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Method and apparatus for stone localization using ultrasound imaging

  • US 4,896,673 A
  • Filed: 07/15/1988
  • Issued: 01/30/1990
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1988
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method for gallstone localization using ultrasound imaging for enabling a gallstone to be positioned with respect to a focal point of a shock wave system comprising the steps ofproviding an ultrasound image of a gallstone in a patient using an ultrasound transducer by moving the ultrasound transducer adjacent the patient,detecting the position of the ultrasound transducer by imaging the transducer means by first and second cameras, said cameras means being calibrated with respect to a reference,storing images of the transducer picked up by the cameras means and processing said images,capturing said ultrasound image of the gallstone, andcalculating the relationship of the gallstone with respect to the ultrasound transducer using aid ultrasound image of said gallstone and calculating the distance of the stone from the reference using said calculated relationship of the gallstone with respect to the transducer and the detected position of the transducer.

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