Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080205724 | Method, an Apparatus and a Computer Program For Segmenting an Anatomic Structure in a Multi-Dimensional Dataset - The method | 08-28-2008 |
20080205725 | METHOD FOR PLANNING AN ANGIOGRAPHIC MEASUREMENT - In a method for planning of an angiography measurement of a body region in a magnetic resonance system, the body region being larger than the maximum field of view of the magnetic resonance system, and wherein the MR system has a control unit for controlling the workflow of the angiographic measurement, an upper boundary and a lower boundary of the body region are established. The control unit divides the body region into sub-measurement regions and sub-measurements dependent on the established boundaries. The sub-measurement regions and sub-measurements are measured in succession. The arrival of an injected test bolus of a contrast agent into the various sub-measurement regions is detected using MR measurements. The transit time of the test bolus through the body region for the angiographic measurement is determined, and the control unit also determines the workflow of the angiography measurement, including determining the sequence of the measurements of the sub-measurement regions and the time duration of the individual sub-measurements for the sub-measurement regions. | 08-28-2008 |
20080205726 | Method for providing extended possibilities when imaging a patient's heart - The invention relates to the use of 2D projection images which belong to a specific common heart phase. A 3D image data set can be used to generate a reference projection image for the same projection angle for each of the 2D projection images and a differential image can be derived from the reference projection image and 2D projection image. The differential images are back-projected and combined in one 3D differential image data set and, by using this, a deformed 3D image data set is obtained from the previously recorded 3D image data set. Iterations guarantee that the deformed 3D image data set ensues with the smallest possible distance from the 2D projection images for the existing common heart phase. Finally, a 3D image data set is available for a different heart phase other than the reference heart phase and the possibilities for imaging a patient's heart are extended. | 08-28-2008 |
20080212857 | Method for post-processing a three-dimensional image data set of vessel structure - The invention relates to a method for post-processing a 3D image data set of a vessel structure of a human or animal body, in which a 2D DSA (Digital Subtraction Angiography) of the vessel structure is recorded and registered with the 3D image data set. The 2D DSA is compared with a corresponding projection image computed from the 3D data set and this is changed, e.g. by changing the segmentation parameters, to adapt it to the 2D DSA. This enables the outstanding local resolution of the 2D DSA to be used for improving the 3D image data set. | 09-04-2008 |
20080212858 | Method for image registration processes and X-ray angiography system - Registration of preoperatively acquired MRI images of soft parts to intraoperatively acquired X-ray images of soft parts is not possible. The invention shows a way of nevertheless using such preoperatively acquired images for superimposition with 2D projections of the soft parts, taking an indirect route via 3D/3D registration of images of the spinal column. For this purpose, 3D image data sets of the spinal column must be obtained separately on the one hand using MRI and on the other using the X-ray imaging system so that the 3D/3D registration produces a mapping rule which then also applies to the preoperatively acquired images of the soft part if the soft part images and the spinal images are acquired without intervening change in the patient position in the MRI scanner. | 09-04-2008 |
20080219530 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC QUALITY CONTROL USED IN COMPUTERIZED ANALYSIS OF CT ANGIOGRAPHY - A method and a system for identifying a data quality issue associated with medical diagnostic data is provided. The system includes, but is not limited to, an imaging apparatus configured to generate imaging data and a processor operably coupled to the imaging apparatus to receive the imaging data. The processor is configured to analyze the received imaging data; to identify a data quality issue associated with the received imaging data based on the analysis of the received imaging data; to generate a message including the identified data quality issue; and to send the generated message to a user. | 09-11-2008 |
20080219531 | Method and Apparatus For Metching First and Second Image Data of an Object - A method of matching prone and supine colon image data is disclosed. The method comprises matching prone centerline colon data with supine centerline colon data to identify partially matching sections of the prone and supine centerlines, and identifying a portion of the prone centerline (Trans(PO)) corresponding to a gap in the supine centerline data. The portion (Trans(PO)) of the prone centerline data corresponding to a gap in the supine centerline data is then fit between the end points (TP(S | 09-11-2008 |
20080247621 | Method and Apparatus for Positioning a Device in a Tubular Organ - An apparatus and method for detecting, tracking and registering a device within a tubular organ of a subject. The devices include guide wire tip or therapeutic devices, and the detection and tracking uses fluoroscopic images taken prior to or during a catheterization operation. The devices are fused with images or projections of models depicting the tubular organs. | 10-09-2008 |
20080253634 | Method and Apparatus for Predicting Enhancement in Angiography - A technique for use in angiography includes obtaining data from a tracking scan following injection of a contrast agent according to a test injection profile. A region of interest ( | 10-16-2008 |
20080267473 | MEDICAL IMAGE ACQUISITION ERROR DETECTION - A medical image acquisition error detection technique is presented which exploits the special characteristics of medical images to detect possible errors. In general, the presented technique categorizes medical images based on the type of images. For each category, a type of standard image is computed which represents the typical characteristics of images within a category. Then, exemplary images in a category are compared to the standard image for that category to establish an acceptable difference between actual images and the standard image for the category under consideration. When a medical image is to be examined for possible acquisition errors, it is categorized and a measure of difference between the image and the standard image for the category is computed. If the measure of difference falls outside the acceptable difference for the category, the image is deemed to contain an acquisition error and an alert is issued. | 10-30-2008 |
20080267474 | Layer Reconstruction From Dual-Energy Image Pairs - A system and method for layer reconstruction from dual-energy image pairs are provided, the method including: receiving a pair of dual-energy images, one having a relatively high energy dose and the other having a relatively low energy dose; ascertaining that a first relatively motionless layer is substantially aligned between the high and low dose images; computing a preliminary image of a second layer that has non-rigid motion relative to the first layer; detecting the relative motion of the second layer relative to the first layer; generating a mask in accordance with the detected motion; filling the motion area corresponding to the mask with gradients of the high-dose image; removing the first layer; and inpainting the motion area. | 10-30-2008 |
20080267475 | Method for high-resolution presentation of filigree vessel implants in angiographic images - The invention relates to a method for high-resolution display of vessel implants in angiographic images, featuring the steps: recording at least two images of an object-catheter combination including catheter markers with a medical imaging method; detection of an region of interest created in the form of an area between the balloon markers which completely contains the object to be registered for each recorded image; coarse registration of the region of interest images by registration of the respective pairs of balloon markers of all recorded images; fine registration of the region of interest image content/of the region of interest image by registration of the region of interest content; and arithmetic averaging across the fine-registered images. | 10-30-2008 |
20080273777 | Methods And Apparatus For Segmentation And Reconstruction For Endovascular And Endoluminal Anatomical Structures - Methods and apparatus for generating network of endoluminal surfaces by defining a set of medial axes for a tubular structure, defining a series of cross sections along medial axis in the set of medial axes, generating a connectivity graph of the medial axes, defining multiple surface representations based upon the graph of the medial axes and the cross sections, computing a volume defined by a first one of the surface representations, defining a partition of the medial axis, cross-sections, surface and/or volume representations, and outputting the network of endoluminal surfaces. | 11-06-2008 |
20080298657 | Computer-Aided Method for Detection of Interval Changes in Successive Whole-Body Bone Scans and Related Computer Program Program Product and System - A method of producing an image to aid detection of a change in progress of a disease in a patient is described. In the method, a first image of a distribution of a radioisotope in the patient is obtained. A second image of the distribution of the radioisotope in the patient is also obtained. At least one of the first and second images are then normalized (1:140). One of the images is warped to match the other image using a multiple-segment matching method (1:160). The first image is subtracted from the second image to form a subtraction image (1:220). Finally, the resulting subtraction image is displayed. | 12-04-2008 |
20080310693 | Polyp Identification Through Subtraction of Models of Medical Images - A method of identifying polyps and in a medical image is provided. In a first step, a 3-dimensional model is made of the medical image that contains both polyps (if any were present in the original medical image) and folds. Next, a second 3-dimensional model of the medical image, which is a filtered version of the first model, is constructed in which folds are preserved, but polyps are minimized or eliminated. In a third step, any polyps that were contained in the medical image are identified by subtracting the second 3-dimensional model from the first 3-dimensional model. This subtraction results in a third 3-dimensional model, in which polyps are preserved but folds are minimized or eliminated. With the present inventive method, polyps may be easily and quickly identified without interference from folds. | 12-18-2008 |
20080310694 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE AND IMAGE PROCESSING PROGRAM STORAGE MEDIUM - An image processing device has: an image acquisition section that acquires a plurality of photographic images obtained by photographing the same subject at different photography times; and a part identification section that identifies a portion where a predetermined part among parts that form the subject in the photographic images appears. The device further has: a first processing section that applies first matching processing, which matches two images by transforming one or both of the two images, to two of the plurality of photographic images; and a second processing section that applies second matching processing, which matches two images by transforming one or both of the two images and whose application range of the amount of transformation required for matching is different from that of the first matching processing, to the portion identified by the part identification section in the two of the plurality of photographic images. | 12-18-2008 |
20080317310 | Method and system for image processing and assessment of blockages of heart blood vessels - One embodiment discloses a computerized method of assessing deposits and/or blockages in blood vessels in a human, specifically in a human heart. The method may include inputting patient data and creating a computerized interactive model of a heart based on the patient data. Patient data may include a plurality of images of a least a portion of a human heart. Images may include three-dimensional images. An image may be divided into regions. A property of a region may be assessed. A property may include intensity of brightness of a region or a portion of a region. A region may include one or more voxels or one or more pixels. A method may include comparing a property of a region of a heart from a first image to a second image. The first image and the second image may include equivalent regions acquired during different time periods. | 12-25-2008 |
20090003673 | DETERMINING CORRESPONDENCE OBJECT PAIRS FOR MEDICAL NAVIGATION - A system and method for determining the position of correspondence object pairs including A-objects and B-objects that represent the same objects of the same anatomical body structure in two different reference frames A and B, including: defining A-objects and B-objects that each represent different objects of the body structure in their respective reference frames; determining geometric relationship data A and geometric relationship data B that describe a geometric relationship between the A-objects based on positions of the A-objects in the reference frame A and the B-objects in the B reference frame; and providing data derived or extracted from the geometric relationship data A and from the geometric relationship data B to allow a comparison of a geometric relationship between at least two A-objects to a geometric relationship between at least two B-objects. | 01-01-2009 |
20090010512 | System and method for coronary digital subtraction angiography - A method and system for extracting coronary vessels fluoroscopic image sequences using coronary digital subtraction angiography (DSA) are disclosed. A set of mask images of a coronary region is received, and a sequence of contrast images for the coronary region is received. For each contrast image, vessel regions are detected in the contrast image using learning-based vessel segment detection and a background region of the contrast image is determined based on the detected vessel regions. Background motion is estimated between one of the mask images and the background region of the contrast image, and the mask image is warped based on the estimated background motion to generate an estimated background layer. The estimated background layer is subtracted from the contrast image to extract a coronary vessel layer for the contrast image. | 01-08-2009 |
20090010513 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING AN ANGIOGRAPHIC IMAGE - In a magnetic resonance method and apparatus for generation of an angiographic image of a vascular system of a patient, a first data set of k-space data of the region to be examined is acquired using a contrast agent-free magnetic resonance angiography technique, a second data set of k-space data of the region to be examined is acquired using a contrast agent-assisted magnetic resonance angiography technique, and an angiographic image of the region to be examined is produced using both the first measurement data of the first data set and the second measurement data of the second data set. | 01-08-2009 |
20090016587 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TWO-DIMENSIONAL VISUALIZATION OF TEMPORAL PHENOMENA AND THREE DIMENSIONAL VESSEL RECONSTRUCTION - A method for visualizing temporal phenomena and constructing 3D views from a series of medical images includes providing a first time series of digital images of contrast-enhanced blood flow in a patient, each acquired from a same viewing point with a known epipolar geometry, each said image comprising a plurality of intensities associated with an N-dimensional grid of points, calculating one or more time-density curves from said first time series of digital images, each curve indicative of how the intensity at corresponding points in successive images changes over time, and generating one or more overview images from said time density curves using a color coding technique, wherein said each overview image depict how a physical property value changes from said blood flow at selected corresponding points in said first time series of images. | 01-15-2009 |
20090028404 | METHOD AND CORRESPONDING APPARATUS FOR QUANTITATIVE MEASUREMENTS ON SEQUENCES OF IMAGES, PARTICULARLY ULTRASONIC IMAGES - A method for assessing motion, including deformation, of a structure from a sequence of at least two consecutive image frames of such structure, which images are timely separated by a certain time interval. The method including the steps of defining a certain number of reference points at least on one image frame, and determining the velocity of motion of such reference points between two successive image frames. | 01-29-2009 |
20090046910 | Method for enhancing blood vessels in angiography images - Disclosed is a method for enhancing blood vessels in angiography images. The method incorporates the use of linear directional features present in an image, extracted by a Directional Filter Bank, to obtain more precise Hessian analysis in noisy environment and thus can correctly reveal small and thin vessels. Also, the directional image decomposition helps to avoid junction suppression, which in turn, yields continuous vessel tree. | 02-19-2009 |
20090046911 | RADIATION IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - A radiation imaging apparatus detects the density distribution of an image formed by a radiopaque dye from each of two images obtained by radiation imaging. The apparatus predicts the moving speed of the image formed by the radiopaque dye based on the moving amount of the detected density distribution and the interval between the radiographing times of the two images, and determines the next timing of radiation imaging based on the predicted moving speed and the detected density distribution. A radiation imaging apparatus detects the density distribution of a radiopaque dye in an image obtained by X-ray radiation imaging and predicts the moving speed of the radiopaque dye based on the change amount of the density distribution. The radiation imaging apparatus determines the X-ray irradiation timing based on the predicted radiopaque dye moving speed, the detected radiopaque dye density distribution, and a predetermined radiopaque dye density. | 02-19-2009 |
20090074276 | Voxel Matching Technique for Removal of Artifacts in Medical Subtraction Images - A method for improving the alignment accuracy between different medical images may be disclosed. A warped or non-warped previous image and a warped or non-warped current image may include a plurality of respective previous and current basic units, for example, pixels in a 2-dimensional image or voxels in a 3-dimensional image. To ensure accurate registration between the previous and current images, a first basic unit from the previous image may be replaced by a second basic unit from the current image if the value of the first and second basic units are identical or nearly identical. The first and second basic units may be selected from a nearly-identical region or “kernel” within the previous and current images. | 03-19-2009 |
20090074277 | Registration method with three-dimensional representation of a vascular tree as a function of blood flow - A three-dimensional volume data record contains a vascular tree. A two-dimensional projection image is an image of an actual fill state, to which the vascular tree is filled with a contrast agent at an acquisition time. The volume data record and the projection image are registered in relation to one another by means of the set of imaging parameters. A computation facility determines an expected target fill state, which describes which parts of the vascular tree should be filled with contrast agent at acquisition time in the three-dimensional volume data record. The computation facility determines the set of imaging parameters based on the target fill state and the projection image. | 03-19-2009 |
20090080736 | Method and device for the separate three-dimensional representation of arteries and veins in an examination object and device - There is described a method for a separate three-dimensional representation of arteries and/or veins of a vascular system in an examination object by means of a tomography x-ray device with the following steps: Implementation of a mask pass of the x-ray device with N projections at N angular positions about the examination object without contrast agent; Implementation of a first filler pass of the x-ray device about the examination object with M projections at M of the N angular positions after injection of a contrast agent, where M03-26-2009 | |
20090110252 | System for visualizing regions of Interest in medical images - A system for visualizing vascular fluid flow concentration includes at least one repository including a plurality of stored angiography scenes, an angiography scene comprises a plurality of individual images of a vascular structure successively acquired over a time period. A user interface control device enables a user to determine, (a) a duration and (b) a start time relative to a start time of the time period, of a window of interest within the time period. A control processor is electrically coupled to the user interface control device and the at least one repository. Control processor automatically assigns a unique visual indicator representing contrast flow of fluid through vessels to individual images within the user determined duration of the time period. A display processor, electrically coupled to the control processor and the user interface control device and at least one repository, generates data representing at least one display image comprising a composite image including individual images within the user determined duration of the time period having a unique assigned visual indicator. | 04-30-2009 |
20090116715 | MOTION-COMPENSATED CORONARY FLOW FROM PROJECTION IMAGING - Diagnostic angiograms only provide the projected lumen of a coronary, which is only an indirect measure of blood flow and pressure decline. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a motion compensated determination of a flow dynamics and a pressure decline for stenosis grading is provided, in which the motion compensation is performed on the basis of a tracking of a first position of a first marker and a second position of a second marker in the projection data set. This may provide for a robust and precise flow dynamics and pressure decline determination. | 05-07-2009 |
20090123046 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING INTRAOPERATIVE 3-DIMENSIONAL IMAGES USING NON-CONTRAST IMAGE DATA - A method of generating intraoperative 3-dimensional image data includes the processes of acquiring baseline 3-dimensional image data of a region of interest. Non-contrast 3-dimensional image data of said region, and intraoperative 2-dimensional image data of said region are also acquired. The intraoperative 2-dimensional image data and the baseline 3-dimensional image data are each aligned to the non-contrast 3-dimensionsal image data, whereby an accurate rendering of intraoperative 3-dimensional image data results from the alignment of both the baseline 3D and intraoperative 2D image data to the non-contrast 3D image data. | 05-14-2009 |
20090136106 | VOLUME RENDERING APPARATUS AND METHOD - Volume rendering of images of four dimensional (4D) heart image data, in particular cardiac CT data by slab multiplanar reformatting (MPR), is improved by providing an automated method and apparatus for determining and locking onto anatomically relevant viewing parameters. In particular the view plane, view axis and view orientation are changed from frame to frame in the movie so they remain fixed to an anatomical feature of interest, thereby providing a stable movie of the heart feature of interest. Provision of a dynamic view plane compensates not only for translational motion of the heart feature of interest, but also for its tilting and twisting. Tilting effects are highly significant when viewing heart valves, since the valve plane exhibits varying angles of tilt through the heart phases as a result of the generally tubular arteries and veins exhibiting a bending motion. | 05-28-2009 |
20090175522 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMAGE REGISTRATION - Certain embodiments of the present invention provide for a system and method for performing medical image registration. Pixel and voxel correspondences are formulated as energy minimization problems and are optimized with graph cuts. The method includes processing a first set of data and a second set of data using a graph cuts algorithm to determine a minimum value of an energy function. The energy function has a data term and a smoothness term. The method also includes performing registration for the first set of data and the second set of data based on the data term and the smoothness term of the energy function. The system includes a computer system for performing medical image registration. The computer system comprises a processor and a memory in communication with the processor. The memory includes program code executable by the processor for executing a medical image registration algorithm. | 07-09-2009 |
20090175523 | Method For Image Reconstruction Using Sparsity-Constrained Correction - An image reconstruction method applicable to a number of different imaging modalities including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), x-ray computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is disclosed. A sparsifying image is reconstructed from a series of acquired undersampled data to provide a priori knowledge of a subject being imaged. An iterative reconstruction process is further employed to iteratively determine a correction image for a given image frame that, when subtracted from the sparsifying image, produces a quality image for the image frame. | 07-09-2009 |
20090180675 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMAGE BASED MULTIPLE-MODALITY CARDIAC IMAGE ALIGNMENT - Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for temporally aligning a plurality of cardiac image sequences. The method includes performing a locally linear embedding algorithm on a first set of cardiac image sequences and on a second set of cardiac image sequences. A graphical representation is created for the first set of cardiac image sequences and the second set of cardiac image sequences. A determination is made whether the first set of cardiac image sequences and the second set of cardiac image sequences were generated from a similar point of view. If a similar point of view is found, the first graphical representation and the second graphical representation are aligned using a minimization function. If a similar point of view is not found, the graphs are aligned with a template and then aligned with each other using the minimization function. | 07-16-2009 |
20090180676 | Method for creating image recordings relating to the blood vessel system of a patient using a variable-position detector of a digital subtraction angiography facility and associated facility - Method for creating image recordings of blood vessel system of a patient, comprising: after administering contrast agent an image recording is created in a first image recording region of a first position of a detector, the diffusion of the contrast agent is observed to determine a current diffusion position; the position of the detector is changed to a second position as a function of the current diffusion position; an image recording of a second image recording region of the second position of the detector is created; and a part of an image recording in the first position extending in the region between the current diffusion position and the end of the first image recording region and recorded without contrast agent is used as a mask to evaluate a locationally correlated part, recorded with contrast agent, of the image recording in the second position for digital subtraction angiography. | 07-16-2009 |
20090185730 | Automated Image Data Subtraction System Suitable for Use in Angiography - An image data subtraction system suitable for use in Angiography or other medical procedure enhances vessel visualization. An imaging system subtracts data representing a first mask image from data representing temporally sequential individual images of patient vessels to provide first digitally subtracted images. The sequential individual images encompass introduction of a contrast agent. An image processor automatically, processes the data representing the first digitally subtracted images to identify a first image indicating presence of the contrast agent and a second image preceding the first image by determining a measure representing a net presence of contrast agent in an individual digitally subtracted image. The second image is substantially exclusive of an indication of presence of the contrast agent. The image processor automatically, selects the second image as a second mask image and subtracts data representing the second mask image from the data representing images of the temporally sequential individual images to provide second digitally subtracted images. A user interface presents the second digitally subtracted images for display while the patient is undergoing a medical procedure. | 07-23-2009 |
20090190813 | Medical Image Data Processing and Feature Identification System - An anatomical feature boundary identification system for use in processing medical images including X-ray images having a substantial noise content, employs at least one repository. The at least one repository stores data representing multiple different candidate template boundary shapes for individual particular anatomical features of multiple different types of anatomical features. A computation processor coupled to the at least one repository, determines a converged boundary shape of a particular anatomical feature by iteratively substantially minimizing a first difference between, data representing a weighted combination of multiple different candidate template boundary shapes of a particular anatomical feature and data representing a boundary shape of the particular anatomical feature derived from image data of the particular anatomical feature. The computation processor iteratively substantially maximizes a second difference between, data representing the weighted combination and data representing background non-anatomical features in an image. An output processor coupled to the computation processor, provides data representing the converged boundary shape of the particular anatomical feature for presentation in a display image of the particular anatomical feature. | 07-30-2009 |
20090208078 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC DETERMINATION OF CORONORY SUPPLY REGIONS - A method and system for automatically associating coronary arteries with regions of the myocardium to which the arteries supply blood is described. The method uses three dimensional image data of a patient, and an axial image slice is used to identify candidate locations of the aorta. Candidate aorta centroid locations are evaluated to eliminate spurious identifications, and the identified aorta is used to locate the left ventricle of the heart with respect thereto. Arteries of the coronary artery tree may be located by segmentation of contrasted images, and the individual arteries may be identified by skeletonization of the segmented arteries. The skeletonized arteries are projected onto an image of the patient heart, and may be associated with specific regions of the myocardium. | 08-20-2009 |
20090245606 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING COMPOSITE SUBSTRACTION IMAGES FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING - In time-resolved contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography, a measure quantifying image quality provides a basis for generating a linear filtered composite image by facilitating selection of a mask and an arterial phase image for subtraction. Filtering of individual pixels of a temporal series of images provides enhanced contrast in a single image by allowing the temporal behavior of the pixel intensity to denote representation as an artery, vein or background tissue. Motion artifacts are suppressed by re-registering sequential images, adjusting weighting before averaging and subtraction and filtering the Fourier data to eliminate data corrupted by motion or other phenomena. | 10-01-2009 |
20090262996 | METHOD FOR IMAGE RECONSTRUCTION EMPLOYING SPARSITY-CONSTRAINED ITERATIVE CORRECTION - An image reconstruction method applicable to a number of different imaging modalities including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), x-ray computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is disclosed. A sparsifying image is reconstructed from a series of acquired undersampled data to provide a priori knowledge of a subject being imaged. An iterative reconstruction process is further employed to iteratively determine a correction image for a given image frame that, when subtracted from the sparsifying image, produces a quality image for the image frame. | 10-22-2009 |
20090274352 | THREE-DIMENSIONAL MICROSCOPIC MAGNETIC RESONANCE ANGIOGRAPHY - A method comprises performing a first T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) on a subject; injecting the subject with a contrast agent after performing the first T2WI; and waiting a predetermined period of time before performing a second T2WI on the subject. The first T2WI and second T2WI are then co-registered. The co-registered first T2WI and co-registered second T2WI are then trimmed. A ΔR | 11-05-2009 |
20090279761 | Systems and Methods for Generating Images for Identifying Diseases - Systems and methods for generating images for identifying diseases are provided. In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving a first digital radiography (DR) image of at least a portion of a body of a patient, receiving a second DR image of the at least a portion of a body of a patient, the first DR image being captured at a different energy level than the second DR image, and determining common control point locations for both the first and second DR images. The method further comprises generating an optimized DR image by moving portions of a selected one of the first and second DR images with its associated control points to locations that correspond to similar portions of the other of the first and second DR images, applying deformable transformation to one of the first and second DR images and performing a log subtraction on the first and second DR image to generate a dual-energy digital radiography (DEDR) image. | 11-12-2009 |
20090290772 | Medical Data Processing and Visualization Technique - A data processing technique is provided. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes accessing patient image and non-image deviation scores derived through respective comparisons of patient image and non-image data to standardized image and non-image data. The method may also include processing the image and non-image deviation scores to generate a visual output indicative of differences between the patient image and non-image data, and the standardized image and non-image data, respectively. Further, the method may include displaying the visual output. Additional methods, systems, and manufactures are also disclosed. | 11-26-2009 |
20090297004 | Method for Automatically Synchronizing the Review of Two DSA Scenes - A system automatically synchronizes display of adjacent different medical image sequences of an anatomical portion derived for use in Angiography or another medical procedure. The system includes an imaging system for acquiring first and second sets of data at different stages of a treatment procedure representing corresponding first and second image sequences individually comprising multiple temporally sequential individual images of vessels of a portion of patient anatomy. The sequential individual images encompass introduction of a contrast agent into patient vessels. A display presents the first and second image sequences in substantially adjacent display areas to facilitate user comparison. A contrast agent detector automatically analyzes the first and second image sequences to identify a first image frame in both the first image sequence and the second image sequence indicating presence of a contrast agent. A display processor automatically synchronizes presentation of the first image sequence and the second image sequence in respective areas of the substantially adjacent display areas in response to identification of the first image frame and relative to introduction of contrast agent and enables a user to synchronously increment through image frames of both the first image sequence and the second image sequence, one frame at a time. | 12-03-2009 |
20090297005 | Operating method for a pivotal poly-plane imaging unit for imaging a moving examination object - The invention relates to a pivotal poly-plane imaging unit having a first and a second imaging planes arranged relative to each other at an offset angle and recording projection images of an moving examination object at a fan angle β. First and second projection images are recorded in different relative positions at respective instants by pivoting the imaging planes at an angle at least 180°+β. Characteristic structures in the first and second projection images are detected. The characteristic structures are segmented by a vectorial representation and triangulated to obtain a three-dimensional representation of the characteristic structures. Three-dimensional displacement vector fields are determined that indicate displacements of the three-dimensional representation of the characteristic structures relative to a reference instant. A three-dimensional image is reconstructed using the three-dimensional displacement vector fields to display a state of the moving examination object at the reference instant. | 12-03-2009 |
20090324038 | Method for performing an imaging examination technique - A method is disclosed for performing an imaging examination technique. In at least one embodiment, the method includes measuring a first dataset via a first imaging examination technique, measuring a second dataset via a second imaging examination technique, segmenting the first dataset, transfering the segmentation to the second dataset, selecting at least one localization in the second dataset on the basis of the transferred segmentation, and measuring a third dataset via a third imaging examination technique such that the third dataset includes the at least one localization. | 12-31-2009 |
20100034446 | System and Method for Coronary Digital Subtraction Angiography - A method and system for extracting coronary vessels fluoroscopic image sequences using coronary digital subtraction angiography (DSA) are disclosed. A set of mask images of a coronary region is received, and a sequence of contrast images for the coronary region is received. For each contrast image, vessel regions are detected in the contrast image using learning-based vessel segment detection and a background region of the contrast image is determined based on the detected vessel regions. Background motion is estimated between one of the mask images and the background region of the contrast image by estimating a motion field between the mask image and the background image and performing covariance-based filtering over the estimated motion field. The mask image is then warped based on the estimated background motion to generate an estimated background layer. The estimated background layer is subtracted from the contrast image to extract a coronary vessel layer for the contrast image. | 02-11-2010 |
20100067760 | Method and System for Automatic Coronary Artery Detection - A method and system for coronary artery detection in 3D cardiac volumes is disclosed. The heart chambers are segmented in the cardiac volume, and an initial estimation of a coronary artery is generated based on the segmented heart chambers. The initial estimation of the coronary artery is then refined based on local information in the cardiac volume in order to detect the coronary artery in the cardiac volume. The detected coronary artery can be extended using 3D dynamic programming. | 03-18-2010 |
20100074493 | VISUALIZING A VASCULAR STRUCTURE | 03-25-2010 |
20100128945 | SYNCHRONIZATION OF X-RAY SOURCE POSITION DURING CARDIAC-GATED COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY - A method for temporally imaging a cyclic body structure during a predetermined phase of its cycle using a CT scanner of the type having a rotating radiation source. In one embodiment the image or other display is generated using data produced when the radiation source is at a predetermined position when the body structure is in the predetermined phase. The method can be performed by using only data collected when the radiation source is at the predetermined position and the body structure is in the predetermined phase, by stimulating the body structure so the phase of the body structure and location of the radiation source are synchronized, or by controlling the motion of the radiation source so the location of the radiation source and the phase of the body structure are synchronized. | 05-27-2010 |
20100202675 | RADIATION DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, X-RAY COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY APPARATUS, AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - An X-ray image generating unit alternately generates X-ray images each obtained by radiating X-rays having a higher level of energy and X-ray images each obtained by radiating X-rays having a lower level of energy. Further, every time an X-ray image has been generated by the X-ray image generating unit, a dual energy subtraction image generating unit generates a dual energy subtraction image by using the X-ray image that has just been generated and the X-ray image generated immediately preceding the X-ray image. | 08-12-2010 |
20100220906 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETERMINING OPTIMAL FEATURES FOR CLASSIFYING PATTERNS OR OBJECTS IN IMAGES - Provided are methods for determining optimal features for classifying patterns or objects. Also provided are methods for image analysis. Further provided are methods for image searching. | 09-02-2010 |
20100239140 | COUPLING THE VIEWING DIRECTION OF A BLOOD VESSEL'S CPR VIEW WITH THE VIEWING ANGLE ON THE 3D TUBULAR STRUCTURE'S RENDERED VOXEL VOLUME AND/OR WITH THE C-ARM GEOMETRY OF A 3D ROTATIONAL ANGIOGRAPHY DEVICE'S C-ARM SYSTEM - The present invention describes a method for rendering and displaying a curved planar reformat (CPR) view ( | 09-23-2010 |
20100284593 | METHOD OF CLASSIFICATION OF TAGGED MATERIAL IN A SET OF TOMOGRAPHIC IMAGES OF COLORECTAL REGION - A method of classification of image portions corresponding to faecal residues from a tomographic image of a colorectal region, which comprises a plurality of voxels ( | 11-11-2010 |
20100310140 | METHOD OF COMPENSATION OF RESPIRATORY MOTION IN CARDIAC IMAGING | 12-09-2010 |
20100316274 | Method for Imaging Plaque Using Dual Energy CT - Two x-ray CT images are acquired of arterial plaque using x-rays at two different energy levels. The reconstructed images are normalized by adjusting pixel brightness until pixels depicting a region containing calcium have substantially the same brightness. The normalized images are subtracted to produce an image that depicts iron in the arterial plaque. | 12-16-2010 |
20100329526 | Determination method for a reinitialization of a temporal sequence of fluoroscopic images of an examination region of an examination object - A determination method for reinitialization of a temporal sequence of fluoroscopic images of an examination region of an examination object is provided. The examination region comprises a vascular system including arteries and/or veins. An acquisition time is assigned to each of the images representing a given distribution of a substance in the examination region at the acquisition time. A computer receives the temporal sequence of the images, determines an evaluation image corresponding spatially on a pixel-by-pixel basis to the images, and calculates a differential value between a pixel of the evaluation image at a time and a pixel at a preceding time during a time characteristic of the sequence. A reinitialization of the temporal sequence of the images is performed at a specific time and thereafter the determination method is started over and/or repeated. The specific time is determined as a function of at least one previously calculated differential value. | 12-30-2010 |
20110002517 | METHOD FOR ANALYZING A TUBE SYSTEM - A method of analyzing a tube system in particular by image processing of images of the tube system is provided by the present invention. In order to achieve a simulation of a medium flow through a calculated tube model, the present invention gathers a tube model from a specific tube data set. By defining the necessary parameters of a virtual injection of the medium by the user, the medium flows through the model. Using this displayed simulation for generating at least two images leads to an artificial image sequence that might support a person, which wants to examine a real structure, that corresponds to the calculated model. This might be seen in. | 01-06-2011 |
20110026790 | System for Performing Coronary Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA) - An image data subtraction system receives an electrical signal representing a heart cycle electrical waveform during multiple heart cycles and acquires data representing a first image set comprising multiple temporally sequential individual mask images of vessels of a portion of patient anatomy during the multiple heart cycles in the absence of a contrast agent. The system acquires data representing a second image set comprising a multiple temporally sequential individual contrast enhanced images of vessels of the portion of patient anatomy during the multiple heart cycles in the presence of a contrast agent. An image data processor automatically uses the electrical signal to identify temporally corresponding pairs of images comprising a mask image and a contrast enhanced image acquired substantially at a same point within a heart cycle. The image data processor, for the corresponding pairs, automatically subtracts data representing a mask image of a corresponding pair from a contrast enhanced image of the corresponding pair, to provide subtracted images. | 02-03-2011 |
20110081061 | MEDICAL IMAGE ANALYSIS SYSTEM FOR ANATOMICAL IMAGES SUBJECT TO DEFORMATION AND RELATED METHODS - A medical image analysis system is for first and second anatomical image data of a same body area and subject to deformation. The first and second anatomical image data includes respective first and second sets of voxels. The medical image analysis system includes a processor cooperating with a memory to generate a respective reach array for each voxel of the second anatomical image data, with each reach array being a subset of contiguous voxels. The processor also generates a cost array for each reach array, with each cost array based upon probabilities of voxels of the reach array matching voxels of the first anatomical image data. The processor may also solve each cost array using belief propagation to thereby generate a deformation vector array between the first and second anatomical image data. | 04-07-2011 |
20110103662 | METHOD FOR CIRCULAR SCAN RECONSTRUCTION IN COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY AND COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC DEVICE - A method of computed-tomography and a computed-tomography apparatus where the portion of the field of view of a subject were full scan data is available is reconstructed using a full-scan algorithm. In the areas where full scan data is not available, half-scanning is used. Data is also extrapolated from the full scan data. The extrapolated data overlaps a portion of the half-scanning data. The extrapolated data and the overlapped portion of the half-scanning data are feathered. The image is reconstructed using the full-scan, half-scan and feathered data. Corner regions in an image are exposed and reconstructed to produce more uniform z-coverage of the reconstruction field of view. | 05-05-2011 |
20110135176 | System for Processing Medical Images Showing an Invasive Instrument - A medical image data processing system automatically selects images showing an anatomically invasive instrument having a pair of instrument identification marker objects. An image data processor automatically, identifies one or more candidate image objects potentially representing invasive instrument marker objects in multiple images in a sequence of acquired images in response to predetermined size and shape data of marker objects. The image data processor identifies pairs of the identified candidate image objects potentially indicating an invasive instrument, in response to predetermined data associated with relative location of individual marker objects of a pair of identification marker objects of an invasive instrument. The image data processor selects in the multiple images, at least one of the identified pairs of identified candidate image objects in response to predetermined criteria and selects images of the multiple images associated with a selected pair of identified candidate image objects. | 06-09-2011 |
20110135177 | MEDICAL IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND MEDICAL IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - In a medical image processing apparatus according to an embodiment, an image inverting unit generates a first inverted image obtained by inverting a first medical image in a left-and-right direction of an examined subject and generates a second inverted image obtained by inverting a second medical image that is different from the first medical image in the left-and-right direction of the examined subject. A displacement detecting unit detects a displacement between the first medical image and the first inverted image. A registration unit generates, based on the displacement detected by the displacement detecting unit, a corrected image obtained by correcting the second medical image or a corrected inverted image obtained by correcting the second inverted image. A difference image generating unit generates a difference image between the second inverted image and the corrected image or a difference image between the second medical image and the corrected inverted image. | 06-09-2011 |
20110135178 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE AND METHOD - The present invention provides an image processing device and method for effectively generating a difference image from plural images. The plural images generated by an image generation unit are first associated with radiography date and hour information and stored in a storage unit, at least one reference image and one comparison image are designated by an image designation unit from the stored images, the date and hour information of the designated reference image is compared with that of the designated comparison image by an image comparison unit, a difference process is executed by a difference processing unit based on an operation determined based on the comparison result, and the processed difference image is displayed on a display unit under the control of a display control unit. | 06-09-2011 |
20110164797 | Method and system of processing multi-energy x-ray images - Provided is a method and system of processing a multi-energy X-ray image. Through the method and system, a plurality of target images may be acquired using an X-ray detector enabling an energy separation to be performed in a predetermined time interval, with respect to a target where a contrast agent is applied, and a signal processing may be performed on the acquired target images, thereby detecting and reading benign/malignant lesions or masses. | 07-07-2011 |
20110206257 | AUTOMATIC DETECTION AND ACCURATE SEGMENTATION OF ABDOMINAL AORTIC ANEURYSM - This invention concerns an efficient algorithm for automatic and accurate segmentation of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA). The algorithm first identifies the location of the lumen (the inner portion of aorta) and then segments it. The abdominal portion of the lumen is then found using anatomical and geometrical features. This portion of the lumen is straightened using geometrical transformation based on the smoothed centreline. The transformed lumen is then passed through a number of filters, based on geometrical, intensity, gradient and texture features, to search for the existence of the aneurysm. If aneurysm is detected, a deformable model is first initialized to the approximate borders of the aneurysm which are then refined using global and location information. | 08-25-2011 |
20110299749 | Medical Image and Vessel Characteristic Data Processing System - An image data processing system automatically indicates an image of a digitally subtracted Angiography (DSA) image sequence is associated with at least one of, arterial, venous, or capillary phases of blood flow. The system includes an interface for acquiring data representing a DSA sequence of digitally subtracted images enhancing vessel structure. An image data processor automatically indicates an image of the DSA sequence is associated with at least one of, arterial, venous, or capillary phases of blood flow by determining individual minimum luminance intensity level values of individual images of the DSA sequence and using the determined individual minimum luminance intensity level values in identifying images of the DSA sequence are associated with at least one of, arterial, venous, or capillary phases of blood flow. An output processor automatically assigns an attribute to image data to identify vessel phase in response to the identifying images of the DSA sequence, | 12-08-2011 |
20110305378 | MASK CONSTRUCTION FOR CARDIAC SUBTRACTION - To provide an improved method for achieving DSA images where the effect of residual motions in cardiac DSA during the perfusion phase is reduced and in order to display subtracted images containing less motion artefacts, a method of performing digital subtraction angiography DSA in an imaging apparatus comprises the steps of generating a first image sequence of mask images ( | 12-15-2011 |
20120163686 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR 2-D/3-D REGISTRATION BETWEEN 3-D VOLUME AND 2-D ANGIOGRAPHY - A method for registering a 2-D DSA image to a 3-D image volume includes calculating a coarse similarity measure between a 2-D DRR of an aorta and a cardiac DSA image, and a 2-D DRR of a coronary artery and the cardiac DSA image, for a plurality of poses over a range of 2-D translations. Several DRR-pose combinations with largest similarity measures are selected as refinement candidates. The similarity measure is calculated between the refinement candidate DRRs and the DSA, for a plurality of poses over a range of 3-D translations and in-plane rotations. One or more DRR-pose combinations with largest similarity measures are selected as final candidates. The similarity measure between the final candidate DRRs the DSA are calculated for a plurality of poses over a range of 3D translations and 3D rotations, and a DRR-pose combination with a largest similarity measure is selected as a final registration result. | 06-28-2012 |
20120201439 | Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA) Motion Compensated Imaging System - A motion compensated digitally subtracted Angiography (DSA) image processing system includes an interface for acquiring a sequence of images of patient vessels both prior to and following introduction of contrast agent into the vessels. An image data processor automatically, (a) determines a first shift vector for a first image of the sequence for compensating for shift between the first image and a first reference image of the sequence, (b) applies the determined first shift vector to the first image of the sequence to produce a shifted image, (c) subtracts the first reference image from the shifted image to produce a subtracted image enhancing vessel structure, (d) determines a second shift vector for compensating for shift between the subtracted image and a second reference image and (e) shifts content of the subtracted image relative to the second reference image in response to the second shift vector, to provide a shifted subtracted image enhancing and aligning vessel structure. | 08-09-2012 |
20120230565 | AUTOMATIC QUANTITATIVE VESSEL ANALYSIS - Apparatus and methods are described for use with an image of blood vessels of a subject. In response to a user designating a single point on the image (a) a target portion of a blood vessel is automatically identified in the vicinity of the designated point, and (b) quantitative vessel analysis is performed on the target portion of the blood vessel. An output is generated based upon the quantitative vessel analysis. Other embodiments are also described. | 09-13-2012 |
20120250964 | Angiography system for angiographic examination of an object under examination and angiographic examination method - An angiography system for angiographic examination or treatment of an organ, vascular system or other regions of an object of a patient is proposed. The system has an x-ray source and an x-ray image detector disposed at ends of a C-arm, a patient support table, a system control unit, an image system, and a monitor. The object contains two details hiding each other in the x-ray images depending on angulation of the C-arm. The system control unit has a device that detects a 3D dataset of the object registered to the C-arm and detects the information about a course of the object. The device calculates a desired and/or optimum angulation of the C-arm from the detected information and transfers the calculated angulation to the system control unit for adjusting the C-arm to the angulation. | 10-04-2012 |
20120301000 | CORONARY MAGNETIC RESONANCE ANGIOGRAPHY WITH SIGNAL SEPARATION FOR WATER AND FAT - The invention relates to a method of performing coronary magnetic resonance angiography with signal separation for water and fat, the method comprising: acquiring coronary magnetic resonance angiography datasets using multi-echo Dixon acquisition, processing ( | 11-29-2012 |
20120321156 | MOTION VISUALISATION IN ANGIOGRAPHIC IMAGES - A method and an apparatus for motion visualization of a moving object in angiographic images are described. In a preferred embodiment of the method, first a mask image of the object of interest is acquired and a sequence of angiographic images of the object in different phases of motion of the object is acquired. Then, a first angiographic subtraction image and at least a second angiographic subtraction image are generated by subtracting the angiographic images from the mask image. Subsequently, a twice subtracted image is generated by subtracting the first angiographic subtraction image from the second angiographic subtraction image. In this way a double subtraction, i.e. a twice subtracted angiography is performed, to facilitate the assessment of the motion. | 12-20-2012 |
20130028494 | IMAGE ANALYSING - A flow pattern in a tube system is calculated from acquired image data. From the flow pattern virtual image data are generated and compared with the acquired data in order to determine a quality measure for the usability of the generated flow pattern at characteristic locations. | 01-31-2013 |
20130044926 | Identification of Regions of Interest and Extraction of Time Value Curves In Imaging Procedures - A method of extracting at least one time-value curve to determine a protocol in an imaging procedure using an imaging system, includes: determining a first N-dimensional data set of pixel values of a portion of a body of the patient at a first time using the imaging system, wherein N is an integer; determining at least a second N-dimensional data set of pixel values of the portion at a second time using the imaging system; computing a predetermined number of correlated segments of the imaged portion corresponding to a predetermined number of regions of interest of the patient by computing a similarity metric of a time series of pixel values; computing the at least one time-value curve for at least one of the regions of interest; and determining a protocol for a diagnostic scan using the image system based at least in part upon data from the time value curve. | 02-21-2013 |
20130064438 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PATIENT-SPECIFIC MODELING OF BLOOD FLOW - Embodiments include a system for determining cardiovascular information for a patient. The system may include at least one computer system configured to receive patient-specific data regarding a geometry of the patient's heart, and create a three-dimensional model representing at least a portion of the patient's heart based on the patient-specific data. The at least one computer system may be further configured to create a physics-based model relating to a blood flow characteristic of the patient's heart and determine a fractional flow reserve within the patient's heart based on the three-dimensional model and the physics-based model. | 03-14-2013 |
20130077839 | Temporal Difference Encoding for Angiographic Image Sequences | 03-28-2013 |
20130083985 | ANGIOGRAPHIC EXAMINATION METHOD - An angiographic examination method of an examination object for determining the morphology, histology and/or state of moving walls of vessels is disclosed. A series of angiography images of a section of interest of a vessel is disclosed. A quantitative analysis of the vascular wall of the section of the vessel is provided. The inherent motion of the vascular wall from two consecutive angiography images in each instance is calculated. The difference of the inherent motion of the vascular wall is visualized and/or the morphology and/or histology of the vascular wall is visualized. | 04-04-2013 |
20130094734 | System for Comparison of Medical Images - A system automatically processes different medical image sequences facilitating comparison of the sequences in adjacent respective display areas. An image data processor, identifies first and second mask images of first and second image sequences respectively as images preceding introduction of contrast agent and determines a translational shift between the first and second mask images. The image data processor transforms data representing individual images of at least one of the first image sequence and the second image sequence in response to the determined translational shift to reduce mis-alignment of the individual images of the first image sequence relative to the individual images of the second image sequence. A display presents first and second image sequences corrected for mis-alignment, in substantially adjacent display areas to facilitate user comparison. | 04-18-2013 |
20130121550 | Non-Contrast-Enhanced 4D MRA Using Compressed Sensing Reconstruction - A reconstructed image is rendered of a patient by a processor from a set of undersampled MRI data by first subtracting two repetitions of the acquired data in k-space to create a third dataset. The processor reconstructs the image by minimizing an objective function under a constraint related to the third dataset, wherein the objective function includes applying a Karhunen-Loeve Transform (KLT) to a temporal dimension of data. The objective function under the constraint is expressed as arg min | 05-16-2013 |
20130188846 | METHOD, SYSTEM AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM FOR AUTOMATIC SEGMENTATION OF A MEDICAL IMAGE - A method for automatic segmentation of a medical image is provided. The method comprises registering a reference image associated with an object to the medical image, determining a transformation function on the basis of the registration, applying the transformation function to a probability map associated with the object; carrying out a probability thresholding on the transformed probability map by selecting a first area of the medical image in which the probability of the object is within a probability range, carrying out an intensity thresholding on the medical image by selecting a second area of the medical image in which the intensity is within an intensity range, selecting a common part of the first and second areas and carrying out on the common part a morphological opening resulting in separate sub-areas, selecting the largest sub-area as a seed, and segmenting the medical image on the basis of the seed. | 07-25-2013 |
20130216114 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IMPROVED VISUALIZATION DURING MINIMALLY INVASIVE PROCEDURES - Systems and methods are provided for performing a minimally invasive procedure in an automated or semi-automated fashion, where an imaging probe having an imaging modality compatible with the presence of an intraluminal medium is employed to record images that are processed to identify regions of interest and direct a medium displacement operation during a subsequent minimally invasive operation that benefits from the displacement of the intraluminal medium. The minimally invasive operation may include recording images with a second imaging modality, or may be a therapeutic treatment. The method is may be performed in real-time, where images obtained from the first imaging modality are processed in real time to determine whether or not the minimally invasive operation is to be performed at a given position. | 08-22-2013 |
20130259336 | MEDICAL IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM - A medical image processing system includes an angiographic image acquisition unit, a volume data generation unit, a vessel extraction unit, a sorting unit, and an image synthesis unit. The angiographic image acquisition unit acquires an angiographic image on a region including a blood vessel. The volume data generation unit three-dimensionally reconstructs the angiographic image to generate volume data. The vessel extraction unit extracts blood vessels on the basis of the volume data. The sorting unit sorts collateral circulations and ischemic blood vessels on the basis of the blood vessels. The image synthesis unit applies different image processes to the collateral circulations and the ischemic blood vessels, and generates a synthesized image. | 10-03-2013 |
20130308844 | MEDICAL IMAGING DEVICE FOR PROVIDING AN IMAGE REPRESENTATION SUPPORTING THE ACCURATE POSITIONING OF AN INVENTION DEVICE IN VESSEL INTERVENTION PROCEDURES - A medical imaging device and a method for providing an image representation supporting inaccurate positioning of an intervention device in a vessel intervention procedure is proposed. Therein, an anatomy representation (AR) of a vessel region of interest and at least one angiogram X-ray image (RA) and a live fluoroscopy X-ray image (LI) are acquired. The following steps are performed when a radio-opaque device is fixedly arranged within the vessel region of interest: (a) registering the anatomy representation to the at least one angiogram X-ray image in order to provide an anatomy-angiogram-registration (R | 11-21-2013 |
20130315457 | Vessel Identification Using Shape and Motion Mapping for Coronary Angiogram Sequences - Embodiments of the invention relate to a method, system, and computer program product to automate image classification with respect to coronary vessels in an angiography sequence. Two primary elements are employed, including training and recognition. Training pertains to the pre-processing images and extracting salient features that characterize the appearance of coronary arteries under different viewpoints. Recognition pertains to extraction of features from a new image sequence and determining a classification boundary for the new image from previously classified and labeled image sequences. | 11-28-2013 |
20130315458 | Vessel Identification Using Shape and Motion Mapping for Coronary Angiogram Sequences - Embodiments of the invention relate to automating image classification with respect to coronary vessels in an angiography sequence. Two primary elements are employed, including training and recognition. Training pertains to the pre-processing images and extracting salient features that characterize the appearance of coronary arteries under different viewpoints. Recognition pertains to extraction of features from a new image sequence and determining a classification boundary for the new image from previously classified and labeled image sequences. | 11-28-2013 |
20130329977 | AUTOMATIC REDUCTION OF INTERFERING ELEMENTS FROM AN IMAGE STREAM OF A MOVING ORGAN - Apparatus and methods are described for imaging a portion of a body of a subject that undergoes a motion cycle. A plurality of image frames of the portion are acquired. The image frames are enhanced with respect to a first given feature of the image frames, by (a) image tracking the image frames with respect to the first given feature, (b) identifying a second given feature in each of the image frames, and (c) in response to the identifying, reducing visibility of the second given feature in the image frames. The image frames that (a) have been image tracked with respect to the first given feature, and (b) have had reduced therein the visibility of the second given feature, are displayed as a stream of image frames. Other embodiments are also described. | 12-12-2013 |
20130336559 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MULTI-LEVEL EYE REGISTRATION - A method for performing multi-level eye registration comprising: obtaining a first initial reference eye image by a first diagnostic device and defining a reference coordinate system; obtaining a second eye image by a surgery device, said second eye image being obtained in a pre-surgery phase before the surgery has started; performing a first registration between said first eye image and said second eye image to obtain a first registration result; obtaining a third eye image by said surgery device, said third eye image being obtained after surgery has started; performing a second registration between said second eye image and said third eye image to obtain a second registration result; combining said first and second registration results to obtain a combined registration result to thereby obtain a registration between said initial reference eye image obtained by said diagnostic device and said third eye image obtained by said surgery device after surgery has started. | 12-19-2013 |
20140003687 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR EVALUATING HEMODYNAMICS OF A BLOOD VESSEL | 01-02-2014 |
20140003688 | MULTIPLE MODALITY CARDIAC IMAGING | 01-02-2014 |
20140016844 | METHOD FOR ACQUISITION OF SUBTRACTION ANGIOGRAMS - The invention relates to the field of digital processing of x-ray images and can be used in digital subtraction angiography to compensate for impact of involuntary patient movement and movement of internal organs on image of the vascular system. The technical result of the claimed invention is the improvement of diagnostic value of subtraction angiographic images by eliminating artifacts caused by the motility of anatomical structures. Technical result is achieved by the that at the stage of digital images registration a search for characteristic details is performed for each image. According to the shift of the said details determine expectable shift of a patient organs. Then perform segmentation of image from the pre-contrast series in the region of homogenous warping; for each region a geometrical transformation is calculated and corresponding geometrical transformations are performed for each region of a series of pre-contrast digital images. | 01-16-2014 |
20140016845 | IMAGE ANALYSIS FOR SPECIFIC OBJECTS - A system and method for automatic detection of an object feature, such as a lesion, across a plurality of sets of image data, taken from the same subject, which may optionally be a human patient but which may also optionally be any type of animal or a non-biological subject. | 01-16-2014 |
20140023252 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD AND IMAGE PROCESSING PROGRAM - A first processed signal is extracted by extracting an input spatial frequency component corresponding to a periodic pattern by performing filtering processing on an image signal. A subject component of an image included in the extracted first processed signal is extracted from the first processed signal. A second processed signal is extracted by subtracting the first processed signal from the image signal and also by adding the extracted subject component to the image signal. | 01-23-2014 |
20140037168 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME AND STORAGE MEDIUM - An image processing apparatus comprises: shape obtaining means for obtaining information indicating a surface shape of a target object; discrimination means for discriminating a contact portion and a noncontact portion between the target object and an imaging surface of an ultrasonic probe which captures an ultrasonic image of the target object; position and orientation obtaining means for obtaining information indicating a position and orientation of the ultrasonic probe at the time of imaging; and alignment means for estimating deformation of the target object based on information indicating the surface shape, a discrimination result obtained by the discrimination means, and information indicating the position and orientation, and aligning the surface shape with the ultrasonic image. | 02-06-2014 |
20140044330 | ANGIOGRAPHIC METHOD FOR EXAMINING A VASCULAR SYSTEM - An angiographic method is provided. The method includes: identification of a relevant part in acquired angiography 4D sequences which exhibit a vascular disorder or change; determination of a centerline for the part; ascertainment of lines parallel and surrounding the centerline; specification of perpendicular cross-sections; determination of voxels; ascertainment of bolus curves as a function of time for each voxel; which intersects one of the cross-sections; determination of a time for each voxel; measurement of the true Euclidean distance between voxels at the positions along the centerline and the parallel lines; division of the measured distance by the time difference; determination of second speed components, running transversely, proportional to the relative change in mass for each voxel; and calculation of the blood flow in the relevant part of the vascular system on the basis of the speed components. | 02-13-2014 |
20140064584 | DETERMINING A PLANAR EXAMINATION AREA - A method is disclosed for determining a planar examination area based on the recording of a first and also a second three-dimensional medical image. In at least one embodiment, the two images each map the least one common examination area, wherein the second image was recorded via a radiopharmaceutical and via a different modality from the first image. The first image is segmented so that the examination area in the segmented first image is represented by a two-dimensional surface, through which a determination of a distance between the image elements of the second image and the image elements of the segmented first image forming the surface is made possible by use of a common coordinate system of the two images. Finally image elements of the second image are assigned to the image elements of the segmented, first image forming the surface, depending on a criterion relating to the distance. | 03-06-2014 |
20140072196 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MEDICAL IMAGE REGISTRATION - A method of medical image registration includes obtaining a first medical image generated before a medical surgery; obtaining a second medical image generated in real time during the medical surgery; extracting landmark points of at least two adjacent anatomical objects recognizable in the second medical image among a plurality of anatomical objects near an organ of interest of a patient from the first medical image and the second medical image; and registering the first medical image and the second medical image based on a geometrical correlation among the adjacent anatomical objects indicated by the landmark points of the first medical image and a geometrical correlation among the adjacent anatomical objects indicated by the landmark points of the second medical image. | 03-13-2014 |
20140140597 | LUMINAL BACKGROUND CLEANING - Apparatus and methods are described for use with an input angiogram image of a device inserted inside a portion of subject's body, the angiogram image being acquired in the presence of contrast agent. At least one processor ( | 05-22-2014 |
20140161332 | IMAGE RECONSTRUCTION FROM LIMITED OR INCOMPLETE DATA - A system and method are provided for reconstructing images from limited or incomplete data, such as few view data or limited angle data or truncated data (including exterior and interior data) generated from divergent beams. In one aspect of the invention, the method and apparatus iteratively constrains the variation of an estimated image in order to reconstruct the image. As one example, a divergent beam may be used to generate data (“actual data”). As discussed above, the actual data may be less than sufficient to exactly reconstruct the image by conventional techniques, such as FBP. In order to reconstruct an image, a first estimated image may be generated. Estimated data may be generated from the first estimated image, and compared with the actual data. The comparison of the estimated data with the actual data may include determining a difference between the estimated and actual data. The comparison may then be used to generate a new estimated image. For example, the first estimated image may be combined with an image generated from the difference data to generate a new estimated image. In order to generate the image for the next iteration, the variation of the new estimated image may be constrained. For example, the variation of the new estimated image may be at least partly constrained in order to lessen or reducing the total variation of the image. | 06-12-2014 |
20140254903 | ESTIMATION OF CONFIDENCE LIMITS FOR MEASUREMENTS DERIVED FROM IMAGE DATA - A medical image processing apparatus comprises an image data processing unit configured to determine a result by processing image data using an algorithm, a confidence interval (CI) evaluation unit configured to determine a confidence interval for the result from at least two initial results, and an output unit configured to provide the confidence interval to a user. | 09-11-2014 |
20140270436 | Vascular Data Processing and Image Registration Systems, Methods, and Apparatuses - In part, the invention relates to processing, tracking and registering angiography images and elements in such images relative to images from an intravascular imaging modality such as, for example, optical coherence tomography (OCT). Registration between such imaging modalities is facilitated by tracking of a marker of the intravascular imaging probe performed on the angiography images obtained during a pullback. Further, detecting and tracking vessel centerlines is used to perform a continuous registration between OCT and angiography images in one embodiment. | 09-18-2014 |
20140270437 | METHOD FOR EFFICIENT DIGITAL SUBTRACTION ANGIOGRAPHY - A system and method for performing DSA (digital subtraction angiography), which does not require a non-enhanced or “mask” image to be obtained. | 09-18-2014 |
20140270438 | METHOD FOR LOCALIZATION OF AN EPILEPTIC FOCUS IN NEUROIMAGING - In a method for localizing a candidate foci in neuroimaging, two images are acquired, one being a baseline (interictal) image and another being an intervention (ictal) image. The two images are aligned and the intensities of the images are normalized. A difference image is calculated by subtracting the baseline (interictal) image from the intervention (ictal) image. The difference image is normalized and regions of interest are selected as candidate foci. | 09-18-2014 |
20140334700 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SCATTER CORRECTION FOR CBCT SYSTEM AND CONE-BEAM IMAGE RECONSTRUCTION - Embodiments of methods and/or apparatus for 3-D volume image reconstruction of a subject, executed at least in part on a computer for use with a digital radiographic apparatus, can obtain image data for 2-D projection images over a range of scan angles. For each of the plurality of projection images, an enhanced projection image can be generated. In one embodiment, a first scatter intensity distribution through the plurality of projection images can be modulated based on a first scaling function and a SPR to generate a second scatter intensity distribution through the plurality of projection images, which can be combined with the original plurality of projection images. | 11-13-2014 |
20140341452 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EFFICIENT ASSESSMENT OF LESION DEVELOPMENT - In a method for calculating and displaying a summary of changes in image-derived measurements of one or more properties of one or more regions of interest whereby a representation is presented to a user indicating a change in the property of at least one of the regions-of-interest, with an indication of the region-of-interest associated with the representation. | 11-20-2014 |
20150010221 | MEDICAL IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, X-RAY DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, MEDICAL IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD AND X-RAY DIAGNOSTIC METHOD - According to one embodiment, a medical image processing apparatus includes a subtraction image acquisition part, a threshold processing part, an image processing part and an image operation part. The subtraction image acquisition part is configured to acquire subtraction image data between X-ray contrast image data and X-ray non-contrast image data of an object. The threshold processing part is configured to perform threshold processing of the subtraction image data or image data generated based on the subtraction image data. The image processing part is configured to perform image processing of image data after the threshold processing. The image operation part is configured to generate image data for a display by an image operation between the subtraction image data and image data after the image processing. | 01-08-2015 |
20150110372 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AUTOMATICALLY GENERATING DESCRIPTIONS OF RETINAL IMAGES - Embodiments disclose systems and methods that aid in screening, diagnosis and/or monitoring of medical conditions. The systems and methods may allow, for example, for automated identification and localization of lesions and other anatomical structures from medical data obtained from medical imaging devices, computation of image-based biomarkers including quantification of dynamics of lesions, and/or integration with telemedicine services, programs, or software. | 04-23-2015 |
20150146949 | IMAGE RECONSTRUCTION FROM LIMITED OR INCOMPLETE DATA - A system and method are provided for reconstructing images from limited or incomplete data, such as few view data or limited angle data or truncated data generated from divergent beams. The method and apparatus may iteratively constrain the variation of an estimated image in order to reconstruct the image. To reconstruct an image, a first estimated image may be generated. Estimated data may be generated from the first estimated image, and compared with the actual data. The comparison of the estimated data with the actual data may include determining a difference between the estimated and actual data. The comparison may then be used to generate a new estimated image. For example, the first estimated image may be combined with an image generated from the difference data to generate a new estimated image. To generate the image for the next iteration, the variation of the new estimated image may be constrained. | 05-28-2015 |
20150317793 | METHOD FOR SEPARATING AND ESTIMATING MULTIPLE MOTION PARAMETERS IN X-RAY ANGIOGRAM IMAGE - A method for separating and estimating multiple motion parameters in an X-ray angiogram image. The method includes: determining a cardiac motion signal cycle and a variation frame sequence of translational motion according to an angiogram image sequence, tracing structure feature points of vessels in the angiogram image sequence whereby obtaining a motion sequence, processing the motion sequence via multivariable optimization and Fourier frequency-domain filtering, separating an optimum translational motion curve, a cardiac motion curve, a respiratory motion curve and a high-frequency motion curve according to the variation frame sequence of translational motion, a cycle of the cardiac motion signal, a range of a respiratory motion signal cycle, and a range of a high-frequency motion signal cycle. | 11-05-2015 |
20150324962 | Method and System for Non-Invasive Computation of Hemodynamic Indices for Coronary Artery Stenosis - A method and system for non-invasive hemodynamic assessment of coronary artery stenosis based on medical image data is disclosed. Patient-specific anatomical measurements of the coronary arteries are extracted from medical image data of a patient. Patient-specific boundary conditions of a computational model of coronary circulation representing the coronary arteries are calculated based on the patient-specific anatomical measurements of the coronary arteries. Blood flow and pressure in the coronary arteries are simulated using the computational model of coronary circulation and the patient-specific boundary conditions and coronary autoregulation is modeled during the simulation of blood flow and pressure in the coronary arteries. A wave-free period is identified in a simulated cardiac cycle, and an instantaneous wave-Free Ratio (iFR) value is calculated for a stenosis region based on simulated pressure values in the wave-free period. | 11-12-2015 |
20150356753 | FLUID-DYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF A VASCULAR TREE USING ANGIOGRAPHY - A method for ascertaining a fluid-dynamic characteristic value of a resilient vascular tree, through which a fluid flows in a pulsating manner, is provided. At least one 2D projection, respectively, of the resilient vascular tree is generated by a projection device from different angles of projection, and a digital 3D reconstruction of the vascular tree is generated by an analysis device based on of the 2D projections. A geometry of at least one vessel of the resilient vascular tree is estimated based on the 3D reconstruction, and at least one fluid state in the resilient vascular tree is ascertained from the geometry and predetermined resilient properties of the resilient vascular tree. The at least one fluid-dynamic characteristic value is calculated as a function of the at least one fluid state. | 12-10-2015 |
20150379700 | ULTRASOUND IMAGE DISPLAYING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING ULTRASOUND IMAGE - An ultrasound image displaying apparatus includes: a composite data generating unit which generates composite data in which data based on echo signals obtained by transmitting ultrasound to a subject are multiple-frame combined; a display unit on which an ultrasound image based on the composite data is displayed; and an index calculating unit which calculates an index related to the amount of motion artifacts in the ultrasound image for each frame, based on the data. The composite data generating unit generates composite data combined using data of some or all frames in each of which the index satisfies a prescribed reference. | 12-31-2015 |
20160022233 | CREATING A VESSEL IMAGE AND FLUOROSCOPICALLY REPRESENTING VESSELS - A method for creating a selective vessel image within a volume section of an examination object using an imaging system is provided. The method includes creating a vessel image of the volume section. The creating of the vessel image includes acquiring imaging data of the volume section within a predetermined time interval using the imaging system, determining a maximum opacity within the time interval on account of a contrast agent administered to the examination object per pixel of the vessel image, and segmenting vessels. The segmenting includes deciding, depending on the maximum opacity of the pixel, whether the respective pixel belongs to the vessel. The method also includes determining a contrast agent arrival time per pixel of the vessel image, and segmenting whether the respective vessel of the vessel image belongs to a vessel of the selective vessel image. | 01-28-2016 |
20160027174 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD - An image processing techniques and apparatuses providing image analysis that calculates a feature value of an input frame image; compares the feature value of the frame image with a feature value of a previous frame image or standard frame image to determine an area corresponding to a change of the feature value and a degree of the change of the feature value in the input frame image. A color-coded display of the corresponding area may be generated based on the degree of change. | 01-28-2016 |
20160035103 | VESSEL SEGMENTATION - The present invention relates to vessel segmentation. In order to provide an improved way of providing segmentation information with reduced X-ray dose, an X-ray image processing device ( | 02-04-2016 |
20160048983 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCING CONE BEAM ARTIFACTS BASED UPON IMAGE DOMAIN DIFFERENTIATION IN CIRCULAR COMPUTER TOMOGRAPHY (CT) - Cone beam artifacts arise in circular CT reconstruction. The cone beam artifacts are substantially removed by reconstructing a reference image from measured data at circular source trajectory, differentiating the reference image; generating synthetic data by forward projection of the differentiated reference image along a pre-determined source trajectory, which supplements the circular source trajectory to a theoretically complete trajectory, reconstructing a correction image from the synthetic data and optionally applying a scaling factor. Ultimately, the cone beam artifact is substantially reduced by generating a corrected image using the reference image and the correction image that has been optimally scaled based upon the adaptively determined scaling factor value. | 02-18-2016 |
20160058319 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS - An image processing apparatus according to an embodiment includes a processor and a memory. The memory stores processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: receive an input of information designating an observation target; extract, from each of magnetic resonance (MR) images included in an MR image group collected by applying a tagging pulse to a region where a fluid flows, a group of regions of the fluid; analyze, by an analyzing method associated with the observation target, the group of regions of the fluid extracted from each of the MR images, thereby deriving an index indicating a dynamic state of the fluid; and cause the index to be displayed on a display. | 03-03-2016 |
20160063700 | MEDICAL IMAGE MEASURING APPARATUS, METHOD, AND MEDIUM - A medical image measuring apparatus includes a tissue information label assigning unit that assigns each point of a medical image with a tissue information label representing tissue information each point belongs, a measuring unit that performs measurement in the medical image, and a measurement subject label assigning unit that determines, based on a tissue information label assigned to a measurement point or a point within a region of interest used for the measurement, a measurement subject label representing a measurement subject and assigns the label to a result of the measurement. | 03-03-2016 |
20160071266 | AUTOMATED ANALYSIS OF ANGIOGRAPHIC IMAGES - Systems and methods are provided for automated analysis of angiographic images. An angiographic imaging system is configured to capture a first image of a region of interest, representing a first time, and a second image of a region of interest, representing a second time. A registration component is configured to register the first image to the second image. A difference component is configured to generate a difference image from the first image and the second image. A pattern recognition component is configured to assign a clinical parameter to the region of interest from the difference image and at least one of the first image and the second image. | 03-10-2016 |
20160078621 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE AND X-RAY DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - According to one embodiment, an image processing device includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry sequentially acquires image data of time-sequential DSA images of an object, and acquires a parameter value for each pixel based on temporal change of a pixel value of the each pixel corresponding to the same region of the object in the sequentially acquired image data of time-sequential DSA images. Further, the processing circuitry sequentially generates image data of parameter images in such a manner that identification information according to the parameter value is assigned to the each pixel corresponding to the same region of the object, each time image data of a DSA image of the latest time phase being acquired. | 03-17-2016 |
20160089095 | System and Method for Generating a Time-encoded Blood Flow Image from an Arbitrary Projection - A system and method include reception of 3D imaging data showing blood flow over time in a patient volume including vessels, reception of a user input of a projection angle, generation of a plurality of 3D images based on the 3D imaging data, generation of a 2D digitally reconstructed radiograph (DRR) at the projection angle input by the user for one of the plurality of 3D X-ray images, and display of the 2D DRR image. Numerous other aspects are provided. | 03-31-2016 |
20160117809 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD THEREOF AND COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM - A subtraction image is generated by performing subtraction between a mask image serving as a radiation image obtained by capturing an object, at least of a specific region of which does not include contrast medium, and a live image serving as a radiation image obtained by capturing the object which includes the contrast medium. The emphasis degree serving as the degree of emphasis processing for the subtraction image is determined based on at least either the mask image or live image. The emphasis processing is performed for the subtraction image based on the emphasis degree. | 04-28-2016 |
20160157805 | Determining Plaque Deposits in Blood Vessels - The embodiments relate to a method and device for determining plaque deposits in coronary arteries. According to the method, a coronary angiography radiography image of a subject is obtained using an imaging modality. The obtained radiography image is calibrated for further analysis of the radiography image. Image processing techniques such as thresholding and histogram equalization are applied on the radiography image to extract vessel tree structure for analysis. Further, an inner lumen width and an outer vessel width are computed based on the processed radiography image. Further, a level of plaque deposition is determined based on the inner lumen and outer vessel dimensions. Further, the result based on the analysis is displayed to the user. The result includes the level of plaque deposits within the lumen on the vascular structure and possible risks posed by the plaque deposits to a subject. | 06-09-2016 |
20160166172 | METHOD AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE APPARATUS FOR DETERMINATION OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE ANGIOGRAPHY IMAGES USING TIME-OF-FLIGHT ANGIOGRAPHY | 06-16-2016 |
20160171686 | AUTOMATED DETECTION AND REPOSITIONING OF MICRO-OBJECTS IN MICROFLUIDIC DEVICES | 06-16-2016 |
20160171711 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO DETECT AND DISPLAY ENDOVASCULAR FEATURES | 06-16-2016 |
20160174925 | Vascular Data Processing and Image Registration Systems, Methods, and Apparatuses | 06-23-2016 |
20160196660 | SEGMENTATION APPARATUS FOR INTERACTIVELY SEGMENTING BLOOD VESSELS IN ANGIOGRAPHIC IMAGE DATA | 07-07-2016 |
20160196666 | SYSTEMS FOR DETECTING AND TRACKING OF OBJECTS AND CO-REGISTRATION | 07-07-2016 |
20170236326 | Method and Apparatus for User Guidance for the Choice of a Two-Dimensional Angiographic Projection | 08-17-2017 |
20180025495 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF CHOROIDAL NEOVASCULARIZATION DETECTION USING OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY ANGIOGRAPHY | 01-25-2018 |