Abstract: The present invention relates to a device, system and method for segmentation of images. The device comprises an input (20) configured to obtain image data including a first image slice of a plurality of image slices of a 3D image data set, first segmentation of the first image slice in which at least one object is segmented, and a second image slice of the plurality of image slices of the 3D image data set. A processing unit (21, 21a) is configured to compute a second segmentation of the second image slice based on the obtained image data by applying a trained algorithm or computing system that has been trained on a plurality of segmentations of a plurality of objects in a plurality of image slices onto the obtained image data to propagate the segmentation of the at least one object in the first segmentation from the first image slice to the second image slice and to compute a third segmentation of a third image slice arranged, within the 3D image data set, in between the first and second image slices.

Abstract: According to an aspect, there is provided a computer implemented method of processing an image of a subject comprising lymph nodes, the method comprising: segmenting lymph nodes in image data corresponding to the image, delineating lymph nodes from the segmented image data, classifying a lymph node as belonging to a predefined region, evaluating a region of the image based on an assessment of the risk of the region comprising a malign lymph node, and indicating the evaluation of the region.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for guiding the acquisition of an ultrasound image. A 3D ultrasound image is acquired by an ultrasound probe at a first position and an anatomical structure is identified within the 3D ultrasound image. A target imaging plane is estimated based on the identified anatomical structure and it is determined whether the target imaging plane is present within the 3D ultrasound image. If the target imaging plane is present, a displacement between a central plane of the 3D ultrasound image and the target plane is determined. If the displacement is below a predetermined threshold, the target imaging plane is extracted and if the displacement is above the predetermined threshold, an instruction to acquire a 3D ultrasound image with the ultrasound probe at a second position, different from the first position, is generated based on the displacement. The invention further provides a method for estimating a target imaging plane.

Abstract: A method and system for mapping boundary detecting features of at least one source triangulated mesh of known topology to a target triangulated mesh of arbitrary topology. A region of interest in a volumetric image associated with each triangle of the target triangulated mesh is provided to a feature mapping network. The feature mapping network assigns a feature selection vector to each triangle of the target triangulated mesh. The associated region of interest and assigned feature selection vector for each triangle of the target triangulated mesh are provided to a boundary detection network. A predicted boundary based on features of the associated region of interest selected by the assigned feature selection vector is obtained from the boundary detection network.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a computer-implemented method for generating a simulated CBCT image based on a computed tomography image. A computed tomography image is converted into attenuation coefficients of the represented tissue, and the computed tomography image is forward-projected to a projection image based on scanner parameters of a simulated CBCT scanner. After the addition of artificial noise to the projection image representing noise detected by the simulated CBCT scanner, the projection image is back-projected with a reconstruction algorithm for the generation of a simulated CBCT image of the subject. The present invention relates further to a method for generating training data for training an artificial intelligence module based on the simulated images, and to methods for registering a computed tomography image to a CBCT image and for segmenting a CBCT image with an artificial intelligence module trained with training data comprising the simulated CBCT images.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for making anatomical measurements using a captured ultrasound image representative of the anatomical region of interest. The method comprises receiving (20) data representative of a set of points selected by a user within the image and interpreting from the points a particular anatomical measurement type which the user is intending to perform. In particular, the points are processed to identify (24) a pattern or other geometrical characteristic of the points, and the location (22) of at least one of the points within the image is also identified. These two characteristics are used to identify from the set of points which measurement the operator is performing. Once the measurement is identified, an appropriate measurement template (26) is selected and applied in order to derive (30) from the set of points an anatomical measurement.

Abstract: A method for identifying a material boundary within volumetric image data is based on use of a model boundary transition function, which models the expected progression of voxel values across the material boundary, as a function of distance. Each voxel is taken in turn, and voxel values within a subregion surrounding the voxel are fitted to the model function, and the corresponding fitting parameters are derived, in addition to a parameter relating to quality of the model fit. Based on these parameters for each voxel, for each of at least a subset of the voxels, a candidate spatial point is identified, estimated to lie on the material boundary within the 3-D image dataset. The result is a cloud of candidate spatial points which spatially correspond to the outline of the boundary wall. Based on these, a representation of the boundary wall can be generated, for example a surface mesh.

Abstract: A system for generating ultrasound data in respect of an anatomical body being scanned makes use of a predetermined scan protocol, which specifies a sequence of types of ultrasound scan of structures of interest. These types may for example be different imaging modalities (static, dynamic, 2D, 3D etc.) which are most appropriate for viewing different structures within the anatomical body. From received ultrasound images, a model is used to identify the structures of interest within the ultrasound images. The best images for creating the types of scan of the protocol are then identified and a sequence is compiled of those best images. In this way, a sequence is created which combines different types of scan, in a structured way according to a predetermined protocol. This makes the analysis of the sequence most intuitive for a user, and simplifies comparison between different sequences.

Abstract: Presented are concepts for obtaining a confidence measure for a machine learning model. One such concept process input data with the machine learning model to generate a primary result. It also generate a plurality of modified instances of the input data and processes the plurality of modified instances of the input data with the machine learning model to generate a respective plurality of secondary results. A confidence measure relating to the primary result is determined based on the secondary results.

Abstract: The present invention relates to edge restoration. In order to improve a restoration of the artificially created cleansed edges, an apparatus is proposed to automatically restore image edges after digital subtraction of digital material substitution to optimally resemble image edges in unmodified locations. The appearance of edges is machine-learned in an unsupervised non-analytical way from unmodified locations, and then, after digital suppression or digital material substitution, applied to the artificially created cleansed edges.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for assessing a pulmonary image which allows for an improved assessment with respect to lung nodules detectability. The pulmonary image is smoothed for providing different pulmonary images (20, 21, 22) with different degrees of smoothing, wherein signal values and noise values, which are indicative of the lung vessel detectability and the noise in these images, are determined and used for determining an image quality being indicative of the usability of the pulmonary image to be assessed for detecting lung nodules. Since a pulmonary image shows lung vessels with many different vessel sizes and with many different image values, which cover the respective ranges of potential lung nodules generally very well, the image quality determination based on the different pulmonary images with different degrees of smoothing allows for a reliable assessment of the pulmonary image's usability for detecting lung nodules.

Abstract: The invention refers to an apparatus (110) for generating an augmented image comprising a) a base image providing unit (111), wherein the base image is generated based on a combination of spectral image data, b) a contrast image providing unit (112), wherein the contrast image is generated based on a different combination of the spectral image data, c) a degree of saliency determination unit (113), wherein the degree of saliency is indicative of a difference between an image value of a voxel of the contrast image and an image value of a corresponding voxel of a predetermined template image, and d) an augmented image generation unit (114) for generating an augmented base image of the object by augmenting voxels of the base image based on the degree of saliency. The invention allows to provide the augmented base image with an improved image quality and information content.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for assessing radiologist performance includes at least one electronic processor (20) programmed to: during reading sessions in which a user is logged into a user interface (UI) (27), present (98) medical imaging examinations (31) via the UI, receive examination reports on the presented medical imaging examinations via the UI, and file the examination reports; and perform a tracking method (102, 202) including at least one of: (i) computing (204) concurrence scores (34) quantifying concurrence between clinical findings contained in the examination reports and corresponding computer-generated clinical findings for the presented medical imaging examinations which are generated by a computer aided diagnostic (CAD) process miming as a background process during the reading sessions; and/or (ii) determining (208) reading times (38) for the presented medical imaging examinations wherein the reading time for each presented medical imaging examination is the time interval between a start of the prese

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system includes a processor circuit in communication with an ultrasound transducer configured to receive three-dimensional ultrasound data of an anatomy, and generate a target image corresponding to a target image plane of the anatomy, and a plurality of adjacent images corresponding to image planes adjacent to the target image plane along a simulated motion path. The processor circuit is further configured to display the target image, receive a user input representative of a direction of motion along the simulated motion path, and display an adjacent image of the plurality of adjacent images corresponding to the direction of motion. Accordingly, the user can observe the target image in its spatial context by scanning through the target image and one or more adjacent images on the display as if the ultrasound transducer were being scanned along the simulated motion path.

Abstract: A method and system for mapping boundary detecting features of at least one source triangulated mesh of known topology to a target triangulated mesh of arbitrary topology. A region of interest in a volumetric image associated with each triangle of the target triangulated mesh is provided to a feature mapping network. The feature mapping network assigns a feature selection vector to each triangle of the target triangulated mesh. The associated region of interest and assigned feature selection vector for each triangle of the target triangulated mesh are provided to a boundary detection network. A predicted boundary based on features of the associated region of interest selected by the assigned feature selection vector is obtained from the boundary detection network.

Abstract: Presented are concepts for initialising a model for model-based segmentation of an image which use specific landmarks (e.g. detected using other techniques) to initialize the segmentation mesh. Using such an approach, embodiments need not be limited to predefined model transformations, but can initialise a segmentation mesh with arbitrary shape. In this way, embodiments may provide for an image segmentation algorithm that not only delivers a robust surface-based segmentation result but also does so for strongly varying target structure variations (in terms of shape).

Abstract: A system for recording ultrasound images comprises a memory comprising instruction data representing a set of instructions and a processor configured to communicate with the memory and to execute the set of instructions. The set of instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive a data stream of two dimensional images taken using an ultrasound transducer and determine from the data stream that a feature of interest is in view of the transducer. The set of instructions further cause the processor to trigger an alert to be sent to a user to indicate that the feature of interest is in view of the transducer, and send an instruction to the transducer to trigger the transducer to capture a three dimensional ultrasound image after a predetermined time interval.

Abstract: The invention provides for a medical imaging system (700) comprising: a memory (734) for storing machine executable instructions (740), a display (732) for rendering a user interface (800), and a processor (730). Execution of the machine executable instructions causes the processor to receive (1000) three dimensional medical image data (746) descriptive of a region of interest (709) of a subject (718). The region of interest comprises a spine (200). Execution of the machine executable instructions further causes the processor to receive (1002) a set of spinal coordinate systems (748) each descriptive of a location and an orientation of spinal vertebrae in the three dimensional medical image data. The set of spinal coordinate systems further comprises a set of spine centerline positions (102) each positioned on a spine centerline (108).

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: Iterative material decomposition of multispectral image data includes providing a plurality of spectral images of a region of interest comprising a body part and a plurality of sets of material coefficients for a plurality of materials. Each spectral image is decomposed into a plurality of material images and an offset image. At least one of the material images for each spectral image is manipulated on the basis of at least one topological constraint relating to the body part to determine for each spectral image an updated plurality of material images and an updated offset image. A plurality of spectral images is then recomposed from the corresponding updated plurality of material images and the updated offset. Intensities at image locations are compared, and the updated plurality of material images is modified. The steps are repeated until convergence, and at least one of the recomposed spectral images at convergence is output.