Abstract: Methods, systems, and programs for real-time surgical procedure assistance are provided. A first set of 3D poses of the 3D points on the organ may be received. An electronic organ map built for the organ via pre-surgical medical information may be retrieved. A tissue parameter of the organ may be obtained based on the first set of 3D poses and their corresponding 3D poses from the electronic organ map. A deformation transformation of the electronic organ map may be calculated based on the obtained tissue parameter and the first set of 3D poses during the surgical procedure. The deformed electronic organ map may be projected onto the organ with respect to the first set of 3D poses during the surgical procedure.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for processing function on demand operation. A user interface at a user site is initiated. A selection of a processing function associated with an application is received via the user interface. A processing function on-demand (PFOD) request is transmitted via a network connection to request the selected processing function. As a response to the PFOD request, a processing function on-demand (PFOD) delivery including the selected processing function is sent. When the PFOD delivery is received, the selected processing function is utilized at the user site.

Abstract: A procedure for image segmentation of a lung in tomosynthesis images includes determining a focal plane image of a lung from among a plurality of tomosynthesis images, determining boundaries of the lung in the focal plane image based on a sequence of best-path algorithms cascaded together, assembling the tomosynthesis images to obtain a 3D image of the lung, determining a boundary of a rib in the 3D image of the lung , and segmenting the lung based on the boundaries of the lung and the boundary of the rib. A procedure for detecting nodules in tomosynthesis images includes generating a blurred nodule template, generating a blurred vessel template and a blurred rib template, determining, based on the blurred nodule template, a nodule candidate in 3D image of a lung, and determining, based on the blurred vessel template and a blurred rib template, that the nodule candidate is a nodule.

Abstract: A procedure for pre-operating assessment of one or more anatomical structures generated from medical images and provided in a rendered 3D space, and an imaging system, apparatus, and computer program, that operate in accordance with the procedure. The procedure comprises providing one or more safety margin indicators in the rendered 3D space, each having a shape corresponding to that of a respective one of the anatomical structures within an organ and having a predetermined size of safety margin from the respective one of the anatomical structures. The procedure also comprises manipulating at least one of the shape and predetermined size of safety margin of at least one of the safety margin indicators in the rendered 3D space, and immediately providing a rendering in the 3D space of a manipulated version of the at least one safety margin indicator. Also provided is a procedure for defining at least one cutting surface to resect one or more medical anatomical structures using an imaging system.

Abstract: A procedure for image segmentation on three-dimensional (3D) medical images, and a system, apparatus, and computer program that operate in accordance with the procedure. The procedure includes generating a projection including an anatomic structure, tracing a curve corresponding to the anatomic structure, extracting a curved volume of interest based on the curve and the projection, and extracting a segmentation of the anatomic structure. Also provided is a procedure for aligning anatomic structures in images, and a system, apparatus, and computer program that operate in accordance with the procedure. The procedure includes determining part of a biliary system in a first image, determining part of a hepatic portal vein or a hepatic artery in a second image, determining a gallbladder in the images, determining a cost function, and aligning the biliary system and the hepatic portal vein or hepatic artery by maximizing the cost function.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for image segmentation for liver objects. Segmentation is performed to obtain a first set of objects relating to liver. More than one types in association with one of the first set of objects are identified. Landmarks are identified based on the segmented first set of objects or the different types of one of the first set of objects. A second set of objects including liver lobes are segmented based on the landmarks.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for data/process sharing. A decapsulating unit is provided and resides on first system where a first application system resides. The decapsulating unit monitors, on the first system, when encapsulated data from a second application system residing on a second system, is present in the first application system. The encapsulated data, once present on the first system, is decapsulated by the decapsulating unit to obtain a trigger corresponding to the second application system and encapsulated in the encapsulated data. The obtained trigger is analyzed and the second application system is launched on the first system based on the trigger.

Abstract: Method and system for 3D data editing is disclosed. A 3D volumetric data is rendered in a rendering space. A 2D graphical drawing tool is selected and used to create a 2D structure. Apply a 3D operation to the 3D volumetric data based on the 2D structure.

Abstract: System and method for labeling a tubular structure. A tubular structure is first displayed on a display screen. A representation of the tubular structure can be obtained. A user draws a curve on the display screen using an electronic pen that is associated with a label. Based on the user drawn curve, one or more segments of the tubular structure that corresponds to the drawn curve are identified based on the representation of the segmented tubular structure. The label is then assigned to such identified one or more segments of the tubular structure.

Abstract: A method and system for process/data sharing. A trigger response unit, corresponding to a first application residing in a first system, is deployed in a second system. The trigger response unit detects information embedded in trigger data, representing the first application with associated data, when the trigger data is activated in a second system. Based on the information detected, a launching request is generated and sent to the first system to launch an instance of the first application in the first system with respect to the associated data. The second system receives, via a remote access protocol, a dynamic graphical representation of the first application launched in the first system based on the launching request. The associated data is manipulated in the second system using the first application launched in the first system via the dynamic graphical representation of the first application displayed in the second system.

Abstract: Methods and systems for separating a 3D liver object are disclosed. A 3D liver object and selected associated vascular and other anatomic structures are displayed in a 3D space which is rendered on a 2D display screen. One or more 3D separating surfaces are placed in the 3D space based on anatomic structural landmarks that are segmented automatically or interactively, where each of the 3D separating surfaces intersects with the 3D liver object at a corresponding 3D pose. The 3D liver object into at least two sub-segments based on the 3D separating surfaces, which can be individually and independently adjusted directly in the 3D space, in real-time, and interactively by a user based on 3D and/or 2D information related to the 3D liver object, and the selected associated vascular and other anatomic structures.

Abstract: The success of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation mainly depends on the accuracy of the needle insertion, making it possible to destroy the whole tumor, while avoiding damages on other organs and minimizing risks of a local recurrence. This invention presents a simulated 3D environment for user to interactively place a treatment probe to a target position.

Abstract: Method and system for process sharing in a medical imaging system are disclosed. A first application system is provided capable of processing data within a second application system. A process sharing system residing outside of the second application system is configured for enabling process sharing of the first application system within the second application system. The first application system comprises a front-end unit that is made operable within the second application system by a process launcher upon occurrence of an event to facilitate processing of data accessible from the second application system through communication with the process sharing system via a pre-defined interface. The process launcher is generated by the process sharing system and deployed on the second application system.

Abstract: Methods and system for data/process sharing between different systems. A trigger response unit is deployed on a first system where a first application resides. The trigger response unit is to detect when a representation corresponding to trigger data from a second application is present in the first application. When such a presence is detected, the detected representation corresponding to the trigger data is decoded to obtain a trigger, wherein the representation encodes the trigger corresponding to the second application and information associated with data. Based on the trigger, the first system launches the second application within the first application on the first system by utilizing the trigger data that include a trigger pattern present in a trigger image.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for image segmentation for liver objects. Segmentation is performed to obtain a first set of objects relating to liver. More than one types in association with one of the first set of objects are identified. Landmarks are identified based on the segmented first set of objects or the different types of one of the first set of objects. A second set of objects including liver lobes are segmented based on the landmarks.

Abstract: An algorithm is disclosed that detects and analyzes possible lesions that are left in contact with a structural boundary. A morphological closing with a structuring element is performed along the boundary to detect lesions within the threshold of the structuring element. A deformable surface-based analysis is performed on distinctive surfaces of the structure for the identification of lesions. The integrated use of a deformable surface model and chamfer distance potential enables explicit representation of regularized, or smoothed, surfaces from which lesion candidates may be detected.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for processing function on demand operation. A user interface at a user site is initiated. A selection of a processing function associated with an application is received via the user interface. A processing function on-demand (PFOD) request is transmitted via a network connection to request the selected processing function. As a response to the PFOD request, a processing function on-demand (PFOD) delivery including the selected processing function is sent. When the PFOD delivery is received, the selected processing function is utilized at the user site.

Abstract: A method and system of volume segmentation is disclosed. To address throughput speed and accuracy requirements, the segmentation is divided into two stages: presegmentation and detailed segmentation. In presegmentation, a digital image volume is processed to identify anatomical structures from image backgrounds in a gross manner possibly at reduced image resolution. Detailed segmentation then involves refining and segmenting further the fine details within the anatomical structures identified by presegmentation. One result of the overall volume segmentation algorithm is a volume in which segmented regions of interest, such as nodules, are identified.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for data/process sharing. A trigger response unit is provided to reside on a first system where a first application system is present. The trigger response unit monitors, on the first system, when trigger data from a second application system is presented in the first application system. When the trigger data is presented in the first application system, the trigger response unit decodes the trigger data to obtain a trigger corresponding to a second application system. The obtained trigger is used to launch the second application system on the first system.

Abstract: Method and system for multiple volume exploration is disclosed. A first 3D volume is rendered in a first region. One or representations are displayed in a second region, where each representation signifies a stack of 2D images. A first stack represents one or more 2D images of cross sections of a certain orientation from the first 3D volume. Each of the other stacks includes one or more 2D images of cross sections of the same orientation from a 3D volume related to the first 3D volume.