Image representation supporting the accurate positioning of an intervention device in vessel intervention procedures

Abstract

A medical imaging device and a method for providing an image representation supporting inaccurate positioning of an intervention device in a vessel intervention procedure is proposed. Therein, an anatomy representation (AR) of a vessel region of interest and at least one angiogram X-ray image (RA) and a live fluoroscopy X-ray image (LI) are acquired. The following steps are performed when a radio-opaque device is fixedly arranged within the vessel region of interest: (a) registering the anatomy representation to the at least one angiogram X-ray image in order to provide an anatomy-angiogram-registration (R); (b) processing (DP) the at least one angiogram X-ray image and the at least one live fluoroscopy X-ray image in order to identify in each of the X-ray images the radio-opaque device; (c) registering (R) the at least one angiogram X-ray image to the at least one live fluoroscopy X-ray image based on the identified radio-opaque device in order to provide an angiogram-fluoroscopy-registration; and (d) combining the anatomy-angiogram-registration and the angiogram-fluoroscopy-registration in order to provide an anatomy-fluoroscopy-registration (GTC; RALC). Finally, an image representation resulting from the anatomy-fluoroscopy-registration showing an overlay of live images with the anatomy representation may be output thereby helping a surgeon to accurately position for example a synthetic aortic valve within an aortic root of a heart.