Image-based global registration system and method applicable to bronchoscopy guidance
First Claim
1. A global registration system useful in bronchoscopic guidance and other applications, comprising:
- a memory storing virtual bronchoscopy (VB) renderings of a 3D airway tree, the renderings including VB views and branch positions within the airway tree;
a computer operative to search and analyze the VB renderings to identify the VB view and branch position that most closely matches a real bronchoscopic (RB) view from a bronchoscope of an unknown or arbitrary location along an unknown or arbitrary airway branch of the airway tree; and
wherein the computer is operative to perform a search across at least a plurality of airway branches in the airway tree and wherein the search comprises;
an intra-branch search within each airway branch of the plurality of airway branches of the airway tree to identify an optimal VB view along each airway branch of the plurality of airway branches of the airway tree that matches the received RB view, wherein the intra-branch search within each branch scans through a plurality of pre-defined view positions in that branch; and
an inter-branch search subsequent to the intra-branch searches in which at least one of the optimal VB views from all of the intra-branch searches that most closely matches the RB view is identified and used for determining a 3D position of the bronchoscope; and
a display presenting the 3D position of a bronchoscope within the airway tree based upon the VB view and branch position identified in the VB view.
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Abstract
A global registration system and method identifies bronchoscope position without the need for significant bronchoscope maneuvers, technician intervention, or electromagnetic sensors. Virtual bronchoscopy (VB) renderings of a 3D airway tree are obtained including VB views of branch positions within the airway tree. At least one real bronchoscopic (RB) video frame is received from a bronchoscope inserted into the airway tree. An algorithm according to the invention is executed on a computer to identify the several most likely branch positions having a VB view closest to the received RB view, and the 3D position of the bronchoscope within the airway tree is determined in accordance with the branch position identified in the VB view. The preferred embodiment involves a fast local registration search over all the branches in a global airway-bifurcation search space, with the weighted normalized sum of squares distance metric used for finding the best match.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A global registration system useful in bronchoscopic guidance and other applications, comprising:
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a memory storing virtual bronchoscopy (VB) renderings of a 3D airway tree, the renderings including VB views and branch positions within the airway tree; a computer operative to search and analyze the VB renderings to identify the VB view and branch position that most closely matches a real bronchoscopic (RB) view from a bronchoscope of an unknown or arbitrary location along an unknown or arbitrary airway branch of the airway tree; and
wherein the computer is operative to perform a search across at least a plurality of airway branches in the airway tree and wherein the search comprises;an intra-branch search within each airway branch of the plurality of airway branches of the airway tree to identify an optimal VB view along each airway branch of the plurality of airway branches of the airway tree that matches the received RB view, wherein the intra-branch search within each branch scans through a plurality of pre-defined view positions in that branch; and an inter-branch search subsequent to the intra-branch searches in which at least one of the optimal VB views from all of the intra-branch searches that most closely matches the RB view is identified and used for determining a 3D position of the bronchoscope; and a display presenting the 3D position of a bronchoscope within the airway tree based upon the VB view and branch position identified in the VB view. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification