227 results about "Functional image" patented technology

The present invention is an improved computational method and system of empirical induction that can be used to arrive at generalized conclusions and make predictions involving longitudinal associations between and among variables and events. Empirical induction is used to gain scientific knowledge, to develop and evaluate treatments and other interventions, and to help make predictions and decisions. The invention, which is distinct from and often complementary to the statistical method, is applied to repeated measures and multiple time-series data and can be used to quantify, discover, analyze, and describe longitudinal associations for individual real and conceptual entities. Major improvements include provisions to define Boolean independent events and Boolean dependent events and to apply analysis parameters such as episode length and episode criterion for both independent and dependent variables, persistence after independent events, and delay and persistence after Boolean independent events. These improvements are in addition to levels of independent and dependent variables, delay after independent events, and provision to quantify benefit and harm across two or more dependent variables. Additional improvements include provisions to quantify longitudinal associations as functions of period or time and to compute values of predictive indices when there are two or more independent variables. Major applications and uses of the invention include data mining, the conduct of clinical trials of treatments for the management or control of chronic disorders, health-effect monitoring, the quantification and analysis internal control in adaptive systems, analyses of serial functional images, analyses of behavior and behavior modification, and use to create computerized devices and systems whose behavior can be modified by experience. The present invention is best implemented on the Internet.

A system and method of obtaining serial biochemical, anatomical or physiological in vivo measurements of disease from one or more medical images of a patient before, during and after treatment, and measuring extent and severity of the disease is provided. First anatomical and functional image data sets are acquired, and form a first co-registered composite image data set. At least a volume of interest (ROI) within the first co-registered composite image data set is identified. The first co-registered composite image data set including the ROI is qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed to determine extent and severity of the disease. Second anatomical and functional image data sets are acquired, and form a second co-registered composite image data set. A global, rigid registration is performed on the first and second anatomical image data sets, such that the first and second functional image data sets are also globally registered. At least a ROI within the globally registered image data set using the identified ROI within the first co-registered composite image data set is identified. A local, non-rigid registration is performed on the ROI within the first co-registered composite image data set and the ROI within the globally registered image data set, thereby producing a first co-registered serial image data set. The first co-registered serial image data set including the ROIs is qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed to determine severity of the disease and / or response to treatment of the patient.

A medical imaging system provides simultaneous rendering of visible light and diagnostic or functional images. The system may be portable, and may include adapters for connecting various light sources and cameras in open surgical environments or laparascopic or endoscopic environments. A user interface provides control over the functionality of the integrated imaging system. In one embodiment, the system provides a tool for surgical pathology.

An ingestible pill platform for colon imaging is provided, designed to recognize its entry to the colon and expand in the colon, for improved imaging of the colon walls. On approaching the external anal sphincter muscle, the ingestible pill may contract or deform, for elimination. Colon recognition may be based on a structural image, based on the differences in diameters between the small intestine and the colon, and particularly, based on the semilunar fold structure, which is unique to the colon. Additionally or alternatively, colon recognition may be based on a functional image, based on the generally inflammatory state of the vermiform appendix. Additionally or alternatively, pH, flora, enzymes and (or) chemical analyses may be used to recognize the colon. The imaging of the colon walls may be functional, by nuclear-radiation imaging of radionuclide-labeled antibodies, or by optical-fluorescence-spectroscopy imaging of fluorescence-labeled antibodies. Additionally or alternatively, it may be structural, for example, by visual, ultrasound or MRI means. Due to the proximity to the colon walls, the imaging in accordance with the present invention is advantageous to colonoscopy or virtual colonoscopy, as it is designed to distinguish malignant from benign tumors and detect tumors even at their incipient stage, and overcome blood-pool background radioactivity.

The invention relates to a device which is used intra-operatively to localise carcinogenic tumours and ganglia precisely and in a three-dimensional manner and to correlate the surgical instruments with the images in real time. The structural elements of the functional navigator include: a surgical navigator, a camera which is used to obtain functional images, the position-finding elements of the camera and the surgical instruments and the specific software program which combines all of the information from the aforementioned elements. The surgical navigator is essentially characterised in that the position of the cameras which acquire the functional images is controlled by the navigator by means of emitters or reflectors which are disposed in said cameras. The information relating to the camera images and the position of same, which is determined by the navigator, is analysed by a specific software program and combined with the position of the surgeon's surgical instruments in order to obtain images.

A functional image analyzing unit in an image processing system extracts an active region from the functional information data, serving as volume data, and a display-priority determining unit determines the display-priority on the basis of a volume of the active region or a voxel value of the active region. An image data fusing unit fuses functional image data and morphological image data to create fused-image data, and an image creating unit receives the fused-image data and sequentially creates three-dimensional image data in accordance with the display-priority. A display control unit allows a plurality of pieces of the three-dimensional image data to sequentially be displayed on a display. Herewith, it is possible to efficiently make a diagnosis and a diagnostic reading by a user, because a time for searching a targeted active region by the user can be reduced.

A system for obtaining serial biochemical, anatomical or physiological in vivo measurements of disease from one or more medical images of a patient before, during and after treatment, and measuring extent and severity of the disease is provided. First anatomical and functional image data sets are acquired, and form a first co-registered composite image data set. At least a volume of interest (VOI) within the first co-registered composite image data set is identified. The first co-registered composite image data set including the VOI is qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed to determine extent and severity of the disease. Second anatomical and functional image data sets are acquired, and form a second co-registered composite image data set. A global, rigid registration is performed on the first and second anatomical image data sets, such that the first and second functional image data sets are also globally registered.

Images and quantitative analytical data are displayed in an interactive manner to a user to facilitate efficient and effective diagnosis, treatment, and assessment of an abnormality or pathology. Images acquired over time, which may be acquired with scanners of various modalities, are registered, displayed in a single image, and comparatively quantified to provide historical analysis of a given abnormality or pathology. The historical images and quantitative data may then be analyzed to determine the effectiveness of an applied treatment and provide additional guidance for a to-be implemented treatment. The images may include anatomical images or functional images. The quantitative data may be displayed in an interactive tabular format or displayed graphically through histograms, charts, graphs, and the like.

The invention discloses a method for structural information fused electrical impedance tomography, which comprises the following steps: extracting internal structural information of an imaging target; converting the structural information into apriori information required by the electrical impedance tomography; performing the electrical impedance tomography by combining the obtained apriori information; and reconstructing structural information fused electrical impedance tomographic images to achieve the function. The method achieves the fused imaging of structural images and electrical impedance images, improves the accuracy of the electrical impedance images as functional images, improves the resolution of the images, and is helpful for a user to analyze the electrical impedance images at the same time.

An image processing apparatus having a plurality of functions includes a scroll display portion that displays a row of markers and a slider for specifying one or more markers sequentially by moving along the row, an image display portion that displays functional images for representing functions corresponding to the markers specified by the slider, a setting portion that receives setting item details for a function specified by one of the functional images selected, and an extraction portion that extracts a function having the setting item details received by the setting portion different from an initial value. The image display portion displays a functional image for a longer time when the functional image represents the function extracted by the extraction portion than when the functional image does not represent the function extracted by the extraction portion.

The invention relates generally to biopsy needle guidance which employs an x-ray / gamma image spatial co-registration methodology. A gamma camera is configured to mount on a biopsy needle gun platform to obtain a gamma image. More particular, the spatially co-registered x-ray and physiological images may be employed for needle guidance during biopsy. Moreover, functional images may be obtained from a gamma camera at various angles relative to a target site. Further, the invention also generally relates to a breast lesion localization method using opposed gamma camera images or dual opposed images. This dual head methodology may be used to compare the lesion signal in two opposed detector images and to calculate the Z coordinate (distance from one or both of the detectors) of the lesion.

An apparatus for breast scanning to obtain functional and anatomical images of the breast comprises a patient support for a patient to rest in a prone position, the support having an opening with one of her breasts vertically pendent through the opening for scanning; a laser CT scanner disposed below the support for generating a first set of data for reconstruction of functional images of the breast; an X-ray CT scanner disposed below the support for generating a second set of data for reconstruction of anatomical images of the breast; and a display to visualize at least one of the functional and anatomical images. A method for acquiring data for reconstruction of images pertaining to functional and anatomical structures of a breast comprises positioning a patient in a prone position on a support having an opening through which a breast of the patient is pendant; scanning the breast with a laser CT scanner to obtain data of the breast for functional image reconstruction of the breast; and while the patient is still prone on the support, scanning the breast with an X-ray CT scanner to obtain data of the breast for anatomical image reconstruction of the breast.

The invention relates generally to biopsy needle guidance which employs an x-ray / gamma image spatial co-registration methodology. A gamma camera is configured to mount on a biopsy needle gun platform to obtain a gamma image. More particular, the spatially co-registered x-ray and physiological images may be employed for needle guidance during biopsy. Moreover, functional images may be obtained from a gamma camera at various angles relative to a target site. Further, the invention also generally relates to a breast lesion localization method using opposed gamma camera images or dual opposed images. This dual head methodology may be used to compare the lesion signal in two opposed detector images and to calculate the Z coordinate (distance from one or both of the detectors) of the lesion.

A medical imaging system provides simultaneous rendering of visible light and diagnostic or functional images. The system may be portable, and may include adapters for connecting various light sources and cameras in open surgical environments or laparascopic or endoscopic environments. A user interface provides control over the functionality of the integrated imaging system. In one embodiment, the system provides a tool for surgical pathology.

A system, method, and apparatus includes a computer readable storage medium with a computer program stored thereon having instructions that cause a computer to access a first anatomical image data set of an imaging subject acquired via a morphological imaging modality, access a functional image data set of the imaging subject acquired via a functional imaging modality, register the first anatomical image data set to the functional image data set, segment the functional image data set based on the functional image data set, define a binary mask based on the segmented functional image data set, and apply the binary mask to the first anatomical image data set to construct a second anatomical image data set and an image based thereon. The second anatomical image data set is substantially free of image data of the first anatomical image data set correlating to an area outside the region of physiological activity.

Image guidance on a computer screen in the patient's vascular system with reduced use of toxic contrast agent and X-ray radiation is obtained by providing anatomical and functional images obtained preferably from an MR Imaging system. A fibre optic device which uses strain measurement to provide an image of the shape and location of the fiber is used to provide spatial information of the elongate guide member as it is pushed through the vascular system with this spatial information being registered to the image of the vascular system by registering the location of the fiber / guide in the image prior to insertion using markers visible in the MR image.

An ingestible pill platform for colon imaging is provided, designed to recognize its entry to the colon and expand in the colon, for improved imaging of the colon walls. On approaching the external anal sphincter muscle, the ingestible pill may contract or deform, for elimination. Colon recognition may be based on a structural image, based on the differences in diameters between the small intestine and the colon, and particularly, based on the semilunar fold structure, which is unique to the colon. Additionally or alternatively, colon recognition may be based on a functional image, based on the generally inflammatory state of the vermiform appendix. Additionally or alternatively, pH, flora, enzymes and (or) chemical analyses may be used to recognize the colon. The imaging of the colon walls may be functional, by nuclear-radiation imaging of radionuclide-labeled antibodies, or by optical-fluorescence-spectroscopy imaging of fluorescence-labeled antibodies. Additionally or alternatively, it may be structural, for example, by visual, ultrasound or MRI means. Due to the proximity to the colon walls, the imaging in accordance with the present invention is advantageous to colonoscopy or virtual colonoscopy, as it is designed to distinguish malignant from benign tumors and detect tumors even at their incipient stage, and overcome blood-pool background radioactivity.

The invention discloses a method for acquiring the imaging data of a neuro navigation system, which comprises the following steps of: acquiring scanned images in a functional magnetic resonance imaging mode, wherein the functional magnetic resonance imaging mode comprises BOLD scan cortex functional imaging and DTI scan alba functional imaging; transmitting the scanned images according to DICOM and classifying and converting the scanned images; and according to category, and carrying out the registration and fusion of the neuro navigation structural images and the converted scanned images, wherein the registration and fusion comprises the registration mapping of BOLD activation maps and the fusion of DTI maps. Therefore, the neuro functional images are registered and fused in neuro navigation, cerebral white matter fiber tracks is carried out and used as image data of the neuro navigation system so as to provide a powerful tool for making surgical plan before a surgery and protecting normal brain functions in the surgery and to provide a platform for brain function research.

A novel functional imaging system for use in the imaging of unrestrained and non-anesthetized small animals or other subjects and a method for acquiring such images and further registering them with anatomical X-ray images previously or subsequently acquired. The apparatus comprises a combination of an IR laser profilometry system and gamma, PET and / or SPECT, imaging system, all mounted on a rotating gantry, that permits simultaneous acquisition of positional and orientational information and functional images of an unrestrained subject that are registered, i.e. integrated, using image processing software to produce a functional image of the subject without the use of restraints or anesthesia. The functional image thus obtained can be registered with a previously or subsequently obtained X-ray CT image of the subject. The use of the system described herein permits functional imaging of a subject in an unrestrained / non-anesthetized condition thereby reducing the stress on the subject and eliminating any potential interference with the functional testing that such stress might induce.

A malignancy probability is automatically calculated for one or more lesions. The malignancy probability is based on assessments of one or more malignancy characteristics for each lesion derived from two or more structural and / or functional image data sets. Likewise, in some embodiments, the malignancy probability is based on assessments of one or more malignancy characteristics for each lesion derived from a combination of structural and functional image data. In one embodiment, the set of structural image data is a set of CT image data and the set of functional image data is a set of PET image data. The one or more lesions may be detected in the structural and / or functional image data by automated routines or by a visual inspection by a clinician or other reviewer.

Using first voxel data of a three-dimensional medical image obtained by photographing a subject, a functional image representing a function of a heart in at least one position is generated, and using a portion of second voxel data of a three-dimensional medical image obtained by photographing the subject corresponding to an area which includes a blood vessel along an outer myocardial wall of the heart, a morphological image depicting morphology of the blood vessel is generated. Then, the functional image and the morphological image are displayed in a superimposing manner such that at least one position of the heart in the functional image corresponds to at least one position of the heart in the morphological image.

The invention relates generally to biopsy needle guidance which employs an x-ray / gamma image spatial co-registration methodology. A gamma camera is configured to mount on a biopsy needle gun platform to obtain a gamma image. More particular, the spatially co-registered x-ray and physiological images may be employed for needle guidance during biopsy. Moreover, functional images may be obtained from a gamma camera at various angles relative to a target site. Further, the invention also generally relates to a breast lesion localization method using opposed gamma camera images or dual opposed images. This dual head methodology may be used to compare the lesion signal in two opposed detector images and to calculate the Z coordinate (distance from one or both of the detectors) of the lesion.

A system and method for functional ultrasound imaging are provided. The method includes obtaining ultrasound image data acquired from a multi-plane imaging scan of an imaged object. The ultrasound image data defines a plurality of image planes. The method also includes determining functional image information for the imaged object from two-dimensional tracking information based on the plurality of image planes and generating functional ultrasound image data for the imaged object using the functional image information.

The invention discloses a color two dimension bar code with high compression ratio Chinese character coding capability, the whole bar code image comprises rectangular modules which are regularly ranged and includes a functional image and a data area, the functional image is the four sides of the color two dimension bar code, wherein the left side comprise two alternate color blocks with different chemical feature, the lower side comprises single color block, the upper side and the right side comprises four alternate color modules with different chemical feature from left to right and from bottom to up; the data area is the middle part of square and comprises two alternate two-color modules which are vertical and have different chemical feature, the code words in the data area are arranged from left to right and from the up down. The invention also provides a method for coding and decoding the color two dimension bar cod. The invention effectively improves the compression ratio of Chinese character, the information density of the bar code and the information content of the unit area.

When brain images are inputted through MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) and subjected to image processing to assist the diagnosis of brain diseases, functional and morphological images in an ASL coordinate system are inputted from the head of a subject by an ASL (Arterial Spin Labeling) imaging method using an MRI device. The inputted functional images are subjected to mask processing to extract only the region of cerebral parenchyma, and functional images of only the extracted region of the cerebral parenchyma are thereby produced and displayed to be overlaid on the morphological images. In this manner, a functional image such as a perfusion weighted image of only the region of the cerebral parenchyma can be extracted and displayed overlaid on a morphological image.

The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for fusing or combining functional image data and anatomical image data. The invention, which may be carried out through user interaction or automatically, enables composite and clinically valuable images to be generated that display functional and anatomical data acquired with different imaging systems. By identifying fiducial markers on a functional data image and correlating the fiducial markers with anatomical markers or indicia on the anatomical data image, the respective images may be aligned with one another before a composite image is generated.

The invention provides a real-time nerve decoding system based on brain function features. A real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging technology is used, the brain function features which are extracted on line are classified, and real-time nerve decoding is conducted on magnetic resonance functional images. The real-time nerve decoding system comprises a preprocessing module, a feature extraction module, a classification decoding module, a display and feedback module and a parameter configuration module. After the preprocessing module conducts on-line reading and format conversion on the magnetic resonance functional images, the signal to noise ratio of the images is improved through real-time head motion correction, spatial normalization and smoothness; then the feature extraction module is used for extracting the main ingredients of whole brain image signals to be used as the features; the classification decoding module conducts classification decoding on the features through a real-time support vector machine or a Gaussian process classifier, and the display and feedback module feeds the classification accuracy rate back to an examinee in real time. The real-time nerve decoding system based on the brain function features is of great application value to analyzing psychological traits, recognizing brain activities, improving cognitive functions and the like.

The invention discloses a drawable network editor and a network information input editing system. The editor can be partially or wholly arranged in a server which is connected with a client through a network and processes data information sent by the client; and the editor can also be partially or wholly arranged in the client which is connected with the server through the network and executes a code transmitted by the server. The editor also comprises a drawing module used for manufacturing picture information in the editor; the drawing module comprises a canvas forming unit, a plurality of graphic drawing units and a first picture forming unit; the canvas forming unit is used for forming a canvas; the plurality of the graphic drawing units are used for drawing set picture information; and the first picture forming unit is used for forming a drawn graphic into a picture format. The editor can make a user efficiently express common academic information with strong technicality, such as formula, symbols, functional images, graph tables and the like, and can be used for performing online editing, examination and amendment.

The invention discloses a novel genotype analysis method based on multimodal brain images. With utilization of information, including a structural image and a functional image, of two kinds of modes, regression on the rs429358 locus genotype linked to the Alzheimer's disease closely is realized. The method comprises: extracting voxel features from a brain structure images and extracting connecting network features from a brain function image; carrying out feature extraction on the two kinds of features by using an elastic network and keeping brain area and network connection with a high association degree; and then carrying out fusion and genotype regression on selected nodes and side attributes by using a multi-kernel support vector. The method has the following advantages: for the brain image with the complicated structure and functions and genotype data, a novel regression analysis method for a single locus genotype based on structural and functional multimodal brain images is put forward; the analysis effect is good; and complementary information of the two modes is utilized fully.