Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

Andre Goossen

Harald Sepp Heese

Rafael Wiemker

Klaus Erhard

Mathias Schlueter

Thomas Koehler

Raoul Florent

Thomas Buelow

Hanns-Ingo Maack

Jens Von Berg

Kars-Michiel Hubert Lenssen

Martin Bergtholdt

Claire Levrier

Thomas Pralow

An image processing system and related method. The system comprises an input interface (IN) configured for receiving an input image. A filter (FIL) of the system filters said input image to obtain a structure image from said input image, said structure image including a range of image values. A range identifier (RID) of the system identifies, based on an image histogram for the structure image, an image value sub-range within said range. The sub-range being associated with a region of interest. The system output through an output interface (OUT) a specification for said image value sub-range. In addition or instead, a mask image for the region of interest or for region or low information is output.

Detection of regions with low information content in digital X-ray images

The invention relates to an apparatus () for processing a medical image (IM) of a structure of interest (SOI). The apparatus comprises a first unit () configured for decomposing the medical image (IM) into at least one band pass image (B) and a low pass image (L); a user interface () arranged for enabling a user to specify an enhancement curve (EC) for the radiographic image (IM) based on at least one of (i) a metric structure length (l), (ii) a structure selectivity (s) and (iii) a structure enhancement strength (a); a second unit () configured for applying the enhancement curve (EC) to the at least one band pass image (B) for generating at least one enhanced band pass image EB; and a third unit () configured for composing an enhanced medical image (EIM) based on the at least one enhanced band pass image (EB) and the low pass image (L). The invention also relates to a corresponding method of processing a medical image (IM).

Apparatus having a user interface for enhancing medical images

The present invention relates to compression of breasts during mammography, and in particular to a compression element for a breast holding arrangement for mammography examinations. In order to ensure an increased user comfort and an improved application of pressure force, a compression element () for a breast holding arrangement for mammography examinations is provided, comprising a supporting structure (), a first surface (), and a second surface (). The supporting structure is configured to be attached to a mounting structure for exerting a compression force on a breast under examination. The first and second surfaces are attached to the support structure; and the first and second surfaces are arranged facing in opposite directions. The second surface is provided to compress the breast under examination. The first surface is provided to be visible to a user, wherein the first surface is provided as an optically adaptable surface (). The first and second surfaces are provided to be at least temporarily partly transparent.

Optically adaptable breast compression element

The present invention relates to medical image viewing in relation with navigation in X-ray imaging. In order to provide improved X-ray images, for example for cardiac procedures, allowing a facilitated perception while ensuring that increased details are visible, a medical image viewing device () for navigation in X-ray imaging is provided that comprises an image data providing unit (), a processing unit (), and a display unit (). The image data providing unit is configured to provide an angiographic image of a region of interest of an object. The processing unit is configured to identify a suppression area for partial bone suppression within the angiographic image, and to identify and locally suppress predetermined bone structures in the angiographic image in the suppression area, and to generate a partly-bone-suppressed image. Further, the display unit is configured to display the partly-bone-suppressed image.

Bone suppression in X-ray imaging

The present invention relates to lung measurement. In order to provide enhanced information about a patient that facilitates further assessment steps, 2D X-ray image data of a patient's chest is provided, and the image data is segmented to identify lung structures to provide segmented image data separated from un-segmented areas. Further, spatial lung volume information is extracted from the image data using the segmented image data derived from the image data. Still further, lungs symmetry information is determined using the extracted spatial lung volume information. Finally, the lungs symmetry information is provided to a user. For example, a 2D X-ray image data of a patient's chest is provided () and a lungs mask image is formed () after the step of segmenting the input image data. Then, the lungs mask image is used to define areas, within which a predetermined adaptation is applied () to the original 2D X-ray image data producing a thorax mask image. Next, left and right images are provided () showing the left and the right spatial lungs volume information of the regions defined originally by the lungs mask image. Finally, based on the spatial lungs volume information, lungs symmetry information or total lung volumes may be calculated and provided ().

Lung measurements

A digital image () comprises pixels with intensities relating to different energy levels. A method for processing the digital image () comprises the steps of: receiving first image data () and second image data () of the digital image (), the first image data () encoding a first energy level and the second image data () encoding a second energy level; determining a regression model () from the first image data () and the second image data (), the regression model () establishing a correlation between intensities of pixels of the first image data () with intensities of pixels of the second image data (); and calculating residual mode image data () from the first image data () and the second image data (), such that a pixel of the residual mode image data () has an intensity based on the difference of an intensity of the second image data () at the pixel and a correlated intensity of the pixel of the first image data (), the correlated intensity determinate by applying the regression model to the intensity of pixel of the first image data ().

Determining a residual mode image from a dual energy image

Soft body tissue, such as a female breast, is imaged using X-ray projection techniques and optical tomography techniques. First image data for a first image of a breast () are acquired by X-ray projection using an X-ray source () and an X-ray detector (). Second image data for a second image are acquired using optical tomography equipment comprising a light source () and a light detector (). From the first image data, estimated bulk optical properties of the breast () are be derived. Based on such estimated bulk optical properties, an optical tomography image is reconstructed from the second image data with high image quality. Performing mammography acquisition at different compression states of the breast () improves patient comfort. Mammograms are acquired at two different compression states wherein a first compression state is adapted to provide high image resolution. At a second compression state, another mammogram may be acquired together with an optical tomography image. The two mammograms are used for image registration thereby possibly providing information for a deformation transform. Additional information on tissue composition within the breast is received by acquiring the first and second mammogram at different X-ray settings.

Method and device for imaging soft body tissue using X-ray projection and optical tomography

An X-ray imaging system element () includes two compression elements (), which are movable relative to one another. An object () is introducible and compressible between the compression elements. At least one of the compression elements is adapted to alter its geometrical shape and/or alignment relative to the other during compression. At least one partly X-ray opaque marker element () is provided on one of the compression elements, which marker element is adapted to allow detection of an alteration of the geometrical shape of the respective compression element ().

Image-based determination of compression element deflection

An apparatus for automatic selection of optimal tomography slices by executing a number of tentative segmentations using the same interactively provided in-slice seed point on some or all available tomography slices. The appropriate segmentation boundaries are then marked and the slice with the best segmentation goodness value (figure of merit) is presented to the user via a viewer. The steps are repeated when the user changes the seed point. The optimal segmentation boundary is displayed on top of a single simulated mammography image, fused from all tomography slice images.

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Radbruch, Germany

Andre Goossen