Patient-specific immobilization structure and system and method for fabrication thereof

A system for use in generating an immobilization device for immobilizing a body portion of a patient, the system comprising:

• processing circuitry comprising at least one processor and associated memory, the memory comprising instructions executable by the at least one processor for performing operations comprising:
• receiving image data suitable for characterizing an exposed surface of a body portion of the patient and at least a portion of a support structure employed to support the body portion during imaging;
• processing the image data to determine a position and orientation of the support structure based on one or more known spatial features of the support structure;
• processing the image data to segment surface data associated with the exposed surface of the body portion;
• and
• employing the surface data and the position and orientation of the support structure to generate a digital model of a patient-specific immobilization structure that is attachable to the support structure for immobilizing the body portion between the patient-specific immobilization structure and the support structure.

A method of generating a digital model of an immobilization device for immobilizing a body portion of a patient, the method comprising:

• receiving image data suitable for characterizing an exposed surface of a body portion of the patient and at least a portion of a support structure employed to support the body portion during imaging;
• processing the image data to determine a position and orientation of the support structure based on one or more known spatial features of the support structure;
• processing the image data to segment surface data associated with the exposed surface of the body portion;
• and
• employing the surface data and the position and orientation of the support structure to generate the digital model of a patient-specific immobilization structure that is attachable to the support structure for immobilizing the body portion between the patient-specific immobilization structure and the support structure.

A method of generating a digital model of an immobilization device for immobilizing a body portion of a patient, the method comprising:

• obtaining image data suitable for characterizing an exposed surface of the body portion and at least a portion of a support structure employed to support the body portion during imaging;
• processing the image data to determine a position and orientation of the support structure based on one or more known spatial features of the support structure;
• processing the image data to segment surface data associated with the exposed surface of the body portion;
• and
• employing the surface data and the position and orientation of the support structure to generate a digital model of a patient-specific immobilization structure that is attachable to the support structure for immobilizing the body portion between the patient-specific immobilization structure and the support structure.

A system for generating a digital model of an immobilization device for immobilizing a body portion of a patient, the system comprising:

• control and processing circuitry comprising at least one processor and associated memory, said memory comprising instructions executable by said at least one processor for performing operations comprising:
• obtaining image data suitable for characterizing an exposed surface of the body portion and at least a portion of a support structure employed to support the body portion during imaging;
• processing the image data to determine a position and orientation of the support structure based on one or more known spatial features of the support structure;
• processing the image data to segment surface data associated with the exposed surface of the body portion;
• and
• employing the surface data and the position and orientation of the support structure to generate a digital model of a patient-specific immobilization structure that is attachable to the support structure for immobilizing the body portion between the patient-specific immobilization structure and the support structure.

A system for fabricating an immobilization device for immobilizing a body portion of a patient, the system comprising:

• an imaging system;
• a fabrication system;
• and
• control and processing circuitry operatively coupled to said imaging system and said fabrication system, said control and processing circuitry comprising at least one processor and associated memory, said memory comprising instructions executable by said at least one processor for performing operations comprising:
• controlling said imaging system to obtain image data suitable for characterizing an exposed surface of the body portion and at least a portion of a support structure employed to support the body portion during imaging;
• processing the image data to determine a position and orientation of the support structure based on one or more known spatial features of the support structure;
• processing the image data to segment surface data associated with the exposed surface of the body portion;
• employing the surface data and the position and orientation of the support structure to generate a digital model of a patient-specific immobilization structure that is attachable to the support structure for immobilizing the body portion between the patient-specific immobilization structure and the support structure;
• and
• controlling said fabrication system to fabricate the patient-specific immobilization structure according to the digital model.