Abstract: An x-ray imaging system and method of operation includes a gantry having an x-ray source and an x-ray detector alignable with the x-ray source, along with an image processing system operably connected to the gantry and including a processing unit for processing the x-ray image data from the detector to form x-ray images. The processing unit is configured to determine a position of at least two radiopaque markers located on an object within the anatomy of a patient, where the at least two radiopaque markers identify a proximal end of the object and a distal end of the object. The processing unit can then form one or more x-ray images of the object and the anatomy, and present at least two different indicators representing the radiopaque markers within the one or more x-ray images on the display to provide anatomical orientation information regarding the object within the patient anatomy.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a medical imaging system. In one embodiment, a method for a projection imaging system includes acquiring a first image of a region of interest (ROI) with the projection imaging system in a first position, determining a three-dimensional (3D) location of an annotation on the first image via a geometric transformation using planes, acquiring a second image of the ROI with the projection imaging system in a second position, determining a location of the annotation on the second image based on the 3D location of the annotation in the first position and a geometry of the second position, and displaying the annotation on the second image in response to an accuracy check being satisfied.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for imaging coronary trees via registration of angiographic projections with computed tomographic data. In one example, a method for imaging a coronary artery of interest in a patient may include acquiring computed tomography (CT) imaging data depicting a coronary tree, acquiring a single angiographic projection of the coronary artery of interest, registering the single angiographic projection to the CT imaging data, and determining a fractional flow reserve (FFR) of the coronary artery of interest based on the single angiographic projection registered to the CT imaging data.

Abstract: A system for simulating bilateral injection of contrast agent into a patient is provided. The system includes an x-ray imaging device and a controller. The controller is operative to: acquire a first image set of a first blood vessel having contrast agent therein via the x-ray imaging device; acquire a second image set of a second blood vessel having contrast agent therein via the x-ray imaging device; and generate a third image set based at least in part on the first image set and the second image set. The third image set includes at least one composite image that depicts both the first blood vessel and the second blood vessel.

Abstract: A system for simulating bilateral injection of contrast agent into a patient is provided. The system includes an x-ray imaging device and a controller. The controller is operative to: acquire a first image set of a first blood vessel having contrast agent therein via the x-ray imaging device; acquire a second image set of a second blood vessel having contrast agent therein via the x-ray imaging device; and generate a third image set based at least in part on the first image set and the second image set. The third image set includes at least one composite image that depicts both the first blood vessel and the second blood vessel.

Abstract: A method of processing images for interventional imaging, wherein a region of interest is visualized, is provided. The method comprises acquiring a series of 2D images of the region of interest in a patient during at least one respiratory phase, acquiring an electrocardiographic signal which is synchronized with the acquisition of the series of 2D images, processing the electrocardiographic signal to estimate at least one deformation phase of the region of interest induced by the patient's respiratory movement, and registering the different successive 2D images in relation to the estimated deformation phase.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for estimating the volume of a medium comprising a contrast agent injected to a hollow organ through a catheter during an injection event, the method comprising the determination of the duration of injection during the injection event, the determination of the flow rate based on the procedure type, acquisition type, organ, specificities of the user controlling the injection, patient characteristics, concentration of an contrast agent in the medium, administration route, type of catheter, the size of the catheter, and/or any pre-sets provided, and the calculation an estimate for the volume of medium injected based on the duration of injection and the flow rate.

Abstract: Systems and methods of stent enhancement in medical images includes obtaining a plurality of medical images of a vessel and a stent. A centerline of the vessel is obtained in medical images of the plurality of medical images. A deformation field across the medical images of the plurality of medical images is estimated based at least in part upon the obtained centerlines. The medical images of the plurality of medical images are registered to a common reference image. The images are temporally integrated to obtain an enhanced visual representation of the stent.

Abstract: A method for adjusting a radiation dose during imaging of an object within a subject is provided. The method includes identifying a task in a first frame that contains the object, the first frame generated via exposing the subject to a radiation beam; and adjusting the radiation beam based at least in part on the task prior to generating a second frame that contains the object, the second frame generated via exposing the subject to the radiation beam.

Abstract: An image processing method applied by a medical imaging device is proposed, including at least one camera and at least one display screen on which is displayed a medical image showing a region of interest of a patient, the method being characterized in that the region of interest is determined by the following steps, the screen and the camera being laid out so as to be facing a practitioner simultaneously, acquisition by the camera of at least one tracking image containing the eyes of the practitioner, analysis of the tracking image so as to localize in the medical image at least one pixel of interest contemplated by the practitioner on the screen from the orientation of the eyes of the practitioner, processing the medical image so as to select the region of interest from the localized pixel of interest.

Abstract: A method for tracking the position of a person in an environment, such as a medical room, relative to a medical device is presented. The method comprises identifying the position of a medical device in the environment, providing a mobile device in the vicinity of a person in the environment, the mobile device configured to follow movement of the person in the environment, and identifying the position of the mobile device in the environment by using at least one stationary device. Further, the method comprises using a processor to process data relating to the position of the mobile device in the environment to obtain an expected position of the person in the environment, data relating to the position of the medical device in the environment, and data relating the expected position of the person in the environment to obtain an expected relative position of the person with respect to the medical device.

Abstract: A method for enhancing the visualization of a plurality of objects within an imaged subject. The method includes acquiring a plurality of images of the plurality of objects disposed in the imaged subject and supported by a plurality of guide wires; generating a complex deformation field based at least in part on a plurality of landmarks disposed in the plurality of images; and generating a composite image based at least in part on the complex deformation field. The complex deformation field models deformation induced on the plurality of objects by at least two or more guide wires of the plurality.

Abstract: Systems and methods of stent enhancement in medical images includes obtaining a plurality of medical images of a vessel and a stent. A centerline of the vessel is obtained in medical images of the plurality of medical images. A deformation field across the medical images of the plurality of medical images is estimated based at least in part upon the obtained centerlines. The medical images of the plurality of medical images are registered to a common reference image. The images are temporally integrated to obtain an enhanced visual representation of the stent.

Abstract: In the present invention, a method and associated system is provided that produces a new sequence of combined X-ray/fluoro images obtained in synchrony with intravascular dataset/images. This synchronization is based on the time tags recorded at the acquisition of one dataset of the X-ray/fluoroscopic images and the intravascular images/datasets and the cardiac cycle correspondence between the combined X-ray/fluoro datasets/images. The combined X-ray/fluoro and intravascular sensor images provided in the method for each position of intravascular measurement/slice along the blood vessel allows the physician the ability to determine the planned position of the treatment, e.g., a stent, in the X-ray/fluoro images based on the intravascular images, and allows an accurate assessment of the target/lesion location in the X-ray/fluoro images during treatment.

Abstract: A method for tracking the position of a person in an environment, such as a medical room, relative to a medical device is presented. The method comprises identifying the position of a medical device in the environment, providing a mobile device in the vicinity of a person in the environment, the mobile device configured to follow movement of the person in the environment, and identifying the position of the mobile device in the environment by using at least one stationary device. Further, the method comprises using a processor to process data relating to the position of the mobile device in the environment to obtain an expected position of the person in the environment, data relating to the position of the medical device in the environment, and data relating the expected position of the person in the environment to obtain an expected relative position of the person with respect to the medical device.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for estimating the volume of a medium comprising a contrast agent injected to a hollow organ through a catheter during an injection event, the method comprising the determination of the duration of injection during the injection event, the determination of the flow rate based on the procedure type, acquisition type, organ, specificities of the user controlling the injection, patient characteristics, concentration of an contrast agent in the medium, administration route, type of catheter, the size of the catheter, and/or any pre-sets provided, and the calculation an estimate for the volume of medium injected based on the duration of injection and the flow rate.

Abstract: A method for adjusting a radiation dose during imaging of an object within a subject is provided. The method includes identifying a task in a first frame that contains the object, the first frame generated via exposing the subject to a radiation beam; and adjusting the radiation beam based at least in part on the task prior to generating a second frame that contains the object, the second frame generated via exposing the subject to the radiation beam.

Abstract: In the present invention, a method and associated system is provided that produces a new sequence of combined X-ray/fluoro images obtained in synchrony with intravascular dataset/images. This synchronization is based on the time tags recorded at the acquisition of one dataset of the X-ray/fluoroscopic images and the intravascular images/datasets and the cardiac cycle correspondence between the combined X-ray/fluoro datasets/images. The combined X-ray/fluoro and intravascular sensor images provided in the method for each position of intravascular measurement/slice along the blood vessel allows the physician the ability to determine the planned position of the treatment, e.g., a stent, in the X-ray/fluoro images based on the intravascular images, and allows an accurate assessment of the target/lesion location in the X-ray/fluoro images during treatment.

Abstract: A method for enhancing the visualization of a plurality of objects within an imaged subject. The method includes acquiring a plurality of images of the plurality of objects disposed in the imaged subject and supported by a plurality of guide wires; generating a complex deformation field based at least in part on a plurality of landmarks disposed in the plurality of images; and generating a composite image based at least in part on the complex deformation field. The complex deformation field models deformation induced on the plurality of objects by at least two or more guide wires of the plurality.

Abstract: This invention relates to an imaging method of a zone of a patient's body, comprising: imaging said zone including an object of interest, superposing at least one graphical marking with regular and known spacing to said object of interest to make a combined image of said zone, displaying said combined image, wherein said marking orientation is similar to the orientation of said object of interest on said combined image.