Abstract: Disclosed are method and apparatus for guiding a needle during an interventional radiology procedure. The target and skin entry point are pre-determined in three-dimensional medical imaging scans. The needle trajectory is defined by the target and skin entry point, which is physically marked on the skin. A dual-headed laser emitting two laser beams is positioned and aligned such that one laser beam is aimed at the skin entry point and the other laser beam is aimed at an external reference point, which is determined such that the axis of the laser beam aimed at the skin entry point is substantially collinear with the needle trajectory. The needle is inserted while maintaining the axis of the needle substantially collinear with the axis of the laser beam aimed at the skin entry point.

Abstract: A pointing light device includes a light pointer, such as a laser pointer; and an elongated pointing member detachably associated with the light pointer. The pointing member contains at least two bead-like members. Also, a method for aligning a light pointer with a predetermined medical interventional device trajectory. The method includes attaching a pointing member to an output end the light pointer to form a movable pointing light device; imaging two or more bead-like members of the pointing member to create live projection images or shadows in the live projection image; projecting at least first and second points associated with the predetermined medical interventional device trajectory onto the live projection image; and moving the pointing light device until the live projection images of the two members are aligned with corresponding ones of the projected first and second points in the live projection image.

Abstract: An improved method is disclosed for imaging in an interventional medical procedure that is more advanced than a conventional 2D image processing application and less restrictive than a 3D reconstruction image processing application. In contrast to the prior art 2D imaging application in which a single 2D image is acquired, the inventive method acquires and stores a set of 2D anatomical images while rotating a C-arm/X-ray source using a single injection of contrast agent. In lieu of performing a 3D reconstruction, the multiplicity of anatomical views provided by the set of 2D anatomical images adequately serve as a visual “rotatable roadmap” to perform classical 2D-roadmapping navigation. The “rotatable roadmap” assists a user to locate an ideal working view of the patient's region of operative interest.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for reconstructing an instrument in 3 dimensions for use during interventional medical procedures to provide enhanced instrument visualization with respect to a patient's vasculature. A patient vessel tree volume is co-registered with a live fluoroscopic image of a percutaneously-inserted instrument, such as a guidewire. The fluoroscopic image is segmented to eliminate images of surrounding tissue and to retain the guidewire image. The black pixels of the image are backprojected to the focal point of the x-ray source, through the co-registered vessel tree. The vessel tree is divided into segments that are scored based on proximity to the backprojected black pixels. Candidate instrument-containing vessel paths are identified based on the scores of the segments, and errant candidate vessel paths are eliminated to produce a refined list of candidate paths. Thresholding and visualization are performed to further refine the candidate vessel paths.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for correlating an acquired image with an historical image. Certain embodiments include registering an acquired image and at least one historical image according to a coordinate system, applying a metric to the acquired image and each of the historical image(s), and identifying a correlation between the acquired image and one of the historical image(s) based on the metric. Certain embodiments further include storing the correlation between the acquired image and an historical image for automatic linking of the acquired image and the historical image upon display. In certain embodiments, the acquired image and the historical image may be displayed based on the correlation. In certain embodiments, the acquired image and the historical image may be automatically linked based on the correlation. In certain embodiments, the metric analyzes the acquired image and at least one historical image based on anatomy.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for reconstructing an instrument in 3 dimensions for use during interventional medical procedures to provide enhanced instrument visualization with respect to a patient's vasculature. A patient vessel tree volume is co-registered with a live fluoroscopic image of a percutaneously-inserted instrument, such as a guidewire. The fluoroscopic image is segmented to eliminate images of surrounding tissue and to retain the guidewire image. The black pixels of the image are backprojected to the focal point of the x-ray source, through the co-registered vessel tree. The vessel tree is divided into segments that are scored based on proximity to the backprojected black pixels. Candidate instrument-containing vessel paths are identified based on the scores of the segments, and errant candidate vessel paths are eliminated to produce a refined list of candidate paths. Thresholding and visualization are performed to further refine the candidate vessel paths.

Abstract: Disclosed are method and apparatus for guiding a needle during an interventional radiology procedure. The target and skin entry point are pre-determined in three-dimensional medical imaging scans. The needle trajectory is defined by the target and skin entry point, which is physically marked on the skin. A dual-headed laser emitting two laser beams is positioned and aligned such that one laser beam is aimed at the skin entry point and the other laser beam is aimed at an external reference point, which is determined such that the axis of the laser beam aimed at the skin entry point is substantially collinear with the needle trajectory. The needle is inserted while maintaining the axis of the needle substantially collinear with the axis of the laser beam aimed at the skin entry point.

Abstract: A pointing light device includes a light pointer, such as a laser pointer; and an elongated pointing member detachably associated with the light pointer. The pointing member contains at least two bead-like members. Also, a method for aligning a light pointer with a predetermined medical interventional device trajectory. The method includes attaching a pointing member to an output end the light pointer to form a movable pointing light device; imaging two or more bead-like members of the pointing member to create live projection images or shadows in the live projection image; projecting at least first and second points associated with the predetermined medical interventional device trajectory onto the live projection image; and moving the pointing light device until the live projection images of the two members are aligned with corresponding ones of the projected first and second points in the live projection image.

Abstract: An improved method is disclosed for imaging in an interventional medical procedure that is more advanced than a conventional 2D image processing application and less restrictive than a 3D reconstruction image processing application. In contrast to the prior art 2D imaging application in which a single 2D image is acquired, the inventive method acquires and stores a set of 2D anatomical images while rotating a C-arm/X-ray source using a single injection of contrast agent. In lieu of performing a 3D reconstruction, the multiplicity of anatomical views provided by the set of 2D anatomical images adequately serve as a visual “rotatable roadmap” to perform classical 2D-roadmapping navigation. The “rotatable roadmap” assists a user to locate an ideal working view of the patient's region of operative interest.

Abstract: A Learning Enhanced Simulated Annealing (LESA) method is provided. Based on a Simulated Annealing (SA) framework, this method adds a Knowledge Base (KB) initialized at the beginning of the search and updated at each iteration, which memorizes a portion of the search history and guides the further search through a KB trial generator. The basic idea of LESA is that its search history is stored in a KB, and a KB trial generator extracts information from it and uses it to generate a new trial. The next move of the search is the weighted sum of the trial generated by the KB trial generator and the trial generated by the usual SA trial generator. The knowledge base is then updated after each search iteration.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for correlating an acquired image with an historical image. Certain embodiments include registering an acquired image and at least one historical image according to a coordinate system, applying a metric to the acquired image and each of the historical image(s), and identifying a correlation between the acquired image and one of the historical image(s) based on the metric. Certain embodiments further include storing the correlation between the acquired image and an historical image for automatic linking of the acquired image and the historical image upon display. In certain embodiments, the acquired image and the historical image may be displayed based on the correlation. In certain embodiments, the acquired image and the historical image may be automatically linked based on the correlation. In certain embodiments, the metric analyzes the acquired image and at least one historical image based on anatomy.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for automatic image post processing in a healthcare environment. In an embodiment, an automatic post processing image generation system includes at least one user interface, which is adapted to display at least one image on an image viewer and perform image post processing using at least one image post processing application. The system also includes at least one storage server capable of storing user data, wherein the user data includes at least one image and/or at least one post processing parameter. In addition, the system includes a post processing engine for automatically generating and displaying a current post processed image based on at least one image registration technique to correlate the at least one post processing parameter of a related previous post processed image with a current image.

Abstract: A method for identifying a arteries and veins in a medical image is provided. A start point and endpoints of branches of a segmented tubular tree are identified. Distance maps for each of the endpoints relative to the startpoint are created. Then voxels in between the furthest of the endpoints and the startpoint are identified. This last step is iterated for the subsequent furthest of the endpoints. For each set of identified voxels parameters are identified. Examples of such parameters are cross sectional areas of the branches. The parameters for at least one each set of identified voxels are then used to anatomically label branches the segmented tubular tree, optionally with position information obtained from the image.

Abstract: A method to define a curved slab region of interest that includes vessels while maximally excluding surrounding soft tissue and bone is provided. The thickness of the curved slab is automatically adapted to the thickness of the vessel and follows the tortuous vessel(s) so that an increase in tortuousity does not result in a disproportionate increase in the region of interest required to enclose the vessel. A plurality of boundary pairs is determined in the view plane to define a vessel. Vessel-intensities are determined for each one of the boundary pairs. The boundary pairs with associated intensities define the view of the vessel in the projection plane. Context-intensity could be defined in the area surrounding the boundary pairs in the projection and/or transverse plane. The method also includes several steps that will result in a better isolation and removal of non-vessel structures and view of the vessel(s) and its(their) branches.

Abstract: A method that allows the quantification of the true mass of a calcium fragment located along a vessel is provided. The method is independent of the level of arterial contrast enhancement, does not require protocol-specific or scanner-specific calibration scans, and allows a detailed analysis of calcium distribution patterns. For each identified calcium fragment, the average intensity and volume is determined as a function of a plurality of intensity thresholds. Using these determined values brightness volume products are calculated for each of the plurality of intensity thresholds. The mass of a calcium segment is subsequently obtained from the calculated brightness volume products extrapolated at zero intensity and reference calcium parameters. The mass and volume of the calcium fragments could be visualized with respect to a vessel in a computer display.

Abstract: A method to quantify the vascular irregularity of aortoiliac arteries is provided. Inner wall and/or outer wall outlines of a vessel of interest are determined. The cross sectional area is determined for the area outlined by each outline. Using this cross sectional area a shape is selected that has substantially the same area as the outline. Subsequently, the shape is fitted to the outline. In one aspect, the irregularity index is calculated as the ratio of the outline and the outline of the fitted shape. In another aspect, the irregularity index is calculated as the ratio of at least a part of the outline and the outline of the fitted shape that corresponds to the same part of the outline. The irregularity index is visualized using a color scheme, a range of numbers, or a set of labels.

Abstract: A method for detecting and identifying structures of interest such as colonic polyps or similar structures like lung nodules in volumetric (medical) images data is provided. The method includes obtaining a heat diffusion field (HDF) by applying a heat diffusion scheme to a volume of interest that includes structures. The obtained heat diffusion field is then used for identifying a structure of interest from the structures in the volume of interest using a geometrical analysis of the heat diffusion field. The heat diffusion scheme is, at least partly, governed by non-linear diffusion parameters. The identification includes two parts: (i) the computation of a spherical symmetry parameter, and (ii) the performance of a local analysis of the volume of interest and computation of a triangulization parameter.

Abstract: Medical diagnostic ultrasound methods and systems for automated flow analysis are provided. Multiple cross-sectional areas along a vessel are determined automatically. A processor locates an abnormality as a function of the multiple cross-sectional areas, such as identifying a cross-sectional area that is a threshold amount less than an average cross-sectional area. The abnormal area is highlighted on the display to assist with medical diagnosis. For the carotid artery, the interior and exterior branches are labeled to assist medical diagnosis. The two branches are automatically identified. The branch associated with additional small branches is identified as the exterior carotid.

Abstract: Segregating object images from an image is accomplished by a method that includes intensity thresholding and generating isolabel contour lines at image regions of constant image intensity. The shapes of the isolabel contours are quantified by calculating turning angle sequences. The turning angle sequences of contours compared to discern which contours to group and label as belonging to an object image. The method uses information obtained from intensity thresholding in combination with the inherent shapes of the object images to group isolabel contours and segregate the object images. The method is general and is used for segregating object images from continues images such as photographs and film. The method is extended to 3-dimensional image volumes and further includes modeling cross sections of object images as ellipses. An overlap criteria is used to group cross sectional object images in an images volume from 2-dimensional slices of the image volume.

Abstract: Each voxel is assumed to contain exactly two distinct materials, with the volume fraction of each material being iteratively calculated. According to the method, the spectrum of the X-ray beam must be known, and the attenuation spectra of the materials in the object must be known, and be monotonically decreasing with increasing X-ray photon energy. Then, a volume fraction is estimated for the voxel, and the spectrum is iteratively calculated.