Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080211812 | Method and system for detection and registration of 3D objects using incremental parameter learning - A method and system for detecting 3D objects in images is disclosed. In particular, a method and system for Ileo-Cecal Valve detection in 3D computed tomography (CT) images using incremental parameter learning and ICV specific prior learning is disclosed. First, second, and third classifiers are sequentially trained to detect candidates for position, scale, and orientation parameters of a box that bounds an object in 3D image. In the training of each sequential classifier, new training samples are generated by scanning the object's configuration parameters in the current learning projected subspace (position, scale, orientation), based on detected candidates resulting from the previous training step. This allows simultaneous detection and registration of a 3D object with full 9 degrees of freedom. ICV specific prior learning can be used to detect candidate voxels for an orifice of the ICV and to detect initial ICV box candidates using a constrained orientation alignment at each candidate voxel. | 09-04-2008 |
20080240337 | Model-Based Heart Reconstruction and Navigation - A method to obtain a patient based organ model from patient data, having steps of obtaining a computerized organ model based upon at least one data set of patients, the computerized organ model having a set of classifiers that are used to determine physical parameters of the patients heart, placing the patient in a diagnostic scanner device, taking representative data images of a patients organ while changing position of the image scan, the data images taken with ECG synchronization; and preparing the patient based organ model by evaluating the representative data images of the patients organ with the set of classifiers in the computerized organ model. | 10-02-2008 |
20080240532 | System and Method for Detection of Fetal Anatomies From Ultrasound Images Using a Constrained Probabilistic Boosting Tree - A method for detecting fetal anatomic features in ultrasound images includes providing an ultrasound image of a fetus, specifying an anatomic feature to be detected in a region S determined by parameter vector θ, providing a sequence of probabilistic boosting tree classifiers, each with a pre-specified height and number of nodes. Each classifier computes a posterior probability P(y|S) where yε{−1,+1}, with P(y=+1|S) representing a probability that region S contains the feature, and P(y=−1|S) representing a probability that region S contains background information. The feature is detected by uniformly sampling a parameter space of parameter vector θ using a first classifier with a sampling interval vector used for training said first classifier, and having each subsequent classifier classify positive samples identified by a preceding classifier using a smaller sampling interval vector used for training said preceding classifier. Each classifier forms a union of its positive samples with those of the preceding classifier. | 10-02-2008 |
20080262814 | Method and system for generating a four-chamber heart model - A method and system for building a statistical four-chamber heart model from 3D volumes is disclosed. In order to generate the four-chamber heart model, each chamber is modeled using an open mesh, with holes at the valves. Based on the image data in one or more 3D volumes, meshes are generated and edited for the left ventricle (LV), left atrium (LA), right ventricle (RV), and right atrium (RA). Resampling to enforce point correspondence is performed during mesh editing. Important anatomic landmarks in the heart are explicitly represented in the four-chamber heart model of the present invention. | 10-23-2008 |
20080275335 | Methods and apparatus for virtual coronary mapping - A virtual map of vessels of interest in medical procedures, such as coronary angioplasty is created so that doses of contrasting agent given to a patient may be reduced. A position of a coronary guidewire is determined and locations of vessel boundaries are found. When the contrast agent has dissipated, virtual maps of the vessels are created as new images. The locations of the determined vessel boundaries are imported to a mapping system and an image obtained without using a contrast agent is modified based on the imported locations of vessel boundaries. This creates a virtual map of the vessels. | 11-06-2008 |
20080281203 | System and Method for Quasi-Real-Time Ventricular Measurements From M-Mode EchoCardiogram - A method for measuring ventricular dimensions from M-mode echocardiograms, includes providing a digitized M-mode echocardiogram image, running a plurality of local classifiers, where each local classifier trained to detect a landmark on either an end-diastole (ED) line or an end-systole (ES) line in the image, recording all possible landmarks detected by the classifiers, where a search range in an N-dimensional parameter space defined by the landmarks for each dimension is reduced to a union of subsets, where each dimension of the parameter space corresponds a landmark, for each combination of possible landmarks, checking if an order of the landmarks is consistent with a known ordering of the landmarks, and if the order is consistent, running a global detector on each consistent combination of landmarks to find a landmark combination with a highest detection probability as a confirmed landmark detection, where the landmarks are used for measuring ventricular dimensions. | 11-13-2008 |
20090010509 | Method and system for detection of deformable structures in medical images - A method and system for detection of deformable structures in medical images is disclosed. Deformable structures can represent blood flow patterns in images such as Doppler echocardiograms. A probabilistic, hierarchical, and discriminant framework is used to detect such deformable structures. This framework integrates evidence from different primitive levels via a progressive detector hierarchy, including a series of discriminant classifiers. A target deformable structure is parameterized by a multi-dimensional parameter, and primitives or partial parameterizations of the parameter are determined. An input image is received, and a series of primitives are sequentially detected using the progressive detector hierarchy, in which each detector or classifier detects a corresponding primitive. The final detector detects configuration candidates for the deformable structure. | 01-08-2009 |
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 |
20090034808 | Automatic Cardiac View Classification of Echocardiography - A method for view classification includes providing a frame of an object of interest, detecting a region of interest within the object of interest for each of a plurality of detectors (e.g., binary classifiers), wherein each binary classifier corresponds to a different view, performing a global view classification using a multiview classifier for each view, outputting a classification for each view, fusing outputs of the multiview classifiers, and determining and outputting a classification of the frame based on a fused output of the multiview classifiers. | 02-05-2009 |
20090074272 | Method and system for polyp segmentation for 3D computed tomography colonography - A method and system for polyp segmentation in computed tomography colonogrphy (CTC) volumes is disclosed. The polyp segmentation method utilizes a three-staged probabilistic binary classification approach for automatically segmenting polyp voxels from surrounding tissue in CTC volumes. Based on an input initial polyp position, a polyp tip is detected in a CTC volume using a trained 3D point detector. A local polar coordinate system is then fit to the colon surface in the CTC volume with the origin at the detected polyp tip. Polyp interior voxels and polyp exterior voxels are detected along each axis of the local polar coordinate system using a trained 3D box. A boundary voxel is detected on each axis of the local polar coordinate system based on the detected polyp interior voxels and polyp exterior voxels by boosted 1D curve parsing using a trained classifier. This results in a segmented polyp boundary. | 03-19-2009 |
20090074280 | Automated Detection of Planes From Three-Dimensional Echocardiographic Data - A plane position for a standard view is detected from three-dimensional echocardiographic data. The position of the plane within the volume is defined by translation, orientation (rotation), and/or scale. Possible positions are detected and other possible positions are ruled out. The classification of the possible positions occurs sequentially by translation, then orientation, and then scale. The sequential process may limit calculations required to identify the plane position for a desired view. | 03-19-2009 |
20090080728 | Method and system for vessel segmentation in fluoroscopic images - A method and system for vessel segmentation in fluoroscopic images is disclosed. Hierarchical learning-based detection is used to perform the vessel segmentation. A boundary classifier is trained and used to detect boundary pixels of a vessel in a fluoroscopic image. A cross-segment classifier is trained and used to detect cross-segments connecting the boundary pixels. A quadrilateral classifier is trained and used to detect quadrilaterals connecting the cross segments. Dynamic programming is then used to combine the quadrilaterals to generate a tubular structure representing the vessel. | 03-26-2009 |
20090080729 | Method and system for evaluating image segmentation based on visibility - A method and system for evaluating image segmentation is disclosed. In order to quantitatively evaluate an image segmentation technique, synthetic image data is generated and the synthetic image data is segmented to extract an object using the segmentation technique. This segmentation results in a foreground containing the extracted object and a background. The visibility of the extracted object is quantitatively measured based on the intensity distributions of the segmented foreground and background. The visibility is quantitatively measured by calculating the Jeffries-Matusita distance between the foreground and background intensity distributions. This method can be used to evaluate segmentation of vessels in fluoroscopic image sequences by coronary digital subtraction angiography (DSA). | 03-26-2009 |
20090080732 | System and Method for Performing Probabilistic Classification and Decision Support Using Multidimensional Medical Image Databases - A system and method for providing decision support to a physician during a medical examination is disclosed. Data is received from a sensor representing a particular medical measurement. The received data includes image data. The received data and context data is analyzed with respect to one or more sets of training models. Probability values for the particular medical measurement and other measurements to be taken are derived based on the analysis and based on identified classes. The received image data is compared with training images. Distance values are determined between the received image data and the training images, and the training images are associated with the identified classes. Absolute value feature sensitivity scores are derived for the particular medical measurement and other measurements to be taken based on the analysis. The probability values, distance values and absolute value feature sensitivity scores are outputted to the user. | 03-26-2009 |
20090080745 | Method and system for measuring left ventricle volume - A method and system for measuring the volume of the left ventricle (LV) in a 3D medical image, such as a CT, volume is disclosed. Heart chambers are segmented in the CT volume, including at least the LV endocardium and the LV epicardium. An optimal threshold value is automatically determined based on voxel intensities within the LV endocardium and voxel intensities between the LV endocardium and the LV epicardium. Voxels within the LV endocardium are labeled as blood pool voxels or papillary muscle voxels based on the optimal threshold value. The LV volume can be measured excluding the papillary muscles based on the number of blood pool voxels, and the LV volume can be measured including the papillary muscles based on the total number of voxels within the LV endocardium. | 03-26-2009 |
20090080747 | User interface for polyp annotation, segmentation, and measurement in 3D computed tomography colonography - A method and system for providing a user interface for polyp annotation, segmentation, and measurement in computer tomography colonography (CTC) volumes is disclosed. The interface receives an initial polyp position in a CTC volume, and automatically segments the polyp based on the initial polyp position. In order to segment the polyp, a polyp tip is detected in the CTC volume using a trained 3D point detector. A local polar coordinate system is then fit to the colon surface in the CTC volume with the origin at the detected polyp tip. Polyp interior voxels and polyp exterior voxels are detected along each axis of the local polar coordinate system using a trained 3D box. A boundary voxel is detected on each axis of the local polar coordinate system based on the detected polyp interior voxels and polyp exterior voxels by boosted 1D curve parsing using a trained classifier. This results in a segmented polyp boundary. The segmented polyp is displayed in the user interface, and a user can modify the segmented polyp boundary using the interface. The interface can measure the size of the segmented polyp in three dimensions. The user can also use the interface for polyp annotation in CTC volumes. | 03-26-2009 |
20090088640 | Automated View Classification With Echocardiographic Data For Gate Localization Or Other Purposes - A view represented by echocardiographic data is classified. A probabilistic boosting network is used to classify the view. The probabilistic boosting network may include multiple levels where each level has a multi-class local structure classifier and a plurality of local-structure detectors corresponding to the respective multiple classes. In each level, the local structure is classified as a particular view and then the local structure is detected to determine whether the currently selected local structure corresponds to the class. The view classification may be used to determine gate locations, such as a gate for spectral Doppler analysis. | 04-02-2009 |
20090090873 | Method and system for detection of contrast injection in fluoroscopic image sequences - A method and system for detecting a spatial and temporal location of a contrast injection in a fluoroscopic image sequence is disclosed. Training volumes generated by stacking a sequence of 2D fluoroscopic images in time order are annotated with ground truth contrast injection points. A heart rate is globally estimated for each training volume, and local frequency and phase is estimated in a neighborhood of the ground truth contrast injection point for each training volume. Frequency and phase invariant features are extracted from each training volume based on the heart rate, local frequency and phase, and a detector is trained based on the training volumes and the features extracted for each training volume. The detector can be used to detect the spatial and temporal location of a contrast injection in a fluoroscopic image sequence. | 04-09-2009 |
20090093717 | Automated Fetal Measurement From Three-Dimensional Ultrasound Data - A fetal parameter or anatomy is measured or detected from three-dimensional ultrasound data. An algorithm is machine-trained to detect fetal anatomy. Any machine training approach may be used. The machine-trained classifier is a joint classifier, such that one anatomy is detected using the ultrasound data and the detected location of another anatomy. The machine-trained classifier uses marginal space such that the location of anatomy is detected sequentially through translation, orientation and scale rather than detecting for all location parameters at once. The machine-trained classifier includes detectors for detecting from the ultrasound data at different resolutions, such as in a pyramid volume. | 04-09-2009 |
20090123050 | Method and system for automatic quantification of aortic valve function from 4D computed tomography data using a physiological model - A method and system for modeling the aortic valve in 4D image data, such as 4D CT and echocardiography, is disclosed. An initial estimate of a physiological aortic valve model is determined for at least one reference frame of a 4D image sequence based on anatomic features in the reference frame. The initial estimate is refined to generate a final estimate in the reference frame. A dynamic model of the aortic valve is then generated by estimating the physiological aortic valve model for each remaining frame of the 4D image sequence based on the final estimate in the reference frame. The aortic valve can be quantitatively evaluated using the dynamic model. | 05-14-2009 |
20090154785 | Method and system for dynamic pulmonary trunk modeling in computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging - A method and system for modeling the pulmonary trunk in 4D image data, such as 4D CT and MRI data, is disclosed. Bounding boxes are detected in frames of the 4D image data. Anatomic landmarks are detected in the frames of the 4D image data based on the bounding boxes. Ribs or centerlines of the pulmonary artery are detected in the frames of the 4D image data based on the anatomic landmarks, and a physiological pulmonary trunk model is fit the frames of the 4D image data based on the detected ribs and anatomic landmarks. The boundary of the pulmonary trunk is detected in order to refine the boundary of the pulmonary trunk model in the frames of the 4D image data, resulting in a dynamic model of the pulmonary trunk. The pulmonary trunk can be quantitatively evaluated using the dynamic model. | 06-18-2009 |
20090190811 | Method and system for left ventricle endocardium surface segmentation using constrained optimal mesh smoothing - A method and system for left ventricle (LV) endocardium surface segmentation using constrained optimal mesh smoothing is disclosed. The LV endocardium surface in the 3D cardiac volume is initially segmented in a 3D cardiac volume, such as a CT volume, resulting in an LV endocardium surface mesh. A smoothed LV endocardium surface mesh is generated by smoothing the LV endocardium surface mesh using constrained optimal mesh smoothing. The constrained optimal mesh smoothing determines an optimal adjustment for each point on the LV endocardium surface mesh by minimizing an objective function based at least on a smoothness measure, subject to a constraint bounding the adjustment for each point. The adjustment for each point can be constrained to prevent adjustments inward toward the blood pool in order to ensure that the smoothed LV endocardium surface mesh encloses the entire blood pool. | 07-30-2009 |
20090304251 | Method and System for Detecting 3D Anatomical Structures Using Constrained Marginal Space Learning - A method and apparatus for detecting 3D anatomical objects in medical images using constrained marginal space learning (MSL) is disclosed. A constrained search range is determined for an input medical image volume based on training data. A first trained classifier is used to detect position candidates in the constrained search range. Position-orientation hypotheses are generated from the position candidates using orientation examples in the training data. A second trained classifier is used to detect position-orientation candidates from the position-orientation hypotheses. Similarity transformation hypotheses are generated from the position-orientation candidates based on scale examples in the training data. A third trained classifier is used to detect similarity transformation candidates from the similarity transformation hypotheses, and the similarity transformation candidates define the position, translation, and scale of the 3D anatomic object in the medical image volume. | 12-10-2009 |
20090310837 | Method and System for Automatic Detection and Measurement of Mitral Valve Inflow Patterns in Doppler Echocardiography - A method and system for segmentation of mitral valve inflow (MI) patterns in Doppler echocardiogram images is disclosed. Trained root detectors are used to detect left root candidates, right root candidates, and peak candidates in an input Doppler echocardiogram image. Two global structure detectors, a single triangle detector for non-overlapping E-waves and A-waves and a double triangle detector for overlapping E-waves and A-waves, are used to detect single triangle candidates and double triangle candidates based on the left root, right root, and peak candidates. A shape profile is used to determine a shape probability for each of the single triangle candidates and each of the double triangle candidates. The best single triangle candidate and the best double triangle candidate are selected based on shape probability and detection probability. One of the best single triangle candidate and the best double triangle candidate is selected as the final segmentation result based on a shape probability comparison. | 12-17-2009 |
20100027865 | Method and System for Brain Tumor Segmentation in 3D Magnetic Resonance Images - A method and system for brain tumor segmentation in multi-spectral 3D MRI images is disclosed. A trained probabilistic boosting tree (PBT) classifier is used to determine, for each voxel in a multi-spectral 3D MR image sequence, a probability that the voxel is part of a brain tumor. The brain tumor is then segmented in the multi-spectral 3D MRI image sequence using graph cuts segmentation based on the probabilities determined using the trained PBT classifier and intensities of the voxels in the multi-spectral 3D MR image sequence. | 02-04-2010 |
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 |
20100040272 | Method and System for Left Ventricle Detection in 2D Magnetic Resonance Images - A method and system for left ventricle (LV) detection in 2D magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images is disclosed. In order to detect the LV in a 2D MRI image, a plurality of LV candidates are detected, for example using marginal space learning (MSL) based detection. Candidates for distinctive anatomic landmarks associated with the LV are then detected in the 2D MRI image. In particular, apex candidates and base candidates are detected in the 2D MRI image. One of the LV candidates is selected as a final LV detection result using component-based voting based on the detected LV candidates, apex candidates, and base candidates. | 02-18-2010 |
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 |
20100067764 | Method and System for Automatic Landmark Detection Using Discriminative Joint Context - A method and system for detecting anatomic landmarks in medical images is disclosed. In order to detect multiple related anatomic landmarks, a plurality of landmark candidates are first detected individually using trained landmark detectors. A joint context is then generated for each combination of the landmark candidates. The best combination of landmarks in then determined based on the joint context using a trained joint context detector. | 03-18-2010 |
20100067768 | Method and System for Physiological Image Registration and Fusion - A method and system for physiological image registration and fusion is disclosed. A physiological model of a target anatomical structure in estimated each of a first image and a second image. The physiological model is estimated using database-guided discriminative machine learning-based estimation. A fused image is then generated by registering the first and second images based on correspondences between the physiological model estimated in each of the first and second images. | 03-18-2010 |
20100070249 | Method and System for Generating a Personalized Anatomical Heart Model - A method and system for generating a patient specific anatomical heart model is disclosed. Volumetric image data, such as computed tomography (CT) or echocardiography image data, of a patient's cardiac region is received. Individual models for multiple heart components, such as the left ventricle (LV) endocardium, LV epicardium, right ventricle (RV), left atrium (LA), right atrium (RA), mitral valve, aortic valve, aorta, and pulmonary trunk, are estimated in said volumetric cardiac image data. A patient specific anatomical heart model is generated by integrating the individual models for each of the heart components. | 03-18-2010 |
20100074499 | Method and System for Segmentation of Brain Structures in 3D Magnetic Resonance Images - A method and system for segmenting multiple brain structures in 3D magnetic resonance (MR) images is disclosed. After intensity standardization of a 3D MR image, a meta-structure including center positions of multiple brain structures is detected in the 3D MR image. The brain structures are then individually segmented using marginal space learning (MSL) constrained by the detected meta-structure. | 03-25-2010 |
20100076296 | Method and System for Automatic Detection of Coronary Stenosis in Cardiac Computed Tomography Data - A method and system for automatic coronary stenosis detection in computed tomography (CT) data is disclosed. Coronary artery centerlines are obtained in an input cardiac CT volume. A trained classifier, such as a probabilistic boosting tree (PBT) classifier, is used to detect stenosis regions along the centerlines in the input cardiac CT volume. The classifier classifies each of the control points that define the coronary artery centerlines as a stenosis point or a non-stenosis point. | 03-25-2010 |
20100080434 | Method and System for Hierarchical Parsing and Semantic Navigation of Full Body Computed Tomography Data - A method and apparatus for hierarchical parsing and semantic navigation of a full or partial body computed tomography CT scan is disclosed. In particular, organs are segmented and anatomic landmarks are detected in a full or partial body CT volume. One or more predetermined slices of the CT volume are detected. A plurality of anatomic landmarks and organ centers are then detected in the CT volume using a discriminative anatomical network, each detected in a portion of the CT volume constrained by at least one of the detected slices. A plurality of organs, such as heart, liver, kidneys, spleen, bladder, and prostate, are detected in a sense of a bounding box and segmented in the CT volume, detection of each organ bounding box constrained by the detected organ centers and anatomic landmarks. Organ segmentation is via a database-guided segmentation method. | 04-01-2010 |
20100119137 | Method and System for Anatomic Landmark Detection Using Constrained Marginal Space Learning and Geometric Inference - A method and apparatus for detecting multiple anatomical landmarks in a 3D volume. A first anatomical landmark is detected in a 3D volume using marginal space learning (MSL). Locations of remaining anatomical landmarks are estimated in the 3D volume based on the detected first anatomical landmark using a learned geometric model relating the anatomical landmarks. Each of the remaining anatomical landmarks is then detected using MSL in a portion of the 3D volume constrained based on the estimated location of each remaining landmark. This method can be used to detect the anatomical landmarks of the crista galli (CG), tip of the occipital bone (OB), anterior of the corpus callosum (ACC), and posterior of the corpus callosum (PCC) in a brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) volume. | 05-13-2010 |
20100121181 | Method and System for Guidewire Tracking in Fluoroscopic Image Sequences - A method and system for tracking a guidewire in a fluoroscopic image sequence is disclosed. In order to track a guidewire in a fluoroscopic image sequence, guidewire segments are detected in each frame of the fluoroscopic image sequence. The guidewire in each frame of the fluoroscopic image sequence is then detected by rigidly tracking the guidewire from a previous frame of the fluoroscopic image sequence based on the detected guidewire segments in the current frame. The guidewire is then non-rigidly deformed in each frame based on the guidewire position in the previous frame. | 05-13-2010 |
20100142787 | Method and System for Left Ventricle Detection in 2D Magnetic Resonance Images Using Ranking Based Multi-Detector Aggregation - A method and system for left ventricle (LV) detection in 2D magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images is disclosed. In order to detect the LV in a 2D MRI image, a plurality of LV candidates are detected, for example using marginal space learning (MSL) based detection. Candidates for distinctive anatomic landmarks associated with the LV are then detected in the 2D MRI image. In particular, apex candidates and base candidates are detected in the 2D MRI image. One of the LV candidates is selected as a final LV detection result by ranking the LV candidates based on the LV candidates, the apex candidates, and the base candidates using a trained ranking model. | 06-10-2010 |
20100239147 | Method and System for Dynamic Pulmonary Trunk Modeling and Intervention Planning - A method and system for modeling the pulmonary trunk in 4D image data, such as 4D CT data, and model-based percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation (PPVI) intervention is disclosed. A patient-specific dynamic pulmonary trunk data is generated from 4D image data of a patient. The patient is automatically classified as suitable for PPVI intervention or not suitable for PPVI intervention based on the generated patient-specific dynamic pulmonary trunk model. | 09-23-2010 |
20100239148 | Method and System for Automatic Aorta Segmentation - A method and system for aorta segmentation in a 3D volume, such as a C-arm CT volume is disclosed. The aortic root is detected in the 3D volume using marginal space learning (MSL) based segmentation. The aortic arch is detected in the 3D volume using MSL based segmentation. The ascending aorta is tracked from the aortic root to the aortic arch in the 3D volume, and the descending aorta is tracked from the aortic arch in the 3D volume. | 09-23-2010 |
20100240996 | VALVE ASSESSMENT FROM MEDICAL DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING DATA - Heart valve operation is assessed with patient-specific medical diagnostic imaging data. To deal with the complex motion of the passive valve tissue, a hierarchal model is used. Rigid global motion of the overall valve, non-rigid local motion of landmarks of the valve, and surface motion of the valve are modeled sequentially. For the non-rigid local motion, a spectral trajectory approach is used in the model to determine location and motion of the landmarks more efficiently than detection and tracking. Given efficiencies in processing, more than one valve may be modeled at a same time. A graphic overlay representing the valve in four dimensions and/or quantities may be provided during an imaging session. One or more of these features may be used in combination or independently. | 09-23-2010 |
20100254582 | System and Method for Detecting Landmarks in a Three-Dimensional Image Volume - A method and apparatus for detecting vascular landmarks in a 3D image volume, such as a CT volume, is disclosed. One or more guide slices are detected in a 3D image volume. A set of landmark candidates for multiple target vascular landmarks are then detected based on the guide slices. A node potential value for each landmark candidate is generated based on an error value determined using spatial histogram-based error regression, and edge potential values for pairs of landmark candidates are generated based on a bifurcation analysis of the image volume using vessel tracing. The optimal landmark candidate for each target landmark is then determined using a Markov random field model based on the node potential values and the edge potential values. | 10-07-2010 |
20100280352 | Method and System for Multi-Component Heart and Aorta Modeling for Decision Support in Cardiac Disease - A method and system for generating a patient specific anatomical heart model is disclosed. Volumetric image data, such as computed tomography (CT), echocardiography, or magnetic resonance (MR) image data of a patient's cardiac region is received. Individual models for multiple heart components, such as the left ventricle (LV) endocardium, LV epicardium, right ventricle (RV), left atrium (LA), right atrium (RA), mitral valve, aortic valve, aorta, and pulmonary trunk, are estimated in said volumetric cardiac image data. A multi-component patient specific anatomical heart model is generated by integrating the individual models for each of the heart components. Fluid Structure Interaction (FSI) simulations are performed on the patient specific anatomical model, and patient specific clinical parameters are extracted based on the patient specific heart model and the FSI simulations. Disease progression modeling and risk stratification are performed based on the patient specific clinical parameters. | 11-04-2010 |
20110033102 | 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, a motion estimate is calculated between each of the mask images and a background region of the contrast image and a covariance is calculated for each motion estimate. Multiple background layer predictions are generated by generating a background layer prediction for each mask image based on the calculated motion estimate and covariance. The multiple background layer estimates are combined using statistical fusion to generate a final estimated background layer. The final estimated background layer is subtracted from the contrast image to extract a coronary vessel layer for the contrast image. | 02-10-2011 |
20110060576 | Method and System for Computational Modeling of the Aorta and Heart - A method and system for generating a patient specific anatomical heart model is disclosed. A sequence of volumetric image data, such as computed tomography (CT), echocardiography, or magnetic resonance (MR) image data of a patient's cardiac region is received. A multi-component patient specific 4D geometric model of the heart and aorta estimated from the sequence of volumetric cardiac imaging data. A patient specific 4D computational model based on one or more of personalized geometry, material properties, fluid boundary conditions, and flow velocity measurements in the 4D geometric model is generated. Patient specific material properties of the aortic wall are estimated using the 4D geometrical model and the 4D computational model. Fluid Structure Interaction (FSI) simulations are performed using the 4D computational model and estimated material properties of the aortic wall, and patient specific clinical parameters are extracted based on the FSI simulations. Disease progression modeling and risk stratification are performed based on the patient specific clinical parameters. | 03-10-2011 |
20110064189 | Method and System for Needle Tracking in Fluoroscopic Image Sequences - A method and system for tracking a needle in a fluoroscopic image sequence is disclosed. In order to track a needle in a fluoroscopic image sequence, the needle is initialized in a first frame of the fluoroscopic image sequence. Needle segments are detected in each subsequent frame of the fluoroscopic image sequence, and the needle is detected in each frame of the fluoroscopic image by tracking the needle from a previous frame of the fluoroscopic image sequence based on the detected needle segments in the current frame. | 03-17-2011 |
20110087443 | Three-Dimensional Visualization and Analysis Method and System for Non-Destructive Examination of a Rotor Bore using Ultrasound - A method and apparatus for three-dimensional (3D) visualization and analysis for automatic non-destructive examination of a rotor bore using ultrasound. Data is acquired by scanning the rotor bore with an ultrasound pulser/transducer producing a plurality of one-dimensional ultrasound scans, each scan having a plurality of sample points. Each sample point is associated with a voxel of a regular 3D grid having a plurality of voxels. A Gaussian kernel is associated with each sample point and a value for a particular voxel is determined based on a weighted sum of sample points whose kernels cover the particular voxel. The values for the other voxels of the regular 3D grid are determined similarly. A 3D visualization of the rotor bore can be displayed to a user. | 04-14-2011 |
20110096964 | Method and System for Automatic Extraction of Personalized Left Atrium Models - A method and system for automatic extraction of personalized left atrium models is disclosed. A left atrium chamber body is segmented from a 3D image volume. At least one pulmonary venous ostium is detected on the segmented left atrium chamber body. At least one pulmonary vein trunk connected to the left atrium chamber body is segmented based on the detected pulmonary venous ostia. | 04-28-2011 |
20110096969 | Method and System for Shape-Constrained Aortic Valve Landmark Detection - A system and method for performing shape-constrained aortic valve landmark detection using 3D medical images is provided. A rigid global shape defining initial positions of a plurality of aortic valve landmarks is detected within a 3D image. Each of the plurality of aortic valve landmarks is detected based on the initial positions. | 04-28-2011 |
20110116698 | Method and System for Segmentation of the Prostate in 3D Magnetic Resonance Images - A method and system for fully automatic segmentation the prostate in multi-spectral 3D magnetic resonance (MR) image data having one or more scalar intensity values per voxel is disclosed. After intensity standardization of multi-spectral 3D MR image data, a prostate boundary is detected in the multi-spectral 3D MR image data using marginal space learning (MSL). The detected prostate boundary is refined using one or more trained boundary detectors. The detected prostate boundary can be split into patches corresponding to anatomical regions of the prostate and the detected prostate boundary can be refined using trained boundary detectors corresponding to the patches. | 05-19-2011 |
20110142318 | STENT VIEWING USING A LEARNING BASED CLASSIFIER IN MEDICAL IMAGING - Stent viewing is provided in medical imaging. Stent images are provided with minimal or no user input of spatial locations. Images showing contrast agent are distinguished from other images in a sequence. After aligning non-contrast images, the images are compounded to enhance the stent. The contrast agent images are used to identify the vessel. A contrast agent image is aligned with the enhanced stent or other image to determine the relative vessel location. An indication of the vessel wall may be displayed in an image also showing the stent. A preview images may be output. A guide wire may be used to detect the center line for vessel identification. Various detections are performed using a machine-trained classifier or classifiers. | 06-16-2011 |
20110144480 | STENT MARKER DETECTION USING A LEARNING BASED CLASSIFIER IN MEDICAL IMAGING - Stent marker detection is automatically performed. Stent markers in fluoroscopic images or other markers in other types of imaging are detected using a machine-learnt classifier. Hierarchal classification may be used, such as detecting individual markers with one classifier and then detecting groups of markers (e.g., a pair) with a joint classifier. The detection may be performed in a single image and without user indication of a location. | 06-16-2011 |
20110153286 | Method and System for Virtual Percutaneous Valve Implantation - A method and system for virtual percutaneous valve implantation is disclosed. A patient-specific anatomical model of a heart valve is estimated based on 3D cardiac medical image data and an implant model representing a valve implant is virtually deployed into the patient-specific anatomical model of the heart valve. A library of implant models, each modeling geometrical properties of a corresponding valve implant, is maintained. The implant models maintained in the library are virtually deployed into the patient specific anatomical model of the heart valve to select an implant type and size and deployment location and orientation for percutaneous valve implantation. | 06-23-2011 |
20110191283 | Method and System for Medical Decision Support Using Organ Models and Learning Based Discriminative Distance Functions - A method and system for providing medical decision support based on virtual organ models and learning based discriminative distance functions is disclosed. A patient-specific virtual organ model is generated from medical image data of a patient. One or more similar organ models to the patient-specific organ model are retrieved from a plurality of previously stored virtual organ models using a learned discriminative distance function. The patient-specific valve model can be classified into a first class or a second class based on the previously stored organ models determined to be similar to the patient-specific organ model. | 08-04-2011 |
20110221754 | Method and System for Graph Based Interactive Detection of Curve Structures in 2D Fluoroscopy - A method and system for detecting a curve structure in a 2D fluoroscopic image is disclosed. A plurality of curve segments are detected in the image. A graph is generated based on the detected curve segments. A curve structure is detected in the image by determining a path between a source node and a destination node in the graph. A hyper-graph can be constructed from the graph in order to impose geometric constraints on segments of the detected the curve structure, and the curve structure can be detected by finding a shortest path in the hyper-graph. | 09-15-2011 |
20110222751 | Method and System for Automatic Detection and Segmentation of Axillary Lymph Nodes - A method and system for automatically detecting and segmenting lymph nodes in a 3D medical image, such as a CT image, is disclosed. A plurality of lymph node center point candidates are detected in the 3D medical image. A lymph node candidate is segmented for each of the detected lymph node center point candidates. Lymph nodes are detected from the segmented lymph node candidates by verifying the segmented lymph node candidates using a trained lymph node classifier. | 09-15-2011 |
20110224542 | Method and System for Automatic Detection and Classification of Coronary Stenoses in Cardiac CT Volumes - A method and system for providing detecting and classifying coronary stenoses in 3D CT image data is disclosed. Centerlines of coronary vessels are extracted from the CT image data. Non-vessel regions are detected and removed from the coronary vessel centerlines. The cross-section area of the lumen is estimated based on the coronary vessel centerlines using a trained regression function. Stenosis candidates are detected in the coronary vessels based on the estimated lumen cross-section area, and the significant stenosis candidates are automatically classified as calcified, non-calcified, or mixed. | 09-15-2011 |
20110228992 | Method and System for Guiding Catheter Detection in Fluoroscopic Images - A method and system for detecting a guiding catheter in a 2D fluoroscopic image is disclosed. A plurality of guiding catheter centerline segment candidates are detected in the fluoroscopic image. A guiding catheter centerline connecting an input guiding catheter centerline ending point in the fluoroscopic image with an image margin of the fluoroscopic image is detected based on the plurality of guiding catheter centerline segment candidates. | 09-22-2011 |
20110243386 | Method and System for Multiple Object Detection by Sequential Monte Carlo and Hierarchical Detection Network - A method and system for detecting multiple objects in an image is disclosed. A plurality of objects in an image is sequentially detected in an order specified by a trained hierarchical detection network. In the training of the hierarchical detection network, the order for object detection is automatically determined. The detection of each object in the image is performed by obtaining a plurality of sample poses for the object from a proposal distribution, weighting each of the plurality of sample poses based on an importance ratio, and estimating a posterior distribution for the object based on the weighted sample poses. | 10-06-2011 |
20110243407 | Data Transmission in Remote Computer Assisted Detection - For cloud-based computer assisted detection, hierarchal detection is used, allowing detection on data at progressively greater resolutions. Detected locations at coarser resolutions are used to limit the data transmitted at greater resolutions. Data is only transmitted for neighborhoods around the previously detected locations. Subsequent detection using higher resolution data refines the locations, but only for regions associated with previous detection. By limiting the number and/or size of regions provided at greater resolutions based on the previous detection, the progressive transmission avoids transmission of some data. Additionally, or alternatively, lossy compression may be used without or with minimal reduction in detection sensitivity. | 10-06-2011 |
20110288404 | Shape Modeling and Detection of Catheter - A method and system for detecting and modeling a catheter in a fluoroscopic image is disclosed. Catheter tip candidates and catheter body candidates are detected in the fluoroscopic image. One of a plurality of trained shape models is fitted to the catheter tip candidates and the catheter body candidates in order to model a shape of the catheter in the fluoroscopic image. | 11-24-2011 |
20110301466 | CARDIAC FLOW QUANTIFICATION WITH VOLUMETRIC IMAGING DATA - A method quantifies cardiac volume flow for an imaging sequence. The method includes receiving data representing three-dimensions and color Doppler flow data over a plurality of frames, constructing a ventricular model based on the data representing three-dimensions for the plurality of frames, the ventricular model including a sampling plane configured to measure the cardiac volume flow, computing volume flow samples based on the sampling plane and the color Doppler flow data, and correcting the volume flow samples for aliasing based on volumetric change in the ventricular model between successive frames of the plurality of frames. | 12-08-2011 |
20120004533 | OPTIMIZATION OF MULTIPLE CANDIDATES IN MEDICAL DEVICE OR FEATURE TRACKING - Multiple candidates are optimized in medical device or feature tracking. Possible locations of medical devices or features for each of a plurality of different times are received. The possible locations of devices are modeled using a probability function. An iterative solution to obtain the maximum of the probability function determines the possible locations to be used as the locations of the medical devices or features for each time. Where two or more medical devices or features are provided with a geometric relationship, such as being connected by a detected guide wire, the probability function may account for the geometric relationship, such as a geodesic distance between the possible locations for the two medical devices. | 01-05-2012 |
20120022843 | Method and System for Comprehensive Patient-Specific Modeling of the Heart - A method and system for patient-specific modeling of the whole heart anatomy, dynamics, hemodynamics, and fluid structure interaction from 4D medical image data is disclosed. The anatomy and dynamics of the heart are determined by estimating patient-specific parameters of a physiological model of the heart from the 4D medical image data for a patient. The patient-specific anatomy and dynamics are used as input to a 3D Navier-Stokes solver that derives realistic hemodynamics, constrained by the local anatomy, along the entire heart cycle. Fluid structure interactions are determined iteratively over the heart cycle by simulating the blood flow at a given time step and calculating the deformation of the heart structure based on the simulated blood flow, such that the deformation of the heart structure is used in the simulation of the blood flow at the next time step. The comprehensive patient-specific model of the heart representing anatomy, dynamics, hemodynamics, and fluid structure interaction can be used for non-invasive assessment and diagnosis of the heart, as well as virtual therapy planning and cardiovascular disease management. Parameters of the comprehensive patient-specific model are changed or perturbed to simulate various conditions or treatment options, and then the patient specific model is recalculated to predict the effect of the conditions or treatment options. | 01-26-2012 |
20120059253 | Method and System for Image Based Device Tracking for Co-registration of Angiography and Intravascular Ultrasound Images - A method and system for co-registration of angiography data and intra vascular ultrasound (IVUS) data is disclosed. A vessel branch is detected in an angiogram image. A sequence of IVUS images is received from an IVUS transducer while the IVUS transducer is being pulled back through the vessel branch. A fluoroscopic image sequence is received while the IVUS transducer is being pulled back through the vessel branch. The IVUS transducer and a guiding catheter tip are detected in each frame of the fluoroscopic image sequence. The IVUS transducer detected in each frame of the fluoroscopic image sequence is mapped to a respective location in the detected vessel branch of the angiogram image. Each of the IVUS images is registered to a respective location in the detected vessel branch of the angiogram image based on the mapped location of the IVUS transducer detected in a corresponding frame of the fluoroscopic image sequence. | 03-08-2012 |
20120069017 | Method and System for Efficient Extraction of a Silhouette of a 3D Mesh - A method and system for extracting a silhouette of a 3D mesh representing an anatomical structure is disclosed. The 3D mesh is projected to two dimensions. Silhouette candidate edges are generated in the projected mesh by pruning edges and mesh points based on topology analysis of the projected mesh. Each silhouette candidate edge that intersects with another edge in the projected mesh is split into two silhouette candidate edges. The silhouette is extracted using an edge following process on the silhouette candidate edges. | 03-22-2012 |
20120070046 | Method and System for Detection and Tracking of Coronary Sinus Catheter Electrodes in Fluoroscopic Images - A method and system for detecting and tracking coronary sinus (CS) catheter electrodes in a fluoroscopic image sequence is disclosed. An electrode model is initialized in a first frame of the fluoroscopic image sequence based on input locations of CS sinus catheter electrodes in the first frame. The electrode model is tracked in subsequent frames of the fluoroscopic image sequence by detecting electrode position candidates in the subsequent frames of the fluoroscopic image sequence using at least one trained electrode detector, generating electrode model candidates in the subsequent frames based on the detected electrode position candidates, calculating a probability score for each of the electrode model candidates, and selecting an electrode model candidate based on the probability score. | 03-22-2012 |
20120070053 | Method and System for Vascular Landmark Detection - The present invention provides a method and system for vascular landmark detection in CT volumes. A CT volume is received and an initial position of a plurality of vascular landmarks is detected. The initial position of each of the plurality of vascular landmarks is then adjusted in order to position each vascular landmark inside a vessel lumen. A new position of each of the plurality of vascular landmarks representing the adjusted initial positions is output. | 03-22-2012 |
20120071755 | Method and System for Automatic Native and Bypass Coronary Ostia Detection in Cardiac Computed Tomography Volumes - A method and system for detection of native and bypass coronary ostia in a 3D volume, such as a CT volume, is disclosed. Native coronary ostia are detected by detecting a bounding box defining locations of a left native coronary ostium and a right native coronary ostium in the 3D volume using marginal space learning (MSL), and locally refining the locations of the left native coronary ostium and the right native coronary ostium using a trained native coronary ostium detector. Bypass coronary ostia are detected by segmenting an ascending aorta surface mesh in the 3D volume, generating a search region of a plurality of mesh points on the ascending aorta surface mesh based on a distribution of annotated bypass coronary ostia in a plurality of training volumes, and detecting the bypass coronary ostia by searching the plurality of mesh points in the search region. | 03-22-2012 |
20120072190 | Method and System for Non-Invasive Assessment of Coronary Artery Disease - A method and system for non-invasive patient-specific assessment of coronary artery disease is disclosed. An anatomical model of a coronary artery is generated from medical image data. A velocity of blood in the coronary artery is estimated based on a spatio-temporal representation of contrast agent propagation in the medical image data. Blood flow is simulated in the anatomical model of the coronary artery using a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation using the estimated velocity of the blood in the coronary artery as a boundary condition. | 03-22-2012 |
20120078097 | COMPUTERIZED CHARACTERIZATION OF CARDIAC MOTION IN MEDICAL DIAGNOSTIC ULTRASOUND - Computerized characterization of cardiac wall motion is provided. Quantities for cardiac wall motion are determined from a four-dimensional (i.e., 3D+time) sequence of ultrasound data. A processor automatically processes the volume data to locate the cardiac wall through the sequence and calculate the quantity from the cardiac wall position or motion. Various machine learning is used for locating and tracking the cardiac wall, such as using a motion prior learned from training data for initially locating the cardiac wall and the motion prior, speckle tracking, boundary detection, and mass conservation cues for tracking with another machine learned classifier. Where the sequence extends over multiple cycles, the cycles are automatically divided for independent tracking of the cardiac wall. The cardiac wall from one cycle may be used to propagate to another cycle for initializing the tracking. Independent tracking in each cycle may reduce or avoid inaccuracies due to drift. | 03-29-2012 |
20120087563 | Method and System for Intraoperative Guidance Using Physiological Image Fusion - A method and system for intraoperative guidance in an off-pump mitral valve repair procedure is disclosed. A plurality of patient-specific models of the mitral valve are generated, each from pre-operative image data obtained using a separate imaging modality. The pre-operative image data from the separate imaging modalities are fused into a common coordinate system by registering the plurality of patient-specific models. A model of the mitral valve is estimated in real-time in intraoperative image data using a fused physiological prior resulting from the registering of the plurality of patient-specific models. | 04-12-2012 |
20120093397 | Method and System for Learning Based Object Detection in Medical Images - Methods and Systems for training a learning based classifier and object detection in medical images is disclosed. In order to train a learning based classifier, positive training samples and negative training samples are generated based on annotated training images. Features for the positive training samples and the negative training samples are extracted. The features include an extended Haar feature set including tip features and corner features. A discriminative classifier is trained based on the extracted features. | 04-19-2012 |
20120121152 | Method and System for Automatic View Planning for Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging acquisition - A method and system for automated view planning for cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) acquisition is disclosed. The method and system automatically generate a full scan prescription using a single 3D MRI volume. The left ventricle (LV) is segmented in the 3D MRI volume. Cardiac landmarks are detected in the automatically prescribed slices. A full scan prescription, including a short axis stack and 2-chamber, 3-chamber, and 4-chamber views, is automatically generated based on cardiac anchors provided by the segmented left ventricle and the detected cardiac landmarks in the 3D MRI volume. | 05-17-2012 |
20120123250 | Method and System for Pigtail Catheter Motion Prediction - A method and system for autoregressive model based pigtail catheter motion prediction in a fluoroscopic image sequence is disclosed. Parameters of an autoregressive model are estimated based on observed pigtail catheter tip positions in a plurality of previous frames of a fluoroscopic image sequence. A pigtail catheter tip position in a current frame of the fluoroscopic image sequence is predicted using the fitted autoregressive model. The predicted pigtail catheter tip position can be used to constrain pigtail catheter tip detection in the current frame. The predicted pigtail catheter tip position may also be used to predict abnormal motion in the fluoroscopic image sequence. | 05-17-2012 |
20120134564 | Method and System for Heart Isolation in Cardiac Computed Tomography Volumes for Patients with Coronary Artery Bypasses - A method and system for isolating the heart in a 3D volume, such as a cardiac CT volume, for patients with coronary artery bypasses is disclosed. An initial heart isolation mask is extracted from a 3D volume, such as a cardiac CT volume. The aortic root and ascending aorta are segmented in the 3D volume, resulting in an aorta mesh. The aorta mesh is expanded to include bypass coronary arteries. An expanded heart isolation mask is generated by combining the initial heart isolation mask with an expanded aorta mask defined by the expanded aorta mesh. | 05-31-2012 |
20120183193 | Method and System for Automatic Detection of Spinal Bone Lesions in 3D Medical Image Data - A method and system for automatic detection and volumetric quantification of bone lesions in 3D medical images, such as 3D computed tomography (CT) volumes, is disclosed. Regions of interest corresponding to bone regions are detected in a 3D medical image. Bone lesions are detected in the regions of interest using a cascade of trained detectors. The cascade of trained detectors automatically detects lesion centers and then estimates lesion size in all three spatial axes. A hierarchical multi-scale approach is used to detect bone lesions using a cascade of detectors on multiple levels of a resolution pyramid of the 3D medical image. | 07-19-2012 |
20120189185 | Method and System for 3D Cardiac Motion Estimation from Single Scan of C-Arm Angiography - A method and system for estimating 3D cardiac motion from a single C-arm angiography scan is disclosed. An initial 3D volume is reconstructed from a plurality of 2D projection images acquired in a single C-arm scan. A static mesh is extracted by segmenting an object in the initial 3D volume. The static mesh is projected to each of the 2D projection images. A cardiac phase is determined for each of the 2D projection images. A deformed mesh is generated for each of a plurality of cardiac phases based on a 2D contour of the object and the projected mesh in each of the 2D projection images of that cardiac phase. | 07-26-2012 |
20120203530 | Method and System for Patient-Specific Computational Modeling and Simulation for Coupled Hemodynamic Analysis of Cerebral Vessels - A method and system for patient-specific computational modeling and simulation for coupled hemodynamic analysis of cerebral vessels is disclosed. An anatomical model of a cerebral vessel is extracted from 3D medical image data. The anatomical model of the cerebral vessel includes an inner wall and an outer wall of the cerebral vessel. Blood flow in the cerebral vessel and deformation of the cerebral vessel wall are simulated using coupled computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and computational solid mechanics (CSM) simulations based on the anatomical model of the cerebral vessel. | 08-09-2012 |
20120230558 | Method and System for Contrast Inflow Detection in 2D Fluoroscopic Images - A method and system for contrast inflow detection in a sequence of fluoroscopic images is disclosed. Vessel segments are detected in each frame of a fluoroscopic image sequence. A score vector is determined for the fluoroscopic image sequence based on the detected vessel segments in each frame of the fluoroscopic image sequence. It is determined whether a contrast agent injection is present in the fluoroscopic image sequence based on the score vector. If it is determined that a contrast agent injection is present in the fluoroscopic image sequence, a contrast inflow frame, at which contrast agent inflow begins, is detected in the fluoroscopic image sequence based on the score vector. | 09-13-2012 |
20120230568 | Method and System for Model-Based Fusion of Multi-Modal Volumetric Images - A method and system for fusion of multi-modal volumetric images is disclosed. A first image acquired using a first imaging modality is received. A second image acquired using a second imaging modality is received. A model and of a target anatomical structure and a transformation are jointly estimated from the first and second images. The model represents a model of the target anatomical structure in the first image and the transformation projects a model of the target anatomical structure in the second image to the model in the first image. The first and second images can be fused based on estimated transformation. | 09-13-2012 |
20120230570 | Method and System for Multi-Part Left Atrium Segmentation in C-Arm Computed Tomography Volumes Using Shape Constraints - A method and system for multi-part left atrium (LA) segmentation in a C-arm CT volume is disclosed. Multiple LA part models, including an LA chamber body mesh, an appendage mesh, a left inferior pulmonary vein (PV) mesh, a left superior PV mesh, a right inferior PV mesh, and a right superior PV mesh, are segmented in a | 09-13-2012 |
20120232379 | Method and System for Regression-Based 4D Mitral Valve Segmentation From 2D+t Magnetic Resonance Imaging Slices - A system and method for regression-based segmentation of the mitral valve in 2D+t cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) slices is disclosed. The 2D+t CMR slices are acquired according to a mitral valve-specific acquisition protocol introduced herein. A set of mitral valve landmarks is detected in each 2D CMR slice and mitral valve contours are estimated in each 2D CMR slice based on the detected landmarks. A full mitral valve model is reconstructed from the mitral valve contours estimated in the 2D CMR slices using a trained regression model. Each 2D CMR slice may be a cine image acquired over a full cardiac cycle. In this case, the segmentation method reconstructs a patient-specific 4D dynamic mitral valve model from the 2D+t CMR image data. | 09-13-2012 |
20120232386 | VALVE TREATMENT SIMULATION FROM MEDICAL DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING DATA - Valve treatment simulation is performed from patient specific imaging data for therapy planning. A model of the valve may be generated from the patient specific data automatically or with very minimal user indication of anatomy locations relative to an image. Any characteristics for the valve not extracted from images of the patient may be added to create a volumetric model. Added characteristics include chordae, such as chordae length and leaflet fiber direction. The characteristics may be adjusted based on user feedback and/or comparison with images of the patient. The effect of therapy on closure of the valve may be simulated from the model. For instance, mitral clip intervention is simulated on the patient-specific model. Valves are deformed according to the clip location. Valve closure is then simulated to predict effect of the therapy in terms of mitral regurgitation. | 09-13-2012 |
20120232853 | PHYSICALLY-CONSTRAINED MODELING OF A HEART IN MEDICAL IMAGING - Physically-constrained modeling of a heart is provided. Patient-specific data may be used to estimate heart anatomy locations. A model is applied to the data for estimation. For increased accuracy of estimation, the biomechanics of the heart, such as the valve, may be used to constrain the estimation. By applying a dynamic system between estimated anatomy locations of different times, the locations may be deformed or refined. The modeled heart and/or valve may be used to estimate hemodynamics. The resulting velocities or other motion information may be used to emulate ultrasound Doppler imaging for comparing with acquired ultrasound Doppler data. The comparison may validate the modeling. | 09-13-2012 |
20120238866 | Method and System for Catheter Tracking in Fluoroscopic Images Using Adaptive Discriminant Learning and Measurement Fusion - A method and system for adaptive discriminant learning and measurement fusion for image based catheter tracking is disclosed. An adaptive discriminant model is trained online based on a tracked object, such as a pigtail catheter tip, in at least one previous frame of a fluoroscopic image sequence. The object is tracked in the current frame of the fluoroscopic image sequence based at least on the adaptive discriminant model trained online. The object may be tracked in the current frame based on a fusion of three types of measurement models including the adaptive discriminant model trained online, an object detection model trained offline, and an online appearance model. | 09-20-2012 |
20120257807 | Method and System for Detection of Contrast Injection Fluoroscopic Image Sequences - A method and system for detecting a spatial and temporal location of a contrast injection in a fluoroscopic image sequence is disclosed. Training volumes generated by stacking a sequence of 2D fluoroscopic images in time order are annotated with ground truth contrast injection points. A heart rate is globally estimated for each training volume, and local frequency and phase is estimated in a neighborhood of the ground truth contrast injection point for each training volume. Frequency and phase invariant features are extracted from each training volume based on the heart rate, local frequency and phase, and a detector is trained based on the training volumes and the features extracted for each training volume. The detector can be used to detect the spatial and temporal location of a contrast injection in a fluoroscopic image sequence. | 10-11-2012 |
20120274781 | MARGINAL SPACE LEARNING FOR MULTI-PERSON TRACKING OVER MEGA PIXEL IMAGERY - A method for tracking pedestrians in a video sequence, where each image frame of the video sequence corresponds to a time step, includes using marginal space learning to sample a prior probability distribution p(x | 11-01-2012 |
20120296202 | Method and System for Registration of Ultrasound and Physiological Models to X-ray Fluoroscopic Images - A method and system for registering ultrasound images and physiological models to x-ray fluoroscopy images is disclosed. A fluoroscopic image and an ultrasound image, such as a Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE) image, are received. A 2D location of an ultrasound probe is detected in the fluoroscopic image. A 3D pose of the ultrasound probe is estimated based on the detected 2D location of the ultrasound probe in the fluoroscopic image. The ultrasound image is mapped to a 3D coordinate system of a fluoroscopic image acquisition device used to acquire the fluoroscopic image based on the estimated 3D pose of the ultrasound probe. The ultrasound image can then be projected into the fluoroscopic image using a projection matrix associated with the fluoroscopic image. A patient specific physiological model can be detected in the ultrasound image and projected into the fluoroscopic image. | 11-22-2012 |
20120300068 | Method and System for Cooperative Diversity Visual Cognition in Wireless Video Sensor Networks - A method and system for cooperative diversity visual cognition in a wireless sensor network is disclosed. The method and system are capable of solving distributed visual cognition tasks (for example, online simultaneous reconstruction of 3D models of a large area) by using multiple video streams and exploiting cooperative diversity video sensing information while ensuring an optimal tradeoff between energy consumption and video quality of images received from said multiple video streams. | 11-29-2012 |
20120321174 | Image Processing Using Random Forest Classifiers - A method of performing image retrieval includes training a random forest RF classifier based on low-level features of training images and a high-level feature, using similarity values generated by the RF classifier to determine a subset of the training images that are most similar to one another, and classifying input images for the high-level feature using the RF classifier and the determined subset of images. | 12-20-2012 |
20130004040 | LEFT VENTRICLE EPICARDIUM ESTIMATION IN MEDICAL DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING - The left ventricle epicardium is estimated in medical diagnostic imaging. C-arm x-ray data is used to detect an endocardium at different phases. The detected endocardium at the different phases is compared to sample endocardiums at different phases. The sample endocardiums have corresponding sample epicadriums. The transformation between the most similar sample endocardium or endocardiums over time and the detected endocardium over time is applied to the corresponding sample epicardium or epicardiums. The transformed sample epicardium over time is the estimated epicardium over time for the C-arm x-ray data. | 01-03-2013 |
20130004052 | SUBTRACTION OF PROJECTION DATA IN MEDICAL DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING - Background information is subtracted from projection data in medical diagnostic imaging. The background is removed using data acquired in a single rotational sweep of a C-arm. The removal may be by masking out a target, leaving the background, in the data as constructed into a volume. For subtraction, the masked background information is projected to a plane and subtracted from the data representing the plane. | 01-03-2013 |
20130011030 | Method and System for Device Detection in 2D Medical Images - A method and system for device detection in a 2D medical image is disclosed. In order to account for shape variation of a 3D object in a 2D imaging plane, a hierarchical tree-structured array of trained classifiers is used to detect a 3D object, such as a pigtail catheter in a 2D medical image, such as a fluoroscopic image. The hierarchical tree-structured array of trained classifiers increases a dimensionality of the search space with each hierarchical level, and as the search space is increased, the classification is split into object sub-classes using trained classifiers independently trained for each sub-class. | 01-10-2013 |
20130035596 | MODEL-BASED POSITIONING FOR INTRACARDIAC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY VOLUME STITCHING - Different intracardiac echocardiography volumes are stitched together. Different volumes of a patient are scanned with ICE. To stitch the volumes together, creating a larger volume, the volumes are spatially aligned. The alignment is based on feature, surface, or both feature and surface matching of the ICE volumes with a preoperative model of the same patient. The matching with the model indicates a relative position of the ICE volumes with each other. Using machine-trained classifiers may speed performance, allowing for real-time assembling of a volume from ICE data as the catheter is moved within the patient. | 02-07-2013 |
20130070996 | Method and System for Up-Vector Detection for Ribs in Computed Tomography Volumes - A method and system for up-vector detection for ribs in a 3D medical image volume, such as a computed tomography (CT) volume is disclosed. A rib centerline of at least one rib is extracted in a 3D medical image volume. An up-vector is automatically detected at each of a plurality of centerline points of the rib centerline of the at least one rib. The up-vector at each centerline point can be detected using a trained regression function. Alternatively, the up-vector at each centerline point can be detected by detecting an ellipse shape in a cross-sectional rib image generated at each centerline point. | 03-21-2013 |
20130072773 | Method and System for Ablation Catheter and Circumferential Mapping Catheter Tracking in Fluoroscopic Images - A method and system for tracking an ablation catheter and a circumferential mapping catheter in a fluoroscopic image sequence is disclosed. Catheter electrode models for the ablation catheter and the circumferential mapping catheter are initialized in a first frame of a fluoroscopic image sequence based on user inputs. The catheter electrode models for the ablation catheter and the circumferential mapping catheter are then tracked in each remaining frame of the fluoroscopic image sequence. In each remaining frame, candidates of catheter landmarks such as the catheter tip, electrodes and body points are detected for the ablation catheter and the circumferential mapping catheter, tracking hypotheses for the catheter electrode models are generated, and for each of the ablation catheter and the circumferential mapping catheter, the catheter electrode model having the highest probability score is selected from the generated tracking hypotheses. | 03-21-2013 |
20130072782 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC MAGNETIC RESONANCE VOLUME COMPOSITION AND NORMALIZATION - A method and system for automatic magnetic resonance (MR) volume composition and normalization is disclosed. In one embodiment, a plurality of MR volumes is received. A composite MR volume is generated from the plurality of MR volumes. Volume normalization of the composite MR volume is then performed to correct intensity inhomogeneity in the composite MR volume. The volume normalization of the composite MR volume may be performed using template MR volume or without a template MR volume. | 03-21-2013 |
20130072788 | Method and System for Tracking Catheters in 2D X-Ray Fluoroscopy Using a Graphics Processing Unit - A method and system for detecting and tracking multiple catheters in a fluoroscopic image sequence in an integrated central processing unit and graphics processing unit framework is disclosed. A catheter electrode model is initialized in a first frame of the fluoroscopic image sequence. The catheter landmark candidates are detected, by a graphics processing unit, in the first frame of the fluoroscopic image sequence. The catheter electrode model is tracked, by a central processing unit, and is detected by the graphics processing unit, in subsequent frames of the fluoroscopic image sequence by detecting catheter landmark candidates in the subsequent frames of the fluoroscopic image sequence using at least one trained catheter landmark detector, and outputting the catheter model tracking and landmark detection results of for each frame of the fluoroscopic image sequence. | 03-21-2013 |
20130077841 | Method and System for Automatic Rib Centerline Extraction Using Learning Base Deformable Template Matching - A method and system for extracting rib centerlines in a 3D volume, such as a 3D computed tomography (CT) volume, is disclosed. Rib centerline voxels are detected in the 3D volume using a learning based detector. Rib centerlines or the whole rib cage are then extracted by matching a template of rib centerlines for the whole rib cage to the 3D volume based on the detected rib centerline voxels. Each of the extracted rib centerlines are then individually refined using an active contour model. | 03-28-2013 |
20130083983 | Method and System for Segmentation and Removal of Pulmonary Arteries, Veins, Left Atrial Appendage - A method and system for segmentation and removal of pulmonary arteries, pulmonary veins, and a left atrial appendage from 3D medical image data, such as 3D computed tomography (CT) volumes, is disclosed. A global shape model is segmented for each of pulmonary arteries, pulmonary veins, and a left atrial appendage in a 3D volume. The segmented global shape model for each of the pulmonary arteries, pulmonary veins, and left atrial appendage is locally refined based in local voxel intensities in the 3D volume, resulting in a respective mask for each structure. The mask is used to remove voxels belonging to the pulmonary arteries, pulmonary veins, and left atrial appendage from the 3D volume in order to better visualize coronary arteries and bypass arteries. | 04-04-2013 |
20130129170 | Method and System for Precise Segmentation of the Left Atrium in C-Arm Computed Tomography Volumes - A method and system for multi-part left atrium (LA) segmentation in a C-arm CT volume is disclosed. Multiple LA part models, including an LA chamber body mesh, an appendage mesh, a left inferior pulmonary vein (PV) mesh, a left superior PV mesh, a right inferior PV mesh, and a right superior PV mesh, are segmented in a 3D volume. A volume mask is generated from the LA chamber mesh, the appendage mesh, and the PV meshes. Erosion is performed in the LA chamber body and a plurality of ostia regions in the volume mask. The plurality of ostia regions in the volume mask are refined using region growing, and a smooth mesh is fit to each ostia region. A consolidated LA mesh is generated from the volume mask and the parts of the LA mesh are relabeled in the ostia region based on part boundaries detected using an optimization approach. | 05-23-2013 |
20130129173 | Method and System for Intervention Planning for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation from 3D Computed Tomography Data - A method and system for automated intervention planning for transcatheter aortic valve implantations using computed tomography (CT) data is disclosed. A patient-specific aortic valve model is detected in a CT volume of a patient. The patient-specific aortic valve model is detected by detecting a global location of the patient-specific aortic valve model in the CT volume, detecting aortic valve landmarks based on the detected global location, and fitting an aortic root surface model. Angulation parameters of a C-arm imaging device for acquiring intra-operative fluoroscopic images and anatomical measurements of the aortic valve are automatically determined based on the patient-specific aortic valve model. | 05-23-2013 |
20130129174 | Method and System for Model-Based Fusion of Computed Tomography and Non-Contrasted C-Arm Computed Tomography - A method and system for model-based fusion of multi-modal volumetric images is disclosed. A first patient-specific model of an anchor anatomical structure is detected in a first medical image acquired using a first imaging modality, and a second patient-specific model of the anchor anatomical structure is detected in a second medical image acquired using a second imaging modality. A weighted mapping function is determined based on the first patient-specific model of the anchor anatomical structure and the second patient-specific model of the anchor anatomical structure using learned weights to minimize mapping error with respect to a target anatomical structure. The target anatomical structure from the first medical image to the second medical image using the weighted mapping function. In an application of this model-based fusion to transcatheter valve therapies, the trachea bifurcation is used as the anchor anatomical structure and the aortic valve is the target anatomical structure. | 05-23-2013 |
20130132054 | Method and System for Multi-Scale Anatomical and Functional Modeling of Coronary Circulation - A method and system for multi-scale anatomical and functional modeling of coronary circulation is disclosed. A patient-specific anatomical model of coronary arteries and the heart is generated from medical image data of a patient. A multi-scale functional model of coronary circulation is generated based on the patient-specific anatomical model. Blood flow is simulated in at least one stenosis region of at least one coronary artery using the multi-scale function model of coronary circulation. Hemodynamic quantities, such as fractional flow reserve (FFR), are computed to determine a functional assessment of the stenosis, and virtual intervention simulations are performed using the multi-scale function model of coronary circulation for decision support and intervention planning. | 05-23-2013 |
20130144573 | Method and System for Patient-Specific Hemodynamic Assessment of Virtual Stent Implantation - A method and system for assessment of virtual stent implantation in an aortic aneurysm is disclosed. A patient-specific 4D anatomical model of the aorta is generated from the 4D medical imaging data. A model representing mechanical properties of the aorta wall is adjusted to reflect changes due to aneurysm growth at a plurality of time stages. A stable deformation configuration of the aorta is generated for each time stages by performing fluid structure interaction (FSI) simulations using the patient-specific 4D anatomical model at each time stage based on the adjusted model representing the mechanical properties of the aorta wall at each time stage. Virtual stent implantation is performed for each stable deformation configuration of the aorta and FSI simulations are performed for each virtual stent implantation. | 06-06-2013 |
20130155064 | Method and System for Aortic Valve Calcification Evaluation - A method and system for automatic aortic valve calcification evaluation is disclosed. A patient-specific aortic valve model in a 3D medical image volume, such as a 3D computed tomography (CT) volume. Calcifications in a region of the 3D medical image volume defined based on the aortic valve model. A 2D calcification plot is generated that shows locations of the segmented calcifications relative to aortic valve leaflets of the patient-specific aortic valve model. The 2D calcification plot can be used for assessing the suitability of a patient for a Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVI) procedure, as well as risk assessment, positioning of an aortic valve implant, and selection of a type of aortic valve implant. | 06-20-2013 |
20130197881 | Method and System for Patient Specific Planning of Cardiac Therapies on Preoperative Clinical Data and Medical Images - A method and system for patient-specific planning of cardiac therapy, such as cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), based on preoperative clinical data and medical images, such as ECG data, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data, and ultrasound data, is disclosed. A patient-specific anatomical model of the left and right ventricles is generated from medical image data of a patient. A patient-specific computational heart model, which comprises cardiac electrophysiology, biomechanics and hemodynamics, is generated based on the patient-specific anatomical model of the left and right ventricles and clinical data. Simulations of cardiac therapies, such as CRT at one or more anatomical locations are performed using the patient-specific computational heart model. Changes in clinical cardiac parameters are then computed from the patient-specific model, constituting predictors of therapy outcome useful for therapy planning and optimization. | 08-01-2013 |
20130197884 | Method and System for Advanced Measurements Computation and Therapy Planning from Medical Data and Images Using a Multi-Physics Fluid-Solid Heart Model - Method and system for computation of advanced heart measurements from medical images and data; and therapy planning using a patient-specific multi-physics fluid-solid heart model is disclosed. A patient-specific anatomical model of the left and right ventricles is generated from medical image patient data. A patient-specific computational heart model is generated based on the patient-specific anatomical model of the left and right ventricles and patient-specific clinical data. The computational model includes biomechanics, electrophysiology and hemodynamics. To generate the patient-specific computational heart model, initial patient-specific parameters of an electrophysiology model, initial patient-specific parameters of a biomechanics model, and initial patient-specific computational fluid dynamics (CFD) boundary conditions are marginally estimated. A coupled fluid-structure interaction (FSI) simulation is performed using the initial patient-specific parameters, and the initial patient-specific parameters are refined based on the coupled FSI simulation. The estimated model parameters then constitute new advanced measurements that can be used for decision making. | 08-01-2013 |
20130216110 | Method and System for Coronary Artery Centerline Extraction - A method and system for extracting coronary artery centerlines from 3D medical image volumes is disclosed. Heart chambers are segmented in a 3D volume. Coronary artery centerlines are initialized in the 3D volume coronary artery based on the segmented heart chambers. The coronary artery centerlines are locally refined based on a vesselness measure. A length of each coronary artery centerline is shrunk to verify that the coronary artery centerline is within a coronary artery. The coronary artery centerline is the extended using data-driven vessel tracing. | 08-22-2013 |
20130226542 | Method and System for Fast Patient-Specific Cardiac Electrophysiology Simulations for Therapy Planning and Guidance - A method and system for patient-specific cardiac electrophysiology is disclosed. Particularly, a patient-specific anatomical model of a heart is generated from medical image data of a patient, a level-set representation of the patient-specific anatomical model is generated of the heart on a Cartesian grid; and a transmembrane action potential at each node of the level-set representation of the of the patient-specific anatomical model of the heart is computed on a Cartesian grid. | 08-29-2013 |
20130243294 | Method and System for Hemodynamic Assessment of Aortic Coarctation from Medical Image Data - A method and system for non-invasive hemodynamic assessment of aortic coarctation from medical image data, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data is disclosed. Patient-specific lumen anatomy of the aorta and supra-aortic arteries is estimated from medical image data of a patient, such as contrast enhanced MRI. Patient-specific aortic blood flow rates are estimated from the medical image data of the patient, such as velocity encoded phase-contrasted MRI cine images. Patient-specific inlet and outlet boundary conditions for a computational model of aortic blood flow are calculated based on the patient-specific lumen anatomy, the patient-specific aortic blood flow rates, and non-invasive clinical measurements of the patient. Aortic blood flow and pressure are computed over the patient-specific lumen anatomy using the computational model of aortic blood flow and the patient-specific inlet and outlet boundary conditions. | 09-19-2013 |
20130245429 | ROBUST MULTI-OBJECT TRACKING USING SPARSE APPEARANCE REPRESENTATION AND ONLINE SPARSE APPEARANCE DICTIONARY UPDATE - A computer-implemented method for tracking one or more objects in a sequence of images includes generating a dictionary based on object locations in a first image included in the sequence of images. One or more object landmark candidates are identified in the sequence of images and a plurality of tracking hypothesis for the object landmark candidates are generated. A first tracking hypothesis is selected from the plurality of tracking hypothesis based on the dictionary. | 09-19-2013 |
20130246034 | Method and System for Non-Invasive Functional Assessment of Coronary Artery Stenosis - A method and system for non-invasive assessment of coronary artery stenosis is disclosed. Patient-specific anatomical measurements of the coronary arteries are extracted from medical image data of a patient acquired during rest state. Patient-specific rest state boundary conditions of a model of coronary circulation representing the coronary arteries are calculated based on the patient-specific anatomical measurements and non-invasive clinical measurements of the patient at rest. Patient-specific rest state boundary conditions of the model of coronary circulation representing the coronary arteries are calculated based on the patient-specific anatomical measurements and non-invasive clinical measurements of the patient at rest. Hyperemic blood flow and pressure across at least one stenosis region of the coronary arteries are simulated using the model of coronary circulation and the patient-specific hyperemic boundary conditions. Fractional flow reserve (FFR) is calculated for the at least one stenosis region based on the simulated hyperemic blood flow and pressure. | 09-19-2013 |
20130259341 | IMAGE FUSION FOR INTERVENTIONAL GUIDANCE - A method for real-time fusion of a 2D cardiac ultrasound image with a 2D cardiac fluoroscopic image includes acquiring real time synchronized US and fluoroscopic images, detecting a surface contour of an aortic valve in the 2D cardiac ultrasound (US) image relative to an US probe, detecting a pose of the US probe in the 2D cardiac fluoroscopic image, and using pose parameters of the US probe to transform the surface contour of the aortic valve from the 2D cardiac US image to the 2D cardiac fluoroscopic image. | 10-03-2013 |
20130279780 | Method and System for Model Based Fusion on Pre-Operative Computed Tomography and Intra-Operative Fluoroscopy Using Transesophageal Echocardiography - A method and system for model-based fusion of pre-operative image data and intra-operative fluoroscopic images is disclosed. A fluoroscopic image and an ultrasound image are received. The ultrasound image is mapped to a 3D coordinate system of a fluoroscopic image acquisition device used to acquire the fluoroscopic image. Contours of an anatomical structure are detected in the ultrasound image, and a transformation is calculated between the ultrasound image and a pre-operative CT image based on the contours and a patient-specific physiological model extracted from the pre-operative CT image. A final mapping is determined between the CT image and the fluoroscopic image based on the transformation between the ultrasound image and physiological model and the mapping of the ultrasound image to the 3D coordinate system of the fluoroscopic image acquisition device. The CT image or the physiological model can then be projected into the fluoroscopic image. | 10-24-2013 |
20130294667 | Method and System for Pericardium Based Model Fusion of Pre-operative and Intra-operative Image Data for Cardiac Interventions - A method and system for model based fusion pre-operative image data, such as computed tomography (CT), and intra-operative C-arm CT is disclosed. A first pericardium model is segmented in the pre-operative image data and a second pericardium model is segmented in a C-arm CT volume. A deformation field is estimated between the first pericardium model and the second pericardium model. A model of a target cardiac structure, such as a heart chamber model or an aorta model, extracted from the pre-operative image data is fused with the C-arm CT volume based on the estimated deformation field between the first pericardium model and the second pericardium model. An intelligent weighted average may be used improve the model based fusion results using models of the target cardiac structure extracted from pre-operative image data of patients other than a current patient. | 11-07-2013 |
20130324841 | System and Method for Real-Time Ultrasound Guided Prostate Needle Biopsy Based on Biomechanical Model of the Prostate from Magnetic Resonance Imaging Data - A method and system for real-time ultrasound guided prostate needle biopsy based on a biomechanical model of the prostate from 3D planning image data, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data, is disclosed. The prostate is segmented in the 3D ultrasound image. A reference patient-specific biomechanical model of the prostate extracted from planning image data is fused to a boundary of the segmented prostate in the 3D ultrasound image, resulting in a fused 3D biomechanical prostate model. In response to movement of an ultrasound probe to a new location, a current 2D ultrasound image is received. The fused 3D biomechanical prostate model is deformed based on the current 2D ultrasound image to match a current deformation of the prostate due to the movement of the ultrasound probe to the new location. | 12-05-2013 |
20140012558 | SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR INTEGRATED AND PREDICTIVE ANALYSIS OF MOLECULAR, IMAGING, AND CLINICAL DATA FOR PATIENT-SPECIFIC MANAGEMENT OF DISEASES - A system operating in a plurality of modes to provide an integrated analysis of molecular data, imaging data, and clinical data associated with a patient includes a multi-scale model, a molecular model, and a linking component. The multi-scale model is configured to generate one or more estimated multi-scale parameters based on the clinical data and the imaging data when the system operates in a first mode, and generate a model of organ functionality based on one or more inferred multi-scale parameters when the system operates in a second mode. The molecular model is configured to generate one or more first molecular findings based on a molecular network analysis of the molecular data, wherein the molecular model is constrained by the estimated parameters when the system operates in the first mode. The linking component, which is operably coupled to the multi-scale model and the molecular model, is configured to transfer the estimated multi-scale parameters from the multi-scale model to the molecular model when the system operates in the first mode, and generate, using a machine learning process, the inferred multi-scale parameters based on the molecular findings when the system operates in the second mode. | 01-09-2014 |
20140022250 | System and Method for Patient Specific Planning and Guidance of Ablative Procedures for Cardiac Arrhythmias - A method and system for patient-specific planning and guidance of an ablation procedure for cardiac arrhythmia is disclosed. A patient-specific anatomical heart model is generated based on pre-operative cardiac image data. The patient-specific anatomical heart model is registered to a coordinate system of intra-operative images acquired during the ablation procedure. One or more ablation site guidance maps are generated based on the registered patient-specific anatomical heart model and intra-operative patient-specific measurements acquired during the ablation procedure. The ablation site guidance maps may include myocardium diffusion and action potential duration maps. The ablation site guidance maps are generated using a computational model of cardiac electrophysiology which is personalized by fitting parameters of the cardiac electrophysiology model using the intra-operative patient-specific measurements. The ablation site guidance maps are displayed by a display device during the ablation procedure. | 01-23-2014 |
20140024932 | Computation of Hemodynamic Quantities From Angiographic Data - Methods for computing hemodynamic quantities include: (a) acquiring angiography data from a patient; (b) calculating a flow and/or calculating a change in pressure in a blood vessel of the patient based on the angiography data; and (c) computing the hemodynamic quantity based on the flow and/or the change in pressure. Systems for computing hemodynamic quantities and computer readable storage media are described. | 01-23-2014 |
20140052001 | Mitral Valve Detection for Transthoracic Echocardiography - A mitral valve is detected in transthoracic echocardiography. The ultrasound transducer is positioned against the chest of the patient rather than being inserted within the patient. While data acquired from such scanning may be noisier or have less resolution, the mitral valve may still be automatically detected. Using both B-mode data representing tissue as well as flow data representing the regurgitant jet, the mitral valve may be detected automatically with a machine-learnt classifier. A series of classifiers may be used, such as determining a position and orientation of a valve region with one classifier, determining a regurgitant orifice with another classifier, and locating mitral valve anatomy with a third classifier. One or more features for some of the classifiers may be calculated based on the orientation of the valve region. | 02-20-2014 |
20140058715 | Method and System for Non-Invasive Functional Assessment of Coronary Artery Stenosis - A method and system for non-invasive assessment of coronary artery stenosis is disclosed. Patient-specific anatomical measurements of the coronary arteries are extracted from medical image data of a patient acquired during rest state. Patient-specific rest state boundary conditions of a model of coronary circulation representing the coronary arteries are calculated based on the patient-specific anatomical measurements and non-invasive clinical measurements of the patient at rest. Patient-specific rest state boundary conditions of the model of coronary circulation representing the coronary arteries are calculated based on the patient-specific anatomical measurements and non-invasive clinical measurements of the patient at rest. Hyperemic blood flow and pressure across at least one stenosis region of the coronary arteries are simulated using the model of coronary circulation and the patient-specific hyperemic boundary conditions. Fractional flow reserve (FFR) is calculated for the at least one stenosis region based on the simulated hyperemic blood flow and pressure. | 02-27-2014 |
20140079308 | Method and System for Real Time Stent Enhancement on Live 2D Fluoroscopic Scene - A method and system for real time stent enhancement on a live 2D fluoroscopic scene is disclosed. A motion compensated stent enhancement image is generated from a first set of frames in a fluoroscopic image sequence. A weighting field is generated based on the motion compensated stent enhancement image. For each new frame in the fluoroscopic image sequence that is received, the stent is enhanced in the new frame by compounding the new frame with the motion compensated stent enhancement image using the weighting field. | 03-20-2014 |
20140088935 | VISCOELASTIC MODELING OF BLOOD VESSELS - A method for modeling a blood vessel includes: (a) modeling a first segment of the blood vessel based on medical imaging data acquired from a subject; (b) computing a first modeling parameter at an interior point of the first segment; and (c) computing a second modeling parameter at a boundary point of the first segment using a viscoelastic wall model. Systems for modeling a blood vessel are described | 03-27-2014 |
20140112438 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR OBTAINING A SEQUENCE OF X-RAY IMAGES USING A REDUCED DOSE OF IONIZING RADIATION - Methods, systems, and apparatus for obtaining a sequence of x-ray images are disclosed. An object of interest in a first x-ray image is detected and an area of interest, based on a predicted motion of the object of interest, is determined. A second x-ray image of the area of interest is acquired using spatial x-ray modification to control an x-ray to pass through a portion of a patient corresponding to the area of interest. | 04-24-2014 |
20140136174 | System and Method for Patient Specific Modeling of Liver Tumor Ablation - A method and system for tumor ablation planning and guidance based on a patient-specific model of liver tumor ablation is disclosed. A patient-specific anatomical model of the liver and circulatory system of the liver is estimated from 3D medical image data of a patient. Blood flow in the liver and the circulatory system of the liver is simulated based on the patient-specific anatomical model. Heat diffusion due to ablation is simulated based on a virtual ablation probe position and the simulated blood flow in the liver and the venous system of the liver. Cellular necrosis in the liver is simulated based on the simulated heat diffusion. A visualization of a simulated necrosis region is generated and displayed to the user for decision making and optimal therapy planning and guidance. | 05-15-2014 |
20140187942 | Needle Enhancement in Diagnostic Ultrasound Imaging - A needle is enhanced in a medical diagnostic ultrasound image. The image intensities associated with a needle in an image are adaptively increased and/or enhanced by compounding from a plurality of ultrasound images. Filtering methods and probabilistic methods are used to locate possible needle locations. In one approach, possible needles are found in component frames that are acquired at the same time but at different beam orientations. The possible needles are associated with each other across the component frames and false detections are removed based on the associations. In one embodiment of needle detection in an ultrasound component frame, lines are found first. The lines are then searched to find possible needle segments. In another embodiment, data from different times may be used to find needle motion and differences from a reference, providing the features in additional to features from a single component frame for needle detection. | 07-03-2014 |
20140207715 | DATA DRIVEN REDUCTION OF MULTI-SCALE MODELS - A method of computing physiological measurements resulting from a multi-scale physiological system using a data-driven model includes generating a database of physiological measurements associated with a multi-scale physiological system. A computer uses dimensionality reduction techniques on the database to identify a reduced set of components explaining the multi-scale physiological system. The computer learns a data-driven model of the multi-scale physiological system from the database. Then, new input parameters are received by the computer and used to compute new physiological measurements using the data-driven model. New derived physiological indicators are computed by the computer based on the reduced set of components. Once computed, the new derived physiological indicators may be displayed along with the new physiological measurements. | 07-24-2014 |
20140236547 | PATIENT-SPECIFIC AUTOMATED TUNING OF BOUNDARY CONDITIONS FOR DISTAL VESSEL TREE - Boundary conditions for a distal vessel tree are modeled and tuned to a specific patient. Measurements from the patient are used to find reference compliance and resistance for the root of the distal vessel tree model. The reference compliance and resistance are used to tune properties of a structured tree model, such as by iteratively solving for the properties while matching the compliance and resistance of the structured tree model to the patient-specific reference compliance and reference resistance. The tuned structured tree is then used to calculate boundary conditions for computing flow of a scanned vessel of the patient. | 08-21-2014 |
20140241599 | PROVIDING REAL-TIME MARKER DETECTION FOR A STENT IN MEDICAL IMAGING - Real-time marker detection in medical imaging of a stent may be provided. A plurality of frames of image data may be obtained. A plurality of candidate markers for the stent may be determined in the plurality of frames of image data. One or more markers from the plurality of candidate markers may be detected. The detecting may be based on automatic initialization using a subset of frames of image data from the plurality of frames of image data. The detecting may be performed in real-time with the obtaining. | 08-28-2014 |
20140249399 | Determining Functional Severity of Stenosis - A method for determining functional severity of a stenosis includes: (a) generating a simulated perfusion map from a calculated blood flow; (b) comparing the simulated perfusion map to a measured perfusion map to identify a degree of mismatch therebetween, the measured perfusion map representing perfusion in a patient; (c) modifying a parameter in a model used in calculating the blood flow when the degree of mismatch meets or exceeds a predefined threshold; (d) computing a hemodynamic quantity from the simulated perfusion map when the degree of mismatch is less than the predefined threshold, the hemodynamic quantity being indicative of the functional severity of the stenosis; and (e) displaying the hemodynamic quantity. Systems for determining functional severity of a stenosis are described. | 09-04-2014 |
20140296842 | Patient Specific Planning and Simulation of Ablative Procedures - Patient specific temperature distribution in organs, due to an ablative device, is simulated. The effects of ablation are modeled. The modeling is patient specific. The vessel structure for a given patient, segmented from medical images, is accounted for as a heat sink in the model of biological heat transfer. A temperature map is generated to show the effects of ablation in a pre-operative analysis. Temperature maps resulting from different ablation currents and ablation device positions may be used to determine a more optimal location of the ablative device for a given patient. Other models may be included, such as accounting for the tissue damage during the ablation. | 10-02-2014 |
20140314292 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR INTEGRATED RADIOLOGICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION FOR DIAGNOSIS, THERAPY SELECTION, AND MONITORING - A method and system for integrating radiological and pathological information for cancer diagnosis, therapy selection, and monitoring is disclosed. A radiological image of a patient, such as a magnetic resonance (MR), computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), or ultrasound image, is received. A location corresponding to each of one or more biopsy samples is determined in the at least one radiological image. An integrated display is used to display a histological image corresponding to the each biopsy samples, the radiological image, and the location corresponding to each biopsy samples in the radiological image. Pathological information and radiological information are integrated by combining features extracted from the histological images and the features extracted from the corresponding locations in the radiological image for cancer grading, prognosis prediction, and therapy selection. | 10-23-2014 |
20150042646 | System and Method for Patient Specific Planning and Guidance of Electrophysiology Interventions - A method and system for patient-specific planning and guidance of electrophysiological interventions is disclosed. A patient-specific anatomical heart model is generated from cardiac image data of a patient. A patient-specific cardiac electrophysiology model is generated based on the patient-specific anatomical heart model and patient-specific electrophysiology measurements. Virtual electrophysiological interventions are performed using the patient-specific cardiac electrophysiology model. A simulated electrocardiogram (ECG) signal is calculated in response to each virtual electrophysiological intervention. | 02-12-2015 |
20150045644 | System and Method for Estimating Artery Compliance and Resistance from 4D Cardiac Images and Pressure Measurements - A method and system for estimating arterial compliance and resistance based on medical image data and pressure measurements is disclosed. An arterial inflow estimate over a plurality of time points is determined based on medical image data of a patient. An arterial pressure measurement of the patient is received. At least one cardiac cycle of the arterial pressure measurement is synchronized with at least one cardiac cycle of the arterial inflow measurement. Arterial compliance and resistance of the patient is estimated based on the arterial inflow estimate and the synchronized arterial pressure measurement. | 02-12-2015 |
20150051888 | FRAMEWORK FOR PERSONALIZATION OF CORONARY FLOW COMPUTATIONS DURING REST AND HYPEREMIA - Embodiments relate to non-invasively determining coronary circulation parameters during a rest state and a hyperemic state for a patient. The blood flow in the coronary arteries during a hyperemic state provides a functional assessment of the patient's coronary vessel tree. Imaging techniques are used to obtain an anatomical model of the patient's coronary tree. Rest boundary conditions are computed based on non-invasive measurements taken at a rest state, and estimated hyperemic boundary conditions are computed. A feedback control system performs a simulation matching the rest state utilizing a model based on the anatomical model and a plurality of controllers, each controller relating to respective output variables of the coronary tree. The model parameters are adjusted for the output variables to be in agreement with the rest state measurements, and the hyperemic boundary conditions are accordingly adjusted. The hyperemic boundary conditions are used to compute coronary flow and coronary pressure variables. | 02-19-2015 |
20150073765 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PREDICTION OF RESPIRATORY MOTION FROM 3D THORACIC IMAGES - A method and system for prediction of respiratory motion from 3D thoracic images is disclosed. A patient-specific anatomical model of the respiratory system is generated from 3D thoracic images of a patient. The patient-specific anatomical model of the respiratory system is deformed using a biomechanical model. The biomechanical model is personalized for the patient by estimating a patient-specific thoracic pressure force field to drive the biomechanical model. Respiratory motion of the patient is predicted using the personalized biomechanical model driven by the patient-specific thoracic pressure force field. | 03-12-2015 |