Abstract:
A function generator (MFG) formulates a query to a mapping database (DBM) based on a received planning geometry type (PGT) and receives corresponding function data (MFD) which is processed to create a function (MF). An evaluator (ELV) receives the function (MF) and an anatomical landmark set (LMS) and determines a computed planning geometry (CPG). A user interface (UI) displays a survey image (IMG), the landmark set (LMS), and the computer planning geometry (CPG) and allows the user to adjust the landmark set and/or the computer program geometry. A record generator (RG) creates a new record from the user adjusted landmarks (ULMS) and the user adjusted computer planning geometries (UPG) and loads the new records (NR) into the mapping database (DBM).
Abstract:
The invention relates to a method of tomographic imaging, and in particular a CT or MR method, for the repetitive production of diagnostic slice images of a part of a patient's body. To allow a geometrical transformation ( 2 ) to be determined, current reference slice images ( 1 ) of the part of the body, which are brought into agreement with earlier reference slice images ( 3 ) of the part of the body are first made in this case. Current imaging parameters ( 5 ) are then calculated for a current diagnostic slice image ( 6 ) by transforming earlier imaging parameters by the geometrical transformation ( 2 ) previously determined. To give greater accuracy and, at the same time, a short image-making time, the image proposes that at least two current reference slice images ( 1, 1' ) be made, whose image planes are preset in such a way that their relative positions and orientations in three dimensions agree with the relative positions and orientations in three dimensions of the earlier reference slice images ( 3, 3' ), the geometrical transformation ( 2 ) being determined in such a way that it brings all the current reference slice images ( 1, 1' ) in agreement with the corresponding earlier reference slice images ( 3, 3' ) simultaneously.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a method of tomographic imaging, and in particular a CT or MR method, for the repetitive production of diagnostic slice images of a part of a patient's body. To allow a geometrical transformation ( 2 ) to be determined, current reference slice images ( 1 ) of the part of the body, which are brought into agreement with earlier reference slice images ( 3 ) of the part of the body are first made in this case. Current imaging parameters ( 5 ) are then calculated for a current diagnostic slice image ( 6 ) by transforming earlier imaging parameters by the geometrical transformation ( 2 ) previously determined. To give greater accuracy and, at the same time, a short image-making time, the image proposes that at least two current reference slice images ( 1, 1' ) be made, whose image planes are preset in such a way that their relative positions and orientations in three dimensions agree with the relative positions and orientations in three dimensions of the earlier reference slice images ( 3, 3' ), the geometrical transformation ( 2 ) being determined in such a way that it brings all the current reference slice images ( 1, 1' ) in agreement with the corresponding earlier reference slice images ( 3, 3' ) simultaneously.
Abstract:
A method for creating a model of a part of the anatomy from the scan data of several subjects is described. The method comprises the steps of collecting scan data; applying a feature detector to the scan data; converted the output of the feature detector into a common reference system; and accumulating the converted data to generate the model. It is therefore possible for the method to generate a model from the scan data of several subjects automatically. The method may also include an optional step of receiving user input to select which of the accumulated data should be included in the final model. This user input requires much less effort than manual contouring and is substantially independent of the number of subjects used to create the model.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a method 1 of image segmentation where in step 2 a prior model representative of a structure conceived to be segmented in an image is accessed. Preferably, the image comprises a medical diagnostic image. Still preferably, the medical diagnostic image is prepared in a DICOM format, whereby supplementary information is stored besides diagnostic data. In these cases the method 1 according to the invention advantageously proceeds to step 3, where the supplementary information is extracted from electronic file 5, comprising for example suitable patient-related information 5a and/or suitable structure-related information 5b. Examples of the patient-related information comprise a patient's age, sex, group, etc., whereas examples of the structure-related information may comprise an anatomic location of the structure, such as rectum, bladder, lung etc, or the suspected / diagnosed pathology of the patient. In an alternative embodiment of the method 1 according to the invention, the supplementary information is provided by a human operator in step 7, where he can enter suitable supplementary information 9a, 9b using a user interface 9. When the supplementary information is loaded, the method 1 according to the invention proceeds to step 4 in which the prior model is being changed using the supplementary information yielding a further model. In step 6 the method 1 performs the image segmentation using the thus obtained further model and in step 8 the results of the segmentation step may be visualized on a suitable viewer.
Abstract:
The method 1 according to the invention may be schematically divided into three major phases. Phase 2 comprises preparatory steps, namely the step 3 of acquiring a suitable dataset, which is then subjected to a suitable binary segmentation at step 4 results of which are being accessed at step 5. The results comprise temporally sequenced binary coded images, whereby image portions corresponding to blood are labeled as unity, the rest is set to zero. The subsequent phase 12 of the method according to the invention is directed to performing the image processing for segmenting a structure. At step 8 a computation is performed whereby a preceding binary coded image 8a corresponding to a phase from the temporal sequence is subtracted from a subsequent binary coded image 8b corresponding to a phase yielding a multi-dimensional temporal feature map 8c. At step 9 spatial positions corresponding to a certain voxel value are derived and are used to segment the structure. A pre-defined deformable shape model is accessed at step 11, which is then deformed at step 14 in accordance with spatial coordinates, derived at step 9. Preferably, the segmentation result is stored at step 16. Finally, during a further phase 22 of the method according to the invention, the segmentation results are displayed at step 18 using suitable display means. Preferably, the segmented surface is overlaid on the original data using a two- , three- or four-dimensional visualization technique. Still preferable, to ease comprehension of the result, the segmented surface is presented as a color-code in a suitable transparency mode. The invention further relates to an apparatus and a computer program for segmenting a structure in a dataset.
Abstract:
A system (100) for displaying a multi-dimensional image and an annotation located therein, the system comprising receiving means (110) for receiving: the multi- dimensional image, the annotation, and representation data associated with the annotation, the representation data being indicative of a preferred representation of the multi-dimensional image and the annotation located therein; display means (130) for displaying an initial representation (300) of the multi-dimensional image and the annotation located therein; input means (120) for enabling a user to provide a visualization request when the initial representation shows at least a first part (310) of the annotation; and the display means (130) being arranged for, after receiving the visualization request, displaying the preferred representation (400) of the multi-dimensional image and the annotation located therein in accordance with the representation data, the preferred representation showing at least a second part (410) of the annotation, the second part being different from the first part.