System and method for location-merging of real-time tomographic slice images with human vision
AssigneeUniversity of Pittsburgh
InventorGeorge DeWitt Stetten
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device for combining tomographic images with human vision using a half-silvered mirror to merge the visual outer surface of an object (or a robotic mock effector) with a simultaneous reflection of a tomographic image from the interior of the object. The device maybe used with various types of image modalities including ultrasound, CT, and MRI. The image capture device and the display may or may not be fixed to the semi-transparent mirror. If not fixed, the imaging device may provide a compensation device that adjusts the reflection of the displayed ultrasound on the half-silvered mirror to account for any change in the image capture device orientation or location.
Claims19
An imaging device comprised of:
- an image capture device for capturing an image of the internal structure of a target object;
- a display for displaying a captured image from the image capture device;
- and
- a partially reflective surface oriented to reflect the captured image to an operator of the imaging device such that the reflected captured image is merged with a direct view of the target object independent of the viewing location of the operator.
A method for viewing a target object, comprising the steps of:
- capturing a tomographic image of the target object;
- displaying said tomographic image;
- reflecting said displayed tomographic image onto a half-silvered mirror such that an operator can directly view the target object through said half-silvered mirror merged with the tomographic image reflected onto the half-silvered mirror, wherein said merger is independent of operator viewing location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.