Varian Medical Systems International Ag

Siemens Healthineers International Ag

Armel C Rosselet

Benjamin M Haas

Martin Sabel

Xinhui Yang

Michael Waschbusch

Janne Iimari Nord

Michael Waschbuesch

David Kleiner

Lasse Toimela

A three-dimensional model for a patient fixation device that serves to immobilize at least a portion of a particular patient when capturing CT image information of that patient is accessed and then registered with the pixels that correspond to the patient fixation device in the CT image. The model can specify rules of movement for each of a plurality of structural elements that comprise the patient fixation device and that are capable of movement relative to one another. By one approach the aforementioned registration occurs on a part-by-part basis for each of the structural elements. Following registration, the CT image can be automatically segmented.

Automatically-registered patient fixation device images

A control circuit accesses topograms of a patient that include patient content that is beyond the portion of the patient that appears in the three-dimensional computed tomography (CT) images for that patient. The control circuit uses those topograms to derive a virtual volumetric structure representing at least some of the patient content that is beyond the aforementioned portion of the patient that appears in the 3D CT images. That virtual volumetric structure can then be used to predict potential collisions when assessing a radiation treatment plan for the patient that utilizes the aforementioned radiation treatment platform. By one approach the topograms include at least two substantially orthographic views of the aforementioned patient content.

Method and apparatus to derive and utilize virtual volumetric structures for predicting potential collisions when administering therapeutic radiation

An apparatus and method for generating a contour automatically based on one or more user-generated contours for a three dimensional (3D) structure. In one aspect, a method of integrating image contour generation and editing with contour interpolation and contour extrapolation is provided. Manual contour drawing and editing may be performed by a user while interpolation and/or extrapolation of contours is automatically calculated in the background. Results of the interpolation and/or extrapolation may be displayed immediately, allowing the user to easily make refinements to any contours, as needed. In one aspect, interpolated and extrapolated contours may be automatically adapted (e.g., recalculated) according to user-modifications of contours.

Contouring tool having automatic interpolation and extrapolation

Computer-implemented methods and apparati for graphically displaying deformations, said deformations defined by comparing a first image of an object () with a second image of the same or a different object (). A method embodiment of the present invention comprises the steps of scanning an object () twice to produce first and second images; tabulating deformations and converting said tabulated deformations into a scalar property over a preselected range; quantizing the range into a set of discrete quantization intervals; assigning a unique color out of a discrete or quasi-continuous set of colors to each quantization interval to produce a color overlay; and simultaneously displaying the color overlay and a representation of at least one of the first and second images, whereby said deformations are readily viewable in color.

Visualization of deformations using color overlays

A semiautomatic drawing tool is configured to generate an image segmentation contour that corresponds to a visible edge within a digital image. Individual contour points define the shape and location of the image segmentation contour, and the semiautomatic drawing tool determines the locations of these contour points based on both user input and on the location of a steep luminance gradient that corresponds to the visible edge. The semiautomatic drawing tool determines the location of a particular point of the image segmentation contour based on the current location of an input device pointer, e.g., a cursor, the location of the steepest luminance gradient, and the location of previously selected points of the image segmentation contour.

Growing community of inventors

Baden, Switzerland

Armel C Rosselet