Stereoscopic X-ray fluoroscopy system using radiofrequency fields
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsCharles L. Dumoulin, Robert D. Darrow
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
During an X-ray procedure, the position and orientation of an invasive device, such as a catheter are measured with radio frequency fields and displayed stereoscopically. Instantaneous three-dimensional positions of the invasive device are displayed by superposition of a graphic symbol on static X-ray images obtained at two different view angles. The X-ray images are obtained only when deemed necessary by the operator to minimize X-ray dose. A single X-ray source and detector may be implemented since it is not necessary to obtain the X-ray images simultaneously.
Claims19
A tracking and imaging system adapted for providing stereoscopic images to each of a viewer's eyes of a location of at least one invasive device within a subject, comprising:
- a) an invasive device;
- b) an electromagnetic (EM) field creation means adapted for creating an electromagnetic field of known geometry within the subject attached to the invasive device;
- c) a radiofrequency (RF) receiver means adapted for detecting the electromagnetic field at a plurality of M selected locations;
- d) a tracking means adapted for computing a position and an orientation of the EM field creation means at the M selected locations, responsive to the detected electromagnetic field;
- e) an imaging means adapted for acquiring at least two medical diagnostic images each at selected view angles, each of the view angles being selected to correspond to an angle of each of said viewer's eyes with respect to the invasive device so as to produce the stereoscopic images;
- f) superposition means adapted for superimposing a symbol at the computed position representing the EM field creation means on each of the two medical diagnostic images resulting in a pair of superimposed images;
- and
- g) stereoscopic display means adapted for displaying the pair of superimposed images to said viewer to produce a stereoscopic visualization of the invasive device allowing said viewer to obtain a three-dimensional view and to determine depth of the invasive device within said subject.
A tracking and imaging system adapted for providing stereoscopic images to each of a viewer's eyes of a location of at least one invasive device within a subject, comprising:
- a) an invasive device;
- b) an electromagnetic (EM) field creation means adapted for creating an electromagnetic field of known geometry within the subject;
- c) a radiofrequency (RF) receiver attached to the invasive device, adapted for detecting the electromagnetic field at a plurality of M selected locations;
- d) a tracking means adapted for computing position and orientation of the EM field creation means at the M selected locations, responsive to the detected electromagnetic field;
- e) an imaging means adapted for acquiring at least two medical diagnostic images each at selected view angles, each of the view angles being selected to correspond to an angle of each of said viewer's eyes with respect to the invasive device so as to produce the stereoscopic images;
- f) superposition means adapted for superimposing a symbol at the computed position representing the EM field creation means on each of the two medical diagnostic images resulting in a pair of superimposed images;
- and
- g) stereoscopic display means adapted for displaying the pair of superimposed images to said viewer to produce a stereoscopic visualization of the invasive device allowing said viewer to obtain a three-dimensional view and to determine of the invasive device within said subject.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.