Abstract: A system for supporting operation of an X-ray imaging apparatus (IA) capable of assuming different imaging geometries. The system comprises an input interface (IN) for receiving a specification of a path extending at least partly into an object. A camera sampler (CS) configured to compute, for a plurality of non-ionizing radiation based cameras (OC) of the X-ray imaging apparatus (IM), a respective imaging geometry for achieving a plan view on the object along said path.

Abstract: The present invention relates to medical instrument tracking. In order to facilitate tracking a medical instrument, a system (100) is provided for tracking a medical instrument. The system comprises an instrument marker (14), a tracking arrangement (16), and a processing unit (18). The instrument marker is attached to the medical instrument on a marker position (20). The tracking system is configured to detect line segments (22) in the 5 field of interest and to detect the attached instrument marker. The processing unit is configured to identify a line segment (24) on which the attached instrument marker is detected as the medical instrument, and to determine an offset (26) between a position of a medical instrument tip (28) and the marker (14) by touching a reference marker (34) on the subject with the medical instrument (10).

Abstract: Imaging system (100) for enabling instrument guidance in an interventional procedure, comprising: —an input (130) for obtaining an interventional path (220) for use in the interventional procedure, the interventional path being planned based on 3D image data (200) of a patient's interior, and the interventional path being indicative of an entry point (230) on the patient's exterior; —a camera (124-127) for obtaining a camera image (270) of the patient's exterior during the interventional procedure; —a processor (140) for i) establishing a spatial correspondence between the camera image and the 3D image data, ii) based on the spatial correspondence, calculating a view (280) of the interventional path that corresponds with the camera image, and iii) combining the view of the interventional path with the camera image to obtain a composite image (290); and —a display output (150) for displaying the composite image on a display (162).

Abstract: An object tracking device for a medical imaging system tracks a predetermined movable object such as a medical instrument and/or a patient. The object tracking device includes primary and secondary imagers. The primary imager is configured to provide first image data of a patient's body including the interior of a patient's body. The primary imager is movable between imaging and parking modes. The secondary imager is configured to provide second image data of a patient's body including the exterior of a patient's body. The object tracking device further includes a position monitoring arrangement configured to monitor a position of the secondary imager relative to the position of a reference point. As a result, the medical instrument and/or the patient is traceable in the imaging mode based on the image data of the primary imager, and in the parking mode based on the image data of the secondary imager.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system (10) for guiding an instrument (12, 100, 100A, 100B, 112) in a body (14). The system (10) records an image where the instrument (12, 100, 100A,100B, 112) is identifiable and the instrument (12, 100, 100A, 100B, 112) records signals indicative of the type of tissue at the instrument (12, 100, 100A, 100B, 112). The system (10) determines the tissue type based on a signal from the instrument (12, 100, 100A, 100B, 112). The system (10) displays an image being a combined image of the body (14) and instrument (12, 100, 100A, 100B, 112) and an indication of tissue type at a position where the tissue type was determined. The present invention further relates to a method of displaying an image comprising tissue-type and instrument position in a body. The present invention further relates to an instrument and a software implemented method for being executed on a digital processor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to tracking an interventional device. In order to provide a facilitated and simplified real-time tracking of an interventional device, a medical imaging system (10) for tracking an interventional device is provided, that comprises an interface unit (12), and a processing unit (14). The interface unit is configured to provide first image data (18) of a first part of an interventional device, which first part is arranged outside an object. The first image data comprises 3D image data. The interface unit is configured to provide second image data (20) of a second part of the interventional device, which second part is a continuation of the first part, and which second part is arranged inside the object. The second image data comprises 2D image data.

Abstract: A system for supporting operation of an X-ray imaging apparatus (IA) capable of assuming different imaging geometries. The system comprises an input interface (IN) for receiving a specification of a path extending at least partly into an object. A camera sampler (CS) configured to compute, for a plurality of non-ionizing radiation based cameras (OC) of the X-ray imaging apparatus (IM), a respective imaging geometry for achieving a plan view on the object along said path.

Abstract: The invention relates to an imaging apparatus (1). First and second image providing units (2, 9) provide a first image showing a region of an object, which includes a resection part to be resected, and a second image showing the region of the object, after the resection procedure has been performed, or showing a resected part, which has been resected. A smallest margin determination unit (13) determines a smallest margin region being a region where a margin between the resection part and the resected part is smallest based on the first and second images. The smallest margin region is the region which most likely contains a part of the object, which should have been resected, like a cancerous part. An optionally following investigation of the resected part or of the remaining object can be more focused by considering this region, thereby allowing for faster corresponding assessing procedures.

Abstract: An interventional X-ray system (10), includes a processing unit (30), a table (20) for receiving a patient (44), an X-ray image acquisition device (12) having an X-ray source (16) and an X-ray detector (18) and at least one optical camera (46) adapted for acquiring optical images of a patient (44) situated on the table (20) and for providing image data to the processing unit (30). The processing unit (30) is adapted for segmenting an outline (64) of a patient from an existing three-dimensional model, for receiving acquired images from the at least one camera (46) for determining an optical outline (66) of the patient, for registering the optical outline (66) to the outline (64) obtained in the segmentation and for determining a translation vector (48) representing a required movement of the table for coinciding a center (42) of the anatomy of interest given in the three-dimensional model with the iso-center (38) of a rotational X-ray scan that will be performed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a CT image generation apparatus (10) for generating an image of a head. Transformations of a first CT image of the head are determined for different measured projection groups, wherein for a measured projection group a transformation is determined such that a degree of similarity between the measured projection group and a calculated projection group is increased, wherein the calculated projection group is calculated by transforming the first CT image in accordance with the transformation to be determined and by forward projecting the transformed first CT image. A motion corrected three-dimensional second CT image is reconstructed based on the measured projections and the transformations determined for the different measured projection groups. This allows providing a high quality CT image of the head, even if a patient cannot stop moving the head in case of, for instance, stroke.

Abstract: A system for accurately detecting a patient's movement during imaging procedures includes a camera for providing a stream of camera images of a part of a patient's exterior and a fiducial element mountable on part of the patient's exterior. The fiducial element is detectable in the stream of images. An image processor is configured to detect a displacement of the fiducial element based on consecutive images including in at least the stream of images and to generate an output signal indicative of the displacement. The fiducial element has an in-plane stiffness which is substantially larger than an in-plane stiffness of the part of the patient's exterior. In addition, the fiducial element and the part of the patient's exterior are provided with substantially equal outer in-plane dimensions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an imaging device (100) for generating an image of a patient (P), the imaging system (100) comprising: a camera arrangement (10), which is configured to provide a first image information (I1) of the patient (P) using a first wavelength band, and which is configured to provide a second image information (I2) of the patient (P) using a second wavelength band. The first wavelength band and the second set of wavelength band are different; and the first and/or second image information comprises landmark information of landmarks (M) of a patient (P). The landmark information is derived by at least one wavelength band outside the visible spectrum. Further, a data processor (30) is provided, which is configured to generate a fused image (IE) based on the first image information (I1) and the second image information (I2), and which is configured to detect the landmarks (M) in the fused image (IE).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system (10) for navigating and positioning an instrument (12, 40, 112) in a body (14). The instrument (12, 40, 112) is detectable by the system (10) and the system (10) displays a view to an operator. The instrument (12, 40, 112) is adapted to identify tissue parameters. The system (10) is adapted to display an image being a combined image of the interior of a body (14) and an indication of the tissue parameter at the appropriate earlier locations. The present invention further relates to a method (44) including determining tissue parameters and displaying the parameters in an image of a body (14). The present invention further relates to a software implemented method (44) for being executed on a digital processor. The present invention further relates to an instrument (12, 40, 112).

Abstract: An interventional X-ray system (10), comprises a processing unit (30), a table (20) for receiving a patient (44), an X-ray image acquisition device (12) having an X-ray source (16) and an X-ray detector (18) and at least one optical camera (46) adapted for acquiring optical images of a patient (44) situated on the table (20) and for providing image data to the processing unit (30). The processing unit (30) is adapted for segmenting an outline (64) of a patient from an existing three-dimensional model, for receiving acquired images from the at least one camera (46) for determining an optical outline (66) of the patient, for registering the optical outline (66) to the outline (64) obtained in the segmentation and for determining a translation vector (48) representing a required movement of the table for coinciding a center (42) of the anatomy of interest given in the three-dimensional model with the iso-center (38) of a rotational X-ray scan that will be performed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an object tracking device for a medical imaging system to track a predetermined movable object. The predetermined movable object may be a medical instrument and/or a patient. The object tracking device comprises a primary imaging unit and a secondary imaging unit. The primary imaging unit is configured to provide first image data of a patient's body. It might further be configured to provide image data of the interior of a patient's body. The primary imaging unit is movable between an imaging mode and a parking mode. The secondary imaging unit is configured to provide second image data of a patient's body. It might further be configured to provide image data of the exterior of a patient's body. The object tracking device further comprises a position monitoring arrangement configured to monitor a position of the secondary imaging unit relative to the position of a reference point.

Abstract: Imaging system (100) for enabling instrument guidance in an interventional procedure, comprising: —an input (130) for obtaining an interventional path (220) for use in the interventional procedure, the interventional path being planned based on 3D image data (200) of a patient's interior, and the interventional path being indicative of an entry point (230) on the patient's exterior; —a camera (124-127) for obtaining a camera image (270) of the patient's exterior during the interventional procedure; —a processor (140) for i) establishing a spatial correspondence between the camera image and the 3D image data, ii) based on the spatial correspondence, calculating a view (280) of the interventional path that corresponds with the camera image, and iii) combining the view of the interventional path with the camera image to obtain a composite image (290); and —a display output (150) for displaying the composite image on a display (162).

Abstract: The present invention relates to tracking an interventional device. In order to provide a facilitated and simplified real-time tracking of an interventional device, a medical imaging system (10) for tracking an interventional device is provided, that comprises an interface unit (12), and a processing unit (14). The interface unit is configured to provide first image data (18) of a first part of an interventional device, which first part is arranged outside an object. The first image data comprises 3D image data. The interface unit is configured to provide second image data (20) of a second part of the interventional device, which second part is a continuation of the first part, and which second part is arranged inside the object. The second image data comprises 2D image data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system (10) for navigating and positioning an instrument (12, 40, 112) in a body (14). The instrument (12, 40, 112) is detectable by the system (10) and the system (10) displays a view to an operator. The instrument (12, 40, 112) is adapted to identify tissue parameters. The system (10) is adapted to display an image being a combined image of the interior of a body (14) and an indication of the tissue parameter at the appropriate earlier locations. The present invention further relates to a method (44) including determining tissue parameters and displaying the parameters in an image of a body (14). The present invention further relates to a software implemented method (44) for being executed on a digital processor. The present invention further relates to an instrument (12, 40, 112).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system (10) for guiding an instrument (12, 100, 100A, 100B, 112) in a body (14). The system (10) records an image where the instrument (12, 100, 100A,100B, 112) is identifiable and the instrument (12, 100, 100A, 100B, 112) records signals indicative of the type of tissue at the instrument (12, 100, 100A, 100B, 112). The system (10) determines the tissue type based on a signal from the instrument (12, 100, 100A, 100B, 112). The system (10) displays an image being a combined image of the body (14) and instrument (12, 100, 100A, 100B, 112) and an indication of tissue type at a position where the tissue type was determined. The present invention further relates to a method of displaying an image comprising tissue-type and instrument position in a body. The present invention further relates to an instrument and a software implemented method for being executed on a digital processor.

Abstract: A method and a device for use in conjunction with an imaging modality (202), for controlling the angular orientation of a needle-shaped object (212) while moving it along a path (214) from a given entry point to a given target point in a body during a percutaneous intervention. The device comprises a support unit (502, 602, 702, 802) for supporting a guiding unit (506, 706), which support unit provides a pair of parallel control planes (604, 606) which are at least partially detectable by the imaging modality. The guiding unit establishes a guiding axis (612, 818) substantially perpendicular to the pair of parallel control planes along which guiding axis the needle-shaped object is translatable. The angular orientation of an imaging plane (204) applied by the imaging modality determines a reference for the angular orientation of the pair of parallel control planes.