Intio, Inc.

Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.

Fischer Imaging Corporation

Bearf, LLC

David E Gustafson

Morgan W Nields

Liexiang Fan

John I Jackson

Patrick Von Behren

Zuhua Mao

Ronald B Shores

Desikachari Nadadur

Peng Jiang

Michael Tesic

Morgan Nields

A difference between a detected motion and a reference motion is automatically displayed. The reference motion is a modeled motion of an organ, a base line motion of an organ or another portion of an organ. A deviation in motion amplitude, angle or both angle and amplitude from a reference set may more easily identify abnormal or normal motion of the organ.

Tissue motion comparison display

A prone CT breast x-ray imaging system is described that can image a full breast to create a conventional two-dimensional digital image in very high resolution (e.g., &#x2266;25 micron pixels). The system is capable of imaging the entire breast in three-dimensional based on multiple projection views from a one-dimensional or two-dimensional detector. Data can be acquired and reconstructed with a limited number of views from limited angles or with conventional cone beam CT algorithms. The resulting three-dimensional image enables the detection and diagnosis of fine micro calcifications and small masses as may be distributed throughout the breast, thus allowing radiologists to make an improved determination of malignancy as opposed to conventional two-dimensional digital mammography. In addition, the injection of intravenous contrast in conjunction with or without pre and post contrast subtraction imaging provides a radiologist with morphologic information on the existing tumor burden in the breast. This capability may obviate the need for an independent contrast MRI exam of the breast which is increasingly performed for local staging and determination of tumor extent in a patient with a known cancer. Integrated biopsy capability permits convenient and rapid biopsy of any area suspicious for malignancy.

Computed tomography breast imaging and biopsy system

A thermal ablation system is operable to perform thermal ablation using an x-ray system to measure temperature changes throughout a volume of interest in a patient. Image data sets captured by the x-ray system during a thermal ablation procedure provide temperature change information for the volume being subjected to the thermal ablation. Intermediate image data sets captured during the thermal ablation procedure may be fed into a system controller, which may modify or update a thermal ablation plan to achieve volume coagulation necrosis targets. The thermal ablation may be delivered by a variety of ablation modes including radiofrequency ablation, microwave therapy, high intensity focused ultrasound, laser ablation, and other interstitial heat delivery methods. Methods of performing thermal ablation using x-ray system temperature measurements as a feedback source are also provided. Methods of assessing the post-ablation status of the patient and performance of the system are also provided.

Methods and apparatuses for performing and monitoring thermal ablation

Methods and apparatuses for planning, performing, monitoring and assessing thermal ablation

A thermal ablation system is operable to perform thermal ablation using an x-ray system to measure temperature changes throughout a volume of interest in a patient. Image data sets captured by the x-ray system during a thermal ablation procedure provide temperature change information for the volume being subjected to the thermal ablation. Intermediate image data sets captured during the thermal ablation procedure may be fed into a system controller, which may modify or update a thermal ablation plan to achieve volume coagulation necrosis targets. The thermal ablation may be delivered by a variety of ablation modes including radiofrequency ablation, microwave therapy, high intensity focused ultrasound, laser ablation, and other interstitial heat delivery methods. Methods of performing thermal ablation using x-ray system temperature measurements as a feedback source are also provided.

Methods for planning and performing thermal ablation

A method of dynamically measuring parameters within a series of images using image processing is disclosed. A sequence of ultrasound images is generated by means of an ultrasound system. A user determines at least one region of interest within a first image. Then, at least one parameter for each region of interest is evaluated, e.g. the number of pixels exceeding a pre-defined intensity are counted. A new region of interest within a sequential image is searched within a search area around the predefined region of interest which best matches the region of interest. This is done for all images of a sequence whereby the new region of interest which best matches the region of interest of the previous image is used as a region of interest for the following image.

Dynamic measurement of parameters within a sequence of images

Growing community of inventors

Westminster, CO, United States of America

David E Gustafson