Combining tomographic images in situ with direct vision using a holographic optical element
AssigneeUniversity of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
InventorsGeorge DeWitt Stetten, Andreas G. Nowatzyk
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device for combining tomographic images with human vision using a half-silvered mirror to merge the visual outer surface of an object (or a robotic mock effector) with a simultaneous reflection of a tomographic image from the interior of the object. The device maybe used with various types of image modalities including ultrasound, CT, and MRI. The image capture device and the display may or may not be fixed to the semi-transparent mirror. If not fixed, the imaging device may provide a compensation device that adjusts the reflection of the displayed ultrasound on the half-silvered mirror to account for any change in the image capture device orientation or location.
Claims37
An imaging device comprised of:
- a removable image capture device for capturing an image of the internal structure of a target object;
- a removable display assembly including a display for displaying a captured image from the image capture device and a partially reflective surface oriented to reflect the captured image to an operator of the imaging device, such that the reflected captured image is merged with a direct view of the target object independent of the viewing location of the operator.
A method for viewing a target object, comprising the steps of:
- inserting an image capture device assembly into a jig;
- capturing a tomographic image of a target object;
- removing said image capture device assembly from said jig;
- inserting a display assembly, including a display and a half-silvered mirror into said jig;
- reflecting said displayed tomographic image onto said half-silvered mirror such that an operator can directly view the target object through said half-silvered mirror merged with the tomographic image reflected onto the half-silvered mirror, wherein said merger is independent of operator viewing location.
An imaging device calibration system, comprising:
- a phantom target object;
- an image capture device for capturing an image of the internal structure of the target object;
- a display for displaying a captured image from the image capture device;
- and
- a partially reflective surface oriented to reflect the captured image to an operator of the imaging device, such that the reflected captured image is merged with a direct view of the target object independent of the viewing location of the operator, wherein said phantom target object includes at least three target beads embedded therein.
A method for calibrating an imaging device including an image capture device, a display, and a half-silvered mirror, comprising the steps of:
- suspending at least three target beads in a phantom target object filled with gel;
- affixing a hollow tube to the outside of said phantom target object for each target bead, said tube being oriented such that an operator has a direct line of sight through the half-silvered mirror, through the tube to its respective target bead within the phantom target object;
- capturing a tomographic image of the target beads with the image capture device;
- displaying the captured image on the display such that the image is reflected up to the half-silvered mirror;
- and
- calculating an affine transform between a stored location of each of the target beads and an operator's line of sight view of each of the target beads as seen through the half-silvered mirror.
An imaging device comprised of:
- an image capture device for capturing an image of the internal structure of a target object;
- a display for displaying a captured image from the image capture device;
- a partially reflective surface oriented to reflect the captured image to an operator of the imaging device, such that the reflected captured image is merged with a direct view of the target object independent of the viewing location of the operator;
- and
- a directional light source oriented such that light from the source is reflected off of the half-silvered mirror and up to operator.
An imaging device comprised of:
- an image capture device for capturing an image of the internal structure of a target object;
- a display for displaying a captured image from the image capture device;
- a partially reflective surface oriented parallel to the plane of the captured image and the plane of the display;
- and
- a plurality of directional light sources attached co-with the long axis of a surgical tool and oriented such that light from the source is reflected off of the half-silvered mirror and onto the display.
An imaging device comprised of:
- an image capture device for capturing an image of the internal structure of a target object;
- a display for displaying a captured image from the image capture device;
- and
- a partially reflective surface oriented to reflect the captured image to an operator of the imaging device, such that the reflected captured image is merged with a direct view of the target object independent of the viewing location of the operator, wherein said partially reflective surface is disposed between two equal thicknesses of a transparent material with equivalent refractive properties.
An imaging device comprised of:
- an image capture device for capturing an image of the internal structure of a target object;
- a holographic optical element;
- a directional light source;
- a means for transmitting light from the light source to the holographic optical element, such that the captured image is merged with a direct view of the target object independent of the viewing location of the operator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.