Abstract: The invention relates to a method for generating an image using optical coherence tomography, with a control device controlling the operation of an image generation device and a rinsing device automatically according to a predetermined program.

Abstract: An optical coherence tomography system includes a catheter in which is arranged a plurality of light conducting fibers. It further includes a plurality of optical units. Light from the proximal end to the distal end and signals from the distal end to the proximal end can be transmitted simultaneously in different fibers. Time is saved through the simultaneous signal processing of signals from different fibers. That is advantageous particularly in the imaging, by means of coherence tomography, of blood vessels that have to be occluded for said imaging.

Abstract: A system and method of treating cancerous tissues using a combination of embolization and ablation therapies is described. An imaging device is used to determine the tissue volume to be treated, and the steps of embolization and ablation are performed while the patient remains on a treatment table. The embolization treatment may be combined with chemotherapy directly administered to the tumor. The position of the volume to be treated is visualized by the imaging device to monitor the progress of the treatment and to guide ablation treatment so as to mitigate collateral tissue damage. The imaging device may be a C-arm X-ray device, a MRI device, an acoustic device or other device capable of producing CT-like images.

Abstract: Method for creating image recordings of blood vessel system of a patient, comprising: after administering contrast agent an image recording is created in a first image recording region of a first position of a detector, the diffusion of the contrast agent is observed to determine a current diffusion position; the position of the detector is changed to a second position as a function of the current diffusion position; an image recording of a second image recording region of the second position of the detector is created; and a part of an image recording in the first position extending in the region between the current diffusion position and the end of the first image recording region and recorded without contrast agent is used as a mask to evaluate a locationally correlated part, recorded with contrast agent, of the image recording in the second position for digital subtraction angiography.

Abstract: Catheter device for insertion into a vessel of a human or animal body, comprising a guide catheter and, incorporated in same, an OCT catheter with an OCT imaging device, the guide catheter having a balloon inflatable via a supply line for occluding the vessel, as well as a device for delivering a liquid or gas to the vascular region to be recorded by means of the OCT imaging device, in particular the vascular region located distally to the balloon, wherein there is provided on the guide catheter a second inflatable balloon spaced apart from the first balloon for occluding the vessel, wherein the section of the guide catheter between the two balloons is transparent, at least in sections, to the OCT radiation emittable by the OCT imaging device disposed inside the guide catheter.

Abstract: The invention relates to an interventional medical diagnosis or therapy system comprising: an imaging device, which is embodied for recording 3D images of an object under examination, with a control unit and an image processing unit; an at least two-axis robot arm, having means for yield control of the robot arm and a robot control unit for control of the robot arm; an instrument holder, which is connected to the robot arm, for holding an instrument; a position detection device, by means of which the position of the instrument is able to be detected for the robot control unit. The robot arm is embodied to yield to system-external force effects or to follow a system-external guidance.

Abstract: A method of optimized diagnosis and treatment of suspected myocardial infarctions is described. The patient having possible coronary artery disease is transferred to a treatment room with an imaging modality suitable for obtaining computed tomographic (CT)-like images. Such images are obtained as radiographic image data, with or without contrast agent, and used in the medical diagnosis. If minimally invasive therapy such as percutaneous transluminal coronal angioplasty (PTCA) is indicated, the patient is prepared for the procedure in the same room, and the procedure performed, where the imaging modality is used to obtain fluoroscopic images to guide the PTCA procedure, or to assess the results of the procedure. The imaging modality may be mounted to a first positioning robot, and a second robot may facilitate the positioning or movement of the patient.

Abstract: A computer receives a temporal sequence of x-ray images of an examination region of an examination object. The examination region includes a blood vessel system and tissue supplied with blood. A detection time is assigned in each instance to the x-ray images. The x-ray images correspond locally with one another in terms of pixels and each display a distribution of a contrast agent in the examination region at the respective detection time. The computer determines the temporal course of the temporal derivation of the data values and/or of the average value of the data values of the pixels located in the evaluation region for at least one evaluation region which is standard for all x-ray images. It assigns a type to the evaluation region as a function hereof.

Abstract: A system and method for obtaining perfusion images is disclosed. The system and method includes hardware and software for determining physiological characteristics of a patient and determining imaging parameter values for an imaging modality based on the patient's physiological characteristics. The system also includes a controller operative to receive the imaging parameter values for controlling an X-ray device. The X-ray device is coupled with the controller and acquires projection images of the patient, and outputs the projection images to a perfusion evaluation computer for evaluating the perfusion of an region of interest represented in the projection images. The perfusion rate of the region of interest is then output to an output device, such as a display or printer.

Abstract: A bronchopulmonary medical services system is provided in order to offer medical services to a patient in a single location. In one aspect, the system is provided with a patient alignment device and a C-arm imaging device. A medical services suite may be equipped with various medical service devices such that the patient receives medical services in a single location.

Abstract: A system and method of obtaining perfusion data for cerebral tissue is described. The system includes a C-arm X-ray device and a computing system configured to obtain sets of rotational projection X-ray data suitable for reconstructing 3D voxel data sets. A first data set is obtained of the patient, and then contrast material is injected into the vascular system to obtain a second 1 data set. A first voxel data set is subtracted from the second voxel data set, and the resultant data set is processed so as to segment the contrast-enhanced vasculature from the remaining data. The segmented voxels are subtracted from the resultant voxel data set, so as to yield a functional data set representing the difference between the attenuation of the tissues after administering contrast agent and the tissues prior to administering the contrast agent, without the contrast enhanced vasculature. The attenuation of the functional data set represents the perfusion or cerebral blood volume (CBV).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for post-processing a 3D image data set of a vessel structure of a human or animal body, in which a 2D DSA (Digital Subtraction Angiography) of the vessel structure is recorded and registered with the 3D image data set. The 2D DSA is compared with a corresponding projection image computed from the 3D data set and this is changed, e.g. by changing the segmentation parameters, to adapt it to the 2D DSA. This enables the outstanding local resolution of the 2D DSA to be used for improving the 3D image data set.

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for assisting a percutaneous intervention, comprising an imaging system for tomographic imaging, a robot registered therewith and devices for capturing movements of the patient. A processing unit registers a 4D image dataset recorded before the intervention with a 2D or 3D image dataset of the patient which was recorded immediately before the intervention by the imaging system at a defined respiratory position. From this image data, the access path is transmitted to the robot as a function of the movements captured during recording the 4D image dataset and registration, said robot in turn, depending on the instantaneous movement data, holding the instrument on a predetermined target path and preventing the instrument from being advanced by the person if and as long as the instantaneous movement data does not match the previously recorded movement data. The arrangement reduces the risk of puncture errors.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for tomographically displaying a cavity by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and to an OCT device, wherein the path length of a measuring light beam in the catheter can change as a result of a movement of the catheter and brings about a change in the display scale, wherein a possible change in the path length of the measuring light beam in the event of a movement of the catheter is electronically determined and automatically compensated.

Abstract: A system and method provide an optimized workflow and a dedicated user interface for image visualizations that facilitate medical diagnosis. Image data may be acquired via an imaging procedure at a remote medical facility. A physician may review the images on a display and mark-up/modify the images via the interface to create user-defined data. The image and user-defined data may be transmitted to a service provider. At the service provider, a software technician may generate a medical simulation using the image and user-defined data. The medical simulation may simulate actual conditions within the patient. Subsequently, the simulation results may be transferred to, or otherwise remotely accessed via a network from, the remote medical facility. As a result, medical treatment provided by remote facilities, which may only have limited resources in terms of personnel and equipment, may be enhanced and inefficiencies associated with the generation of medical simulations may be alleviated.

Abstract: Data of an examination object comprises a volume-data record and a plurality of two-dimensional projection images. The volume-data record includes voxels where each voxel is assigned to a location in three-dimensional space. Each projection image includes pixels where each pixel is assigned to a location in a two-dimensional-projection plane and has a value. Each pixel is assigned a projection volume, this being specified in that it is mapped by the radioscopy onto the pixel to which it is assigned. A sub-volume of the volume-data record is selected. The projection images are registered in relation to the volume-data record. A functional parameter of the examination object is specified for the pixels of the projection images, depending on their values. For each pixel, when specifying the functional parameter, consideration is given to the locations and/or the number of those voxels which are positioned both within the sub-volume and within the projection volume.

Abstract: A sequence of groups of projection images shows an object under examination comprising a vascular system and its environment. A computer determines a 2-dimensional evaluation image having a plurality of pixels based on combination images determined from the projection images of a group. The combination images have a plurality of pixels with pixel values. The sequence of the combination images shows the time characteristic of the distribution of a contrast medium in the object. The pixels of the evaluation image correspond to those of the projection images. The computer assigns each pixel, at least in a part area of the evaluation image, a type that is characteristic of whether the respective pixel corresponds to a vessel of the vascular system, a perfusion area or a background. It performs the assignment of the type on the basis of the time characteristic of the pixel values of the combination images.

Abstract: 2-D projection images show the variation over time of the distribution of a contrast medium in an examination subject. Each projection image comprises pixels having pixel values corresponding to one another in the projection images that are determined by identical areas of the examination subject. A computer subdivides an image that is to be displayed from the projection images into parcels in one perfusion region. For each parcel, the computer determines a characteristic value and, based on the characteristic value, a projection color. It assigns the projection color to the parcel. The characteristic value is determined based on the pixel values occurring in the parcel of the projection image or their differences from the pixel values of a corresponding parcel of another projection image. The computer outputs a subarea of the projection image containing the perfusion region. It represents each parcel of the perfusion region in its assigned projection color.

Abstract: An object (5) undergoing examination is located within the range of a swiveling axis (4) around which an X-ray source (1) is swiveled during a plurality of mutually discrete swiveling actions. An X-ray detector (2) is swiveled correspondingly so that it will at any time be located diametrically opposite the X-ray source (1) with reference to the swiveling axis (4). Projection datasets (P) of the object (5) undergoing examination are recorded at swiveling angles (?) of the X-ray source (1) during the swiveling actions and stored. Each projection dataset (P) is assigned the respective swiveling angle (?) and a recording instant (t). Together with the swiveling angle (?) assigned to the respective projection dataset (P), each data element of each projection dataset (P) defines a projection line along which an X-ray beam has traveled on its way from the X-ray source (1) to the X-ray detector (2).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and to a device for visualizing objects, in particular non-rigid objects. The method and the device are particularly suitable to visualizing three-dimensional objects in the case of medical interventions. The method comprises: providing a three-dimensional image data record of the object, successively taking a series of two-dimensional image data records of the object, individually registering each individual two-dimensional image data record with the three-dimensional image data record, functionally evaluating functional parameters from the successively taken two-dimensional images, extracting two-dimensional projections from the three-dimensional image data record, and superimposing the recorded two-dimensional images with the extracted two-dimensional projections. A clean copy of the abstract that incorporates the above amendments is provided herewith on a separate page.