Abstract: Locations, such as computer assisted detection marks, are presented in medical imaging diagnosis, such as for colon computed tomography diagnosis. To avoid fly-through and/or to assist in more rapid and thorough review of CAD marks, a summary of a plurality of detected candidates is pre-computed and presented to the user in a single collection. For example, a single display or screen view includes a gallery of images for different candidates. These pre-computed images are displayed on the screen, allowing the user to quickly identify locations of interest and rule out other locations. The summary may be used for navigation outside the CAD context, such as presenting different portions of an organ to be viewed.

Abstract: A method and system comprising: generating at least one slice image by carpeting a multitude of digital images based upon a two-dimensional (2-D) reference system, each of the multitude of digital images associated with a location in the 2-D reference system and each showing a representation of an arborization and/or landmark such that digital images not showing a representation of an arborization and/or landmark are excluded; carpeting the multitude of digital images together to create a slice image; aligning the slice image with other similarly created slice images using landmark information to determine the amount of 2-D rotation and/or translation to be applied to each slice image; vectorizing the representation of the arborization on each slice image, the vectorization creating a series of segments; assigning a type to at least one of the series of segments based on a unique characteristic of arborization; and grouping related segments together.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a plaque region extracting apparatus includes a blood vessel wall data extracting unit, an intermediate image data generating unit, an enhancement processing unit, a plaque extracting unit. The blood vessel wall data extracting unit extracts first image data including a blood vessel wall from image data acquired by imaging a subject including blood vessels. The intermediate image data generating unit filters an intermediate region in the first image data to generate intermediate second image data. The enhancement processing unit processes the difference between the first image data and the second image data to generate third image data. The plaque extracting unit extracts a plaque in the blood vessel on the basis of the third image data.

Abstract: According to a radiographic apparatus of this invention, an image correcting unit corrects offset for every pixel relative to a detection value outputted from a radiation detector having pixels for detecting radiation arranged in a two-dimensional array. In addition, the image correcting unit corrects the offset while holding noise components contained in the detection value. Thus, upon quantitative evaluation of the noises contained in the detection values outputted from the radiation detector, the noises of not only positive values but also negative values can be considered. Consequently, accurate evaluation may be achieved.

Abstract: A method of acquiring medical image data with at least one region of interest with a predefined freely shaped geometry comprising the following steps: acquiring a first set of medical image data, identifying at least one anatomical landmark in the first set of image data, determining the at least one region of interest with a trained pattern recognition module using the at least one anatomical landmark.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a contrast side obtaining unit, estimating unit, a simple side obtaining unit, a core area computing unit, a synthesizing unit and a display control unit. The contrast side obtaining unit obtains a contrast area and a high CT value area around the contrast area. The estimating unit estimates a contrast area in the non-contrast data and corresponding to the obtained contrast area. The simple side obtaining unit obtains a high CT value area around the estimated contrast area. The core area computing unit computes a core area included in the high CT value area of the contrast data and the non-contrast data. The synthesizing unit aligns the contrast data with the non-contrast data and generates superimposed data by superimposing the high CT value area of the contrast data on the non-contrast data. The display control unit displays the superimposed data on a display device.

Abstract: A portable ultrasound imaging system includes a scan head coupled by a cable to a portable battery-powered data processor and display unit. The scan head enclosure houses an array of ultrasonic transducers and the circuitry associated therewith, including pulse synchronizer circuitry used in the transmit mode for transmission of ultrasonic pulses and beam forming circuitry used in the receive mode to dynamically focus reflected ultrasonic signals returning from the region of interest being imaged.

Abstract: Storing a second image reconstructed from a plurality of images, including a first image, and an image reading report that includes a lesion character representing a lesion area in the first image. Associating the lesion character with a position of the lesion area and storing the position in the second image corresponding to the position of the lesion area as a link position. Displaying a link character constituted by the lesion character, a position indicator indicating the link position corresponding to the position of the lesion area represented by the link character, and an association indicator indicating the link character and position indicator in association with each other in the second medical image.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus is provided. The image processing apparatus includes an extraction unit configured to extract a low-frequency band component and a high-frequency band component from a radiation image formed by passing through a subject, a contrast enhancement processing unit configured to perform a contrast enhancement process to the extracted low-frequency band component, a detail enhancement processing unit configured to perform a detail enhancement process to the extracted high-frequency band component, a synthesis unit configured to synthesize an image resulting from performing the contrast enhancement process and an image resulting from performing the detail enhancement process, and a generation unit configured to reconstruct the synthesized image and generate a diagnosis image.

Abstract: A system and method for calculating a quantitative metric of adipose tissue using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system are provided. The MRI system is used to acquire k-space data by sampling echo signals that are formed at a plurality of different echo times. From the acquired k-space data, a fat-concentration map, such as a fat-fraction map is produced. A maximum fat-concentration value is estimated from the fat-concentration map, and is used to threshold the fat-concentration map to produce an adipose mask. From the adipose mask, a quantitative metric of adipose tissue can be calculated.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for detecting and identifying pathologies in a magnified captured image. The method comprising the step of: performing macro image analysis for identifying abnormal and normal segments of the captured image, performing conversion of colored images to gray scale image, performing segmentation of the gray scale colored biopsy by applying two segmentation levels, merging the image results of the coarse level and the fine level segmentations by expanding the coarse image to fit scale of the fine image and identifying pixels having the same value at both levels, performing comparison between object's properties and characteristics appearing in abnormal segments and object's properties and characteristics appearing in normal segments, and calculating the deviations of each property between the abnormal segments and the normal segments and ranking objects based on the calculated deviations of each property and characteristic.

Abstract: An interactive segmentation framework for 3-D teeth CT volumetric data enables a user to segment an entire dental region or individual teeth depending upon the types of user input. Graph cuts-based interactive segmentation utilizes a user's scribbles which are collected on several 2-D representative CT slices and are expanded on those slices. Then, a 3-D distance transform is applied to the entire CT volume based on the expanded scribbles. Bony tissue enhancement is added before feeding 3-D CT raw image data into the graph cuts pipeline. The segmented teeth area is able to be directly utilized to reconstruct a 3-D virtual teeth model.

Abstract: A non-invasive imaging system, comprising: an imaging scanner; a signal processing system in communication with the imaging scanner to receive an imaging signal from the imaging scanner; and a data storage unit in communication with the signal processing system, wherein the data storage unit stores template data corresponding to a tissue region of a subject under observation, wherein the signal processing system is adapted to compute, using the imaging signal and the template data, refined template data corresponding to the tissue region, and wherein the refined template data incorporates subpopulation variability information associated with the tissue region such that the signal processing system provides an image of the tissue region in which a substructure is automatically identified taking into account the subpopulation variability information.

Abstract: A method for automatically assessing medical ultrasound (US) image usability, includes extracting one or more features from at least one part of a medical ultrasound image, calculating for each feature a feature score for each pixel of the at least one part of the ultrasound image, and classifying one or more image pixels of the at least one part as either usable or unusable, based on a combination of feature scores for each pixel, where usable pixels have intensity values substantially representative of one or more anatomical structures.

Abstract: A device, system and method for automatic detection of contractile activity of a body lumen in an image frame is provided, wherein image frames during contractile activity are captured and/or image frames including contractile activity are automatically detected, such as through pattern recognition and/or feature extraction to trace image frames including contractions, e.g., with wrinkle patterns. A manual procedure of annotation of contractions, e.g. tonic contractions in capsule endoscopy, may consist of the visualization of the whole video by a specialist, and the labeling of the contraction frames. Embodiments of the present invention may be suitable for implementation in an in vivo imaging system.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed for generating a new contour and/or a 3D surface such as a variational implicit surface from contour data. In one embodiment, a point reduction operation is performed on data sets corresponding to any combination of transverse, sagittal, or coronal contour data prior to processing those data sets to generate a 3D surface such as a variational implicit surface. A new contour can also be generated by the intersection of this surface with an appropriately placed and oriented plane. In this manner, the computation of the variational implicit surface becomes sufficiently efficient to make its use for new contour generation practical.

Abstract: Systems and methods providing automated extraction of information contained in video data and uses thereof are described. In particular, systems and associated methods are described that provide techniques for extracting data embedded in video, for example measurement-value pairs of medical videos, for use in a variety of applications, for example video indexing, searching and decision support applications.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for graphically configuring leads for a medical device. According to one aspect, the system generally comprises a medical device and a processing device, such as a programmer or computer, adapted to be in communication with the medical device. The medical device has at least one lead with at least one electrode in a configuration that can be changed using the processing device. The processing device provides a graphical display of the configuration, including a representative image of a proposed electrical signal to be applied by the medical device between the at least one electrode of the medical device and at least one other electrode before the medical device applies the electrical signal between the at least one electrode and the at least one other electrode. In one embodiment, the graphical display graphically represents the lead(s), the electrode(s), a pulse polarity, and a vector.

Abstract: Grid foil shadows of a synchronous grid are removable by obtaining an approximate fluoroscopic image by extracting detection signals of pixels not influenced by the grid foil shadows from a fluoroscopic image and carrying out an interpolation process thereon, obtaining a grid foil shadow image by determining a difference between the fluoroscopic image and the approximate fluoroscopic image, obtaining a foil shadow standard image by averaging the grid foil shadow image in a longitudinal direction of the grid foil shadows, and removing the grid foil shadows by determining a difference between the fluoroscopic image and the foil shadow standard image.

Abstract: A fetal parameter or anatomy is measured or detected from three-dimensional ultrasound data. An algorithm is machine-trained to detect fetal anatomy. Any machine training approach may be used. The machine-trained classifier is a joint classifier, such that one anatomy is detected using the ultrasound data and the detected location of another anatomy. The machine-trained classifier uses marginal space such that the location of anatomy is detected sequentially through translation, orientation and scale rather than detecting for all location parameters at once. The machine-trained classifier includes detectors for detecting from the ultrasound data at different resolutions, such as in a pyramid volume.

Abstract: There is provided a medical image processing device and a medical image processing method that can extract and display lesion candidate regions having different sizes and similarity forms at a time through a series of processing. Therefore, with respect to a first medical image, a first evaluation for the curved surface form of the first medical image is made to extract first lesion candidate regions. With respect to each of the first lesion candidate regions extracted by a first extracting unit, a second evaluation for the curved surface form thereof is made to extract a second lesion candidate region. The second lesion candidate region extracted by a second extracting unit is superimposed and displayed on a second medical image.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for increasing the usefulness of visual knowledge in a number of applications. It distills the relationships between characteristics and hypotheses into database form, thereby organizing visual information in a manner suitable to aid the user in the investigation of the various hypotheses (medical diagnosis, pill identification, plant/animal identification, cause of death, cause of accident, etc.). The invention sidesteps unresolved issues around knowledge engineering by not automating a decision making process. Rather, the present invention utilizes a relational database to dynamically respond to textual and visual findings as an aid to assist a user reaching a reasoned conclusion based upon information available by direct observation and comparison with stored image and textual data.

Abstract: Image reconstruction methods are described where the characteristics of the surroundings of the patient in the scanner image field are used as supplemental information in the reconstruction process to reduce the dose, reduce scan times, scan number and/or improve the image quality of the reconstructed image.

Abstract: Deformation maps (e.g. deformation vector fields) used for correcting image-type data used in the treatment of patients in radiotherapy may be processed to eliminate inverse inconsistency and transitivity type errors which produce different results depending on the order or path of the calculation of deformation. The correction permits registration of a treatment plan with the changing patient image and accumulation of dose to a common reference frame without transformation dependent artifacts.

Abstract: A method for reconstructing a fluorescence image of the interior of a turbid medium is provided. The method comprises the step: accommodating a turbid medium (1) to which a fluorescent contrast agent has been administered in a measurement volume (4). The fluorescent contrast agent is capable of emitting light in a first range of wavelengths upon irradiation with light. The method further comprises: performing attenuation measurements at a plurality of different wavelengths (?i, . . .

Abstract: The image quality of fluorescent images of blood vessels obtained by imaging blood vessels emitting fluorescence is improved. Living tissue within a body cavity is imaged by an endoscope while fluorescent pigments within blood vessels are emitting fluorescence due to irradiation of excitation light. At this time, a standard observation image obtained by imaging the same portion of the body cavity while white light is being irradiated, and a fluorescent image obtained by imaging while the excitation light is being irradiated are obtained. A plurality of spectral images having different wavelength ranges are generated. The depth position of blood vessels within a region of interest are judged by a depth position judging unit. Thereafter, an image processing unit administers an image process using image processing conditions corresponding to the depth position of the blood vessels, and a processed image is displayed by a display device.

Abstract: A method includes determining a plausibility of one or more perfusion parameter maps generated based on perfusion image data and correcting at least one of the perfusion parameter maps when the plausibility for the at least one perfusion parameter map does not satisfy pre-set perfusion parameter plausibility criteria.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for providing a basis for registering a three-dimensional model of an anatomical region with two-dimensional projection images, by deriving a three-dimensional model of an anatomical region at a phase of a periodic signal; deriving two-dimensional projection images of a region which overlaps with the anatomical region re-constructed as the three-dimensional model; pre-5 selecting a subset of projection images out of the derived two-dimensional projection images, which are closest to the phase; and selecting a reference image for the registration from the subset of pre-selected projection images by choosing the projection image with the most contrast.

Abstract: An X-ray imaging apparatus is configured to subtract a first X-ray image from a second X-ray image to generate a first subtraction image showing information on a blood vessel, calculate an amount of pixel shift between the first X-ray image and the third X-ray image, subtract the first X-ray image from the third X-ray image to generate a second subtraction image showing information on an insertion instrument, and combine the first subtraction image with the second subtraction image to generate a synthetic image by performing a pixel shift correction based on the amount of pixel shift.

Abstract: Methods and system for measuring visceral fat mass are provided. One method includes acquiring dual-energy two-dimensional (2D) scan information from a dual-energy X-ray scan of a body and generating a dual-energy X-ray image of the body using the 2D scan information. The method further includes identifying a region of interest using the dual-energy X-ray image and determining a subcutaneous fat mass for each of a plurality of sections of the region of interest. The method also includes determining a visceral fat mass for the region of interest based on the determined subcutaneous fat mass for each of the plurality of sections.

Abstract: A method of processing a 3-dimensional Computed Tomography Colonography data set to remove tagged material is disclosed. The method involves the preliminary processing step of classifying voxels in the data set as corresponding to air, tagged material or colon tissue. Methods of overcoming erroneous classification of Partial Volume air/tagged material interface voxels are disclosed. The present invention also provides for methods of circumventing problems resulting from removal of tagged material from a CTC data set, which can result in the erosion of soft-tissue structures partially covered by tagged colonic fluid.

Abstract: A computerized method and system for detection and quantification of changes in color on skin or internal tissue or organs within the human body. Digital images of the skin or tissue containing an area of interest are analyzed using the software of the invention, based on at least one channel of the LAB color system. The invention calculates the intensity and distribution of color present within the predetermined area of interest, and results in display of at least one color information attribute. The invention allows color calibration of the image to be performed in relation to a reference label having predetermined colors which surrounds the area of interest, prior to the analysis. The invention allows a threshold analysis to be performed, which graphically depicts the size and location of areas exhibiting significant change in color, which is a determinant factor in medical diagnosis.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to analyze healthcare images are disclosed. An example method includes performing a threshold procedure and a watershed procedure on data obtained via a scan of a brain to generate a plurality of segments based on blood volumes associated with the segments; generating one or more statistics related to the each of the segments; and integrating the statistics into image data associated with the scan such that a first one of the statistics corresponding a first one of the segments is to be displayed to a user of the image data in response to receiving an input from the user in connection with the first one of the segments.

Abstract: A system and method of labeling orthogonal or otherwise spatially related image views and related images is provided. The present invention provides automated progression for the labeling of vertebral and inter-vertebral regions, propagation of labels between views and images within a series, centering of label regions relative to the spine, circular lists of predefined labels, and label displays for individual slices of an orthogonal or axial view as a user scrolls through the plurality of image slices of the given view. In a further aspect, the present invention provides automated labeling of vertebral and inter-vertebral regions when a user provides labels for the adjacent two inter-vertebral or vertebral regions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for the central control of devices used during an operation, comprising a first control unit for control of said devices. The system is characterized in that a second control unit is provided which is connected to the first control unit for exchange of information. The first control unit may be embodied as closed system for control of at least those devices which carry out safety-related functions (safety-related devices), and the second control unit may be embodied as open system for control of the remaining devices which carry out non safety-related functions (non safety-related devices). The invention further relates to a method for the central control of devices.

Abstract: There is provided a technique for adaptively acquiring, from a tomogram of an eye region, diagnosis information data of the eye region which is used for the diagnosis of a plurality of kinds of diseases, without increasing load on a user. A layer acquisition unit (331) acquires a predetermined layer area from the tomogram of the eye region. A changing unit (332) changes an algorithm for the acquisition of diagnosis information data as information used for the diagnosis of the eye region from the tomogram based on the information data extracted from the layer area. A quantifying unit (336) acquires diagnosis information data from the tomogram based on the changed algorithm.

Abstract: A lesion area detection unit detects an abnormal peripheral structure (lesion area), a pulmonary blood vessel extraction unit extracts a branch structure (pulmonary blood vessel) from the three-dimensional medical image, an associated blood vessel identification unit identifies an associated branch structure functionally associated with the abnormal peripheral structure based on position information of each point in the extracted branch structure, and an associated lung parenchymal area identification unit identifies an associated peripheral area (lung parenchyma) functionally associated with the identified associated branch structure based on the position information of each point in the extracted branch structure.

Abstract: According to one embodiment there is provided a method of selecting a plurality of M atlases from among a larger group of N candidate atlases to form a multi-atlas data set to be used for computer automated segmentation of novel image data sets to mark objects of interest therein. A set of candidate atlases is used containing a reference image data set and segmentation data. Each of the candidate atlases is segmented against the others in a leave-one-out strategy, in which the candidate atlases are used as training data for each other. For each candidate atlas in turn, the following is carried out: registering; segmenting; computing an overlap; computing a value of the similarity measure for each of the registrations; and obtaining a set of regression parameters by performing a regression with the similarity measure being the independent variable and the overlap being the dependent variable.

Abstract: This invention provides a method and apparatus for selectively identifying, and targeting with an energy beam, specific cells within a cell population, for the purpose of inducing a response in the targeted cells. Using the present invention, every detectable cell in a population can be identified and affected, without substantially affecting non-targeted cells within the mixture.

Abstract: A method for processing a sequence of images. In an embodiment, one or more training datasets are analyzed having a sequence of images showing a first condition and a sequence of images showing a second condition. A multivariate regression model is used to determine a relationship between relative positions of one or more features in the sequence of images showing the first condition and relative positions of the one or more features in the sequence of images showing the second condition. In an embodiment, the determined relationship is used to predict positions of the one or more features in an inquire sequence of images showing the second condition given an inquire sequence of images showing the first condition. The predicted positions can then be refined using various methods. In an embodiment, sequences of images are aligned to a common time scale.

Abstract: A device, system and method for automatic detection of contractile activity of a body lumen in an image frame is provided, wherein image frames during contractile activity are captured and/or image frames including contractile activity are automatically detected, such as through pattern recognition and/or feature extraction to trace image frames including contractions, e.g., with wrinkle patterns. A manual procedure of annotation of contractions, e.g. tonic contractions in capsule endoscopy, may consist of the visualization of the whole video by a specialist, and the labeling of the contraction frames. Embodiments of the present invention may be suitable for implementation in an in vivo imaging system.

Abstract: Methods and systems for iterative image reconstruction. The method includes selecting a particular X and Y location corresponding to one or more selected voxels in an image volume. Further, one or more Z locations are iteratively selected for the particular X and Y location. One or more partial sums corresponding to channel dependent portions of a separable system model associated with the particular X and Y location are pre-computed. Additionally, row-dependent portions of the separable system model are computed independent of the pre-computing of the one or more partial sums. The partial sums and the row-dependent portions of the separable system model are combined to compute corresponding updates for the selected voxels. The one or more partial sums are then updated to be consistent with the computed updates. Additionally, the computed updates are applied to the selected voxels independent of updating the one or more partial sums.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for facilitating the automatic identification, sorting, and positioning of radiographic images. According to one embodiment of the subject invention, phosphorous plates for intra-oral imaging are encoded for automated image set identification, location, and orientation. In certain embodiments, a processing system is able to process encoded identifiers on the phosphorous plates with digitized images depicted on the phosphorous plates to automatically identify, sort, and rotate the digitized images into proper orientations for user viewing.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for processing medical imaging data of a subject are disclosed, the data having a physiological or anatomical feature of interest, from a first set of the imaging data, an intensity projection line along a specified axis of an image volume of the data is generated. The projection line is converted to a monogenic signal and phase information extracted from the signal. A function of the phase information is calculated, and the thus processed phase information is used to locate the feature of interest in the first data set, or to register the feature of interest with a second data set.

Abstract: A programming system allows a user to program therapy parameter values for therapy delivered by a medical device by specifying a desired therapeutic outcome. In an example, the programming system presents a model of a brain network associated with a patient condition to the user. The model may be a graphical representation of a network of anatomical structures of the brain associated with the patient condition and may indicate the functional relationship between the anatomical structures. Using the model, the user may define a desired therapeutic outcome associated with the condition, and adjust excitatory and/or inhibitory effects of the stimulation on the anatomical structures. The system may determine therapy parameter values for therapy delivered to the patient based on the user input.

Abstract: A virtual map of vessels of interest in medical procedures, such as coronary angioplasty is created so that doses of contrasting agent given to a patient may be reduced. A position of a coronary guidewire is determined and locations of vessel boundaries are found. When the contrast agent has dissipated, virtual maps of the vessels are created as new images. The locations of the determined vessel boundaries are imported to a mapping system and an image obtained without using a contrast agent is modified based on the imported locations of vessel boundaries. This creates a virtual map of the vessels.

Abstract: An operator designates a reference plane on a medical image or a region of a patient, and a setting unit specifies whether the reference plane is an axial plane, a sagittal plane, or a coronal plane. The setting unit also specifies vertical, horizontal, and anteroposterior directions on the reference plane based on an anatomical characteristic of the region. Information about relationship between a patient coordinate system and a region coordinate system is stored in association with the medical image in a first storage unit.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a memory unit which stores data of a first projection image and data of a second projection image, which are associated with the same object and are captured in different imaging directions, a display unit which displays the data of the first projection image and the data of the second projection image, a designation operation unit which is configured to designate a plurality of points on the displayed first and second projection images, and an operation supporting unit which generates operation supporting information for supporting an operation of designating, by the designation operation unit, the plurality of points on the second image, which anatomically correspond to the plurality of points designated on the first projection image.

Abstract: A radiological imaging method comprises: acquiring radiological lines of response (LOR's) from a subject; grouping the acquired LOR's into time intervals such that each group of LOR's (20) was acquired during a selected time interval; identifying a region of interest (60, 74) for each time interval based on LOR's grouped into that time interval; for each time interval, determining a positional characteristic (102) of the region of interest identified for that time interval based on LOR's grouped into that time interval; for each time interval, spatially adjusting LOR's grouped into that time interval based on the positional characteristic of the region of interest identified for that time interval; and reconstructing at least the spatially adjusted LOR's to generate a motion compensated reconstructed image.

Abstract: A stressor detection system (100) comprises sensor means (101) arranged for being attached to a person for obtaining a time-varying signal representing a physical quantity relating to an environment of the person, and processing means (102) for deriving a stressor value from the obtained signal representing a degree to which the environment is inducing stress in the person. The processing means is arranged for deriving an amount of complexity comprised in the signal, and for deriving a higher stressor value for a larger amount of information. The processing means is further arranged for performing a spectral frequency analysis of the signal and for deriving the stressor value also in dependence on the spectral frequency analysis. The sensor means comprises a microphone (105), a camera (104), and a tri-axial accelerometer.