Ultrasonic guidance of target structures for medical procedures
OwnerFrank M. Bova, William A. Friedman +2inventors
InventorsFrank M. Bova, William A. Friedman, Sanford L. Meeks, John M. Buatti
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system comprising a combination of an ultrasound probe and both passive and active infrared tracking systems. The combined system enables a real time image display of the entire region of interest without probe movement; real time tracking of the target region permitting physiological gating; and probe placement during image acquisition so that all external displacements introduced by the probe can be accounted for at the time of treatment planning. This system may be used in the surgical arena for image guidance during radiation therapy and surgery.
Claims30
A method comprising the steps of:
- imaging at least a portion of a patient with a first imaging technique to provide a first set of imaging data, the first set of imaging data having a fixed frame of reference;
- imaging at least a part of the patient with a second imaging technique, the part of the patient including at least some of the portion of the patient, the second imaging technique using an ultrasound device to provide a second set of imaging data, the second set of imaging data being 3D data relative to the ultrasound device and not being fixed relative to the fixed frame of reference, the ultrasound device being operable to provide the 3D data without relative movement between the ultrasound device and the patient;
- determining position data for the ultrasound device;
- using the determined position data and the second set of imaging data to provide a converted set of imaging data corresponding to the second set of imaging data being referenced to the fixed frame of reference;
- and
- combining the converted set of image data with at least some of the first set of imaging data to provide a composite set of imaging data.
A method comprising the steps of:
- securing a plurality of patient position markers fixed relative to a patient, the patient position markers defining a fixed frame of reference;
- imaging at least a part of the patient using an ultrasound device to provide an ultrasound set of imaging data, the ultrasound set of imaging data being 3D data relative to the ultrasound device and not being fixed relative to the fixed frame of reference, the ultrasound device being operable to provide the 3D data without relative movement between the ultrasound device and the patient;
- determining position data for the ultrasound device;
- using the determined position data and the ultrasound set of imaging data to provide a converted set of imaging data corresponding to the ultrasound set of imaging data being referenced to the fixed frame of reference.
A system for carrying out medical procedures comprising:
- a plurality of patient position markers operable for fixing relative to a patient to define a fixed frame of reference;
- an ultrasound device operable to provide an ultrasound set of imaging data, the ultrasound set of imaging data being 3D data relative to the ultrasound device and not being fixed relative to the fixed frame of reference, the ultrasound device being operable to produce 3D data without relative movement between the ultrasound device and the patient;
- a position determiner to determine position data for the ultrasound device relative to the fixed frame of reference;
- and
- a processor operable to use the determined position data and the ultrasound set of imaging data to provide a converted set of imaging data corresponding to the ultrasound set of imaging data being referenced to the fixed frame of reference.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.