Ziehm Imaging Gmbh

Klaus Hörndler

Thomas König

Christof Fleischmann

Marc Kachelriess

Michael Knaup

Jürgen Dehler

Martin Törnvik

Ewald Hauser

Eva-Maria Ilg

Michael Gunther

Jens Glasbrenner

Lars Hillebrand

Wolfgang Kränzel

Tim Vöth

Peter Schwarzbauer

Marc Kachelrieß

Methods for operating a medical imaging device for positionally correct representation of non-anatomical structures during an imaging examination may include providing a first 3D image containing at least one anatomical structure, extracting at least one anatomical model from the at least one anatomical structure, providing 2D update images recorded at different times, extracting non-anatomical and anatomical structures from subsets of the update images, calculating a non-anatomical 3D image from at least two partial reconstructions based on the extracted non-anatomical structures, reconstructing an anatomical 3D image based on the extracted anatomical structures, registering the anatomical 3D image with the first 3D image by determining a coordinate transformation, and creating a navigation volume from the anatomical model and the non-anatomical 3D image using the coordinate transformation.

Method and device for operating a medical imaging device for the positionally correct representation of non-anatomical structures during an imaging examination

Medical imaging systems and methods for determining contours of anatomical structures of vessels and vessel sections for representation in X-ray-based fluoroscopic images. Methods can include capturing a mask image, recording at least one filling image including a vascular tree filled with contrast agent, subtracting the mask image from the at least one filling image to produce at least one vessel image, generating a segmented vessel image by segmenting the vascular tree filled with contrast agent in the at least one vessel image and removing from the at least one segmented vessel image such vessels and vessel sections that do not meet a threshold value, wherein the threshold value represents a function of at least one predetermined structural feature, and superimposing the at least one segmented vessel image with a live X-ray image and reproduction on a display device.

Method and device for determining the contour of anatomical structures in a digital X-ray-based fluoroscopic image

Medical imaging systems and methods for representing a 3D volume containing at least one foreign object introduced into a tissue. Imaging methods may include provision of a 3D volume containing voxels of at least one foreign object and voxels of tissue surrounding the at least one foreign object, identification of the voxels of the at least one foreign object by application of a processing rule, segmentation of the voxels of the at least one foreign object from the voxels of the tissue surrounding the at least one foreign object while maintaining the 3D volume, generation of a synthetic volume from a residual volume and the volume of the at least one foreign object, and representation of the synthetic volume on a display device using a windowing system.

Method and device for medical imaging for representing a 3D volume containing at least one introduced foreign object

Medical imaging methods for processing a three-dimensional (3D) image data set with two-dimensional X-ray images from an X-ray machine using a target function. Methods can include providing a 3D image data set of at least one examination zone in which anatomical structures are present, segmenting the image data set to provide a 3D vascular structure model and a 3D bone structure model, recording a first two-dimensional (2D) X-ray image containing at least a portion of the vascular structure and at least a portion of the bone structure, recording a second 2D X-ray image of the examination zone at a different contrast agent concentration, and subtracting the first and second 2D X-ray images to generate a subtraction image. An optimum projective geometry may then be determined using a three-part target function based on the 3D image data and the 2D X-ray images.

Method for superimposing a two-dimensional X-ray image on projective images of three-dimensional structures

This disclosure relates to an X-ray system for obtaining referencing information in the form of a coordinate transformation between a first volume and a second volume, with the volumes partially overlapping. In this case two partially overlapping subareas of an extended object having a continuous distribution of a physical size are discretely sampled with a measuring apparatus; the volumes are reconstructed and the overlapping volumes are iteratively changed, wherein a bandpass filter is applied to the overlapping volumes, where said bandpass filter changes the Fourier domain representation of the overlapping volumes. The filtered overlapping volumes, in which the artifacts, induced by the discrete sampling, are matched, are compared by means of a measure of similarity, which is iteratively maximized by means of mathematical optimization. The coordinate transformation with the maximum result for the measure of similarity is used as the optimal coordinate transformation for combining the two volumes in the correct position. One application is the combination of 3D X-ray volumes that have been reconstructed by means of a cone beam computed tomography scanner, preferably a 3D C-arm.

X-ray system for the iterative determination of an optimal coordinate transformation between overlapping volumes that have been reconstructed from volume data sets of discretely scanned object areas

Mobile X-ray device comprising integral flat-panel detector

Flat-panel detector

The present disclosure relates to a manually adjustable monitor bracket for a flat panel display of a mobile diagnostic device that includes at least two joints with mutually parallel pivot axes, the joints being connected to one another by a first arm. In order to prevent a collision of the flat panel screen attached to a hand joint on a second arm and/or of the monitor bracket with an obstacle whose position relative to the coordinate system of the mobile diagnostic device is known, in particular with a part of the diagnostic device, the monitor bracket includes a device for preventing a collision that limits the movement of the monitor bracket in such a manner that movement in a direction about the first horizontal pivot axis or in a direction about the second horizontal pivot axis is blocked if a continuation of the movement about the pivot axes would lead to the value pairs consisting of the pivot angles of the shoulder joint and of the pivot angles of the elbow joint being contained in the number of the value pairs of the pivot angles of the collision-endangered area.

Manually adjustable monitor bracket for a flat panel display of a mobile diagnostic device

The invention relates to a method and device for performing coordinate transformation for navigation-guided procedures using an imaging diagnostic tool, especially an X-ray diagnostic tool, and a position-determining system. In the vicinity of the image receiver, the diagnostic tool has one or more three-dimensional reference structure that can be touched with a pointer of a position-determining system. From the known geometry of the three-dimensional reference structure and the coordinates of the touched points determined by the position-determining system, a coordinate transformation is created between the coordinate system of the diagnostic tool and the coordinate system of the position-determining system. Navigation for an instrument captured by the position-determining system can be performed in reconstructed images of the diagnostic tool after the registration procedure.

Method and system for performing coordinate transformation for navigation-guided procedures utilizing an imaging tool and a position-determining system

A method of improving the volume reconstruction in navigationally guided operations is provided. In certain implementations, a phantom which contains X-ray positive marks and marks detectable by a position detection system in a fixed spatial relation to each other is positioned in the region of the volume being investigated on the subject. For the volume reconstruction, a series of 2D X-ray projection images can be created, each of them containing, alongside the structures of the subject being examined, the images of the X-ray positive marks of the phantom as image information. Each 2D data set is transformed by a familiar method, in which, for example, the mechanical deviations of a real-world C-arm type X-ray diagnostic machine are identified by a kinematic model and are corrected. The transformed 2D data can be used for the volume reconstruction, and the volume model with the position information of the X-ray positive marks is relayed to a navigation system.

Methods and systems for improving 3D volume reconstruction from 2D X-ray images

A heat exchanger system for a single-tank x-ray generator of an x-ray diagnostic device with a rotating anode tube with a glass jacket is provided. The system provides for the thermal radiation emitted by the anode plate of the rotating anode tube, which glows during load operation, to be absorbed in very close proximity to the tube by a heat exchanger with a window for the exiting x-ray radiation beam, without causing other components inside the generator tank to be heated by the thermal radiation. The heat exchanger preferably includes the lead shield required to shield against x-ray back-radiation and has a cooling agent flowing through it. The layer of insulating oil present in the space between the rotating anode tube and the heat exchanger is exchanged by means of a pump against insulating oil from other areas of the tank so as to prevent local overheating of the insulating oil in the gap.

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Nürnberg, Germany

Klaus Hörndler