Method and apparatus for image guided position tracking during percutaneous procedures

• US 20070055142A1
• Filed: 03/14/2003
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Webler, William
• Application Number:
  US10/390,065
• Publication Number:
  US 20070055142A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/425
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/06 Devices, other than using radiation, for detecting or locating foreign bodies for removing same A61B17/50 ; determining position of probes within or on the body of the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/061 Determining position of a probe within the body employing means separate from the probe, e.g. sensing internal probe position employing impedance electrodes on the surface of the body A61B1/00158 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/062 using magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7285 for synchronising or triggering a physiological measurement or image acquisition with a physiological event or waveform, e.g. an ECG signal A61B6/5205, A61B6/541, A61B8/5207, A61B8/543 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/503 for diagnosis of the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/507 for determination of haemodynamic parameters, e.g. perfusion CT
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/541 involving acquisition triggered by a physiological signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/543 involving acquisition triggered by a physiological signal

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for guiding the positioning of a device with a position tracking sensor and pre-recorded images. At least one embodiment of the present invention uses pre-recorded time-dependent images (e.g., anatomical images or diagnostic images) to guide the positioning of a medical instrument (e.g., catheter tips) using real time position tracking during diagnostic and/or therapeutic operations with pre-recorded images. In one embodiment of the present invention, predetermined spatial relations are used to determine the position of a tracked medical instrument relative to the pre-recorded images.

Claims

1. A method of displaying images of a heart, the method comprising:

storing a time-related sequence of cardiac images of a heart, the time-related sequence of cardiac images associated with at least one cardiac data parameter;

determining a position of a portion of a medical instrument relative to the heart;

determining at least one measurement of the at least one cardiac data parameter;

selecting at least one cardiac image from the time-related sequence of cardiac images according to the at least one measurement of the at least one cardiac data parameter; and

overlaying a representation of the position onto the at least one cardiac image to indicate the portion relative to the heart.

2. A method as in claim 1 wherein the at least one cardiac image is displayed to show the portion of the medical instrument in relation to the heart in real time;

and, wherein the at least one measurement is determined substantially contemporaneously with the determining of the position.

3. A method as in claim 1 wherein the time-related sequence of cardiac images is correlated with measurements of the at least one cardiac data parameter;

wherein each of the time-related sequence of cardiac images comprises a pixel image; and

, wherein the time-related sequence of cardiac images are generated from an imaging system based on at least one of;

a) Magnetic Resonance Imaging;

b) X-ray imaging; and

c) ultrasound imaging.

4. A method as in claim 1 wherein the at least one cardiac data parameter comprises at least one of:

a) Electrocardiogram (ECG);

b) heart sound;

c) blood pressure;

d) ventricular volume;

e) pulse wave;

f) heart motion; and

g) cardiac output.

5. A method as in claim 4 wherein said selecting is further based on a hemodynamic state determined substantially contemporaneously with the determining of the position;

and, the hemodynamic state comprises at least one of;

a) blood pressure;

b) heart rate;

c) hydration state;

d) blood volume;

e) sedation state;

f) ventilation state; and

g) respiration state;

wherein the position is determined using a position determination system based on one of;

a) magnetic field;

b) ultrasound;

c) radio frequency signal; and

d) light.

6. A method as in claim 1 further comprising:

recording the position relative to the heart with annotation information; and

displaying a prior recorded position relative to the heart with annotation associated with the prior recorded position;

wherein the prior recorded position is overlaid onto the at least one cardiac image with the annotation associated with the prior recorded position.

7. A method as in claim 6 wherein the annotation information comprises at least one of:

a) an icon

b) a symbol;

c) a color coding;

d) entered writing;

e) a time;

f) data from a sensor;

g) data from a diagnostic device; and

h) data from a therapeutic device.

8. A method of displaying images to guide a medical operation, the method comprising:

determining a first state of an organ from at least one first measurement of at least one parameter; and

determining a first image from a plurality of images of the organ to display the organ in the first state, the plurality of images corresponding to the organ in a plurality of states.

9. A method as in claim 8 further comprising:

determining a first position of a portion of a medical instrument relative to the organ in the medical operation when the organ is in the first state.

10. A method as in claim 9 further comprising:

displaying the first image with a representation of the portion of the medical instrument overlaid on the first image according to the first position;

wherein the first image is displayed substantially in real time to show the portion of the medical instrument in relation with the organ.

11. A method as in claim 9 further comprising:

receiving data representing the at least one first measurement from at least one sensor; and

overlaying a representation of the portion of the medical instrument onto the first image to show the first position of the portion of the medical instrument in relation with the organ.

12. A method as in claim 9 wherein said determining the first position comprises:

receiving position information of the portion of the medical instrument from a position determination system when the organ is in the first state;

wherein the first position is determined from the position information from aligning both a first coordinate space of the position determination system and a second coordinate space of the plurality of images with respect to the organ;

wherein the first coordinate space and the second coordinate space are aligned with respect to the organ using a transformation to align the first coordinate space and the second coordinate space with respect to a reference object; and

wherein the reference object is a platform supporting a host of the organ; and

,

wherein the host has a fixed position relative to the platform both when the plurality of images are generated in an imaging system and when the position information is determined in the position determination system.

13. A method as in claim 8 further comprising:

determining a second state of the organ from at least one second measurement of at least one parameter; and

determining a second image from the plurality of images of the organ to display the organ in the second state;

wherein the first and second images are determined substantially in real time to show the organ in the first and second states;

wherein the plurality of images is obtained prior to the medical operation;

wherein the first and second images are displayed to guide the medical operation; and

wherein the first and second images are automatically determined according to the at least one parameter in real time during the medical operation.

14. A method of displaying images to guide a medical operation, the method comprising:

storing a plurality of images of an organ, the plurality of images associated with at least one parameter; and

automatically playing back the plurality of images in real time according to real time measurements of the at least one parameter.

15. A method as in claim 14 further comprising:

receiving position information of a portion of a medical instrument in real time during the medical operation;

overlaying a representation of the portion of the medical instrument on displayed ones of the plurality of images to illustrate a position of the portion of the medical instrument in relation with the organ according to the position information; and

determining a position of the portion of the medical instrument relative to the organ in a displayed one of the plurality of images from the position information;

wherein the position information is determined by a real time position tracking system based on one of;

a) magnetic field;

b) ultrasound;

c) radio frequency signal; and

d) light.

16. A method as in claim 14 wherein the plurality of images are obtained before said playing back;

wherein the plurality of images are obtained using a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system; and

, wherein the plurality of images are obtained using a Computer Tomography (CT) system.

17. A method to display an image for guiding a medical operation, the method comprising:

collecting an image of an organ of a person, the image being generated by an imaging system and in a coordinate system of the imaging system while the person is in a first position relative to a platform in the imaging system;

collecting first position information that represents a position of a portion of a medical instrument in a coordinate system of a position determination system, the first position information being generated by the position determination system while the person is in the first position relative to the platform in the position determination system after the person and the platform are transported from the imaging system to the position determination system;

determining a second position that is a position of the portion of the medical instrument relative to the organ depicted in the image and is derived from the first position information; and

overlaying a representation of the portion of the medical instrument onto the image of the organ according to the second position to display the position of the portion of the medical instrument relative to the organ.

18. A method as in claim 17 further comprising:

transporting the person with the platform from the imaging system to the position determination system while the person remains in the first position relative to the platform.

19. A method as in claim 17 wherein the second position is determined using predetermined data that relates the coordinate system of the position determination system and the coordinate system of the imaging system.

20. A method as in claim 19 wherein the predetermined data specifies a transformation to align a position of the platform, which is generated by the position determination system when the platform is in a third position that is in the position determination system, with a corresponding position of the platform on an image, which is generated by the imaging system when the platform is in a fourth position that is in the imaging system;

and, wherein the predetermined data is comprises data representing a position and orientation of the platform in the coordinate system of the position determination system when the platform is in the third position.

21. A method as in claim 20 wherein the predetermined data further comprises data representing a position and orientation of the platform in the coordinate system of the imaging system when the platform is in the fourth position.

22. A method as in claim 21 wherein the image of the organ is collected when the platform is in the fourth position;

and, wherein the first position information is collected when the platform is in the third position.

23. A method as in claim 21 further comprising:

receiving second position information, the second position information indicating a position of the platform relative to the third position when the first position information is collected.

24. A method as in claim 21 further comprising:

receiving third position information, the third position information indicates a position of the platform relative to the fourth position when the image of the organ is collected.

25. A method as in claim 19 wherein the predetermined data is determined before the image of the organ is generated;

and, wherein the predetermined data is determined without the person.

26. A method to determine a position of a portion of a medical instrument relative to an organ, the method comprising:

receiving data for aligning overlaying positions determined by a position determination system relative to a reference object with corresponding positions on images generated from an imaging system relative to the reference object, the reference object being at a first position in the imaging system when the images are generated, the reference object being at a second position in the position determination system when the positions are determined;

receiving position information of the portion of the medical instrument determined by the position determination system, the position information being determined when the reference object is in a third position relative to the organ in the position determination system;

determining a position of the portion of the medical instrument relative to the organ depicted in a first image from the position information and the data, the first image being generated by the imaging system when the reference object is in the third position relative to the organ in the imaging system.

27. A method as in claim 26 wherein the data comprises.

a) data representing a position of the reference object determined by the position determination system when the reference object is in the second position;

b) data representing an orientation of the reference object determined by the position determination system when the reference object is in the second position;

c) data representing a position of the reference object in an image generated from the imaging system when the reference object is in the first position; and

d) data representing an orientation of the reference object in an image generated from the imaging system when the reference object is in the first position.

28. A method as in claim 27 wherein the position of the portion of the medical instrument relative to the organ is determined using one of:

a) data indicating a position of the reference object relative to the second position when the position information is determined; and

b) data indicating a position of the reference object relative to the first position when the first image is generated.

29. A method as in claim 26 wherein the reference object is a platform for supporting a host of the organ;

and, wherein the organ is a heart.

30. A method as in claim 26 wherein the first image is selected from a plurality of images of the organ according to at least one measurement of at least one parameter related to the organ, the at least one measurement generated substantially contemporaneous with a time at which the position information is determined, the plurality of images associated with different measurements of the at least one parameter.

31. A machine readable medium containing executable computer program instructions which when executed by a data processing system cause said system to perform a method of displaying images of a heart, the method comprising:

storing a time-related sequence of cardiac images of a heart, the time-related sequence of cardiac images associated with at least one cardiac data parameter;

determining a position of a portion of a medical instrument relative to the heart;

determining at least one measurement of the at least one cardiac data parameter;

selecting at least one cardiac image from the time-related sequence of cardiac images according to the at least one measurement of the at least one cardiac data parameter; and

overlaying a representation of the position onto the at least one cardiac image to indicate the portion relative to the heart.

32. A medium as in claim 31 wherein the at least one cardiac image is displayed to show the portion of the medical instrument in relation to the heart in real time;

and, wherein the at least one measurement is determined substantially contemporaneously with the determining of the position.

33. A medium as in claim 31 wherein the time-related sequence of cardiac images is correlated with measurements of the at least one cardiac data parameter;

wherein each of the time-related sequence of cardiac images comprises a pixel image; and

, wherein the time-related sequence of cardiac images are generated from an imaging system based on at least one of;

a) Magnetic Resonance Imaging;

b) X-ray imaging; and

c) ultrasound imaging.

34. A medium as in claim 31 wherein the at least one cardiac data parameter comprises at least one of:

a) Electrocardiogram (ECG);

b) heart sound;

c) blood pressure;

d) ventricular volume;

e) pulse wave;

f) heart motion; and

g) cardiac output.

35. A medium as in claim 34 wherein said selecting is further based on a hemodynamic state determined substantially contemporaneously with the determining of the position;

and, wherein the hemodynamic state comprises at least one of;

a) blood pressure;

b) heart rate;

c) hydration state;

d) blood volume;

e) sedation state;

f) ventilation state; and

g) respiration state;

wherein the position is determined using a position determination system based on one of;

a) magnetic field;

b) ultrasound;

c) radio frequency signal; and

d) light.

36. A medium as in claim 31 wherein the method further comprises:

recording the position relative to the heart with annotation information; and

displaying a prior recorded position relative to the heart with annotation associated with the prior recorded position;

wherein the prior recorded position is overlaid onto the at least one cardiac image with the annotation associated with the prior recorded position.

37. A medium as in claim 36 wherein the annotation information comprises at least one of:

a) an icon

b) a symbol;

c) a color coding;

d) entered writing;

e) a time;

f) data from a sensor;

g) data from a diagnostic device; and

h) data from a therapeutic device.

38. A machine readable medium containing executable computer program instructions which when executed by a data processing system cause said system to perform a method of displaying images to guide a medical operation, the method comprising:

determining a first state of an organ from at least one first measurement of at least one parameter; and

determining a first image from a plurality of images of the organ to display the organ in the first state, the plurality of images corresponding to the organ in a plurality of states.

39. A medium as in claim 38 wherein the method further comprises:

determining a first position of a portion of a medical instrument relative to the organ in the medical operation when the organ is in the first state.

40. A medium as in claim 39 wherein the method further comprises:

displaying the first image with a representation of the portion of the medical instrument overlaid on the first image according to the first position;

wherein the first image is displayed substantially in real time to show the portion of the medical instrument in relation with the organ.

41. A medium as in claim 39 wherein the method further comprises:

receiving data representing the at least one first measurement from at least one sensor; and

overlaying a representation of the portion of the medical instrument onto the first image to show the first position of the portion of the medical instrument in relation with the organ.

42. A medium as in claim 39 wherein said determining the first position comprises:

receiving position information of the portion of the medical instrument from a position determination system when the organ is in the first state;

wherein the first position is determined from the position information from aligning both a first coordinate space of the position determination system and a second coordinate space of the plurality of images with respect to the organ;

wherein the first coordinate space and the second coordinate space are aligned with respect to the organ using a transformation to align the first coordinate space and the second coordinate space with respect to a reference object;

wherein the reference object is a platform supporting a host of the organ; and

,

wherein the host has a fixed position relative to the platform both when the plurality of images are generated in an imaging system and when the position information is determined in the position determination system.

43. A medium as in claim 38 wherein the method further comprises:

determining a second state of the organ from at least one second measurement of at least one parameter; and

determining a second image from the plurality of images of the organ to display the organ in the second state;

wherein the first and second images are determined substantially in real time to show the organ in the first and second states;

wherein the plurality of images is obtained prior to the medical operation;

wherein the first and second images are displayed to guide the medical operation; and

wherein the first and second images are automatically determined according to the at least one parameter in real time during the medical operation.

44. A machine readable medium containing executable computer program instructions which when executed by a data processing system cause said system to perform a method of displaying images to guide a medical operation, the method comprising:

storing a plurality of images of an organ, the plurality of images associated with at least one parameter; and

automatically playing back the plurality of images in real time according to real time measurements of the at least one parameter.

45. A medium as in claim 44 wherein the method further comprises:

receiving position information of a portion of a medical instrument in real time during the medical operation;

overlaying a representation of the portion of the medical instrument on displayed ones of the plurality of images to illustrate a position of the portion of the medical instrument in relation with the organ according to the position information; and

determining a position of the portion of the medical instrument relative to the organ in a displayed one of the plurality of images from the position information;

wherein the position information is determined by a real time position tracking system based on one of;

a) magnetic field;

b) ultrasound;

c) radio frequency signal; and

d) light.

46. A medium as in claim 44 wherein the plurality of images are obtained before said playing back;

wherein the plurality of images are obtained using a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system; and

, wherein the plurality of images are obtained using a Computer Tomography (CT) system.

47. A machine readable medium containing executable computer program instructions which when executed by a data processing system cause said system to perform a method to display an image for guiding a medical operation, the method comprising:

collecting an image of an organ of a person, the image being generated by an imaging system and in a coordinate system of the imaging system while the person is in a first position relative to a platform in the imaging system;

collecting first position information that represents a position of a portion of a medical instrument in a coordinate system of a position determination system, the first position information being generated by the position determination system while the person is in the first position relative to the platform in the position determination system after the person and the platform are transported from the imaging system to the position determination system;

determining a second position that is a position of the portion of the medical instrument relative to the organ depicted in the image and is derived from the first position information; and

overlaying a representation of the portion of the medical instrument onto the image of the organ according to the second position to display the position of the portion of the medical instrument relative to the organ.

48. A medium as in claim 47 wherein the second position is determined using predetermined data that relates the coordinate system of the position determination system and the coordinate system of the imaging system.

49. A medium as in claim 48 wherein the predetermined data specifies a transformation to align a position of the platform, which is generated by the position determination system when the platform is in a third position that is in the position determination system, with a corresponding position of the platform on an image, which is generated by the imaging system when the platform is in a fourth position that is in the imaging system;

the predetermined data is comprises data representing a position and orientation of the platform in the coordinate system of the position determination system when the platform is in the third position.

50. A medium as in claim 49 wherein the predetermined data further comprises data representing a position and orientation of the platform in the coordinate system of the imaging system when the platform is in the fourth position.

51. A medium as in claim 50 wherein the image of the organ is collected when the platform is in the fourth position;

and, wherein the first position information is collected when the platform is in the third position.

52. A medium as in claim 50 wherein the method further comprises:

receiving second position information, the second position information indicating a position of the platform relative to the third position when the first position information is collected.

53. A medium as in claim 50 wherein the method further comprises:

receiving third position information, the third position information indicates a position of the platform relative to the fourth position when the image of the organ is collected.

54. A medium as in claim 48 wherein the predetermined data is determined before the image of the organ is generated;

and, wherein the predetermined data is determined without the person.

55. A machine readable medium containing executable computer program instructions which when executed by a data processing system cause said system to perform a method to determine a position of a portion of a medical instrument relative to an organ, the method comprising:

receiving data for aligning overlaying positions determined by a position determination system relative to a reference object with corresponding positions on images generated from an imaging system relative to the reference object, the reference object being at a first position in the imaging system when the images are generated, the reference object being at a second position in the position determination system when the positions are determined;

receiving position information of the portion of the medical instrument determined by the position determination system, the position information being determined when the reference object is in a third position relative to the organ in the position determination system;

determining a position of the portion of the medical instrument relative to the organ depicted in a first image from the position information and the data, the first image being generated by the imaging system when the reference object is in the third position relative to the organ in the imaging system.

56. A medium as in claim 55 wherein the data comprises:

a) data representing a position of the reference object determined by the position determination system when the reference object is in the second position;

b) data representing an orientation of the reference object determined by the position determination system when the reference object is in the second position;

c) data representing a position of the reference object in an image generated from the imaging system when the reference object is in the first position; and

d) data representing an orientation of the reference object in an image generated from the imaging system when the reference object is in the first position.

57. A medium as in claim 56 wherein the position of the portion of the medical instrument relative to the organ is determined using one of:

a) data indicating a position of the reference object relative to the second position when the position information is determined; and

b) data indicating a position of the reference object relative to the first position when the first image is generated.

58. A medium as in claim 55 wherein the reference object is a platform for supporting a host of the organ;

and, wherein the organ is a heart.

59. A medium as in claim 55 wherein the first image is selected from a plurality of images of the organ according to at least one measurement of at least one parameter related to the organ, the at least one measurement generated substantially contemporaneous with a time at which the position information is determined, the plurality of images associated with different measurements of the at least one parameter.

60. A data processing system to display images of a heart, the data processing system comprising:

means for storing a time-related sequence of cardiac images of a heart, the time-related sequence of cardiac images associated with at least one cardiac data parameter;

means for determining a position of a portion of a medical instrument relative to the heart;

means for determining at least one measurement of the at least one cardiac data parameter;

means for selecting at least one cardiac image from the time-related sequence of cardiac images according to the at least one measurement of the at least one cardiac data parameter; and

means for overlaying a representation of the position onto the at least one cardiac image to indicate the portion relative to the heart.

61. A data processing system as in claim 60 wherein the at least one cardiac image is displayed to show the portion of the medical instrument in relation to the heart in real time;

and, wherein the at least one measurement is determined substantially contemporaneously with the determining of the position.

62. A data processing system as in claim 60 wherein the time-related sequence of cardiac images is correlated with measurements of the at least one cardiac data parameter;

wherein each of the time-related sequence of cardiac images comprises a pixel image; and

, wherein the time-related sequence of cardiac images are generated from an imaging system based on at least one of;

a) Magnetic Resonance Imaging;

b) X-ray imaging; and

c) ultrasound imaging.

63. A data processing system as in claim 60 wherein the at least one cardiac data parameter comprises at least one of:

a) Electrocardiogram (ECG);

b) heart sound;

c) blood pressure;

d) ventricular volume;

e) pulse wave;

f) heart motion; and

g) cardiac output.

64. A data processing system as in claim 63 wherein the at least one cardiac image is selected based on a hemodynamic state determined substantially contemporaneously with the determining of the position;

and, wherein the hemodynamic state comprises at least one of;

a) blood pressure;

b) heart rate;

c) hydration state;

d) blood volume;

e) sedation state;

f) ventilation state; and

g) respiration state;

wherein the position is determined using a position determination system based on one of;

a) magnetic field;

b) ultrasound;

c) radio frequency signal; and

d) light.

65. A data processing system as in claim 60 further comprising:

means for recording the position relative to the heart with annotation information; and

means for displaying a prior recorded position relative to the heart with annotation associated with the prior recorded position;

wherein the prior recorded position is overlaid onto the at least one cardiac image with the annotation associated with the prior recorded position.

66. A data processing system as in claim 65 wherein the annotation information comprises at least one of:

a) an icon

b) a symbol;

c) a color coding;

d) entered writing;

e) a time;

f) data from a sensor;

g) data from a diagnostic device; and

h) data from a therapeutic device.

67. A data processing system to display images to guide a medical operation, the data processing system comprising:

means for determining a first state of an organ from at least one first measurement of at least one parameter; and

means for determining a first image from a plurality of images of the organ to display the organ in the first state, the plurality of images corresponding to the organ in a plurality of states.

68. A data processing system as in claim 67 further comprising:

means for determining a first position of a portion of a medical instrument relative to the organ in the medical operation when the organ is in the first state.

69. A data processing system as in claim 68 further comprising:

means for displaying the first image with a representation of the portion of the medical instrument overlaid on the first image according to the first position;

wherein the first image is displayed substantially in real time to show the portion of the medical instrument in relation with the organ.

70. A data processing system as in claim 68 further comprising:

means for receiving data representing the at least one first measurement from at least one sensor; and

means for overlaying a representation of the portion of the medical instrument onto the first image to show the first position of the portion of the medical instrument in relation with the organ.

71. A data processing system as in claim 68 wherein said means for determining the first position comprises:

means for receiving position information of the portion of the medical instrument from a position determination system when the organ is in the first state;

wherein the first position is determined from the position information from aligning both a first coordinate space of the position determination system and a second coordinate space of the plurality of images with respect to the organ;

wherein the first coordinate space and the second coordinate space are aligned with respect to the organ using a transformation to align the first coordinate space and the second coordinate space with respect to a reference object; and

wherein the reference object is a platform supporting a host of the organ; and

,

wherein the host has a fixed position relative to the platform both when the plurality of images are generated in an imaging system and when the position information is determined in the position determination system.

72. A data processing system as in claim 67 further comprising:

means for determining a second state of the organ from at least one second measurement of at least one parameter; and

means for determining a second image from the plurality of images of the organ to display the organ in the second state;

wherein the first and second images are determined substantially in real time to show the organ in the first and second states;

wherein the plurality of images is obtained prior to the medical operation;

wherein the first and second images are displayed to guide the medical operation; and

wherein the first and second images are automatically determined according to the at least one parameter in real time during the medical operation.

73. A data processing system to display images to guide a medical operation, the data processing system comprising:

means for storing a plurality of images of an organ, the plurality of images associated with at least one parameter; and

means for automatically playing back the plurality of images in real time according to real time measurements of the at least one parameter.

74. A data processing system as in claim 73 further comprising:

means for receiving position information of a portion of a medical instrument in real time during the medical operation

means for overlaying a representation of the portion of the medical instrument on displayed ones of the plurality of images to illustrate a position of the portion of the medical instrument in relation with the organ according to the position information; and

means for determining a position of the portion of the medical instrument relative to the organ in a displayed one of the plurality of images from the position information;

wherein the position information is determined by a real time position tracking system based on one of;

a) magnetic field;

b) ultrasound;

c) radio frequency signal; and

d) light.

75. A data processing system as in claim 73 wherein the plurality of images are obtained before the plurality of images is played back in real time;

wherein the plurality of images are obtained using a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system; and

, wherein the plurality of images are obtained using a Computer Tomography (CT) system.

76. A data processing system to display an image for guiding a medical operation, the data processing system comprising:

means for collecting an image of an organ of a person, the image being generated by an imaging system and in a coordinate system of the imaging system while the person is in a first position relative to a platform in the imaging system;

means for collecting first position information that represents a position of a portion of a medical instrument in a coordinate system of a position determination system, the first position information being generated by the position determination system while the person is in the first position relative to the platform in the position determination system after the person and the platform are transported from the imaging system to the position determination system;

means for determining a second position that is a position of the portion of the medical instrument relative to the organ depicted in the image and is derived from the first position information; and

means for overlaying a representation of the portion of the medical instrument onto the image of the organ according to the second position to display the position of the portion of the medical instrument relative to the organ.

77. A data processing system as in claim 76 wherein the second position is determined using predetermined data that relates the coordinate system of the position determination system and the coordinate system of the imaging system.

78. A data processing system as in claim 77 wherein the predetermined data specifies a transformation to align a position of the platform, which is generated by the position determination system when the platform is in a third position that is in the position determination system, with a corresponding position of the platform on an image, which is generated by the imaging system when the platform is in a fourth position that is in the imaging system;

and, wherein the predetermined data is comprises data representing a position and orientation of the platform in the coordinate system of the position determination system when the platform is in the third position.

79. A data processing system as in claim 78 wherein the predetermined data further comprises data representing a position and orientation of the platform in the coordinate system of the imaging system when the platform is in the fourth position.

80. A data processing system as in claim 79 wherein the image of the organ is collected when the platform is in the fourth position;

and, wherein the first position information is collected when the platform is in the third position.

81. A data processing system as in claim 79 further comprising:

means for receiving second position information, the second position information indicating a position of the platform relative to the third position when the first position information is collected.

82. A data processing system as in claim 79 further comprising:

means for receiving third position information, the third position information indicates a position of the platform relative to the fourth position when the image of the organ is collected.

83. A data processing system as in claim 77 wherein the predetermined data is determined before the image of the organ is generated;

and, wherein the predetermined data is determined without the person.

84. A data processing system to determine a position of a portion of a medical instrument relative to an organ, the data processing system comprising:

means for receiving data for aligning overlaying positions determined by a position determination system relative to a reference object with corresponding positions on images generated from an imaging system relative to the reference object, the reference object being at a first position in the imaging system when the images are generated, the reference object being at a second position in the position determination system when the positions are determined;

means for receiving position information of the portion of the medical instrument determined by the position determination system, the position information being determined when the reference object is in a third position relative to the organ in the position determination system;

means for determining a position of the portion of the medical instrument relative to the organ depicted in a first image from the position information and the data, the first image being generated by the imaging system when the reference object is in the third position relative to the organ in the imaging system.

85. A data processing system as in claim 84 wherein the data comprises:

a) data representing a position of the reference object determined by the position determination system when the reference object is in the second position;

b) data representing an orientation of the reference object determined by the position determination system when the reference object is in the second position;

c) data representing a position of the reference object in an image generated from the imaging system when the reference object is in the first position; and

d) data representing an orientation of the reference object in an image generated from the imaging system when the reference object is in the first position.

86. A data processing system as in claim 85 wherein the position of the portion of the medical instrument relative to the organ is determined using one of:

a) data indicating a position of the reference object relative to the second position when the position information is determined; and

b) data indicating a position of the reference object relative to the first position when the first image is generated.

87. A data processing system as in claim 84 wherein the reference object is a platform for supporting a host of the organ;

and, wherein the organ is a heart.

88. A data processing system as in claim 84 wherein the first image is selected from a plurality of images of the organ according to at least one measurement of at least one parameter related to the organ, the at least one measurement generated substantially contemporaneous with a time at which the position information is determined, the plurality of images associated with different measurements of the at least one parameter.

89. A guiding system to guide a percutaneous procedure, the system comprising:

a data processing system, the data processing system comprising;

memory; and

a processor coupled to the memory;

an imaging system coupled to the data processing system, the image system generating a plurality of images of an organ, the plurality of images corresponding to the organ in a plurality of states, the memory storing the plurality of images, the data processing system receiving at least one measurement of at least one parameter, the processor determining a first state of the organ from the at least one measurement, the processor determining a first image from a plurality of images to display the organ in the first state.

90. A guiding system as in claim 89 further comprising:

a position determination system coupled to the data processing system, the position determination system determining first position information of a portion of a medical instrument when the organ is in the first state, the processor determining a first position of the portion of the medical instrument relative to the organ to display the first image with a representation of the portion of the medical instrument overlaid on the first image according to the first position.

91. A guiding system as in claim 90 wherein the first image is displayed substantially in real time to show the portion of the medical instrument in relation with the organ;

wherein the plurality of images are played back in real time according to real time measurements of the at least one parameter to show states of the organ in real time; and

, wherein the processor overlays a representation of the portion of the medical instrument in real time according to real time position information of the portion of the medical instrument obtained from the position determination system to illustrate the portion of the medical instrument in relation with the organ.

92. A guiding system as in claim 89 wherein the plurality of images are played back in real time according to real time measurements of the at least one parameter to show states of the organ in real time;

and, wherein the plurality of images are generated before the plurality of images are played back in real time; and

, wherein the position determination system uses sensors based on one of;

a) magnetic field;

b) ultrasound;

c) radio frequency signal; and

d) light;

wherein the imaging system is based on one of;

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI); and

,

Computer Tomography (CT).

93. A guiding system as in claim 89 wherein the organ is a heart;

and, wherein the plurality of images is correlated with measurements of the at least one parameter.

94. A guiding system as in claim 93 wherein the imaging system is based on at least one of:

a) Magnetic Resonance;

b) X-ray; and

c) ultrasound.

wherein the at least one parameter comprises at least one of;

a) Electrocardiogram (ECG);

b) heart sound;

c) blood pressure;

d) ventricular volume;

e) pulse wave;

f) heart motion; and

g) cardiac output.

95. A guiding system as in claim 90 wherein the first position is determined from aligning a first coordinate space of the position determination system and a second coordinate space of the imaging system with respect to the organ;

wherein the first coordinate space and the second coordinate space are aligned with respect to the organ using a transformation to align the first coordinate space and the second coordinate space with respect to a reference object;

wherein the reference object is a platform supporting a host of the organ;

wherein the host has a fixed position relative to the platform both when the plurality of images are generated in an imaging system and when the position information is determined in the position determination system.

96. A guiding system as in claim 95 further comprising:

a rail system coupled between the position determination system and the imaging system, the platform being transported between the imaging system and position determination system on the rail system.

97. A guiding system as in claim 90 further comprising:

a rail system coupled between the position determination system and the imaging system, the rail system supporting a platform in transporting the platform from the imaging system and position determination system, a host of the organ being in a fixed position relative to the platform when the plurality of images are generated and the first position information is determined;

wherein the first position is determined using data for overlaying positions determined by the position determination system onto a second image generated from the imaging system relative to a platform for supporting a host of the organ, the platform being at a second position in the position determination system when the positions are determined, the platform being at a third position in the imaging system when the second image is generated.

98. A guiding system as in claim 97 wherein the data comprises:

a) data representing a position and orientation of the platform determined by the position determination system when the platform is in the second position; and

b) data representing a position and orientation of the platform in an image generated from the imaging system when the platform is in the third position;

wherein the first position is determined using one of;

a) data indicating a position of the platform relative to the second position when the first position information is determined; and

b) data indicating a position of the platform relative to the third position when the first image is generated.