Abstract: A method includes acquiring first imaging information of a region of interest, said first imaging information providing data correlated to three spatial dimensions of a reference frame including said region of interest; acquiring second projection imaging information of said region of interest, said second imaging information providing data correlated to said reference frame but is lacking information concerning at least one spatial dimension; and processing said first and second imaging information such that said first imaging information is registered with said second imaging information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for performing software guided prostate biopsy to extract cancerous tissue. The method significantly improves on the current system by accelerating all computations using a graphical processing unit (GPU) keeping the accuracy of biopsy target locations within tolerance. The result is the computation of target locations to guide biopsy using statistical priors of cancers from a large population, as well as based on previous biopsy locations for the same patient, and finally via mapping protocols with predefined needle configurations onto the patient's current ultrasound image.

Abstract: A method includes acquiring first imaging information of a region of interest, said first imaging information providing data correlated to three spatial dimensions of a reference frame including said region of interest; acquiring second projection imaging information of said region of interest, said second imaging information providing data correlated to said reference frame but is lacking information concerning at least one spatial dimension; and processing said first and second imaging information such that said first imaging information is registered with said second imaging information.

Abstract: Guided biopsy is a commonly used method to remove suspicious tissues from an internal organ for pathological tests so that malignancy can be established. Provided herein are systems and methods (i.e., utilities) that allow for automated application of one or more predefined biopsy target plans to an acquired medical image including without limitation, an ultrasound prostate image. Due to different shapes and sizes of prostates as well as orientation of prostate with respect to an ultrasound probe during image, acquisition a simple prostate model (e.g., ellipse) with a fixed plan may not be sufficient. Accordingly, it has been determined that a deformable shape model with integrated biopsy target locations/sites may be fit to a prostate image to provide improved automated biopsy targeting.

Abstract: Provided herein are improved biopsy systems and methods (i.e., utilities), which among other benefits, assist physicians with the selection biopsy sites based on temporally distinct images. More generally, the utilities allow for registering medical images such that information associated with a medical image obtained at a first time may be mapped to a subsequent medical image obtained at a subsequent time. This may result in improved diagnosis, better planning, better treatment delivery and/or follow-up.