Method and apparatus for obtaining and displaying computed tomography images using a fluoroscopy imaging system
First Claim
1. A medical imaging system, comprising:
- a C-arm unit having an x-ray source for generating x-rays and a receptor for obtaining image exposures from received x-rays, the C-arm moving the x-ray source and receptor along an image acquisition path between at least first and second exposure positions;
an acquisition module for collecting a series of image exposures from the receptor including at least first and second image exposures obtained while said and receptor is located at said first and second exposure positions, respectively;
a position detector for monitoring the position of said receptor and the position of a patient and producing position data;
an image processor for constructing a three dimensional (3D) volumetric data set based on said series of image exposures and position data from multiple said position detector; and
a display displaying images based on said three dimensional volumetric data set.
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Abstract
A medical imaging system is provided for diagnostic and interventional procedures. The system includes a C-arm having an x-ray source and a receptor for obtaining fluoroscopic images of a patient. The C-arm is moved through an image acquisition path (A, B), along which at least first and second images are obtained. An acquisition module obtains multiple 2-D fluoroscopic images at desired positions along the image acquisition path and an image processor constructs a 3-D volume of object data based on the 2-D fluoroscopic images. Patient information is displayed based upon the 3-D volume of patient information. A position tracking system is included to track the position of the receptor, patient and (if included) a surgical instrument. The position information is used to control the time at which exposures are obtained and (if included) to superimpose instrument graphical information on a display with patient information.
140 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A medical imaging system, comprising:
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a C-arm unit having an x-ray source for generating x-rays and a receptor for obtaining image exposures from received x-rays, the C-arm moving the x-ray source and receptor along an image acquisition path between at least first and second exposure positions;
an acquisition module for collecting a series of image exposures from the receptor including at least first and second image exposures obtained while said and receptor is located at said first and second exposure positions, respectively;
a position detector for monitoring the position of said receptor and the position of a patient and producing position data;
an image processor for constructing a three dimensional (3D) volumetric data set based on said series of image exposures and position data from multiple said position detector; and
a display displaying images based on said three dimensional volumetric data set. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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18. A method for constructing a three-dimensional (3D) volumetric data set from image exposures of a patient obtained by a C-arm fluoroscopic apparatus, the method comprising:
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moving a C-arm unit along an image acquisition path relative to a patient;
continuously electronically monitoring a position of the C-arm unit and a position of the patient;
obtaining a series of image exposures of the patient as the C-arm unit is moved along said image acquisition path when the C-arm unit is positioned at a predetermined exposure positions with respect to the patient position; and
constructing a 3D volumetric data set from said series of image exposures.
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28. A method for using a digital fluoroscopic system to form a patient data set and generate patient view slices from the patient data set, the method comprising:
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moving an x-ray detector through a range of motion between starting and ending positions relative to a patient;
tracking a position of the detector relative to the patient;
triggering a series of exposures by the detector based on a position of the detector with respect to the patient;
storing each image exposure with position tracking data identifying the position of the detector within a reference coordinate system; and
generating a plurality of patient view slices from the patient data set.
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Specification