Guide system and a probe therefor
First Claim
1. A guide system for use by a user who performs an operation in a defined three-dimensional region, the system including a data processing apparatus for generating an image of the subject of the operation, a display for displaying the image to the user in co-registration with the subject, a probe having a longitudinal axis and having a position which is visible to the user, and a tracking unit for tracking the location of the probe by the system and transmitting that location to the data processing apparatus, the data processing apparatus being arranged to generate the image according to a line extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the probe, the line having an extension which is controlled according to the output of an extension control device controlled by the user, and and the data processing apparatus further being controlled to modify the image of the subject of the operation according to the controlled extension of the line.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A probe to be held by a surgeon who performs an operation within a defined region is proposed. The surgeon employs an image-based guide system having a head-mounted semi-transparent display for displaying computer-generated images of the patient overlying real images of the patient. The position of the probe is tracked by the system and is visible to the surgeon. The computer-generated image includes a line extending from the probe along its longitudinal axis. The surgeon can control the extension of the line, to signal to the system a distance into the patient. The images seen by the user are modified accordingly, to facilitate navigation or simulate an operation.
199 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A guide system for use by a user who performs an operation in a defined three-dimensional region, the system including a data processing apparatus for generating an image of the subject of the operation, a display for displaying the image to the user in co-registration with the subject, a probe having a longitudinal axis and having a position which is visible to the user, and a tracking unit for tracking the location of the probe by the system and transmitting that location to the data processing apparatus,
the data processing apparatus being arranged to generate the image according to a line extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the probe, the line having an extension which is controlled according to the output of an extension control device controlled by the user, and and the data processing apparatus further being controlled to modify the image of the subject of the operation according to the controlled extension of the line.
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6. A guide system for use by a user who performs an operation in a defined three-dimensional region, the system including:
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a data processing apparatus for generating an image of the subject of the operation in co-registration with the subject, a display for displaying the image to the user, a probe having a position which is visible to the user, and a tracking unit for tracking the location of the probe by the system and transmitting that location to the data processing apparatus, the data processing apparatus being arranged to modify the image to represent a change in the physical shape of the subject of the operation, the modification depending upon the tracked location of the probe. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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11. A method for use by a user who performs an operation in a defined three-dimensional region with guidance from an image guided system, for modifying the image displayed to the user by the image guided system, the system including a data processing apparatus for generating images of the subject of the operation in co-registration with the subject, a display for displaying the images to the user, a probe having a position which is visible to the user, and a tracking unit for tracking the location of the probe by the system and transmitting that location to the data processing apparatus, the method including:
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the user moving the probe to a selection region outside and surrounding the defined region, the data processing apparatus registering the position of the probe within the selection region, and thereupon generating within the image one or more virtual buttons, each of the buttons being associated with a corresponding instruction to the system, the user selecting one of the buttons, the selection including positioning of the probe in relation to the apparent position of that virtual button, and the data processing apparatus registering the selection, and modifying the computer-generated image based on the corresponding instruction. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 22, 23)
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14. A method for use by a user who performs an operation in a defined three-dimensional region with guidance from an image guided system, for modifying the image displayed to the user by the image guided system, the system including a data processing apparatus for generating images of the subject of the operation in co-registration with the subject, a display for displaying the images to the user, a probe having a longitudinal axis and a position which is visible to the user, and a tracking unit for tracking the location of the probe by the system and transmitting that location to the data processing apparatus, the method including:
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the data processing apparatus generating the image according to a line extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the probe, the user controlling the extension of the line having an extension using an extension control device, and the data processing apparatus modifying the image of the subject of the operation according to the controlled extension of the line. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for use by a user who performs an operation in a defined three-dimensional region with guidance from an image guided system, for modifying the image displayed to the user by the image guided system, the system including:
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a data processing apparatus for generating an image of the subject of the operation in co-registration with the subject, a display for displaying the image to the user, a probe having a position which is visible to the user, and a tracking unit for tracking the location of the probe by the system and transmitting that location to the data processing apparatus, the data processing apparatus modifying the image to represent a change in the physical shape of the subject of the operation, the modification depending upon the tracked location of the probe. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification