Siemens Healthcare

Pulse field ablation (PFA) guidance is generated from intracardiac echocardiogram (ICE) imaging. The relative position of the PFA device (450) and the tissue is determined. The treatment placement with respect to the tissue for repetitive application is detected. By finding the relative position and/or treatment placement over time, ICE imaging in combination with image processing may provide visual guidance rather than just imaging or just catheter tracking for PFA. The resulting PFA procedure may be more likely complete and/or optimized.

A framework for enhancing isosurfaces using virtual light sources in medical images. The framework positions (204) one or more virtual light sources within the structure of interest in medical image data. Illumination effects (206) generated by the one or more virtual light sources are determined. Isosurface rendering of the medical image data using the illumination effects is then performed (208) to generate a rendered image for display.

A framework for assisted placement of virtual light sources in medical image data. The framework receives (204) medical image data of at least one structure of interest and calculates (206) at least one geometrical feature of the at least one structure of interest based on the medical image data. An optimal position of at least one virtual light source is determined (208) near or within the structure of interest using the geometrical feature. Volume rendering (210) of the medical image data is performed using the at least one virtual light source at the optimal position to generate a projection image.

The invention relates to a thermal switch (60) for a cryogenic system, comprising: an inner part (61); an outer part (62); and a bung element (63); wherein the bung element (63) comprises a material with a higher thermal expansion coefficient than a material of the inner part (61), and wherein the bung element (63) is configured to bring the inner part (61) into contact with the outer part (62) when exceeding a predefined temperature level. The invention also relates to a cryogenic system (30) and a magnetic resonance device (10) comprising an inventive thermal switch (60).

For pose estimation of an imaging catheter, an image or other scan data from the imaging catheter is input to a machine-learned model, which is configured by training to output the pose of the imaging catheter. A position sensor is not needed as only an image as input is sufficient for accurate pose estimation. Manual adjustment or reliance on user expertise is limited as the machine-learned model directly provides the pose.

Systems and methods for estimating an incident angle and trajectory of therapy devices within Intra-cardiac Echocardiography (ICE) images in real time in order to provide guidance for ICE manipulation to maintain continuous therapy device tip visibility. An ICE imaging sequence is acquired. A pre-trained ultrasound foundation model is used to extract spatial and temporal features in the sequence of ICE images. A transformer based temporal deep learning model is used that integrates the extracted spatial while incorporating historical passing points and angular information to in order to track the catheter tip within the ICE imaging plane. The tip tracking transformer based temporal deep learning model improves upon existing incident angle and trajectory model estimations in ICE procedures by improving prediction accuracy and consistency.

Described is a cooling system for a magnetic resonance imaging, MRI, apparatus, the cooling system comprising: a ramp down load configured to ramp down current flowing in an electromagnet of the MRI apparatus by dissipating electrical energy in the form of heat; and at least one cooling device configured to cool the ramp down load; wherein the at least one cooling device is configured to be powered by a voltage generated across at least a portion of the ramp down load when current flowing in the electromagnet is passed through the ramp down load. A magnetic resonance imaging, MRI, apparatus; a method of cooling a ramp down load of a magnetic resonance imaging, MRI, apparatus; and a method of testing a cooling system of a magnetic resonance imaging, MRI, apparatus are also described.

For identification for medical devices, the medical device is formed by a generic electronics module and a removable identification module. By using an identifier on a removable module, the identifier may be associated with different electronics modules to form the medical device at different times. The removable module may include electronic paper, label, and/or memory for storing and/or displaying information about the medical device. The removable module may allow for settings to be provided for any connected electronics module, avoiding reconfiguring by the user. A service organization does not need to re-ship back repaired components, instead providing a replacement electronics module to form the complete medical device with the user kept identification module.

A framework for characterizing contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) images. The framework derives (204) a brightness mode (B-mode) and contrast image sequence from the sequence of contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) images. B-mode images and contrast images in the B-mode and contrast image sequence are spatially co-registered and temporally sub-sampled. A region of interest may be selected (206) in a frame of the B-mode and contrast image sequence. The region of interest is then characterized (208) based on the B-mode and contrast image sequence.

Improved imaging devices and methods. A portable SPECT imaging device may co-register with imaging modalities such as ultrasound. Gamma camera panels including gamma camera sensors may be connected to a mechanical arm. A coded aperture mask may be placed in front of a gamma-ray photon sensor and used to construct a high-resolution three-dimensional map of radioisotope distributions inside a patient, which can be generated by scanning the patient from a reduced range of directions around the patient and with radiation sensors placed in close proximity to this patient. Increased imaging sensitivity and resolution is provided. The SPECT imaging device can be used to guide medical interventions, such as biopsies and ablation therapies, and can also be used to guide surgeries.