3-D ultrasound recording device
AssigneeSynthes USA, LLC
InventorsNiklaus Emmenegger, Olaf Engfer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention is related to a device for recording three-dimensional ultrasound images. The device includes an ultrasound head which can be freely moved by hand, an ultrasound recording apparatus, an image processing system, and a position detection system. The position detection system has an analyzing unit and at least two sensors for detecting electromagnetic waves so that the position and orientation of the ultrasound head and, thus, the position and orientation of the ultrasound section images in space can be determined.
Claims19
An ultrasound imaging system for creating a three-dimensional ultrasound image of a patient body comprising:
- an ultrasound scanning head for acquiring a plurality of ultrasound images, the ultrasound images having a known orientation with respect to the ultrasound scanning head;
- an optical position determining device for determining a position and orientation of the ultrasound scanning head;
- and
- an image processor for relating the plurality of ultrasound images to one another to create the three-dimensional ultrasound image of the body.
An ultrasound imaging system for creating a three-dimensional ultrasound image of a patient body comprising:
- an optically trackable ultrasound scanning head for acquiring ultrasound images having a known position and orientation relative to the patient body;
- and
- an image processor for relating the ultrasound images to one another to create the three-dimensional ultrasound image of the body.
An ultrasound imaging system for creating a three-dimensional ultrasound image representative of an object comprising:
- an ultrasound scanning head for acquiring ultrasound images of the object, the ultrasound scanning head having a plurality of light emitters;
- a position determining device having light sensitive elements configured to receive light emitted by the emitters to thereby determine a position and orientation of the ultrasound scanning head,
- an image processor for relating the ultrasound images to one another to create the three-dimensional ultrasound image of the object.
A method for preparing a three-dimensional ultrasound image of a patient body comprising:
- (a) moving an ultrasound head with respect to a patient body, the ultrasound head having a plurality of energy transmitters associated therewith;
- (b) acquiring a plurality of ultrasound images of the patient body by repeatedly:
- acquiring an ultrasound image of the patient body using the ultrasound head;
- receiving energy transmitted from the plurality of energy transmitters associated with the ultrasound head;
- determining, based upon energy received from the plurality of energy transmitters associated with the ultrasound head, a position and orientation of the ultrasound head;
- and
- determining, based on the position and orientation of the ultrasound head, at least an orientation of the ultrasound image;
- and
- (c) preparing a three-dimensional ultrasound image of the patient body using at least the plurality of ultrasound images acquired in the step of (b) acquiring.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.