mask image is determined from a fluoroscopic image acquired prior to the introduction of the instrument into the vessels by exposing the region to an X-ray does equivalent to the first dose.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Inventors: Jean Lienard, Regis Vaillant, Benoit Leny, Pierre-Luc Georgy
  • Patent number: 7734328
    Abstract: An imaging system of an object in an imaged subject is provided. The imaging system includes an image detector and a guidewire in support of a pair of markers. The imaging system also includes a controller in communication with the image detector. The controller includes a processor in communication to execute a series of programmable instructions stored in a memory, the programmable instructions including acquiring a plurality of acquired images, detecting a position of the pair of markers, calculating a first mathematical representation of an alignment of the guidewire between the markers and a second mathematical representation of an alignment of the guidewire not between the markers, and registering the first and second mathematical representations of the guidewire extending through the object relative to more than one of the acquired images so as to locate the object in at least one of the acquired images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Regis Vaillant, Jean Lienard, Vincent Bismuth
  • Publication number: 20100030068
    Abstract: A system and method of processing images of a region of interest of a patient is provided. The method comprises acquiring a reference image of the region of interest of the patient; during a pullback of an intravascular sensor in the region of interest, triggering simultaneously the steps of: acquiring a data collected by the sensor characteristic of the region of interest; and acquiring a succession of images of the region of interest associated with the location of the intravascular sensor when acquiring the data, respectively. The method further includes registering the succession of images; associating the location of the intravascular sensor relative to the step of acquiring the data collected by the intravascular sensor; and displaying and positioning the data collected by the intravascular sensor on the reference image in correspondence to the location of the intravascular sensor at the respective step of acquiring the data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Regis Vaillant, Vincent Bismuth, Shri R. Rajesh Prabhu, Laurence Gavit-Houdant, Sekar Anantharaman
  • Publication number: 20090216114
    Abstract: A method and device for real time navigation of a surgical tool handled by an operator in a region of interest of a body itself subject to at least one physiological movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Inventors: Sebastien GORGES, Yves TROUSSET, Regis VAILLANT
  • Publication number: 20090208079
    Abstract: A method for generating a registered image relative to a cardiac cycle and a respiratory cycle of a person is provided. The method includes generating a plurality of 2-D images of an anatomical region of the person. The method further includes generating a 3-D model of the anatomical region of the person. The 3-D model is associated with a predetermined phase of the cardiac cycle and a predetermined phase of the respiratory cycle. The method further includes selecting a first 2-D image from the plurality of 2-D images associated with the predetermined phase of the cardiac cycle and the predetermined phase of the respiratory cycle. The method further includes generating the registered image of the anatomical region utilizing the first 2-D image and the 3-D model. The method further includes storing the registered image in a memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Regis Vaillant, Elisabeth Soubelet, Jasbir Singh Sra
  • Patent number: 7559694
    Abstract: A method for determining acquisition geometry of an imaging system from a set of calibration matrices for an arbitrary position of the system, a projection matrix makes a point in a 2D image correspond to a point of an object in a space. This matrix is produced for any unspecified position of the system from knowledge of a limited number of pre-computed calibration matrices. For instance, a projection matrix may be computed by interpolating coefficients of calibration matrices and/or applying a transformation with a rigid model defined comprehensively or locally to a particular calibration matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sébastien Gorges, Yves Lucien Trousset, Jérémie Pescatore, Erwan Kerrien, Marie-Odile Berger, Régis Vaillant
  • Publication number: 20090135992
    Abstract: In a method for processing radiography cardiac images in order to obtain a subtracted and registered fusion image, at the start of a medical intervention, a radiology image of the heart is obtained by injection of a contrast product into one of the anatomical structures of the heart. Radioscopy images are acquired and are viewed in real time. A subtraction algorithm is implemented. This subtraction algorithm uses the radiology images to make the anatomical structures of the heart visible in the radioscopy images. A registration algorithm is implemented. This algorithm is capable of registering these two images by means of a catheter placed in the coronary sinus. This registration makes it possible to obtain perfect concordance between the two subtracted images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventors: Regis VAILLANT, Francois KOTIAN, Elisabeth SOUBELET
  • Publication number: 20090136112
    Abstract: A method for the processing of images in interventional radioscopy to produce a sequence of de-noised images in which elongated objects of guiding instrumentation equipment are preserved and enhanced. The method of the invention uses a tool for indicating the confidence to be placed in a given pixel as regards its belonging to a piece of guidance equipment. This tool is used to create a combination algorithm capable of re-injecting the pixels having a low contrast-to-noise ratio into the de-noised image. This combination algorithm enables the enhancement solely of the pixels of the guidance equipment with a high confidence value so as not to produce artifacts with the enhancement of false positives.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventors: Vincent BISMUTH, Vincent Auvray, Regis Vaillant, Jean Lienard
  • Publication number: 20090022376
    Abstract: A method for processing images in interventional radioscopy for detecting guiding instrumentation equipment. The method of the invention enables objects of longilinear or very curved shapes to be detected within the radioscopic image having very low contrast to noise ratios. In one embodiment, an algorithm enables the measured contrast to noise ratio of long or curved structures in the image to be considerably improved. To do this, an embodiment of the invention uses oriented, separable, recursive and rapid steerable detection filters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Inventors: Vincent Bismuth, Vincent Auvray, Jean Lienard, Regis Vaillant