A method of imaging a breast compressed with a foam paddle includes emitting an x-ray energy from an x-ray source towards the breast and the foam paddle having a plurality of upper markers and a plurality of lower markers, wherein the plurality of lower markers are movable relative to the upper markers. The x-ray energy is detected at a detector disposed opposite the breast from the x-ray source. An image of the compressed breast is generated based on the detected x-ray energy. At least one of the plurality of upper markers and at least one of the plurality of lower markers is identified in the image. A thickness of the compressed breast at a plurality of thickness locations is determined, wherein each of the plurality of thickness locations corresponds to at least one of the plurality of lower markers.

Optical sensors and optical markers are placed on components in a medical system to provide calibration and alignment, such as on a patient transportation mechanism and spatially separated medical diagnostic devices. Image processing circuitry uses the data captured by these optical devices to coordinate their movements and/or position. This enables scans that were captured in multiple medical diagnostic devices to be accurately aligned.

A system for constructing fluoroscopic-based three-dimensional volumetric data of a target area within a patient from two-dimensional fluoroscopic images including a structure of markers, a fluoroscopic imaging device configured to acquire a sequence of images of the target area and of the structure of markers, and a computing device. The computing device is configured to estimate a pose of the fluoroscopic imaging device for at least a plurality of images of the sequence of images based on detection of a possible and most probable projection of the structure of markers as a whole on each image of the plurality of images. The computing device is further configured to construct fluoroscopic-based three-dimensional volumetric data of the target area based on the estimated poses of the fluoroscopic imaging device.

A method for providing a prognosis data record includes receiving a first image data record relating to an examination region of an examination object, and receiving an operating parameter of a medical object that is arranged at the examination region of the examination object and positioning information of the medical object that is arranged at the examination region. The prognosis data record is created by applying a trained function to input data. The input data is based on the first image data record, the at least one operating parameter, and the positioning information of the medical object. At least one parameter of the trained function is based on a comparison with a first comparison image data record. As compared with the first image data record, the first comparison image data record includes changes influenced by the medical object at the examination region. The prognosis data record is provided.

The present disclosure provides a system and method for couch position calibration. The method may include obtaining one or more first images of a couch at one or more first locations in a first device, each of the one or more first images corresponding to one of the one or more first locations, wherein the couch includes a mark, and the mark intersects a first reference plane of the first device at a plurality of first points of the mark; determining, in each of the one or more first images, a first position of a representation of each of the plurality of first points; obtaining correlation information between the first position and actual position of each of the plurality of first points; and determining one or more calibration images based on the correlation information and the one or more first images.

A subject support (14) is configured to dock with a medical imaging device (50) with a fixed spatial relationship between the docked subject support and the medical imaging device. A patient positioning device includes a range camera (10) that acquires a two-dimensional (2D) range image of a human imaging subject (12) disposed on a subject support (14). The range image has pixel values corresponding to distances from the range camera. An electronic processor (16) is programmed to perform a positioning method to determine a reference point on or in the human subject in a frame of reference (F.sub.S) of the subject support from the 2D range image. This reference point is translated to a frame of reference (F.sub.D) of the imaging device based on a priori known spatial relationship of the medical imaging device and the docked subject support. Using 3D models, the loading process may be simulated.

A medical apparatus includes a control unit including at least a first control module; a support device for a patient; a machine for allowing a diagnosis having an X-ray source, an X-ray detector, a supporting frame, supporting the source and detector, and a base frame supporting the supporting frame. The first control module is electrically coupled to the detector to receive a signal relating to the X-rays detected and processes the signal to derive an image. The support device includes a portion that can be inclined between non-operating and operating positions. The supporting frame can be inclined, with respect to the base frame, by rotation about an axis of inclination, between first and second operating positions to allow a diagnostic examination in the first or second operating positions. A coupling device between the support device and the base frame provides a removable coupling therebetween.

A method for postural independent location of targets in diagnostic images acquired by multimodal acquisitions, compensating for deformation of soft tissues due to changing posture, includes generating a transition of a digital image of the inside of a target region from a first to a second position by correlating the position of markers placed on the external surface of the target region in a digital image of the inside of the target region and in a digital representation of the external surface of the target region acquired by optically scanning the external surface; and at a later time registering the diagnostic image of the inside of the target region, transitioned into the second position, with a diagnostic image of the same target region acquired with the target region in the second position by matching a second representation of the external surface of the target region in the second position without markers with the diagnostic image of the inside of the target region transitioned into the second position.

The present disclosure relates to a system and method for locating a target subject associated with an X-ray system. The X-ray system may include an X-ray source, a detection component, an arm, and a platform. The X-ray system may also include a first positioning component, a second positioning component, or a third positioning component. The first positioning component may be configured to determine a target point where a region of interest (ROI) of the target subject locates. The second positioning component may be configured to locate the target subject. The third positioning component may be configured to obtain location information of a target device associated with the target subject in real-time.

An instrument, a magnetic resonance imaging scanner and a method for operating the magnetic resonance imaging scanner with the instrument in which the instrument is aligned with a patient. The medical instrument comprises a first projector for projecting a luminous pointer in a predetermined alignment relative to the medical instrument. The magnetic resonance imaging scanner comprises a positioning aid configured to mark a predetermined position on an inner wall of a patient tunnel in a manner that is visible to a user. In the method, a predetermined alignment of the first projector relative to the medical instrument or position of the positioning aid on the wall of the patient tunnel is ascertained in which the luminous pointer of the first projector coincides with the positioning aid when the medical instrument is aligned parallel to a trajectory through an entry point on the patient and a target point in the patient and the medical instrument is aligned such that the luminous pointer and the positioning aid coincide.