SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMAGE GUIDED MEDICAL PROCEDURES
First Claim
1. A method for combining information from plurality of medical imaging modalities, comprising:
- acquiring a first volumetric image using a first volumetric imaging modality of an anatomical region;
defining an elastic soft tissue model for at least a portion of the anatomical region encompassed by the first volumetric image;
labeling features of the anatomical region based on at least the first volumetric image and the soft tissue model, comprising at least features of the anatomical region which are visualized by both the first imaging modality and a second imaging modality, and features of the anatomical region which are poorly visualized in the second imaging modality;
acquiring a second volumetric image of the anatomical region using the second imaging modality comprising a real time image;
registering the features of the anatomical region which are visualized by both the first imaging modality and a second imaging modality, and the features of the anatomical region which are poorly visualized in the second imaging modality, with respect to the soft tissue model, such that the features of the anatomical region which are visualized by both the first imaging modality and a second imaging modality are linked, compensating for at least one distortion of the portion of the anatomical region between a first time of the first volumetric image and a second time of the second volumetric image; and
presenting an output based on at least the features of the anatomical region which are poorly visualized in the second imaging modality in the real time image, compensated based on at least the registered features and the soft tissue model.
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Abstract
A system and method combines information from a plurality of medical imaging modalities, such as PET, CT, MRI, MRSI, Ultrasound, Echo Cardiograms, Photoacoustic Imaging and Elastography for a medical image guided procedure, such that a pre-procedure image using one of these imaging modalities, is fused with an intra-procedure imaging modality used for real time image guidance for a medical procedure for any soft tissue organ or gland such as prostate, skin, heart, lung, kidney, liver, bladder, ovaries, and thyroid, wherein the soft tissue deformation and changes between the two imaging instances are modeled and accounted for automatically.
73 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for combining information from plurality of medical imaging modalities, comprising:
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acquiring a first volumetric image using a first volumetric imaging modality of an anatomical region; defining an elastic soft tissue model for at least a portion of the anatomical region encompassed by the first volumetric image; labeling features of the anatomical region based on at least the first volumetric image and the soft tissue model, comprising at least features of the anatomical region which are visualized by both the first imaging modality and a second imaging modality, and features of the anatomical region which are poorly visualized in the second imaging modality; acquiring a second volumetric image of the anatomical region using the second imaging modality comprising a real time image; registering the features of the anatomical region which are visualized by both the first imaging modality and a second imaging modality, and the features of the anatomical region which are poorly visualized in the second imaging modality, with respect to the soft tissue model, such that the features of the anatomical region which are visualized by both the first imaging modality and a second imaging modality are linked, compensating for at least one distortion of the portion of the anatomical region between a first time of the first volumetric image and a second time of the second volumetric image; and presenting an output based on at least the features of the anatomical region which are poorly visualized in the second imaging modality in the real time image, compensated based on at least the registered features and the soft tissue model. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for combining information from plurality of medical imaging modalities, comprising:
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acquiring volumetric images using a first volumetric imaging modality of an anatomical region of a person under a plurality of states of deformation; acquiring volumetric images using a second volumetric imaging modality of the anatomical region of the person under a plurality of states of deformation; defining an elastic soft tissue model for the anatomical region comprising model parameters representing tissue compliance and surface properties; labeling features of the anatomical region based on at least the volumetric images of the first imaging modality, the volumetric images of the second imaging modality, and the soft tissue model, wherein the labeling aligns corresponding features and compensates for rigid, elastic and affine transform of the anatomical region between times for acquiring the volumetric images of the first imaging modality and the volumetric images of the second imaging modality; and presenting an output based on at least the labeled features of the anatomical region.
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22. A system for combining information from plurality of medical imaging modalities, comprising:
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an input port configured to receive at least two first volumetric images using a first volumetric imaging modality of an anatomical region representing respectively different states of elastic deformation, and at least two second volumetric images using a second volumetric imaging modality, of the anatomical region representing respectively different states of elastic deformation; at least one processor configured to define an elastic soft tissue model for at least a portion of the anatomical region encompassed by the first volumetric image, and to label features of the anatomical region based on at least the first volumetric image and the soft tissue model; and a memory configured to store the defined elastic soft tissue model.
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Specification