Abstract: Image processing method or apparatus (IP) to transform a 3D image data set (DS) into a visually protected one (DSX). The 3D image set includes an object region (OR) and a background region (BR) that defines s silhouette of an imaged object (P). An inadvertent or malicious direct volume rendering of the silhouette (IF) of the object is prevented by applying a randomization operation to at least the background region (BR).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus (10), in particular for analyzing a fetus (62). An ultrasound data interface (66) is configured to receive 3D (three dimensional) ultrasound data from an object (12). The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus further comprises a measurement unit (70) for measuring anatomical structures of the object based on the segmentation data and a calculation unit (72) configured to calculate at least one biometric parameter based on the 3D ultrasound data.

Abstract: A model-based segmentation system includes a plurality of clusters (48), each cluster being formed to represent an orientation of a target to be segmented. One or more models (140) are associated with each cluster. The one or more models include an aspect associated with the orientation of the cluster, for example, the appearance of the target to be segmented. A comparison unit (124), configured in memory storage media, is configured to compare an ultra-sound image to the clusters to determine a closest matching orientation and is configured to select the one or more models based upon the cluster with the closest matching orientation. A model adaptation module (126) is configured to adapt the one or more models to the ultrasound image.

Abstract: An image registration apparatus (118) includes an image quality driven image registration determiner (202) that determines an image quality driven image registration for a set of images to register based on a non-rigid registration (204), which includes an optimization of an image similarity term and a regularization term, and a registration steering factor, and a registration component (206) that registers the set of images using the image quality driven image registration. A method determining an image quality driven image registration for a set of images to register based on a non-rigid registration, which includes an optimization of an image similarity term and a regularization term, and a registration steering factor, and registering the set of images using the fidelity driven image registration, generating a set of registered images.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved ultrasound imaging system arranged to evaluate a set of acquired 3D image data in order to provide a compounded 3D image of a fetus irrespective of its position and movement.

Abstract: Minimally-invasive spinal inventions are often performed using fluoroscopic imaging methods, which can give a real-time impression of the location of a surgical instrument, at the expense of a small field of view. When operating on a spinal column, a small field of view can be a problem, because a medical professional is left with no reference vertebra in the fluoroscopy image, from which to identify a vertebra, which is the subject of the intervention. Identifying contiguous vertebrae is difficult because such contiguous vertebrae are similar in shape. However, characteristic features, which differentiate one vertebra from other vertebra, and which are visible in the fluoroscopic view, may be used to provide a reference.

Abstract: An imaging system (10) analyzes airways of a patient. The system (10) includes a hardware phantom (50) including tubes (54) representative of airways. The tubes (54) include different lumen sizes and/or wall thicknesses. The system further includes an imaging scanner (12) for scanning a region of interest (ROI), including the airways, and the hardware phantom (50) to create raw image data. At least one processor (32) is programmed to at least one of: (1) correct measurements of walls of the airways based on measurements of lumen size and/or wall thickness of the tubes (54) and known lumen size and/or wall thickness of the tubes (54); and (2) generate an image of the ROI in which color and/or opacity of the airways are based on a comparison of images or maps of the tubes (54) and images or maps of the airways. A corresponding method is also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus configured to display an aortic valve image and an indicator when the aortic valve is in its open-state and/or when the valve is in its closed-state. The indicator is supposed to be in an overlay to the image of the aortic valve, such that a physician can see on the same display image the information needed to advance a guide wire or catheter through the aortic valve of a heart. This may prevent damaging ensures not to damage the aortic valve. The physician receives the relevant information, when the aortic valve is in its open-state and thus being in a state to be passed by the catheter. The information, whether the aortic valve is in its open-state or in its closed-state, corresponds to the systolic phase and the distal phase of the heart, respectively. The information, when the heart is in its systolic phase and when it is in the diastolic phase may be extracted from an ECG measurement.

Abstract: A system (100) for segmenting a coronary artery vessel tree (182) of a patient heart in a three dimensional (3D) cardiac image (120) includes a coronary volume definition unit (150) and a coronary artery segmentation unit (180). The coronary volume definition unit (150) sets a spatial boundary (210, 220) from internal and external surfaces of heart tissues in the 3D cardiac image based on a fitted heart model (200). The coronary artery segmentation unit (180) segments the coronary artery vessel tree (182) in the 3D cardiac image using a segmentation algorithm with a search space limited by the spatial boundary set from the internal and external surfaces of the heart tissues.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device (1) for fractional flow reserve determination, the device (1) comprising: a model source (10) configured to provide a first three-dimensional model (3DM1) of a portion of an imaged vascular vessel tree (VVT) surrounding a stenosed vessel segment (SVS) and configured to provide a second three-dimensional model (3DM2) of a pressure wire insertable into the vascular vessel tree (VVT); and a processor (20) configured to calculate a first blood flow (Q1) through the stenosed vessel segment (SVS) with the pressure wire (PW) inserted into the vascular vessel tree (VVT) based on the first and the second three-dimensional model and to calculate a second blood flow (Q2) through the stenosed vessel segment (SVS) without the pressure wire (PW) inserted into the vascular vessel tree (VVT) based on the first three-dimensional model (3DM1) and to determine a first fractional flow reserve value (FFR1) to be measured with the pressure wire (PW) inserted into the vascular vessel tree (

Abstract: A method includes obtaining contrast-enhanced image data having a plurality of voxels, each voxel having an intensity value. The method further includes determining a vesselness value for each voxel. The method further includes determining a hypo-density value for each voxel. The method further includes weighting each of the intensity values by a corresponding vesselness value. The method further includes weighting each of the hypo-density values by the corresponding vesselness value. The method further includes combining the weighted intensity values and the weighted hypo-density values, thereby generating composite image data. The method further includes visually displaying the composite image data.

Abstract: A method includes determining a registration transform between first three dimensional pre-scan image data and second three dimensional pre-scan image data based on a predetermined registration algorithm. The method further includes registering first volumetric scan image data and second volumetric scan image data based on the registration transform. The method further includes generating registered image data. A system (100) includes a pre-scan registerer (122) that determines a registration transform between first three dimensional pre-scan image data and second three dimensional pre-scan image data based on a predetermined registration algorithm. The system further includes a volume registerer (126) that registers first volumetric scan image data and second volumetric scan image data based on the registration transform, generating registered image data.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining first image data that includes voxel representing a structure of interest. The structure of interest includes a plurality of different sub-structures. The method further includes segmenting a volume of the first image data that includes only a single sub-structure for each of the plurality of different sub-structures. The method further includes creating a different local coordinate system for each of the different sub-structures for each of the volumes. The method further includes visually presenting the structure of interest through separate visual presentations of sets of reformatted images for each of the individual plurality of different sub-structures. A set of reformatted images for a sub-structure includes different cut planes generated from a corresponding segmented volume of the segmented volumes and the local coordinate system for the sub-structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for processing CT imaging data, comprising a processing unit, which is configured to receive a plurality of sets of CT imaging data recorded at different imaging positions and at different points in time. Furthermore, the processing device is configured to provide a plurality of auxiliary sets of CT imaging data, each auxiliary set of CT imaging data comprising processed image data allocated to spatial positions inside a respective spatial section of the object space, wherein a given one of the spatial sections contains those spatial positions which are covered by those sets of CT imaging data acquired at a respective one of the imaging positions, and to generate the processed image data for a given spatial position using those of the sets of CT imaging data acquired at the respective one of the imaging positions.

Abstract: A method for processing image data includes obtaining a first set of 3D volumetric image data. The 3D volumetric image data includes a volume of voxels. Each voxel has an intensity. The method further includes obtaining a local voxel noise estimate for each of the voxels of the volume. The method further includes processing the volume of voxels based at least on the intensity of the voxels and the local voxel noise estimates of the voxels. An image data processor (124) includes a computer processor that at least one of: generate a 2D direct volume rendering from first 3D volumetric image data based on voxel intensity and individual local voxel noise estimates of the first 3D volumetric image data, or registers second 3D volumetric image data and first 3D volumetric image data based at least one individual local voxel noise estimates of second and first 3D volumetric image data sets.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for displaying medical images. A first viewport is generated which shows a part of a first medical image which shows a region of interest. A second viewport is generated which shows a part of a second medical image which shows a corresponding region of interest, e.g., representing a same anatomical structure or a same type of anatomical structure. In order to establish this ‘synchronized’ display of regions of interest, a displacement field is estimated between the first medical image and the second medical image. However, the displacement field is not used to deform the second medical image. Rather, the displacement field is used to identify the corresponding region of interest and thereby which part of the second medical image is to be shown. It is thus avoided that the second medical image itself is deformed, which would typically also deform the region of interest and thereby impair its assessment.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a system and method for transarterial chemoembolization using differently sized drug-eluting microsphere beads filled with drugs and determining a delivered drug concentration using an imaging system.

Abstract: A method for processing image data includes obtaining a first set of 3D volumetric image data. The 3D volumetric image data includes a volume of voxels. Each voxel has an intensity. The method further includes obtaining a local voxel noise estimate for each of the voxels of the volume. The method further includes processing the volume of voxels based at least on the intensity of the voxels and the local voxel noise estimates of the voxels. An image data processor (124) includes a computer processor that at least one of: generate a 2D direct volume rendering from first 3D volumetric image data based on voxel intensity and individual local voxel noise estimates of the first 3D volumetric image data, or registers second 3D volumetric image data and first 3D volumetric image data based at least one individual local voxel noise estimates of second and first 3D volumetric image data sets.

Abstract: Minimally-invasive spinal inventions are often performed using fluoroscopic imaging methods, which can give a real-time impression of the location of a surgical instrument, at the expense of a small field of view. When operating on a spinal column, a small field of view can be a problem, because a medical professional is left with no reference vertebra in the fluoroscopy image, from which to identify a vertebra, which is the subject of the intervention. Identifying contiguous vertebrae is difficult because such contiguous vertebrae are similar in shape. However, characteristic features, which differentiate one vertebra from other vertebra, and which are visible in the fluoroscopic view, may be used to provide a reference.

Abstract: A voxel tagging system (100) includes a sensing enabled device (104) having an optical fiber (126) configured to sense induced strain within the device (Bragg grating sensor). An interpretation module (112) is configured to receive signals from the optical fiber interacting with an internal organ, e.g. heart, and to interpret the signals to determine positions visited by the at least one optical fiber within the internal organ. A data source (152, 154) is configured to generate data associated with an event or status, e.g. respiration, ECG phase, time stamp, etc. A storage device (116) is configured to store a history (136) of the positions visited in the internal organ and associate the positions with the data generated by the data source (152, 154).