Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.V.

Laurence Rouet

Caroline Denise Francoise Raynaud

Cybèle Ciofolo-Veit

Raoul Florent

Thierry Lefevre

David N Roundhill

Cecile Dufour

Robert Randall Entrekin

Tobias Klinder

Cristian Lorenz

Nicole Schadewaldt

Gary Cheng-How Ng

Antoine Collet-Billon

Alexander Schmidt-Richberg

Hernán Guillermo Morales Varela

Haithem Boussaid

Antoine Olivier

Constance Marie Anne Fourcade

Caroline Denise Raynaud

Patrick Laurent

A method of analyzing an ultrasound image involves assessing the quality of the image in terms of which features of interest have been identified in the image and assessing a segmentation quality relating to the quality of a segmentation of the image. The two quality assessments are combined to derive and output an overall quality assessment for biometry measurements obtained from the image.

Multiple-quality assessments from single segmentation algorithm

A method for segmenting a target anatomy in ultrasound data. Scan-converted ultrasound data is obtained within a scan-converted space in the Cartesian coordinate system. The scan-converted ultrasound data is transformed to de-scanned ultrasound data within a de-scanned space in the Toroidal coordinate system. The de-scanned ultrasound data is an estimate of the ultrasound data as obtained by an original acquisition procedure. A segmentation of a target anatomy can thus be performed on the ultrasound data in the de-scanned space The resulting segmentation data can then be re-scanned back to the Cartesian coordinate system for display with the ultrasound data.

Ultrasound data segmentation

The invention provides an ultrasound imaging method for determining complementary views of interest based on an anomalous feature identified in a region of interest of an ultrasound image. The method includes obtaining an ultrasound image of a region of interest of a subject and identifying an anomalous feature within said region. The identified anomalous feature may then be used to determine one or more available complementary ultrasound images of interest of the subject. The one or more available complementary ultrasound images may then be displayed to a user and the complementary ultrasound views to be reviewed may then be selected by the user from the displayed available complementary ultrasound images.

Methods and systems for determining complementary ultrasound views

The invention provides a method for guiding the acquisition of an ultrasound image. A 3D ultrasound image is acquired by an ultrasound probe at a first position and an anatomical structure is identified within the 3D ultrasound image. A target imaging plane is estimated based on the identified anatomical structure and it is determined whether the target imaging plane is present within the 3D ultrasound image. If the target imaging plane is present, a displacement between a central plane of the 3D ultrasound image and the target plane is determined. If the displacement is below a predetermined threshold, the target imaging plane is extracted and if the displacement is above the predetermined threshold, an instruction to acquire a 3D ultrasound image with the ultrasound probe at a second position, different from the first position, is generated based on the displacement. The invention further provides a method for estimating a target imaging plane. A central plane of a 3D ultrasound image is obtained, wherein the central plane contains at least part of an anatomical structure and abounding box is generated around the anatomical structure. The bounding box is divided into a grid having a plurality of grid points and, for each grid point; an offset is estimated between the central plane and the target imaging plane. Finally, coordinates of the target imaging plane are estimated based on the offset for each grid point of the bounding box.

Systems and methods for guiding the acquisition of an ultrasound image

The invention provides a method for estimating the weight of a fetus. A plurality of different three dimensional ultrasound images of an imaging region are acquired, wherein the plurality of different three dimensional ultrasound images comprise: a head image; an abdominal image; and a femur image. Each of the plurality of different three dimensional ultrasound images undergoes segmentation and the fetal weight estimation is performed based on the resulting segmentations.

Methods and systems for performing fetal weight estimations

The invention provides a method for generating a non-invasive measure of blood vessel rigidity for a subject. The method includes obtaining 2D ultrasound data and 3D ultrasound data of the blood vessel from a given measurement location. The 2D ultrasound data provides information relating to a movement of the blood vessel and the 3D ultrasound data provides information relating to a shape of the blood vessel. A motion of the blood vessel is then determined based on the movement of the blood vessel. The method then includes providing the determined motion of the blood vessel, the shape of the blood vessel and an obtained non-invasive pressure measurement to a biomechanical model. A measure of rigidity is then determined based on the biomechanical model.

Methods and systems for investigating blood vessel characteristics

A method and processing system for providing a three-dimensional, 3D, ultrasound image along with an additional ultrasound acquisition. A location of the additional ultrasound acquisition with respect to the three-dimensional ultrasound image is determined or obtained. After obtaining the 3D ultrasound image and the additional ultrasound acquisition, initial display data is for display of only the 3D ultrasound image. In response to a user input, second display data is generated for displaying both the 3D ultrasound image and the additional ultrasound acquisition. The display of the additional ultrasound acquisition is based on the location of the additional ultrasound acquisition with respect to the three-dimensional ultrasound image.

Providing a three dimensional ultrasound image

A system, device, and method for visualizing vascular structures is disclosed. According to some implementations, in order to provide further improved digital subtraction angiography, a device for visualizing vascular structures is provided that includes a data provision processor, an image processor, and an output. The data provision processor is configured to provide a first sequence of non-contrast X-ray images of a region of interest of a patient for use as raw X-ray mask images. The data provision processor is also configured to provide a second sequence of contrast X-ray images of the region of interest of a patient for use as raw X-ray live-images. The image processor is configured to perform a first spatial subtraction for the first sequence of non-contrast X-ray images resulting in a first sequence of spatial-subtracted mask images. The image processor is also configured to perform a second spatial subtraction for the second sequence of contrast X-ray images resulting in a second sequence of spatial-subtracted X-ray live-images. The image processor is further configured to perform a temporal subtraction by subtracting the spatial-subtracted mask images from the spatial-subtracted X-ray live-images resulting in a sequence of spatial-temporal subtracted X-ray live-images. The output is configured to output the sequence of spatial-temporal subtracted X-ray live-images.

Visualizing vascular structures

An ultrasound image processing apparatus () is disclosed comprising a processor arrangement () adapted to receive a temporal sequence () of ultrasound images () of at least a chest region () of a fetal entity () from an ultrasound probe (), said chest region including the fetal heart (), said temporal sequence capturing at least part of a cardiac cycle of the fetal heart; identify the chest region of the fetal entity in one or more of the ultrasound images of said temporal sequence; identify a portion of the spine in the identified chest region; calculate an orientation axis () of the fetal chest from the identified chest region and the identified spine portion; identify the septum of the fetal heart as a linear structure which is temporally more stable than its surrounding structures in said temporal sequence of ultrasound images and which defines a region of convergence of the movements of the fetal heart during said cardiac cycle; calculate an orientation axis () of the fetal heart from the identified septum; and calculate an angle (&#x3b8;) between the orientation axis of the fetal chest and the orientation axis of the fetal heart. Also disclosed are an ultrasound imaging system comprising such an ultrasound image processing apparatus, a computer-implemented method of visualizing an orientation of the heart of a fetal entity within said entity and a computer program product for implementing such a method.

Fetal development monitoring

A computer implemented method is provided for processing a 3D fetal ultrasound image. A 3D fetal ultrasound image is obtained (either acquired or received from memory), and the spine is detected within the image. This enables a first reference axis to be defined. A second reference axis is defined perpendicular to the first reference axis, and the 3D fetal ultrasound image is updated (e.g. rotated in 3D space) using the first and second reference axes and an up/down (elevation) orientation detection. This provides a normalization of the orientation of the image, so that a machine learning approach is better able to identify landmarks within new images.

Fetal ultrasound image processing

The invention provides a method of patient monitoring following endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) with a stent graft. It particularly applies to abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. A first 3D volume scan of the stent in situ is provided and a second, subsequent 3D volume scan of the stent is also provided. One or more fiducial markers are generated in a first image derived from the first scan and in a second image derived from the second scan. The fiducial markers identify recognizable features of the stent, such as the bifurcation point in the stent graft. A rigid 3D transform mapping based on the one or more fiducial markers is extracted and then a registration is applied to the first and second scans based on the 3D rigid transform between the first and second images. A size value is derived at the same location in the aneurysm from the first and second scans. The same location is determined with reference to the registered first and second images of the stent. A comparison of the size value from the first and second scans is used to assess a change in size of the aneurysm between the first and second scans. This change in size allows the clinician to evaluate disease progression.

Imaging method, controller and imaging system, for monitoring a patient post EVAR

The present invention relates to visualizing vascular structures. In order to provide further improved digital subtraction angiography, a device () for visualizing vascular structures is provided that comprises a data provision unit (), a data processing module (), and an output unit (). The data provision unit is configured to provide a first sequence of non-contrast X-ray images of a region of interest of a patient for use as raw X-ray mask images. The data provision unit is also configured to provide a second sequence of contrast X-ray images of the region of interest of a patient for use as raw X-ray live-images. The processing unit is configured to perform a first spatial subtraction for the first sequence of non-contrast X-ray images resulting in a first sequence of spatial-subtracted mask images. The processing unit is also configured to perform a second spatial subtraction for the second sequence of contrast X-ray images resulting in a second sequence of spatial-subtracted X-ray live-images. The processing unit is further configured to perform a temporal subtraction by subtracting the spatial-subtracted mask images from the spatial-subtracted X-ray live-images resulting in a sequence of spatial-temporal subtracted X-ray live-images. The output unit is configured to output the sequence of spatial-temporal subtracted X-ray live-images.

The present invention relates to detection of contrast agent arrival in X-ray imaging. In order to provide an improved way of detecting contrast agent arrival in X-ray imaging for reducing the delay in the detection, a temporal sequence of X-ray image data is provided () comprising a plurality of frames with a field of view of an anatomy of interest and an inserted catheter for delivery of contrast agent, wherein, in the field of view, contrast agent is injected with the catheter during the temporal sequence. At least one location for measuring contrast in each of the frames is determined (), wherein the at least one location for measuring contrast pertains to a portion of the catheter in the field of view in the image data. Contrast is measured () at the at least one location for each of the frames at least in the image part pertaining to the portion of the catheter. A change of the measured contrast along time at the at least one location pertaining to the portion of the catheter is determined (). Further, an instant of contrast agent arrival in the field of view of the anatomy of interest is provided () as a function of the instant along time with the change of contrast.

Contrast arrival detection

Digital subtraction angiography is used to improve the contrast of images of patient vasculature. A non-contrast image is recorded with no contrast medium injected into the patient, and then a succession of contrast images is captured after the injection of a contrast medium. The non-contrast image is successively registered to the contrast images, and then subtracted. This removes background structures, but leaves the vasculature untouched, making blood vessels easier to see. Artifacts can remain when different motion layers are present in the X-ray image (for example, the spine and the lungs). This application discusses a technique to prevent artifacts occurring when different motion layers are present in an X-ray frame or sequence.

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Paris, France

Laurence Rouet