Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
13.1.2
Perfusion Studies
Perfusion imaging is likely to have many clinical applications. For example, car-
diac MR imaging is progressing fast and the applications in tumor metabolism
and angiogenesis is driving advances in MR imaging for oncology. Image reg-
istration will be essential, enabling technologies for perfusion imaging where
patients may not be able to maintain the same position during long dynamic
studies.
13.1.3
Registration for Image-Guided Interventions
Interventional MR, CT, X-ray fluoroscopy, and ultrasound, as well as optical im-
ages from endoscopes, microscopes, and arrays of free-standing cameras are
used for image guided procedures. However, many image-guided surgery sys-
tems are currently restricted to applications in which patient anatomy can be
treated as a rigid body. These technologies have great potential in soft tissues
away from the bone. Registration methods could be used to update the spatial
information in accurate and detailed representations of the patient, generated
from preoperative images. This information could be incorporated into interven-
tional procedures that often use incomplete and much lower quality information
from intraoperative images.
13.1.4
Registration of Electronic Data Set with
Anatomical Images
Multimedia electronic data sets can be incorporated with radiological images as
well as other context-based information: for example, registration of EEG with
MR images. Integrating this information and relating it to atlas data could be
achieved transparently with the potential for improved diagnosis and decision
support.
13.1.5
Deformation Fields Generated by Nonrigid
Registration
Nonrigid image registration methods have great potential beyond simply lining
up images. The deformation field produced by nonrigid registration algorithms
can quantify normal development and contribute to an understanding of disease
