VISUALIZATION APPARATUS

• US 20180064504A1
• Filed: 10/10/2017
• Published: 03/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: BARLEY, Maya E, Deladi, Szabolcs, Harks, Erik Godefridus Antonius, Suijver, Jan Frederik, Megens, Mischa
• Granted Patent: US 10,070,937 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00106 ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/062 penetration depth
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/065 for measuring contact or contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/376 using X-rays, e.g. fluoroscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/20 Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/36 Image-producing devices or illumination devices not otherwise provided for

Abstract

The invention relates to a visualization apparatus for visualizing a quality of applying energy to an object. The quality of applying energy at a location on the object (3) is visualized based on a) a provided image of the object and b) a provided quality value which is a depth value indicative of the depth to which the applied energy has altered the object, representing the quality of applying energy to the object at the location on the object (3), wherein a visual property assigning unit (9) assigns a visual property to the location depending on the quality value and a display (10) displays the provided image and the assigned visual property at the location on the object shown in the image as a transmural region calculated using depth value(s) with respect to a wall of the object. In general a person who applies energy to the object is focused on the location at which energy is applied. Since quality information is shown at the location on which the person is already focused, the quality dependent information can easily be absorbed by the person.

Claims

1-15. -15. (canceled)

16. A visualization apparatus for visualizing a quality of applying energy to an object, wherein the visualization apparatus is adapted to visualize the quality of applying energy at a location on the object based on a provided image of the object and a provided quality value representing the quality of applying energy to the object at the location on the object, wherein the quality value is a depth value being indicative of the depth to which the applied energy has altered the object at the location, wherein the visualization apparatus comprises:

a visual property assigning unit for assigning a visual property to the location depending on the quality value, and

a display for displaying the provided image and the assigned visual property at the location on the provided image,

wherein the depth value is provided with respect to a thickness of a wall of the object to which the energy is applied, wherein the visualization apparatus further comprises a transmural region calculation unit for calculating a transmural region of the object based on the provided depth value and wherein the display is adapted to show the calculated transmural region on the image of the object,

wherein the transmural region calculation unit is adapted to calculate the transmural region by using several depth values, which are provided for several locations, and by using the locations for which the several depth values have been provided.

17. The visualization apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein energy is applied to the object by using an energy application element and wherein a further quality value being a contact value is provided, wherein the contact value is indicative of a degree of contact between the energy application element and the object, wherein the visual property assigning unit is adapted to assign one of the color and the intensity to the location depending on the depth value and the other of the color and the intensity to the location depending on the contact value, wherein the display is adapted to display the assigned color and the assigned intensity at the location on the provided image.

18. The visualization apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein the provided image of the object is an anatomic map of the object and wherein the display is adapted to display the assigned visual property at the location on the anatomic map.

19. The visualization apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein the visualization apparatus further comprises a gauge element shown on the display, wherein the gauge element is adapted to indicate a relation between a visual property and the quality value.

20. The visualization apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein the gauge element comprises a marker indicating the depth to which the applied energy has altered the object based on the provided depth value.

21. The visualization apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein the quality value is repeatedly provided during applying energy to the object, wherein the visual property assigning unit is adapted to repeatedly assign a visual property to the location depending on the respective actually provided quality value and wherein the display is adapted to repeatedly display the provided image and the respective actually assigned visual property at the location on the object shown in the image.

23. A visualization method for visualizing a quality of applying energy to an object, wherein the visualization method is adapted to visualize the quality of applying energy at a location on the object based on a provided image of the object and a provided quality value at the location on the object, the quality value representing the quality of applying energy to the object at the location on the object, wherein the quality value is a depth value being indicative of the depth to which the applied energy has altered the object at the location, wherein the visualization method comprises:

assigning a visual property to the location depending on the quality value,

displaying the provided image and the assigned visual property at the location on the provided image,

wherein several depth values are provided for several locations with respect to a thickness of a wall of the object to which the energy has been applied, wherein a transmural region of the object is calculated by using the several depth values, which are provided for the several locations, and by using the locations for which the several depth values have been provided and wherein the calculated transmural region is displayed on the image of object.