The present invention relates to a method for the evaluation of tissue gadolinium deposition that offers advantages compared with known methods. Comparison of different gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) based on retention, organ distribution, washout and safety is facilitated using the methods of the present invention.

Systems are described for conducting minimally invasive medical interventions utilizing instruments and assemblies thereof to stabilize and/or fixate a dysfunctional sacroiliac (SI) joint. The systems include a drill guide having a bone dislodging member adapted to create a pilot SI joint opening in the dysfunctional SI joint through an incision comprising a length no greater than 3.0 cm; portions of the pilot SI joint opening being disposed in the sacrum and ilium bone structures. The drill guide includes a tri-mode fixation system adapted to position and stabilize the drill guide during creation of the pilot SI joint opening in the dysfunctional SI joint and delivery of the SI joint prosthesis therein. The systems also include a SI joint prosthesis configured to be inserted into the pilot SI joint opening of the dysfunctional SI joint, a prosthesis deployment assembly configured to engage the SI joint prosthesis and advance the SI joint prosthesis into the dysfunctional SI joint, and a bone harvesting assembly adapted to extract and collect dislodge bone material from the bone dislodging member after creation of the pilot SI joint opening.

A processor acquires first-direction and second-direction radiographic images captured by emitting radiation in different directions. The processor derives a bone mineral content for each pixel in the bone portion included in the first-direction and second-direction radiographic images. The processor divides the bone portion included in the first-direction and second-direction radiographic images into a plurality of small regions and derives first and second evaluation results for each small region of the bone portion on the basis of the derived bone mineral content.

An image processing apparatus for processing a radiation image, comprises a calculation unit configured to calculate, in a calculation region, a physical amount representing a characteristic of a material, the calculation region being obtained using (a) a specific region regarding a specific material in an image representing the characteristic of the material and (b) a relative positional relationship of a radiation tube, a radiation detector, and an object, wherein the image representing the characteristic of the material is obtained using information about a plurality of radiation energies.

An optimized press-fit between a resected bone and an articular implant may, for instance, reduce undesirable qualities, including excess micromotion, stress transmission, and/or strain. By taking into account heterogeneous bone properties, the parameters of a bone resection can be determined as to optimize the press-fit between a resected bone and an articular implant. An optimized press-fit is obtained by determining ideal engagement characteristics corresponding to the fit between the fixation features of an articular implant and a bone. Then, taking into account a bone's heterogeneous properties, the parameters of a bone resection that would substantially achieve the determined ideal engagement characteristics are determined.

The present disclosure provides a system and method for image data acquisition. The method may include obtaining image data of a subject including a first type of tissue and a second type of tissue. The method may include determining, based on the image data of the subject, a target portion including at least a portion of at least one of the first type of tissue or the second type of tissue. The method may include determining, based at least in part on the target portion represented in the image data, a scan mode corresponding to the target portion. The method may include causing an imaging device to acquire, based on the scan mode, image data of the target portion.

Medical imaging methods for processing a three-dimensional (3D) image data set with two-dimensional X-ray images from an X-ray machine using a target function. Methods can include providing a 3D image data set of at least one examination zone in which anatomical structures are present, segmenting the image data set to provide a 3D vascular structure model and a 3D bone structure model, recording a first two-dimensional (2D) X-ray image containing at least a portion of the vascular structure and at least a portion of the bone structure, recording a second 2D X-ray image of the examination zone at a different contrast agent concentration, and subtracting the first and second 2D X-ray images to generate a subtraction image. An optimum projective geometry may then be determined using a three-part target function based on the 3D image data and the 2D X-ray images.

A method of generating a correction plan for a knee of a patient includes obtaining a ratio of reference bone density to reference ligament tension in a reference population. A bone of the knee of the patient may be imaged. From the image of the bone, a first dataset may be determined including at least one site of ligament attachment and existing dwell points of a medial femoral condyle and lateral femoral condyle of the patient on a tibia of the patient. Desired positions of contact in three dimensions of the femoral condyles of the patient with the tibia of the patient may be obtained by determining a relationship in which a ratio of bone density to ligament tension of the patient is substantially equal to the ratio of reference bone density to reference ligament tension.

Provided is an image processing apparatus for a C-arm, including: a movement control unit which moves a C-arm which irradiates a radiation onto a bone of a subject located on a table and detects the radiation which penetrates the bone to generate a projection image for the bone, along a predetermined route; an image acquiring unit which acquires a plurality of projection images generated by the moving C-arm at every predetermined interval; and an image processing unit which generates a combined projection image in which the plurality of acquired projection images is combined, and the predetermined interval may be an interval at which a continuous panoramic image may be generated by connecting the plurality of acquired projection images.

Parametric model based computer implemented methods for determining the stiffness of a bone and systems for estimating the stiffness of a bone in vivo. The computer implemented methods include determining a complex compliance frequency response function Y(f) and an associated complex stiffness frequency response function H(f) and independently fitting a parametric mathematical model to Y(f) and to H(f). The systems include a device for measuring the stiffness of the bone in vivo and a data analyzer to determine a complex compliance frequency response function Y(f) and an associated complex stiffness frequency response function H(f).