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US 12,714,309 B2Granted
Magnetic tolerant imaging
AssigneeWorcester Polytechnic Institute
InventorsHaichong Zhang, Ryo Murakami, Gregory S. Fischer, Yang Wang, Ryosuke Tsumura
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Abstract
A magnetic tolerant, multi-mode imaging device includes an elongated probe adapted for insertion into an imaging region of a first imaging modality, and an imaging sensor in rotational communication with the elongated probe, where the imaging sensor is responsive to a second imaging modality. A control circuit is configured for activating the first imaging modality and the second imaging modality for imaging over a region of interest, and an imaging circuit aligns images received from the first and second imaging modalities for registration in a common frame of reference to render a combined image.
Claims13
A magnetic tolerant, multi-mode imaging device, comprising:
- an elongated probe adapted for insertion into an imaging region of a first imaging modality the elongated probe further including:
- a body having a tapered or rounded distal end adapted for insertion into an imaging subject defining the region of interest;
- and
- an inner shaft disposed within a bore of the body;
- an imaging sensor in rotational communication with the elongated probe, the imaging sensor disposed on the inner shaft for rotation and responsive to a second imaging modality;
- a reflective mirror disposed on the body distal from the inner shaft, the reflective mirror configured for reflecting an image signal of the second imaging modality;
- a photoacoustic laser disposed on the inner shaft for emanating a laser signal, the reflective mirror disposed for directing the laser signal based on an angle of the reflective mirror;
- a control circuit configured for activating the first imaging modality and the second imaging modality for imaging over a region of interest;
- and
- an imaging circuit for aligning images received from the first and second imaging modalities for rendering a combined image, the second imaging modality defined by an array of image planes obtained from respective step rotation positions of the imaging sensor reflected via the reflective mirror defining a perpendicular sensing axis.
7 more elements
A multi-mode imaging system, comprising:
- an elongated probe adapted for insertion into a magnetic resonance imaging region, the elongated probe including:
- a body having a tapered or rounded distal end adapted for insertion into an imaging subject defining the region of interest;
- and
- an inner shaft disposed within a bore of the body;
- a photoacoustic imaging array attached to the inner shaft and in rotational communication with the elongated probe, the photoacoustic imaging array responsive to photoacoustic signals for generating an imaging plane;
- a reflective mirror attached at a distal end of the body adjacent the photoacoustic imaging array, the inner shaft configured for rotation independently of the reflective mirror for varying the imaging plane about an axis and the reflective mirror configured for reflecting a photoacoustic imaging signal to the photoacoustic imaging array;
- a photoacoustic laser disposed on the inner shaft for emanating a laser signal directed at the reflective mirror, the reflective mirror disposed for directing the laser signal based on an angle of the reflective mirror;
- and
- an imaging circuit for aligning images received from the imaging plane with an imaging signal based on the magnetic resonance imaging for rendering a combined image, the photoacoustic imaging signal defined by an array of image planes obtained from respective step rotation positions of the photoacoustic imaging array reflected via the reflective mirror defining a perpendicular sensing axis.
6 more elements
A method for magnetic tolerant, multi-mode imaging, comprising:
- disposing an elongated probe into an imaging region for a region of interest of a first imaging modality, the elongated probe further including:
- a body having a tapered or rounded distal end adapted for insertion into an imaging subject defining the region of interest;
- and
- an inner shaft rotatably disposed within a bore of the body;
- receiving a returned imaging signal in the first imaging modality from the region of interest;
- rotating an imaging sensor in rotational communication with the elongated probe, the imaging sensor responsive to a second imaging modality and disposed on the inner shaft for rotation;
- directing an imaging signal in the second imaging modality from the rotating imaging sensor at the region of interest;
- capturing a returned imaging signal in the second imaging modality from the region of interest by reflecting, via a reflective mirror disposed on the body distal from the inner shaft, the reflective mirror configured for reflecting the returned image signal of the second imaging modality, the returned imaging signal defined by an array of image planes obtained from respective step rotation positions of the photoacoustic imaging array reflected via the reflective mirror defining a perpendicular sensing axis;
- aligning the respective imaging signals from the first and second imaging modalities for registering a combined image in a common frame of reference, the second imaging modality defined by an array of image planes obtained from respective step rotation positions of the imaging sensor reflected via the reflective mirror defining a perpendicular sensing axis;
- and
- rendering the combined image.
8 more elements
A computer program embodying program code on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium that, when executed by a processor, performs steps for implementing a method for magnetic tolerant, multi-mode imaging, the method comprising:
- disposing an elongated probe into an imaging region for a region of interest of a first imaging modality, the elongated probe further including:
- a body having a tapered or rounded distal end adapted for insertion into an imaging subject defining the region of interest;
- and
- an inner shaft rotatably disposed within a bore of the body;
- receiving a returned imaging signal in the first imaging modality from the region of interest;
- rotating an imaging sensor in rotational communication with the elongated probe, the imaging sensor responsive to a second imaging modality and disposed on the inner shaft for rotation;
- directing an imaging signal in the second imaging modality from the rotating imaging sensor at a region of interest;
- capturing a returned imaging signal in the second imaging modality from the region of interest by reflecting, via a reflective mirror disposed on the body distal from the inner shaft, the reflective mirror configured for reflecting the returned image signal of the second imaging modality the returned imaging signal defined by an array of image planes obtained from respective step rotation positions of the photoacoustic imaging array reflected via the reflective mirror defining a perpendicular sensing axis;
- aligning the respective imaging signals from the first and second imaging modality for registering a combined image in a common frame of reference, the second imaging modality defined by a photoacoustic laser disposed on the inner shaft for emanating a laser signal, the reflective mirror disposed for directing the laser signal based on an angle of the reflective mirror;
- and
- rendering the combined image.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.