Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for synchronized viewing of a plurality of images of an object. Corresponding landmarks of an object are synchronized between a first image set and a second image set. In an embodiment, the landmarks are folds of a human colon and the first image set and second images sets are computerized tomography scans, at least one image set being a prone scan of a portion of anatomy and at least one image set being a supine scan of a portion of the anatomy. An indicator for at least a first location in a first image set is displayed. The location of a second location in a second image set of an object is determined, wherein the second location corresponds to the first location of the object. The second location in the second image set is displayed.

Abstract: A system and method for displaying a set of data with a virtually dissected anatomical structure. In an embodiment, the anatomical structure is a colon and various attributes of the colonic lumen are assigned a color. In an embodiment, a virtual dissection of the colon is created by mapping a three-dimensional data set to a two dimensional data set. A plurality of display index values are computed which correspond to the three-dimensional data set. Various colors are assigned to specific display index values. The three-dimensional display index values are mapped to a two-dimensional set of display index values. As directed by a user, various color cues may be displayed with the virtually dissected lumen to provide color highlights to various aspects of the colon, such as highlighting shape, fluid, or fecal presence.

Abstract: A method is provided for synchronizing corresponding landmarks among a plurality of images of an elastic object. The method includes identifying a plurality of landmarks in a first image of the object and a second image of the object, determining a correspondence between the landmarks in the first image and the landmarks in the second image, determining a distance transformation between a pair of adjacent landmarks in the first image and the corresponding pair of adjacent landmarks in the second image, and when displaying the first and second images, using the distance transformation to smoothly navigate between the adjacent landmarks such that corresponding landmarks of the first and second images are arrived at about simultaneously during navigation.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a method and apparatus for identifying and segmenting vascular structure in an image including: receiving at least one image including a vascular network; identifying at least one seed point corresponding to the vascular network; identifying automatically at least a portion of the vascular network to form an original vascular identification based at least in part on the at least one seed point; and allowing a dynamic user interaction with the vascular identification to form an iterative vascular identification. In an embodiment, the iterative vascular identification is formable in real-time. In an embodiment, the iterative vascular identification is displayable in real-time. In an embodiment, the iterative vascular identification is formable without re-identifying substantially unaltered portions of the vascular identification.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a method and apparatus for identifying vascular structure in an image including: receiving at least one image including a vascular network; identifying at least one seed point corresponding to the vascular network; identifying automatically at least a portion of the vascular network to form an original vascular identification based at least in part on the at least one seed point; and allowing a dynamic user interaction with the vascular identification to form an iterative vascular identification. In an embodiment, the iterative vascular identification is formable in real-time. In an embodiment, the iterative vascular identification is displayable in real-time. In an embodiment, the iterative vascular identification is formable without re-identifying substantially unaltered portions of the vascular identification.

Abstract: To measure the dimensions of a tubular vessel, it is planned to plot a set of wall lines on the surface of the vessels. Then, the lengths of these wall lines are measured between a starting section and an arrival section. The plotting of the wall lines starts from a central line of the vessel divided into segments. For each central line segment, a wall line segment is defined on the wall by intersection of a plane containing this central line segment and intersecting this wall. Other wall line segments are distributed all around and all along the wall. Then, the lengths are measured.

Abstract: A method for suppressing tagged material in prepless colonoscopy includes identifying and segmenting multiple density classes, intensity classes, or both in a volumetric medical image of a patient including a volume of the patient's colon and classifying the volume of the patient's colon into a plurality of types based upon the identified and segmented density classes, intensity classes, or both. The method further includes subtracting, suppressing, or leaving the tagged material in the image in accordance with the type classifications to produce a resulting image and visualizing the resulting image.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a method for identifying vascular structure in an image including: receiving at least one image including a vascular network; identifying at least one seed point corresponding to the vascular network; identifying automatically at least a portion of the vascular network to form an original vascular identification based at least in part on the at least one seed point; and allowing a dynamic user interaction with the vascular identification to form an iterative vascular identification. In an embodiment, the iterative vascular identification is formable in real-time. In an embodiment, the iterative vascular identification is displayable in real-time. In an embodiment, the iterative vascular identification is formable without re-identifying substantially unaltered portions of the vascular identification.

Abstract: A system and method for segmenting and editing anatomical objects from medical images is disclosed. The system may be a medical diagnostic imaging system. A computer unit may execute computer software for segmenting anatomical objects from medical images. The computer software may extract an anatomical object from planar curves. The computer software may extract an anatomical object by computing the centerline of the anatomical object. A set of reformatted images may then be derived based on the centerline of the object. A user may then provide input in the form of user drawn contours on a plurality of reformatted images. In an embodiment the reformatted images may include a reformatted longitudinal view, a curved reformatted view, or a lumen view. The user drawn contours may correspond to the boundaries of the anatomical object to be segmented. The anatomical object may then be extracted based on the user drawn contours.

Abstract: To measure the dimensions of a tubular vessel, it is planned to plot a set of wall lines on the surface of the vessels. Then, the lengths of these wall lines are measured between a starting section and an arrival section. The plotting of the wall lines starts from a central line of the vessel divided into segments. For each central line segment, a wall line segment is defined on the wall by intersection of a plane containing this central line segment and intersecting this wall. Other wall line segments are distributed all around and all along the wall. Then, the lengths are measured.

Abstract: A method is provided for synchronizing corresponding landmarks among a plurality of images of an elastic object. The method includes identifying a plurality of landmarks in a first image of the object and a second image of the object, determining a correspondence between the landmarks in the first image and the landmarks in the second image, determining a distance transformation between a pair of adjacent landmarks in the first image and the corresponding pair of adjacent landmarks in the second image, and when displaying the first and second images, using the distance transformation to smoothly navigate between the adjacent landmarks such that corresponding landmarks of the first and second images are arrived at about simultaneously during navigation.

Abstract: A method for suppressing tagged material in prepless colonoscopy includes identifying and segmenting multiple density classes, intensity classes, or both in a volumetric medical image of a patient including a volume of the patient's colon and classifying the volume of the patient's colon into a plurality of types based upon the identified and segmented density classes, intensity classes, or both. The method further includes subtracting, suppressing, or leaving the tagged material in the image in accordance with the type classifications to produce a resulting image and visualizing the resulting image.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for synchronized viewing of a plurality of images of an object. Corresponding landmarks of an object are synchronized between a first image set and a second image set. In an embodiment, the landmarks are folds of a human colon and the first image set and second images sets are computerized tomography scans, at least one image set being a prone scan of a portion of anatomy and at least one image set being a supine scan of a portion of the anatomy. An indicator for at least a first location in a first image set is displayed. The location of a second location in a second image set of an object is determined, wherein the second location corresponds to the first location of the object. The second location in the second image set is displayed.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for automatically synchronizing multiple images. Multiple image sets of a single object are converted into a one dimensional data stream used to synchronize multiple image sets. A common reference point is located in the image sets. Various landmarks of the object are also located in the image sets. Corresponding landmarks among the image sets are noted. Distances from landmarks to the reference point and distances between landmarks are determined. Locations of the landmarks in relation to each other and in relation to the reference point are used to locate landmarks in another image set that correspond to landmarks in a selected image set. A first location in an image set may be identified using a first indicator. A second indicator corresponding to the location of the first indicator may then be determined in another image set.

Abstract: A system and method for segmenting and editing anatomical objects from medical images is disclosed. The system may be a medical diagnostic imaging system. A computer unit may execute computer software for segmenting anatomical objects from medical images. The computer software may extract an anatomical object from planar curves. The computer software may extract an anatomical object by computing the centerline of the anatomical object. A set of reformatted images may then be derived based on the centerline of the object. A user may then provide input in the form of user drawn contours on a plurality of reformatted images. In an embodiment the reformatted images may include a reformatted longitudinal view, a curved reformatted view, or a lumen view. The user drawn contours may correspond to the boundaries of the anatomical object to be segmented. The anatomical object may then be extracted based on the user drawn contours.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a method for identifying vascular structure in an image including: receiving at least one image including a vascular network; identifying at least one seed point corresponding to the vascular network; identifying automatically at least a portion of the vascular network to form an original vascular identification based at least in part on the at least one seed point; and allowing a dynamic user interaction with the vascular identification to form an iterative vascular identification. In an embodiment, the iterative vascular identification is formable in real-time. In an embodiment, the iterative vascular identification is displayable in real-time. In an embodiment, the iterative vascular identification is formable without re-identifying substantially unaltered portions of the vascular identification.

Abstract: A method of performing a colon exam includes obtaining at least two initial Computed Tomography (CT) datasets, extracting colon automatically from the CT datasets, synthesizing views of the extracted colon, displaying a plurality of obtained and synthesized views of the colon simultaneously, and synchronizing the views.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for displaying a set of data with a virtually dissected anatomical structure. In an embodiment, the anatomical structure is a colon and various attributes of the colonic lumen are assigned a color. In an embodiment, a virtual dissection of the colon is created by mapping a three-dimensional data set to a two dimensional data set. A plurality of display index values are computed which correspond to the three-dimensional data set. Various colors are assigned to specific display index values. The three-dimensional display index values are mapped to a two-dimensional set of display index values. As directed by a user, various color cues may be displayed with the virtually dissected lumen to provide color highlights to various aspects of the colon, such as highlighting shape, fluid, or fecal presence.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for automatically synchronizing multiple images. Multiple image sets of a single object are converted into a one dimensional data stream used to synchronize multiple image sets. A common reference point is located in the image sets. Various landmarks of the object are also located in the image sets. Corresponding landmarks among the image sets are noted. Distances from landmarks to the reference point and distances between landmarks are determined. Locations of the landmarks in relation to each other and in relation to the reference point are used to locate landmarks in another image set that correspond to landmarks in a selected image set. A first location in an image set may be identified using a first indicator. A second indicator corresponding to the location of the first indicator may then be determined in another image set.

Abstract: Preprocessing methods of this invention remove data relating to cavities of the heart, and improve density mix of parts left therein during CT imaging, so as to allow coronary arteries to be more accurately tracked with conventional tracking algorithms than currently possible. An embodiment comprises: obtaining an original CT voxel dataset comprising a plurality of voxels; creating a heart voxel dataset from the original voxel dataset comprising only voxels belonging to the heart; creating a heart minus cavities voxel dataset by removing voxels belonging to the left and right ventricles, the left and right atriums, and the aorta from the heart voxel dataset; enhancing predetermined voxels in the heart minus cavities voxel dataset to create an enhanced heart minus cavities voxel dataset; and mixing an intensity of the original CT voxel dataset with an intensity of the enhanced heart minus cavities voxel dataset to create the pre-processed voxel dataset.