Flashlight view of an anatomical structure

Apparatus for imaging an anatomical structure and displaying a flashlight view of the anatomical structure, comprising:

• a display having a graphic user interface (GUI);
• an instrument which is configured to be positioned in proximity to the anatomical structure, the instrument being inserted through a vein or artery;
• and a processor, which is configured to be coupled to the instrument, and which is arranged to acquire an initial spatial representation of the anatomical structure as a 3-D image of the anatomical structure, to determine a location of the instrument by measuring spatial and orientation coordinates of a tip of the instrument, to generate, in response to the spatial and orientation coordinates of the tip of the instrument:
• (i) a reconstruction region image, wherein the reconstruction region image corresponds to a portion of the 3-D image of the anatomical structure, wherein the reconstruction region is a 2-D image representing a planar section of the anatomical structure, wherein the reconstruction region image is overlaid on the corresponding portion of the 3-D image of the anatomical structure on the display, and wherein the 3-D image of the anatomical structure and the reconstruction region image have the same scale and are different portions of a single composite image of at least part of said anatomical structure;
• and
• (ii) an icon of the tip of the instrument based on the spatial and orientation coordinates of the tip of the instrument, wherein the icon is displayed on the display within the reconstruction image and in a position corresponding to the current location of the tip of the instrument with respect to the anatomical structure;
• wherein the reconstruction region image is 10%-50% of the area of the 3-D image of the anatomical structure on the display,
• wherein one or more image display parameters being used in the reconstruction region image are different from the display parameters being used outside of the reconstruction region image in the 3-D image of the anatomical structure, wherein the parameters are chosen from intensity, color, resolution, and transparency in order to enhance the visibility of elements within the reconstruction region image compared to the elements of the 3-D image of the anatomical structure outside of the reconstruction region image on the display, and
• wherein the position of the reconstruction region on the display and with respect to the 3-D image of the anatomical structure is defined in relation to the position of the tip of the instrument, and wherein the reconstruction region is moved on the display and with respect to the 3-D image of the anatomical structure to follow movement of the tip of the instrument
• wherein the reconstruction region is delineated, including the boundaries of the reconstruction region, using the icon and arrows associated with the icon, together with a pointing device, wherein the ends of the arrows are movable elements on the display.

A method for imaging a heart and displaying a flashlight view of the heart on a display, comprising:

• acquiring an initial spatial representation of at least part of the heart using ultrasound, wherein the initial spatial representation comprises a 3-D ultrasound image of at least part of the heart;
• positioning a catheter in proximity to the heart by inserting the catheter into a patient, wherein the catheter comprises both a position sensor, and an electrode capable of sensing local electrical potentials, at a tip;
• determining a series of locations of the catheter by measuring spatial and orientation coordinates of the tip of the catheter;
• moving the catheter in the heart, and sensing local electrical potentials at a plurality of surface positions in the heart using the electrode;
• (i) displaying a reconstruction region on the display, wherein the reconstruction region is a subsection of the initial spatial representation of the heart comprising a 3-D ultrasound image, wherein the reconstruction region is overlaid on the corresponding portion of the initial spatial representation on the display, and wherein the initial spatial representation and the reconstruction region have the same scale and are different portions of a single composite image of at least part of the heart;
• and
• (ii) displaying an icon representing the tip of the instrument, wherein the icon is displayed on the display within the reconstruction region and in a position corresponding to the current location of the catheter tip with respect to the heart;
• (iii) displaying an Electroanatomical Map of the heart using said local electrical potentials sensed by the electrode and corresponding position data from the position sensor, the Electroanatomical Map being a three-dimensional map depicting different electrical potentials on respective surface areas of the heart using at least one of different colors and differential shading, wherein the Electroanatomical Map is overlaid on and partially obscures the reconstruction region on the display;
• wherein one or more different display parameters are used to display the reconstruction region and areas of the initial spatial representation outside of the reconstruction region, so that they are visually distinguishable on the display;
• and
• wherein the position of the reconstruction region on the display and with respect to the initial spatial representation is defined in relation to the position of the tip of the catheter, and wherein the reconstruction region is moved on the display and with respect to the initial spatial representation of the heart to follow movement of the tip of the catheter
• wherein the reconstruction region is delineated, including the boundaries of the reconstruction region, using the icon and arrows associated with the icon, together with a pointing device, wherein the ends of the arrows are movable elements on the display.