Visualizing vascular structures
A system, device, and method for visualizing vascular structures is disclosed. According to some implementations, in order to provide further improved digital subtraction angiography, a device for visualizing vascular structures is provided that includes a data provision processor, an image processor, and an output. The data provision processor is configured to provide a first sequence of non-contrast X-ray images of a region of interest of a patient for use as raw X-ray mask images. The data provision processor is also configured to provide a second sequence of contrast X-ray images of the region of interest of a patient for use as raw X-ray live-images. The image processor is configured to perform a first spatial subtraction for the first sequence of non-contrast X-ray images resulting in a first sequence of spatial-subtracted mask images. The image processor is also configured to perform a second spatial subtraction for the second sequence of contrast X-ray images resulting in a second sequence of spatial-subtracted X-ray live-images. The image processor is further configured to perform a temporal subtraction by subtracting the spatial-subtracted mask images from the spatial-subtracted X-ray live-images resulting in a sequence of spatial-temporal subtracted X-ray live-images. The output is configured to output the sequence of spatial-temporal subtracted X-ray live-images.
1. A vascular structure visualization apparatus, comprising:
a data provision processor configured to provide a set of non-contrast X-ray images of a region of interest of a patient and to provide a set of contrast X-ray images of the region of interest of a patient;
an image processor configured to perform spatial subtraction of the non-contrast X-ray images to generate spatially-subtracted mask images, and to perform spatial subtraction of the contrast X-ray images to generate spatially-subtracted X-ray live-images, wherein the image processor is further configured to perform a temporal subtraction by subtracting the spatially-subtracted mask images from the spatially-subtracted X-ray live-images to generate spatial-temporal subtracted X-ray live-images; and
an output interface configured to output the spatial-temporal subtracted X-ray live-images.
2. The vascular structure visualization apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a display configured to display the spatial-temporal subtracted X-ray live-images.
3. The vascular structure visualization apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the image processor is configured to perform the temporal subtraction by performing motion-compensation.
4. The vascular structure visualization apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the motion-compensated subtraction comprises subtraction of the spatial-subtracted mask images from the spatial-subtracted X-ray live-images.
5. The vascular structure visualization apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the spatial-subtracted mask images correspond to an estimation of a soft-tissue map.
6. The vascular structure visualization apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the image processor is configured to estimate a soft tissue map indicating soft tissue in each image of the non-contrast X-ray images and to subtract the estimated soft tissue map from the non-contrast X-ray images to generate the spatially-subtracted mask images.
7. The vascular structure visualization apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the image processor is configured to estimate the soft tissue map utilizing harmonization, and wherein harmonization comprises estimating spatial low-frequencies in low multi-resolution pyramid levels and attenuating or discarding un-wanted polarities or frequencies.
8. A medical imaging system for visualizing vascular structures, comprising:
an X-ray imaging device comprising an X-ray source and an X-ray detector; and
a vascular structure visualization device comprising an image processor configured to perform spatial subtraction of non-contrast X-ray images to generate spatial-subtracted mask images, and to perform spatial subtraction of contrast X-ray images to generate spatial-subtracted X-ray live-images, wherein the image processor is further configured to perform a temporal subtraction by subtracting the spatial-subtracted mask images from the spatial-subtracted X-ray live-images to generate spatial-temporal subtracted X-ray live-images.
9. The medical imaging system according to claim 8 , wherein the X-ray imaging device is configured to provide at least a plurality of X-ray images of a region of interest of a patient as the contrast X-ray images.
10. The medical imaging system according to claim 8 , wherein the image processor is configured to perform the temporal subtraction by performing motion-compensation.
11. The medical imaging system according to claim 8 , wherein the motion-compensated subtraction comprises subtraction of the spatial-subtracted mask images from the spatial-subtracted X-ray live-images.
12. The medical imaging system according to claim 8 , wherein the spatial-subtracted mask images correspond to an estimation of a soft-tissue map.
13. A method for visualizing vascular structures, comprising:
providing a first set of non-contrast X-ray images of a region of interest of a patient;
performing spatial subtraction for the first set of non-contrast X-ray images resulting in a first set of spatial-subtracted mask images;
providing a set of contrast X-ray images of the region of interest of a patient;
performing spatial subtraction for the set of contrast X-ray images resulting in a set of spatial-subtracted X-ray live-images; and
performing a temporal subtraction by subtracting the first set of spatial-subtracted mask images from the set of spatial-subtracted X-ray live-images resulting in a sequence of spatial-temporal subtracted X-ray live-images.
14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the temporal subtraction is a motion-compensated subtraction which comprises subtraction of a set of spatial-subtracted motion-compensated mask images from the set of spatial-subtracted X-ray live-images.
15. The method according to claim 13 , wherein spatial subtraction comprises:
estimating a soft tissue map of soft-tissue for each X-ray image; and
subtracting the estimated soft tissue map from the corresponding X-ray image.
16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein estimating of the soft-tissue map comprises performing harmonization, and wherein harmonization comprises estimating spatial low-frequencies in low multi-resolution pyramid levels and attenuating or discarding un-wanted polarities or frequencies.
17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions that when executed by processing circuitry of a vascular visualization device causes the processing circuitry to:
provide a set of non-contrast X-ray images of a region of interest of a patient;
perform spatial subtraction for the set of non-contrast X-ray images resulting in a set of spatial-subtracted mask images;
provide a set of contrast X-ray images of the region of interest of a patient;
perform spatial subtraction for the set of contrast X-ray images resulting in a set of spatial-subtracted X-ray live-images; and
perform a temporal subtraction by subtracting the set of spatial-subtracted mask images from the set of spatial-subtracted X-ray live-images resulting in a sequence of spatial-temporal subtracted X-ray live-images.
18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 17 , wherein the temporal subtraction is a motion-compensated subtraction which comprises subtraction of a set of spatial-subtracted motion-compensated mask images from the set of spatial-subtracted X-ray live-images.
19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 17 , wherein spatial subtraction comprises:
estimating a soft tissue map of soft-tissue for each X-ray image; and
subtracting the estimated soft tissue map from the corresponding X-ray image.
20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 19 , wherein estimating of the soft-tissue map comprises performing harmonization, and wherein harmonization comprises estimating spatial low-frequencies in low multi-resolution pyramid levels and attenuating or discarding un-wanted polarities or frequencies.