US 5,493,595 AGranted

Stereoscopically displayed three dimensional medical imaging

AssigneeSchoolman Scientific Corporation

InventorArnold Schoolman

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Abstract

A stereoscopically displayed three dimensional medical imaging system derives image data from a tomographic imaging apparatus and reconstructs the image data into a three dimensional model and displays right and left stereoscopic three dimensional image components of the model on corresponding right and left video display devices of a stereoscopic viewing unit. The system includes a system computer interfaced to the imaging apparatus and a pair of image channels, each including a three dimensional display processor, and a video display device. The three dimensional display processors receive polygon image data, reconstruct it into a three dimensional form, and select image data representing a three dimensional view from a selected perspective. The system computer generates the polygon image data and controls the display processors to present mutually angularly displaced views of the same three dimensional image to form the stereoscopic image components.

Claims36

Dependent claims

A method of three dimensionally imaging and stereoscopically displaying images of anatomical structures within an organism comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an energy having a selected parameter;
(b) propagating said energy within an organism having anatomical structures therein such that said energy interacts with said anatomical structures;
(c) receiving said energy after said interaction with said anatomical structures;
(d) measuring changes in said selected parameter of said energy as a result of interaction with said anatomical structures;
(e) converting said changes to image data representing images of said anatomical structures;
(f) performing said propagating, receiving, measuring, and converting steps in such a manner as to obtain said image data in a form of a plurality of closely spaced and sequential two dimensional arrays of spatially related image data points having values related to said change in said selected parameter of said energy, said arrays forming cross sectional images of a segment of said organism;
(g) assembling said image data in such a manner as to form a three dimensional model;
(h) transforming said three dimensional model into independent, angularly displaced right and left three dimensional video signals representing right and left eye three dimensional stereoscopic components of said three dimensional model from a first perspective, said transforming step including the steps of creating a three dimensional view from said first perspective of said three dimensional image data, said first perspective representing one of said right or left eye stereoscopic components and rotating said three dimensional image data from said first perspective to a second perspective and creating a second three dimensional view from said second perspective, said second perspective representing the other of said left and right eye stereoscopic components;
(i) providing a stereoscopic display unit including separate, independent right and left video displays;
(j) displaying said right three dimensional model stereoscopic image component of a three dimensional image of said three dimensional model on said right video display;
and
(k) displaying said angularly displaced left three dimensional model stereoscopic image component of said three dimensional image of said three dimensional model on said left video display.

9 more elements

An apparatus for stereoscopically imaging anatomical structures comprising:

(a) imaging means deriving image data representing changes in a selected parameter resulting from interaction of an energy with anatomical structures of a segment of an organism upon the propagation of said energy within said organism;
(b) image data storage means interfaced with said imaging means and storing said image data;
(c) computer means interfaced with said image data storage means for receiving said image data, assembling said image data in such a manner as to form a three dimensional model of said segment of said organism, generating independent right and left eye angularly displaced three dimensional stereoscopic image data representing respective right and left stereoscopic component images of said three dimensional model by rotating said three dimensional model to yield respective right and left eye perspective components from a selected perspective view of said three dimensional model;
and
(d) stereoscopic display means interfaced with said computer means and including separate, independent right and left video displays, said display means receiving said right and left three dimensional model stereoscopic image data and transforming same into right and left video signals which are applied respectively to said right and left video displays to display said right and left stereoscopic component images respectively thereon.

2 more elements

An apparatus for stereoscopically imaging anatomical structures comprising:

(a) imaging means deriving image data representing changes in a selected parameter resulting from interaction of an energy with anatomical structures of a segment of an organism upon the propagation of said energy within said organism, said image data being in a form of a plurality of closely spaced and sequential two dimensional arrays of spatially related image data points having values related to said changes in said selected parameter of said energy, said arrays forming cross sectional images of a segment of said organism;
(b) image data storage means interfaced with said imaging means and storing said image data;
(c) computer means interfaced with said image data storage means for receiving said image data, assembling said image data in such a manner as to form a three dimensional model of said segment of the organism and generating independent right and left eye angularly displaced three dimensional stereoscopic image data representing respective right and left three dimensional stereoscopic component images of said anatomical structures by rotating said three dimensional model to yield respective right and left eye perspective components from a selected perspective view of said three dimensional model;
(d) stereoscopic display means interfaced with said computer means and including separate, independent right and left video displays, said display means receiving said right and left stereoscopic image data and transforming same into right and left video signals which which represent said right and left stereoscopic component images, respectively;
(e) a right three dimensional model stereoscopic image component of a three dimensional image of said three dimensional model being displayed on said right video display;
and
(f) an angularly displaced left three dimensional model stereoscopic image component of said three dimensional image of said three dimensional model being displayed on said left video display.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/253,424Filed 2 Jun 1994 · continuation
Priority: 24 Feb 1982
Granted: 20 Feb 1996
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification14 codes

A61B 6/462
Displaying means of special interest: characterised by constructional features of the display
H04N 13/158
Processing image signals: switching image signals
H04N 13/194
Processing, recording or transmission of stereoscopic or multi-view image signals: transmission of image signals
H04N 13/239
Using stereoscopic image cameras: using two two-dimensional [2D] image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular…

Family

Serial351,917Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 24 Feb 1982
Serial616,385Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 1 Jun 1984
Serial671,436Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 14 Nov 1984
Serial935,066Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 21 Nov 1986
Serial179,059Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 8 Apr 1988
Serial229,472Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 8 Aug 1988
Serial615,218Parent of this continuation · filed 19 Nov 1990
Serial91,461Parent of this continuation · filed 14 Jul 1993
US 4,737,972 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 4,559,555 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 5,493,595 AThis patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.