Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Richard A Robb

Srinivasan Rajagopalan

Bruce M Cameron

James Bernard Seward

Douglas L Packer

Hong-Jian Jiang

A system and method for rating the validity of multiple data processing algorithms A-Aon a set of multi-dimensional input data I where P-Pis the output data produced by the competing algorithms. Processing steps include: (1) computing the Fourier Transform or the phase congruence of the input data I, (2) computing the Fourier Transform or the phase congruence of the output data P-P, (3) computing the phase of the data computed at step 1, (4) computing the phases of the data computed at step 2, and (5) computing a similarity metric, such as the normalized cross correlation of each phase computed at step 4 with the corresponding phase computed at step 3. The similarity metrics computed at step 5 can be ordered to provide a ranking of the algorithm validity.

Techniques to rate the validity of multiple methods to process multi-dimensional data

Techniques for generating tissue support structure are presented. A curved minimal surface shape is determined as a template for generating a tissue support structure. The determined curved minimal surface shape is numerically or functionally defined to create data representing the shape. The data is exported to a rapid prototyping system to generate a plurality of tissue support structures having a curved minimal surface. The tissue support structure can have a pore sub-section and a non-pore sub-section divided by a non-intersecting two-sided surface. A number of characteristics of the tissue support structure can be modulated including porosity and mechanical strength.

Tissue support structure

A training module is used to produce a database that stores histogram landmarks for MR images acquired with different scan parameters such as TR, TE flip angle and inversion recovery time. This database is used by a transformation module which enables an MR image acquired at one prescribed set of scan parameters to be transformed into MR images that simulate MR images acquired with different scan parameters.

Method for producing multiple MR images with different contrast from a single image acquisition

Images of a heart are acquired with a high resolution medical imaging system used to construct a dynamic high resolution 4D model. During a medical procedure such as endocardial physiology mapping and ablation, real-time images are produced by an ultrasonic transducer inserted into the heart. The high resolution heart model is registered with the acquired real-time images and used to produce dynamic, high resolution images for display during the medical procedure. An electrical activation map which depicts the spatial distribution of heart wall electrical activation is merged with the anatomic images to facilitate cardiac ablation therapy.

Method for producing high resolution real-time images, of structure and function during medical procedures

Image data is acquired and a spatial coordinate system is attached to the image data set. A navigational guide employs the attached coordinate system to indicate to the viewer the orientation of the imaged object and the location of the viewer with respect to the imaged object. This indication is made in a number of ways, including the display of an icon which depicts the orientation of the object being viewed.

Graphic navigational guides for accurate image orientation and navigation

Three dimensional computer generated icon for a computer screen

A method for synthesizing three dimensional multimodality image sets into a single composite image with accurate registration and congruence. Surfaces are initially extracted from two or more different images to be matched using semi-automatic segmentation techniques. These surfaces are represented as contours with common features to be matched. A distance transformation is performed for one surface image, and a cost function for the matching process is developed using the distance image. The geometric transformation includes three-dimensional translation, rotation and scaling to accommodate images of different position, orientation and size. The matching process involves efficiently searching this multi-parameter space and adjusting a surface or surfaces to find the best fit among them which minimizes the cost function. The local minima problem is addressed by using a large number of starting points. A pyramid multi-resolution approach is employed to speed up both the distance transformation computation and the multi-parameter minimization processes. Robustness in noise handling is accomplished using multiple thresholds embedded in the multi-resolution search. The method can register both partially overlapped and fragmented surfaces.

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Rochester, MN, United States of America

Richard A Robb