222 results about "Blood vessel structure" patented technology

A two-dimensional slice formed of pixels (376) is extracted from the angiographic image (76) after enhancing the vessel edges by second order spatial differentiation (78). Imaged vascular structures in the slice are located (388) and flood-filled (384). The edges of the filled regions are iteratively eroded to identify vessel centers (402). The extracting, locating, flood-filling, and eroding is repeated (408) for a plurality of slices to generate a plurality of vessel centers (84) that are representative of the vascular system. A vessel center (88) is selected, and a corresponding vessel direction (92) and orthogonal plane (94) are found. The vessel boundaries (710) in the orthogonal plane (94) are identified by iteratively propagating (704) a closed geometric contour arranged about the vessel center (88). The selecting, finding, and estimating are repeated for the plurality of vessel centers (84). The estimated vessel boundaries (710) are interpolated (770) to form a vascular tree (780).

Restenosis or neointimal formation may occur following angioplasty or other trauma to an artery such as by-pass surgery. This presents a major clinical problem which narrows the artery. The invention provides a balloon catheter with a particular electrode configuration. Also provided is a method whereby vascular cells in the area of the artery subjected to the trauma are subjected to irreversible electroporation which is a non-thermal, non-pharmaceutical method of applying electrical pulses to the cells so that substantially all of the cells in the area are ablated while leaving the structure of the vessel in place and substantially unharmed due to the non-thermal nature of the procedure.

We disclose quantitative geometrical analysis enabling the measurement of several features of images of tissues including perimeter, area, and other metrics. Automation of feature extraction creates a high throughput capability that enables analysis of serial sections for more accurate measurement of tissue dimensions. Measurement results are input into a relational database where they can be statistically analyzed and compared across studies. As part of the integrated process, results are also imprinted on the images themselves to facilitate auditing of the results. The analysis is fast, repeatable and accurate while allowing the pathologist to control the measurement process.

A device, system and method for the generation of therapeutic acoustic shock waves for at least partially separating a deposit from a vascular structure. The shock waves may optionally be generated according to any mechanism which is known in the art, including but not limited to, spark gap technology, electromagnetic shock wave generation and piezoelectric technology for generating therapeutic pressure pulses. Examples of deposits which may be treated with the present invention include, but are not limited to, atherosclerotic plaques, any type of clot, and any type of thrombus or embolus. The vascular structure itself may be any such structure for conducting blood flow, including but not limited to arteries, veins and the aortic arch.

This relates to a bicycle saddle of the type that presents two identical portions (1, 1′) longitudinally symmetrical. Thanks to its special conformation, said saddle permits the cyclist to avoid the occurrence of pathologies normally caused by the use of a racing saddle of commonly known types, eliminating the crushing of the vascular structure of the perineum, as well as the testicles of male cyclists and the clitoris of female cyclists. The special geometry permits a pedaling action without causing friction of the thigh muscles, in particular the delicate and adducent muscles.

The invention relates to a blood vessel computer aided iconography evaluating system. The system comprises the following contents: (A) transmission of CTA (Computed Tomography Angiography) from a CT (Computed Tomography) working station to a PC (Personal Computer), wherein a transmission way comprises network card connection, CD burning and CT film scanning; (B) CTA three-dimensional reconstruction, wherein a three-dimensional reconstruction method comprises shaded surface display (SSD), maximum intensity projection (MIP) and multiplane reformation (MPR), obtains various real and clear three-dimensional models and images and can be used for observing a blood vessel three-dimensional space structure anytime and anywhere and lay the foundation for the three-dimensional measurement of various blood vessel geometric parameters; (C) blood vessel structure three-dimensional measurement; and (D) aneurysm endovascular graft exclusion virtual graft. The invention provides the computer aided iconography evaluating system which is suitable for people to use at random and is more accurate. In addition, the invention plays a role in blood vessel surgical scientific research, teaching, surgery training, and the like. The system realized by the invention is stable and reliable and is suitable for being popularized and used in blood vessel surgery centers of various large, medium and small hospitals.

A method of determining the viability of an egg at least approximately 50% through its incubation period, which method comprises the steps of: (a) causing electromagnetic radiation to impinge upon the egg, the electromagnetic radiation having one or more wavelengths in the infra-red part of the spectrum; (b) receiving at least a part of the infra-red radiation that has passed through the egg and generating an output signal representative of the received infra-red radiation; and (c) processing said output signal to determine whether there is a cyclical variation in the intensity of the infra-red radiation leaving the egg corresponding to action of a heart, the existence of said cyclical variation indicating that the egg is viable; wherein step (a) is performed by directing infra-red radiation so that it passes through the shell for reflection from an outer surface of a vascular structure adjacent an inner surface of said shell, and step (b) is performed by receiving any infra-red radiation so reflected.

A system provides a display image enabling a user to visualize and compare blood flow characteristics over time at selected points in an angiographic X-ray image. A system and user interface enables user interaction with a medical vessel structure image to determine individual vessel blood flow characteristics. The system includes a user interface cursor control device and a display processor for generating data representing a single composite display image. The composite display image includes, a first image area showing a patient vessel structure and contrast agent flow through the patient vessel structure over a first period of time and a second image area showing a graph of contrast agent concentration in a particular portion of the vessel structure over a second period of time. The particular portion of the vessel structure is selected in response to user command using the cursor control device.

The present invention provides an anatomical visualization system comprising a first database that comprises a plurality of 2-D slice images generated by scanning a structure. The 2-D slice images are stored in a first data format. A second database is also provided that comprises a 3-D computer model of the scanned structure. The 3-D computer model comprises a first software object that is defined by a 3-D geometry database. Apparatus are provided for inserting a second software object into the 3-D computer model so as to augment the 3-D computer model. The second software object is also defined by a 3-D geometry database, and includes a planar surface. Apparatus for determining the specific 2-D slice image associated with the position of the planar surface of the second software object within the augmented 3-D computer model are provided in a preferred embodiment of the invention. Also provided are apparatus for texture mapping the specific 2-D slice image onto the planar surface of the second software object. Display apparatus are provided for displaying an image of the augmented 3-D computer model so as to simultaneously provide a view of the first software object and the specific 2-D slice image texture mapped onto the planar surface of the second software object. In another form of the present invention, apparatus and method are provided for determining patient-specific anatomical dimensions using appropriate scanned 2-D slice image information. The apparatus and method are particularly well suited for determining patient-specific anatomical dimensions with respect to branching anatomical structures, e.g., vascular structures.

The invention discloses a rotary X-ray contrastographic picture iteration reconstruction method which comprises the following steps of: firstly, constructing a low-resolution projection matrix in a first stage, disassembling a complete matrix into two components of a single-angle matrix and a rotary matrix for simplifying and storing; secondly, on the basis of obtaining the low-resolution projection matrix in the first stage in a second stage, further simplifying based a projection content; and finally, carrying out three-dimensional blood vessel reconstruction in a third stage. According to the rotary X-ray contrastographic picture iteration reconstruction method, due to the adoption of the projection matrix subjected to mask simplification, the problems of overlarge back projection amount and overlong computing time of the projection of a rotary X-ray contrastographic system are solved, a three-dimensional blood vessel structure can be effectively obtained, and a clinical doctor is helped for carrying out diagnosis.

The invention relates to the retinal blood vessel segmentation technology and especially relates to a multi-characteristic fusion monitored retinal blood vessel extraction method. The method comprises steps of step 1, retinal blood vessel image pre-processing; step 2, retinal blood vessel image characteristic extraction; step 3, random forest classifier training; and step 4, retina retinal blood vessel image post-processing. The method is advantaged in that through experiment verification of a DRIVE and STARE eyeground image database, susceptibilities are respectively 0.8354 and 0.8452, accuracies are respectively 94.82% and 95.34%, compared with existing retinal blood vessel segmentation methods in the prior art, the multi-characteristic fusion monitored retinal blood vessel extraction method is integrally better, moreover, disadvantages of the other methods at adjacent blood vessel portions, blood vessel cross sections and capillaries are solved, and segmented blood vessel structures are relatively closer to gold standards and actual blood vessel dimension values.

A system, method and computer program product is provided for analyzing spectral images of a micrcirculatory system to measure the volume and concentration of a blood vessel. The images are analyzed to identify vessel structure, measure the light absorption and develop a contrast gradient plus (KGP) estimate. The KGP estimate is used to predict blood characteristics, such as hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit. The KGP is estimated in three distinct phases. First, the images are screened to measure a mean image intensity and motion blur. Second, each image is analyzed to identify background curvate, and create vessel, background and diameter masks. To identify background curvate, the images are analyzed to detect shadows caused by larger blood vessels in the background image. The diameter and area of the vessels are also calculated. During the Prediction and Calibration phase, the images are screened to eliminate all images failing thresholds for mean intensity, motion blur, background curvature and area-to-perimeter ratio. Finally, the KGP estimate is determined from the selected images.

An enhanced pressure sensing system and method use an external diaphragm to address issues involved with accurate and prolonged measurement of fluid pressure, such as of blood flowing in a vascular structure. Some external diaphragms include a metallized layer or other highly impermeable layer to furnish a high degree of seal at least near to hermetic grade. As temperature of the intermediary fluid changes, the external diaphragm is able to move in a direction that minimizes differential pressure across the external diaphragm over an operational temperature range thereby reducing pressure change of the intermediary fluid due to change in temperature of the intermediary fluid. Relatively smooth hydrodynamic surfaces can be used as well as a bi-layer construction.

The invention provides a medical image processing method and equipment. According to the method, a first medical image and a second medical image of a designated target are received; first registration, second registration and registration based on unsupervised depth learning for the second medical image are carried out sequentially to acquire a third registration image, alignment of main structures of the two images and alignment of areas of interests of the lung can be realized through first registration and second registration, based on registration based on unsupervised depth learning and characteristics of the lung containing multiple blood vessels, fine blood vessel structures of the lung are extracted, and precise registration based on unsupervised depth learning is carried out for the fine blood vessel structures. The method is advantaged in that medical image registration precision is improved, more strong robustness is realized, and problems of low precision and poor robustness existing in medical image registration in the prior art are solved.

Catheter apparatuses, systems, and methods for cryogenically modulating neural structures of the renal plexus by intravascular access are disclosed herein. One aspect of the present application, for example, is directed to apparatuses, systems, and methods that incorporate a catheter treatment device comprising an elongated shaft. The elongated shaft is sized and configured to deliver a cryo-applicator to a renal artery via an intravascular path. Cryogenic renal neuromodulation may be achieved via application of cryogenic temperatures to modulate neural fibers that contribute to renal function, or of vascular structures that feed or perfuse the neural fibers.

An X-ray diagnostic apparatus includes an X-ray tube, an X-ray detector, a support mechanism which movably supports the X-ray tube and the X-ray detector, a storage unit which stores data of a three-dimensional model associated with a standard blood vessel structure, and a control unit which controls the support mechanism on the basis of the three-dimensional model so as to make an imaging central line between the X-ray tube and the X-ray detector become substantially orthogonal to a blood vessel axis of the three-dimensional model at a designated position.

The invention discloses an eye fundus image retinal vessel segmentation method based on a mixed attention mechanism, and the method comprises the following steps: S1, obtaining a retinal eye fundus image, and dividing the retinal image into a training set and a test set; S2, constructing a hybrid attention convolutional neural network, wherein the hybrid attention convolutional neural network is used for segmenting retinal vessels in the retinal fundus image; S3, training the hybrid attention convolutional neural network by using a training set, and testing the hybrid attention convolutional neural network by using a test set to obtain a trained hybrid attention convolutional neural network; and S4, inputting a to-be-segmented retinal image into the trained mixed attention convolutional neural network, wherein the mixed attention convolutional neural network outputs a retinal image blood vessel segmentation result. According to the method, a low-contrast vascular structure is effectively and accurately segmented, and the method has high robustness for interference of complex eye fundus image focuses, blood vessel center reflection phenomena and illumination imbalance phenomena.

A method and apparatus of generating a hybrid three dimensional reconstruction of a vascular structure affected by periodic motion is disclosed. At least two x-ray images of the vascular structure are acquired. Indicia of the phases of periodic motion are obtained and correlated. Images from a similar phase of periodic motion are selected and a three dimensional modeled segment of a region of interest in the vascular structure is generated. A three dimensional volumetric reconstruction of a vascular structure is generated that is larger than the modeled segment. The modeled segment of interest and the volumetric reconstruction of the larger vascular structure are combined and displayed in human readable form.

The invention relates to an automatic detection method for microaneurysm in an eye fundus image on the basis of a local entropy determining threshold. The method comprises steps as follows: step one, the image is preprocessed to realize uniformity of brightness of the eye fundus image; step two, Gaussian matched filtering is adopted to enhance pixels of blood vessels and the microaneurysm in the image; step three, the eye fundus image is subjected to threshold segmentation by the aid of the local entropy determining threshold, and target areas of the blood vessels and the microaneurysm in the image are obtained through segmentation; step four, connected components extracted with mathematical morphology are added after segmentation, length screening is realized, mutually communicating blood vessel structures with the length exceeding a set threshold are removed from a selected dark area, and then a real microaneurysm structure can be detected; step five, noise disturbance points in the image are removed through double-loop filtering, and the accuracy rate of detection is increased. Compared with the prior art, the method has the advantages of high detection accuracy and the like.

A method and a CT system are disclosed for detecting and differentiating plaque in vessel structures of a patient. In at least one embodiment, a computed tomography system that is equipped with at least one focus detector system and, per focus detector system, with at least one transradiated x-ray / optical grating, is used to reconstruct the spatial distribution of the refractive index in the region of vessel structures of the patient from detected projection data. Further, at least one plaque form is highlighted in a pictorial display on the basis of a previously known value range of the refractive index for at least one plaque form.

Cone Beam Breast CT (CBBCT) is a three-dimensional breast imaging modality with high soft tissue contrast, high spatial resolution and no tissue overlap. CBBCT-based computer aided diagnosis (CBBCT-CAD) technology is a clinically useful tool for breast cancer detection and diagnosis that will help radiologists to make more efficient and accurate decisions. The CBBCT-CAD is able to: 1) use 3D algorithms for image artifact correction, mass and calcification detection and characterization, duct imaging and segmentation, vessel imaging and segmentation, and breast density measurement, 2) present composite information of the breast including mass and calcifications, duct structure, vascular structure and breast density to the radiologists to aid them in determining the probability of malignancy of a breast lesion.

Provided is a method of imaging of in vivo retina haemodynamics and measuring of the absolute flow velocity. On the basis of conventional FD.OCT, an OCT angiography technology and a Doppler OCT imaging technology are integrated, and measurement of the retinal vessel absolute flow velocity and the haemodynamics is achieved. According to the method of imaging of the in vivo retina haemodynamics and measuring of the absolute flow velocity, distribution of a three-dimensional blood vessel geometric structure is rebuilt through the OCT angiography technology, an included angle of a blood vessel and a light beam is calculated and serves as a Doppler angle according to the geometric structure of a three-dimensional blood vessel, a Doppler frequency shift of a blood flow is obtained through a Doppler OCT technology, correction is conducted according to a calculated Doppler angle, and the absolute flow velocity is obtained, and the problem of the retinal vessel Doppler angle is solved. According to the method of imaging of the in vivo retina haemodynamics and measuring of the absolute flow velocity, the three-dimensional blood vessel structure rebuilt through the OCT angiography technology is combined with the absolute flow velocity value of a particular location, and measurement of the in vivo retina haemodynamics can be achieved by simulating the flow of the blood in the blood vessel.

A tissue-engineered skin containing vascular structure features that it contains skin fibroblasts, keratinous cells and vascular endothelial cells. Its configuring method includes separating said three kinds of cells from eath other, external culture, proportionally mixing, and configuring the artificial skin with vascular structure. Its advantages are high survival rate and high resistance to infection.

The embodiment of the invention discloses a method for manufacturing a bionic blood vessel of a human body by combining three-dimensional (3D) printing and a model turning process. The method comprises the following steps of (1) using a medical software for extracting blood vessel digitized data, and forming computer 3D image data; (2) converting the 3D image data into an standard template library(STL) formatted file; (3) importing the STL formatted file into a 3D printing device, and printing a blood vessel model; (4) polishing the blood vessel model; (5) adopting a model turning process formanufacturing a paraffin internal model; (6) filling the inner wall and the outer wall of the blood vessel model; and filling a blood vessel structure of the blood vessel model; (7) standing for 12 to 48 hours, and then accomplishing silica gel curing; and (8) disassembling the blood vessel model, and obtaining the bionic blood vessel of the human body. The method for manufacturing the bionic blood vessel of the human body by combining 3D printing and the model turning process provided by the invention solves the problems that the wall thickness of the blood vessel prepared by an existing method is non-uniform, and the blood vessel is lack of a true human anatomy structure blood vessel chamber structure and a wall thickness structure.