Imaging device and method

A method for obtaining and displaying an image of an object being examined having an exterior surface and an interior, the method comprising the following steps:

• obtaining a real time two dimensional lead image of the exterior surface of the object being examined substantially along a user's line of sight to the exterior surface;
• referencing the lead image to a three dimensional follow image library to identify a follow image line of view corresponding to the line of sight, the follow image library including at least one follow image of the interior of the object;
• transforming a follow image from the follow image library to correspond to the real time lead image;
• and
• displaying the transformed follow image in the user's line of sight, the referencing, transforming and displaying steps being performed substantially in real time after the step of obtaining the real time lead image.

An imaging apparatus comprising:

• a three dimensional follow image library;
• a two dimensional lead imager for obtaining lead images along a user's line of sight;
• a display for displaying images in the user's line of sight;
• and
• processing means for interreferencing in real time lead images from the lead imager of an exterior surface of an object being examined along the user's line of sight with a follow image from the follow image library of an interior of the object being examined and for displaying the follow image on the display in the user's line of sight.

A method for obtaining and displaying an image of a first object being examined having an exterior surface and an interior, the method comprising the steps of:

• obtaining a follow image of the first object being examined via a three dimensional imaging modality;
• obtaining a real time lead image of the exterior surface of the first object via a two dimensional imaging modality substantially along a user's line of sight to the exterior surface;
• referencing the lead image to the follow image to identify a follow image line of view according to the user's line of sight;
• transforming the follow image to correspond to the scale, rotation or position indicated by the lead image;
• and
• displaying the transformed follow image in the user's line of sight, the referencing, transforming, and displaying steps being performed substantially in real time after the step of obtaining the lead image.

A method for obtaining and displaying an image of a first and second object, the first object being examined and the second object being partially within the interior of the first object, the method comprising the steps of:

• obtaining a follow image of the first object being examined via a three dimensional imaging modality;
• obtaining a real time lead image of the exterior surface of the first and second objects via a two dimensional imaging modality substantially along a user's line of sight to the exterior surfaces;
• referencing the lead image to the follow image of the first object to identify a follow image line of view according to the user's line of sight;
• transforming the follow image of the first object to correspond to the scale, rotation or position indicated by the lead image;
• modifying the follow image of the first object to include a representation of the second object that is partially within the interior of the first object according to the scale, rotation or position of the second object in the lead image;
• and
• displaying the follow image in the user's line of sight, the referencing, transforming, and modifying being performed substantially in real time after the step of obtaining the lead image.

A method for obtaining and displaying an image of a first and second object, the first object being examined and the second object being partially within the interior of the first object, the method comprising the steps of:

• obtaining a follow image of the first object being examined via a three dimensional imaging modality;
• obtaining an image of the second object via a two dimensional imaging modality from a user's point of view;
• transforming the follow image of the first object to the scale, rotation or position of the first object from the user's point of view;
• modifying the follow image of the first object to include a representation of the second object that is partially within the interior of the first object according to the scale, rotation or position of the second object from the user's point of view;
• and
• displaying the follow image in the user's point of view, the transforming and modifying being performed substantially in real time after the step of obtaining the image of the second object.