Virtual reality 3D visualization for surgical procedures

• US 20010041838A1
• Filed: 07/02/2001
• Published: 11/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IMPAC Medical Systems, Inc. (Elekta AB)
• Original Assignee: Computerized Medical Systems, Inc. (Elekta AB)
• Inventors: Burdette, Everette C., Kaplan, Irving D., Holupka, Edward J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,171,255 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/439
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00274 Prostate operation, e.g. prostatectomy, turp, bhp treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3411 with a plurality of holes, e.g. holes in matrix arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00547 Prostate
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/256 having a database of accessory information, e.g. including context sensitive help or scientific articles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/365 augmented reality, i.e. correlating a live optical image with another image
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/367 creating a 3D dataset from 2D images using position information
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3782 transmitter or receiver in catheter or minimal invasive instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/10 Computer-aided planning, simulation or modelling of surgical operations
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/20 Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/08 Detecting organic movements or changes, e.g. tumours, cysts, swellings A61B8/02 - A61B8/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/42 Details of probe positioning or probe attachment to the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4209 by using holders, e.g. positioning frames
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4218 characterised by articulated arms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/5238 for combining image data of patient, e.g. merging several images from different acquisition modes into one image for image registration algorithms G06T7/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/36 Image-producing devices or illumination devices not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/37 Surgical systems with images on a monitor during operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0069 : Devices for implanting pellets, e.g. markers or solid medicaments for introducing of radioactive sources for interstitial radiation therapy, i.e. brachytherapy A61N5/1027
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1011 : Apparatus for permanent insertion of sources
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1012 : Templates or grids for guiding the introduction of sources
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1001 : using radiation sources introduced into or applied onto the body; brachytherapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1007 : Arrangements or means for the introduction of sources into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1027 : Interstitial radiation therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/103 : Treatment planning systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1048 : Monitoring, verifying, controlling systems and methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1049 : for verifying the position of the patient with respect to the radiation beam

Abstract

A method and apparatus for three-dimensional imaging and treatment of a patient'"'"'s body. The method and apparatus utilize a system for developing a therapy plan for treatment of an organ of the patient, a device for generating ultrasound image data from a treatment region and a device for providing a translucent volume image of a portion of a patient'"'"'s body and a separate translucent image of the patient organ and a three dimensional viewing device to superimpose a translucent article image to enable viewing of the article image simultaneously with the patient organ and a portion of the patient'"'"'s body.

Claims

1. An apparatus for three-dimensional imaging and treatment of the body of a patient, comprising:

means for developing a therapy plan for treatment of an organ of the patient;

means for providing image data from a treatment region of the patient'"'"'s body;

means for providing a translucent volume image of a portion of a patient'"'"'s body and a separate translucent image of the organ of the patient; and

means for illustrating via a translucent therapeutic device image for placement in conjunction with the organ of the patient, thereby enabling three dimensional viewing of said device and simultaneously the organ of the patient and the portion of the patient'"'"'s body.

2. The apparatus as defined in

claim 1

wherein said means for providing an image of the organ in a portion of the patient'"'"'s body comprises an ultrasound probe.

3. The apparatus as defined in

claim 2

wherein said ultrasound probe operates to provide a plurality of two dimensional images, thereby defining a three dimensional volume of the patient.

4. The apparatus as defined in

claim 1

wherein said means for treatment comprises a therapeutic device inserted into the organ of the patient with the device being used for delivering treatment or surgery, including at least one of radiation therapy, cryo ablation, thermal ablation and surgical resection.

5. The apparatus as defined in

claim 1

wherein said means for developing a radiation therapy comprises a computer executing a program for planning optimum treatment therapy for treatment of the organ of the patient within a portion of the patient'"'"'s body.

6. The apparatus as defined in

claim 5

wherein the computer further executes a program for defining boundaries of the portion of the patient to be imaged.

7. The apparatus as defined in

claim 5

wherein one or more radioactive seeds are disposed in at least one of a catheter and a needle and the computer calculates an optimum location for said radioactive seeds.

8. The apparatus as defined in

claim 7

wherein said radioactive seed can be positioned at a selected location by said at least one needle and catheter.

9. The apparatus as defined in

claim 7

wherein said radioactive seeds can have a selectable radiation strength.

10. The apparatus as defined in

claim 1

wherein said device comprises a therapy apparatus.

11. The apparatus as defined in

claim 10

wherein said device comprises a catheter containing repositioned radioactive seeds.

12. The apparatus as defined in

claim 10

wherein said device comprises a surgical tool.

13. The apparatus as defined in

claim 1

further including a virtual realty system for use by a clinician for observing real time treatment of the patient.

14. The apparatus as defined in

claim 13

wherein said virtual realty system operates in real time and a clinician using said system can physically move around the patient and view three dimensional the portion of the patient.

15. A method of performing real time three dimensional imaging and medical therapy on a patient, comprising the steps of:

generating a three dimensional translucent image of a portion of a patient;

generating a three dimensional translucent image of an organ of the patient within the image of a portion of a patient with a different translucent image appearance than the image of a portion of a patient; and

displaying the image in a virtual realty device for real time viewing by a clinician providing therapy to the patient.

16. The method as defined in

claim 15

further including the step of positioning a therapeutic device in a selected location of the portion of the patient, thereby carrying out the medical therapy on the patient.

17. The method as defined in

claim 15

further including the step of developing a radiation therapy plan for treatment of the patient (while performing real time imaging of the portion of the patient, and the organ of the patient.)

18. The method of

claim 15

wherein said images are generated from static 2D image data.

19. The method of

claim 15

wherein said images are generated from real-time 2D image data.