Systems and Devices for an Integrated Imaging System with Real-Time Feedback Loop and Methods Therefor

• US 20120321168A1
• Filed: 09/24/2010
• Published: 12/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wenzel Spine, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ortho Kinematics, Inc.
• Inventors: Deitz, Adam
• Granted Patent: US 9,138,163 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/132
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/374 NMR or MRI
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/376 using X-rays, e.g. fluoroscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/17 Comprising radiolucent components
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2576/00 Medical imaging apparatus involving image processing or analysis A61B1/00009, A61B6/52 and A61B8/52 take precedence; image processing per se G06T; details of algorithms for analysing medical images G06T7/0012
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0013 Medical image data A61B1/00011, A61B6/56, A61B8/56 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1128 using image analysis A61B5/1127 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4528 Joints A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4561 Evaluating static posture, e.g. undesirable back curvature A61B5/1116 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/702 Posture restraints
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/704 Tables
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/04 Positioning of patients; Tiltable beds or the like operating tables A61G13/00; operating chairs A61G15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/0487 Motor-assisted positioning
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/469 for selecting a region of interest [ROI]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/505 for diagnosis of bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/547 involving tracking of position of the device or parts of the device
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0012 Biomedical image inspection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/20 Analysis of motion motion estimation for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals H04N19/43, H04N19/51

Abstract

An integrated imaging system is invented for creating an optimal imaging session by importing information in real time from several sources and using that information to automatically and continuously adjust the parameters of the imaging session so as to create the optimal session for the prescribed testing session.

Claims

1. A machine-readable medium that provides instructions which, when executed by a set of processors, causes the processors to provide instructions to at least one of a motion device and an imaging device comprising:

receiving information from at least one of the motion device and the imaging device during an imaging session;

analyzing the received information;

instructing at least one of the motion device and imaging device to change the imaging environment during the imaging session.

2. The machine-readable medium of claim 1 wherein the steps of receiving, analyzing and instructing are repeated a plurality of times during the imaging session.

3. The machine-readable medium of claim 1 wherein the step of instructing is performed real-time.

4. The machine-readable medium of claim 1 wherein the step of instructing is performed near real-time.

5. The machine-readable medium of claim 1 wherein the instruction changes an aspect of an imaging field.

6. The machine-readable medium of claim 1 wherein the instruction changes a movement of a motion device.

7. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the imaging device is an X-ray tube and image intensifier with dosage control.

8. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the imaging device is a magnetic resonance scanner.

9. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein motion device further comprises a laterally moveable platform.

10. The machine-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the movable platform is situated on a support which lies on an upper surface of the platform base.

11. The machine-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the imaging device is an X-ray tube and image intensifier with dosage control.

12. The machine-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the imaging device is a magnetic resonance scanner.

13. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the motion device further comprises a control arm for driving movement of a moveable platform.

14. The machine-readable medium of claim 13 further comprising a processing system.

15. The machine-readable medium of claim 1 wherein the motion device is adapted to communicate motion information to the imaging device during use.

16. The machine-readable medium of claim 1 wherein continuous adjustments are made to an imaging environment.

17. The machine-readable medium of claim 1 wherein a range of motion of the motion device is based on a selected target motion for a patient.

18. The machine-readable medium of claim 1 wherein a range of motion of the device is based on a gross motion of a patient.

19. An apparatus for use in a shared computer network being able to carry real-time data streams the apparatus comprising:

means for transmitting data packages to a data destination in at least one real-time or near real-time data stream over the shared computer network, wherein each of the data packets contains instructions for controlling at least one of an imaging device and a motion control device during an imaging session.

21-34. -34. (canceled)

35. A system measuring skeletal joint motion in a subject comprising:

a) a motion device adapted and configured to continuously move a joint of the subject, the motion device comprising;

a platform base, and

a motion platform further comprising a static platform connected to an upper surface of the platform base, a movable platform connected to at least one of the static platform or an upper surface of the platform base, wherein the static platform is adjacent the movable platform wherein movement of the movable platform is achieved in operation by a motor in communication with the moveable platform;

b) an imaging device in communication with the motion device adapted and configured to obtain imaging data; and

c) a computing system adapted and configured to analyze the obtained imaging data to generate an instruction and then communicate the instruction to at least one of the motion device and the imaging device.

36-49. -49. (canceled)

50. A method for imaging skeletal structures in vivo comprising:

i) positioning a subject on a motion device adapted and configured to move a joint during a use session;

ii) imaging the subject positioned on the motion device during the use session with an imaging device;

iii) collecting image data;

iv) analyzing the collected image data; and

v) communicating an instruction based on the analyzed image data to at least one of the motion device and imaging device prior to acquiring a subsequent image.

51-71. -71. (canceled)

72. A process for capturing data and controlling skeletal joint motion of a subject comprising:

(a) providing an apparatus adapted and configured to selectively cause and control joint motion of the subject having a base positioned in a first base plane, a fixable platform adapted and configured to engage the base at an attachment mechanism, the fixable platform having a first position in a first fixable platform plane and fixably adjustable to a second position, a dynamic platform having a first position in a first dynamic platform plane, adjustable to a second position and selectively rotatable about an axis, and a coupling member adapted and configured to connect the fixable platform to the dynamic platform or the base;

(b) positioning the subject in a first position such that a first body part of the subject is at least partially positioned adjacent the static platform, and a second body part of the subject is at least partially positioned adjacent the motion platform;

(c) capturing, with a medical diagnostic device, a first diagnostic data from the subject and the apparatus;

(d) transmitting the first diagnostic data from the subject to a machine-readable medium;

(e) analyzing the first diagnostic data;

(f) generating an instructions from the analyzed first diagnostic data;

(g) transmitting the instruction to the apparatus;

(h) repositioning the apparatus such that the subject is placed in a second position different from the first position; and

(i) capturing, with the medical diagnostic device, second diagnostic data from the subject and the apparatus in the second position.

73-76. -76. (canceled)