Abstract: The present teaching relates to surgical procedure assistance. In one example, a first image of an organ having a lesion is obtained prior to a surgical procedure. Information related to a pose of a surgical instrument at a first location with respect to the lesion is received from a sensor coupled with the surgical instrument. A visual environment having the lesion and the surgical instrument rendered therein is generated based on the first image and the information received from the sensor. A second image of the organ is obtained when the surgical instrument is moved to a second location with respect to the lesion during the surgical procedure. The second image captures the lesion and the surgical instrument. The pose of the surgical instrument and the lesion rendered in the visual environment are adjusted based, at least in part, on the second image.

Abstract: An analysis system and method for measuring soft organ functions in general and the liver specifically utilizing both measurement and imaging devices such as a SPECT system and a CT system. The two images utilize a common coordinate system and segment the liver image for enhanced functional analysis.

Abstract: A collapsible medical device and associated methods of occluding an abnormal opening in, for example, a body organ, wherein the medical device is shaped from plural layers of a heat-treatable metal fabric. Each of the fabric layers is formed from a plurality of metal strands and the assembly is heat-treated within a mold in order to substantially set a desired shape of the device. By incorporating plural layers in the thus-formed medical device, the ability of the device to rapidly occlude an abnormal opening in a body organ is significantly improved.

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 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: 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: An analysis system and method for measuring soft organ functions in general and the liver specifically utilizing both measurement and imaging devices such as a SPECT system and a CT system. The two images utilize a common coordinate system and segment the liver image for enhanced functional analysis.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed at a system and method for analyzing clinical trial data over a network. The system and method specifics image protocols, encodes a number of protocols and communicates that information to an acquisition unit that appends the protocols to a digital image. When the image needs to be analyzed to gather clinical trial data, the encoded information is extracted and the correct software application is initialized and used to analyze the image.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and method for planning treatment of soft organs utilizing CT and SPECT image technology. The systems and method combine the segmented CT images with the SPECT image to form a combined image and treatment plan utilizing the images of both systems.

Abstract: A system for providing visual three dimensional assistance to a user during a medical procedure involving a soft organ. The system and method provide visual assistance to a user during a medical procedure involving a soft organ. The system and method utilize a processor for generating an image of the soft organ, a surgical instrument tracker for tracking a surgical instrument during the medical procedure, and a display in communication with the processor and the surgical instrument tracker for visually displaying in three dimensions, the image of the soft organ and the surgical instrument in relation to the soft organ.

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: 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 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: 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: Method and system for quality assurance in lesion marking is disclosed. A marking is created based on a patient study on display in a manner in accordance with an electronically enforced protocol. One or more features are generated based on the marking. Quality of the marking is assessed based on such computed one or features.

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.