# US 11,304,666 B2 · Creation of a digital twin for medical examinations

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- Number: US 11,304,666 B2
- Document ID: US11304666B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/807,296
- Filed: 2020-03-03
- Published: 2020-09-10
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2019-03-08
- Assignees: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
- Applicants: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
- Inventors: Mathias Hoernig; Ralf Nanke
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11304666B2

## CPC

- A61B 5/0046: {Arrangements of imaging apparatus in a room, e.g. room provided with shielding or for improved access to apparatus}
- A61B 5/744: {Displaying an avatar, e.g. an animated cartoon character}
- A61B 5/0035: {adapted for acquisition of images from more than one imaging mode, e.g. combining MRI and optical tomography}
- A61B 5/0064: {Body surface scanning}
- A61B 5/0077: {Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens}
- A61B 5/0507: using microwaves or terahertz waves
- A61B 5/1128: {using image analysis (A61B5/1127 takes precedence)}
- A61B 5/6889: {Rooms}
- A61B 6/032: {Transmission computed tomography [CT]}
- A61B 6/461: {Displaying means of special interest}
- G06T 17/00: Three-dimensional [3D] modelling for computer graphics
- G16H 30/40: for processing medical images, e.g. editing
- G16H 50/50: for simulation or modelling of medical disorders
- A61B 5/1113: {Local tracking of patients, e.g. in a hospital or private home}
- A61B 5/1116: {Determining posture transitions}
- A61B 5/704: {Tables}
- G06T 2200/08: involving all processing steps from image acquisition to 3D model generation
- G06T 2210/41: Medical
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL
- G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA

## Abstract

A method for creating a virtual patient model includes acquiring image data of the patient from a number of directions and in a number of positions of the patient. A virtual patient is created based upon the acquired image data. The virtual patient is adjusted to a posture of the patient during a planned examination with a medical engineering examination apparatus. A patient model creation apparatus is also described. Moreover, a medical engineering examination system is described.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method comprising:
acquiring image data of a patient from a number of directions;
creating a virtual patient based on the image data, the virtual patient being adjustable, via a medical engineering examination apparatus, to a posture of the patient during a planned examination of the patient, and the virtual patient being adjustable based on an examination protocol for the planned examination, wherein
the medical engineering examination apparatus is a medical imaging apparatus, and
the planned examination of the patient is a medical imaging of the patient using the medical imaging apparatus; and
automatically setting, for the medical imaging of the patient, at least one image acquisition parameter of the medical imaging device apparatus, for the planned examination, based on parameter data of the virtual patient.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the acquiring image data of the patient is carried out for a number of different positions of the patient.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the virtual patient is automatically adjustable via the medical engineering examination apparatus.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the acquiring acquires the image data of the patient automatically while the patient is approaching the medical engineering examination apparatus.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein at least one technical apparatus is used in the acquiring image data, the at least one technical apparatus including at least one of:
an optical image capture apparatus,
an image capture apparatus based on terahertz technology, or
an infrared imaging apparatus.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the optical image capture apparatus comprises at least one of:
a 2D camera, or
a 3D camera.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the acquiring image data comprises:
applying a combination of at least two different ones of the at least one technical apparatus.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein
the creating creates the virtual patient based on a previously saved individual virtual patient model, and
the method further includes updating the virtual patient in real time based on the image data.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the acquiring image data or the creating a virtual patient is adjusted to an organ program or a specific procedure.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein a position and an orientation of apparatuses used in the acquiring image data are automatically defined as a function of a specific planned procedure.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein with the acquiring image data, image data of operating personnel of the medical engineering examination apparatus are additionally acquired and the medical engineering examination apparatus is set based on the image data of the operating personnel.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual patient is automatically adjustable via the medical engineering examination apparatus.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one image acquisition parameter includes at least one of an x-ray dose, recording parameters for the medical engineering examination apparatus or system parameters for the medical engineering examination apparatus.

### Claim 14

An apparatus, comprising:
a medical imaging modality to perform a planned medical imaging examination of a patient according to at least one image acquisition parameter;
an acquisition unit to acquire image data of the patient from a number of directions and in a number of positions of the patient;
a model creation unit to create a virtual patient based on the image data; and
an adaptation unit to adjust the virtual patient to a posture of the patient during the planned medical imaging examination of the patient via the medical imaging modality, the virtual patient being adjustable based on an examination protocol for the planned medical imaging examination, wherein
the at least one image acquisition parameter is automatically set based on parameter data of the virtual patient.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the acquisition unit is configured to acquire the image data for a number of different positions of the patient.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the adaptation unit is configured to automatically adjust the virtual patient.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the acquisition unit is configured to automatically acquire the image data while the patient is approaching the medical imaging modality.

### Claim 18 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the virtual patient is created based on a previously saved individual virtual patient model, and the virtual patient is updated in real time based on the image data.

### Claim 19 (depends on 14)

The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one image acquisition parameter includes at least one of an x-ray dose, recording parameters for the medical imaging modality or system parameters for the medical imaging modality.

### Claim 20 (depends on 14)

A medical engineering examination system, comprising:
the apparatus of claim 14;
a region to be entered by the patient on the way to the medical imaging modality;
and
a plurality of image recording units, directed in a plurality of various directions at the region to be entered by the patient.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

A non-transitory computer program product storing a computer program, directly loadable into a storage unit of a medical engineering examination system, the computer program including program portions to carry out the method of claim 1, when the computer program is carried out in the medical engineering examination system.

### Claim 22 (depends on 1)

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing program portions, executable by a computer unit, the program portions carrying out the method of claim 1 when the program portions are executed by the computer unit.

### Claim 23

A method comprising:
acquiring image data of a patient from a number of directions;
creating a virtual patient based on the image data, the virtual patient being adjustable based on an examination protocol for a planned examination of the patient using a medical engineering examination apparatus, wherein
the medical engineering examination apparatus is a medical imaging apparatus, and
the planned examination of the patient is a medical imaging of the patient using the medical imaging apparatus;
adjusting the virtual patient to a posture of the patient during the planned examination, using the medical engineering examination apparatus; and
automatically setting, for the medical imaging of the patient, at least one image acquisition parameter of the medical imaging apparatus, for the planned examination, based on parameter data of the virtual patient.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The method of claim 23, wherein the acquiring image data of the patient is carried out for a number of different positions of the patient.

### Claim 25 (depends on 23)

The method of claim 23, wherein the virtual patient is automatically adjustable via the medical engineering examination apparatus.

### Claim 26 (depends on 23)

The method of claim 23, wherein the acquiring acquires the image data of the patient automatically while the patient is approaching the medical engineering examination apparatus.

### Claim 27 (depends on 23)

The method of claim 23, wherein
the creating creates the virtual patient based on a previously saved individual virtual patient model, and
the method further includes updating the virtual patient in real time based on the image data.

### Claim 28

An apparatus, comprising:
a medical imaging modality to perform a planned medical imaging examination of a patient according to at least one image acquisition parameter;
at least one camera to acquire image data of the patient from a number of directions and in a number of positions of the patient; and
at least one processor to
create a virtual patient based on the image data,
adjust the virtual patient to a posture of the patient during the planned medical imaging examination of the patient, the virtual patient being adjustable based on an examination protocol for the planned medical imaging examination, and
automatically set the at least one image acquisition parameter based on parameter data of the virtual patient.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the at least one camera is configured to acquire the image data of the patient for a number of different positions of the patient.

### Claim 30 (depends on 28)

The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the at least one processor is configured to automatically adjust the virtual patient.

### Claim 31 (depends on 28)

The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the at least one camera is configured to automatically acquire the image data while the patient is approaching the medical imaging modality.

### Claim 32 (depends on 28)

The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the virtual patient is created based on a previously saved individual virtual patient model, and the virtual patient is updated in real time based on the image data.

### Claim 33 (depends on 28)

The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the at least one image acquisition parameter includes at least one of an x-ray dose, recording parameters for the medical imaging modality or system parameters for the medical imaging modality.