US 5,891,034 AGranted

System for indicating the position of a surgical probe within a head on an image of the head

AssigneeSt. Louis University

InventorRichard D. Bucholz

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Abstract

A system for determining a position of a probe relative to an object such as a head of a body of a patient. The head includes a surface such as a forehead having a contour. Cross sectional images of the head are scanned and stored as a function of the forehead contour. If the forehead contour does not appear in the scan images, then the position of the forehead contour relative to the scan images is determined with an optical scanner and a ring. During surgery, the optical scanner also determines the position of the forehead relative to the ring. An array for receiving radiation emitted from the probe and from the ring generates signals indicating the position of the tip of the probe relative to the ring. A stereotactic imaging system generates and displays an image of the head corresponding to the measured position of the tip of the probe. The system may also display scan images from different scanning technologies which scan images correspond to the same position in the head.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A system for indicating a location in surgical space of a probe relative to a body part of a patient, comprising:

a base fixed in relation to the body part;
a memory storing primary scan images of the body part, said primary images including previously scanned images of the body that may be correlated to the base;
an imaging probe configured to scan the body part providing secondary scan images;
an array of sensors outside the patient;
a first set of emitters positioned on the imaging probe, said emitters in communication with the array;
a second set of emitters on the base in communication with the array;
a processor connected to the array,
(i) said processor determining the position of the first set of emitters relative to the array thereby determining the position of the imaging probe relative to the array,
(ii) said processor determining the position of the second set of emitters relative to the array thereby determining the position of the body part relative to the array,
(iii) said processor determining the position of the imaging probe relative to the body part based on the determined position (i) of the imaging probe relative to the array and based on the determined position (ii) of the body part relative to the array,
(iv) said processor translating the determined position of the imaging probe relative to the body part into a corresponding position in the primary images of the body part,
(v) said processor providing an image of the body part which corresponds to the translated position of the imaging probe in the primary images,
(vi) said processor translating the determined position of the imaging probe relative to the body part into a corresponding position in the secondary images of the body part, and
(vii) said processor providing an image of the body part which corresponds to the translated position of the imaging probe in the secondary images;
and a display responsive to the processor for displaying the images provided by the processor.

12 more elements

A system for indicating a location in surgical space of a probe relative to a body part of a patient, comprising:

reference points located in relation to a contour of the body part;
a memory storing primary images of the body part, said primary images including previously scanned images of the body and the reference points;
an array of sensors outside the patient;
a base for mounting on the body part in relation to the reference points;
a first set of emitters positioned on the base and in communication with the array;
an imaging probe configured to scan the contour reference points and the body part, providing secondary images;
a second set of emitters positioned on the imaging probe and in communication with the array;
and
a processor connected to the array,
(i) said processor determining the position of the second set of emitters on the imaging probe relative to the array thereby determining the position of the imaging probe relative to the array,
(ii) said processor determining the position of the first set of emitters relative to the array thereby determining the position of the body part relative to the array,
(iii) said processor determining the position of the imaging probe relative to the body part based on the determined position
(i) of the imaging probe relative to the array and based on the determined position (ii) of the body part relative to the array,
(iv) said processor translating the determined position of the imaging probe relative to the body part into a corresponding position in the primary images of the body part utilizing the reference points,
(v) said processor translating the determined position of the imaging probe relative to the body part into a corresponding position in the secondary images of the body part utilizing the reference points, and
(vi) said processor providing images of the body part which correspond to the translated position of the imaging probe in the primary and secondary images;
and
a display responsive to the processor for displaying the images of the body part.

15 more elements

A method for indicating the location of a probe relative to the body part of a patient comprising the steps of:

positioning an imaging probe relative to a body part of a patient, the body part having reference points in relation to the body part;
scanning the body part using the imaging probe providing scan images;
reading primary images of the body part from a memory, said images including previously scanned images of the body and the reference points;
emitting radiation, from first emitters positioned on the imaging probe and from second emitters positioned on a base, the base being mounted on the body part in relation to the reference points;
sensing radiation from the emitters using an array of sensors;
processing the sensed radiation using a processor connected to the array for performing the steps of,
(i) determining the position of first emitters on the imaging probe relative to the array of sensors thereby determining the position of the imaging probe relative to the array,
(ii) determining the position of the second emitters relative to the array thereby determining the position of the body part relative to the array,
(iii) determining the position of the imaging probe relative to the body part based on the determined position (i) of the imaging probe relative to the array and based on the determined position (ii) of the body part relative to the array,
(iv) translating, utilizing the reference points, the determined position of the imaging probe relative to the body part into a corresponding position in the primary images of the body part,
(v) translating, utilizing the reference points, the determined position of the imaging probe relative to the body part into a corresponding position in the scan images of the body part, and
(vi) displaying, on a display device, images of the body part which corresponds to the translated position of the imaging probe in the primary and scan images of the body part.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/477,561Filed 7 Jun 1995 · continuation
Priority: 19 Oct 1990
Granted: 6 Apr 1999
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification36 codes

A61B 5/0073
Using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence: by tomography, i.e. reconstruction of 3D images from 2D projections
A61B 5/0064
Arrangements for scanning: body surface scanning
A61B 5/055
Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves:…
A61B 5/061
Devices, other than using radiation, for detecting or locating foreign bodies ; Determining position of diagnostic devices within or on the body…:…

Family

Serial600,753Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 19 Oct 1990
Serial600,753Parent of this continuation · filed 19 Oct 1990
Serial858,980Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 15 May 1992
Serial909,097Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 2 Jul 1992
Serial53,076Parent of this continuation · filed 26 Apr 1993
US 5,383,454 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 5,891,034 AThis patent

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