Abstract:
In real-time three-dimensional imaging the choice of the visualization method and orientation is crucial for intervention success. The key question is what to ignore and what to show in real-time applications, where user control is not appropriate. The invention addresses this problem by visualizing an intervention (caused by a user) to an object of interest without the requirement of an interactive input by the user. Advantageously, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, parameters for a visualization procedure are automatically chosen during data acquisition which may allow for an efficient tracking of the actual orientation and relative position of the structure with respect to the object of interest.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a device and a method for displaying a vessel (2) with the aid of intravascular ultrasound images (I). A sequence of intravascular ultrasound images (I(E,x)) is generated by means of a probe (5) and stored in a memory (10) in a manner indexed by the associated location (x) where they were generated and also the associated heartbeat phase (E) and/or breathing phase. During a subsequent medical intervention, those ultrasound images (I 1 , I 2 , I 3 ) which best correspond to the heartbeat phase of a current fluoroscopic image (A t ) or belong to the current stopping location of a catheter (13) can be selected from the memory (10) and displayed on a monitor (12).
Abstract:
The invention relates to a method of adapting imaging parameters for a computer tomographic radiograph of a body volume, comprising the following steps: obtaining a three-dimensional pilot radiograph with a low dose of radiation (1); determining a region of interest and a desired image quality in the pilot radiograph (2) with the aid of a patient model (4) or interactively (3); determining optimal imaging parameters (5); generating an X-ray image using the determined imaging parameters (6). Optionally, the X-ray image is combined (7) with the pilot radiograph.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a method and an image processing system (20) for the evaluation of projection images (25) generated by an X-ray imaging system (10), wherein the images (25) may show different instruments (51, 52) of a given set of interventional instruments like catheters or guide wires. The instruments are equipped with markers such that their configuration is characteristic of the corresponding instrument (51, 52). Preferably three markers are arranged on a straight line, the ratio of the distances between them being characteristic for the corresponding instrument. The image processing system (20) may then identify the instruments (51, 52) present in a given projection (25) and provide functionalities for a user that correspond to said instruments. Moreover, the system may be used to locate an instrument (51, 52) of interest in a projection image (25) if the marker configuration of that instrument (51, 52) is known a priori.