A high contrast instrument, such as a radiopaque portion, can be captured and/or viewed in an image that is acquired with an imaging system, such as with a fluoroscopic imaging system. A statistical model can be used to assist in identifying a possible or probable location of a target. A user may move the instrument coil to the statistically probable location of the target to, for example, perform a procedure or carry out a task.

An electronic device includes a processor configured to generate a position movement prediction field indicating prediction of a potential positional change of a branch path by a patient's biological activity for one or more branch paths based on a blood vessel image of a reference frame, correct guidewire information extracted from a blood vessel image of a target frame with respect to a catheter position of the reference frame, and select a branch path to dispose the guidewire information, among one or more branch paths of a blood vessel region based on the position movement prediction field and the corrected guidewire information; and a display configured to visualize the guidewire information on the selected branch path.

A method of quantifying a size of a tissue of interest in a animal through a device including a storage, an image processor, and a display by using an X-ray image of the animal is proposed. The proposed method may include storing the X-ray image in the storage, displaying the X-ray image on the display, performing, by the image processor, processes of (i) calculating a reference value for a length of a reference tissue of the animal displayed on the X-ray image, (ii) calculating a value of a length in at least one specific direction of the tissue of interest of the animal displayed on the X-ray image, and (iii) quantifying the size of the tissue of interest as a ratio of the value of the length to the reference value, and displaying the quantified size of the tissue of interest on the display.

An automatic method of categorizing the contact force of a catheter tip against a portion of a patient's heart based on motion of the catheter tip, the method comprising (a) capturing a series of 3D-coordinate data points of the catheter tip as a function of discrete times with a 3D medical imaging system, the 3D coordinates corresponding to an orthogonal 3-axis spatial coordinate system, (b) using a programmable computing system, computing a set of measures based on the series of 3D-coordinate data points, (c) categorizing each measure by a respective set of predetermined threshold values; and (d) combining the categorized measures to yield a relative quality of the contact force.

The present disclosure relates to a method and a device for treating heart failure by normalizing elevated blood pressure in the left and right atria of a heart of a mammal. The present disclosure includes methods for creating and maintaining an opening in the atrial septum. Tools for making an opening and enlarging the opening are also disclosed. Use of the techniques and tools described herein prolongs the patency of an intra-atrial pressure relief opening.

Techniques for determining a position of a native leaflet can include identifying a position of a mineral formation on the native leaflet before implantation of a prosthetic valve and analyzing an image representing the prosthetic valve implanted within the cardiac vessel. The analysis can identify a position of the mineral formation within the cardiac vessel after the prosthetic valve is implanted. Based on the position of the mineral formation on the native leaflet before implantation of the prosthetic valve and the position of the mineral formation within the cardiac vessel, a position of the native leaflet within the cardiac vessel can be determined.

Embodiments include a system for determining cardiovascular information for a patient. The system may include at least one computer system configured to receive patient-specific data regarding a geometry of the patient's heart, and create a three-dimensional model representing at least a portion of the patient's heart based on the patient-specific data. The at least one computer system may be further configured to create a physics-based model relating to a blood flow characteristic of the patient's heart and determine a fractional flow reserve within the patient's heart based on the three-dimensional model and the physics-based model.

According to one embodiment, there is provided an X-ray diagnostic apparatus which comprises an X-ray generation unit configured to irradiate an object with X-rays; an X-ray detection unit configured to detect X-rays applied by the X-ray generation unit and transmitted through the object; an image generation unit configured to generate an X-ray image based on X-rays detected by the X-ray detection unit; a recording unit configured to record pressure data acquired by using a pressure sensor provided on a guide wire; a measurement position setting unit configured to set a measurement position for a pressure by the pressure sensor using the X-ray image; and a display unit configured to display the X-ray image almost in real time and superimpose and display the measurement position set by the measurement position setting unit.

A dose for a coronary calcium scoring (CCS) computed tomography (CT) scan (e.g., a volume CT dose index (CTDIvol)) can be determined for lower tube voltages (e.g., a lower peak kilovoltage (kVp)) based on a given reference tube voltage. A dose lookup table can be created and used to determine appropriate dosing for CCS while operating at lower kVp based on a reference kVp. This dose lookup table can be created specifically to achieve a consistent contrast-to-noise (CNR) ratio. Additionally, certain aspects and features of the present disclosure also relate to a kVp-dependent scaling method to process images so standard CCS software can be used with standard Houndsfield unit (HU) thresholds. Images captured at non-standard kVp can be processed according to the disclosed scaling method prior to being transferred to CCS software for scoring based on a presumed standard kVp.

A medical information processing apparatus according to an embodiment includes a memory storing a model that represents a relation between cell deformation and electric signal propagation; and processing circuitry configured to acquire four-dimensional image data acquired by imaging a three-dimensional structure of a cardiac muscle in time series, extract movement information on the cardiac muscle at multiple positions in the four-dimensional image data, and apply the model to the movement information with respect to the positions to calculate electric signal propagation at the positions.