Methods and apparatus for correlating ultrasonic image data and radiographic image data
AssigneeNeoVision Corporation
InventorsThomas W. Getzinger, Ascher Shmulewitz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus and methods are provided for correlating radiologic and ultrasonic images of biological tissue. An X-ray image and a plurality of corresponding ultrasound images are generated while the biological tissue remains immobilized. X-ray opaque indexing points provide lateral registration of the X-ray film with the ultrasound apparatus. The fan-out of X-ray beams penetrating the tissue from a point X-ray source is determined and used to correlate the X-ray image data to the ultrasonic image data. Apparatus and methods are also provided for determining the location of the X-ray source relative to the indexing points.
Claims18
A method for correlating ultrasonic image data and X-ray image data of a biological tissue, the ultrasonic image data and X-ray image data obtained in successive steps while the biological tissue remains immobilized, the X-ray image data including a plurality of X-ray data points and the ultrasonic image data including a plurality of ultrasonic data points, the method comprising steps of:
- selecting an X-ray data point from the X-ray image data;
- determining a trajectory of an X-ray beam corresponding to the selected X-ray data point;
- and
- selecting, based on the trajectory of the X-ray beam, a corresponding ultrasonic data point.
A method of correlating ultrasonic image data and X-ray image data of a biological tissue, the X-ray image data obtained using an X-ray source exhibiting point source behavior, the method comprising the steps of:
- immobilizing the biological tissue;
- obtaining X-ray image data of the biological tissue;
- obtaining ultrasonic image data of the biological tissue;
- correlating the X-ray image data to the ultrasonic image data by resampling the ultrasonic image data to account for the point source behavior of the X-ray source.
Apparatus for obtaining correlated ultrasonic images and X-ray images of a biological tissue, the apparatus comprising:
- means for immobilizing the biological tissue;
- means for obtaining an ultrasonic image of the biological tissue, the ultrasonic image comprising a plurality of ultrasonic data points;
- means for obtaining an X-ray image of the biological tissue using an X-ray source;
- computing means for correlating a point in the X-ray image to a plurality of ultrasonic data points based on a computed trajectory for an X-ray beam exposing the point in the X-ray image, the computed trajectory for the X-ray beam based on a predetermined model of the X-ray source, the computing means generating a composite ultrasonic image from the correlated ultrasonic data points;
- and
- means for displaying the X-ray image and composite ultrasonic image.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.