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OwnerBrian J. Davis, Wayne N. Lajoie +2inventors
InventorsBrian J. Davis, Wayne N. Lajoie, Michael G. Herman, James F. Greenleaf
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A method and system for imaging and treating an internal organ of a patient is disclosed. In an illustrative method embodying the invention, a method of imaging and treating prostate cancer includes first stabilizing the prostate using a tube, with imbedded fiducial markers, inserted into the rectum of the patient and attached to an external perineal template and support. Ultrasound images of the prostate and surroundings are then taken with an ultrasound imaging probe inserted into the tube. The radioisotope seeds are implanted with the guidance of the ultrasound images. Afterwards, CT and/or fluoroscopic images are taken to examine the adequacy of the implantation. Image fusion of ultrasound and CT and/or fluoroscopic images is then achieved. If necessary, further or corrective implantation procedures can be carried out under ultrasound guidance, with follow-up CT and or fluoroscopic imaging. The process can be repeated until the implantation is deemed satisfactory.
An apparatus for aiding prostate imaging and treatment, the apparatus comprising a structure sized to be insertable into a patient's rectum and to permit an ultrasound imaging probe to be inserted into and withdrawn from the interior of the structure, the structure being adapted to be positioned to fix the position of the prostate with respect to surrounding tissue, at least a portion of the structure being substantially ultrasound-transparent to permit imaging of the prostate through the portion by the ultrasound imaging probe.
An apparatus for aiding imaging of an organ of a patient by an imaging modality, the application of the imaging modality to be accomplished by inserting an imaging probe through a body cavity of the patient, the apparatus comprising a structure sized to be positionable in the body cavity to permit an imaging probe applying the imaging modality to be inserted into and withdrawn from the interior of the structure, at least a portion of the structure being substantially transparent to the imaging modality to permit imaging of the organ through the transparent portion by the imaging probe.
A method of imaging and treating of an organ of a patient, the method comprising:
A method of imaging and treating of an organ of a patient, the method comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.