Imaging device and method
First Claim
1. A method for obtaining and displaying an image of an object comprising the following steps:
- (1) obtaining a follow image library of the object via a first imaging modality;
(2) obtaining a real time lead image of the object via a second imaging modality along a lead view;
(3) referencing the real time lead image to the follow image library via digital image analysis to identify a follow image line of view corresponding to the lead view;
(4) transforming a follow image to correspond to the scale, rotation and position of the real time lead image; and
(5) displaying the transformed follow image without displaying the real time lead image, the referencing, transforming and displaying steps being performed substantially in real time after the step of obtaining the real time lead image.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for obtaining and displaying in real time an image of an object obtained by one modality such that the image corresponds to a line of view established by another modality. In a preferred embodiment, the method comprises the following steps: obtaining a follow image library of the object via a first imaging modality; providing a lead image library obtained via the second imaging modality; referencing the lead image library to the follow image library; obtaining a lead image of the object in real time via the second imaging modality along a lead view; comparing the real time lead image to lead images in the lead image library via digital image analysis to identify a follow image line of view corresponding to the real time lead view; transforming the identified follow image to correspond to the scale, rotation and position of the lead image; and displaying the transformed follow image, the comparing, transforming and displaying steps being performed substantially simultaneously with the step of obtaining the lead image in real time.
523 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method for obtaining and displaying an image of an object comprising the following steps:
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(1) obtaining a follow image library of the object via a first imaging modality; (2) obtaining a real time lead image of the object via a second imaging modality along a lead view; (3) referencing the real time lead image to the follow image library via digital image analysis to identify a follow image line of view corresponding to the lead view; (4) transforming a follow image to correspond to the scale, rotation and position of the real time lead image; and (5) displaying the transformed follow image without displaying the real time lead image, the referencing, transforming and displaying steps being performed substantially in real time after the step of obtaining the real time lead image. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. An imaging apparatus comprising:
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a follow image library; a lead imager; a see-through display; and processing means for interreferencing in real time images from the lead imager with a follow image from the follow image library and for displaying images on the see-through display. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for obtaining and displaying an image of an object having an exterior surface and an interior, the method comprising the following steps:
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(1) obtaining a follow image library of the object via a first imaging modality; (2) obtaining a real time lead image of the exterior surface of the object via a second imaging modality substantially along a user'"'"'s line of sight to the exterior surface; (3) referencing the lead image to the follow image library to identify a follow image line of view corresponding to the line of sight; (4) transforming a follow image to correspond to the scale, rotation and position of the real time lead image; and (5) displaying the transformed follow image, the referencing, transforming and displaying steps being performed substantially in real time after the step of obtaining the real time lead image. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for obtaining and displaying an image of an object comprising the following steps:
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(1) obtaining a follow image library of the object via a first imaging modality; (2) obtaining a lead image library of the object via a second imaging modality; (3) correlating the lead image library to the follow image library; (4) obtaining a real time lead image of the object along a lead view; (5) comparing the real time lead image to the lead library images to identify a lead library image corresponding to the real time lead view; (6) transforming the follow image to correspond to the identified lead library image; (7) transforming the follow image to correspond to the scale and position represented by the real time lead image; and (8) displaying the transformed follow image, the comparing, transforming and displaying steps being performed substantially in real time after the step of obtaining the lead image in real time. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method for obtaining and displaying an image of an object having an exterior surface and an interior, the method comprising the following steps:
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(1) obtaining a follow image library of the object via a first imaging modality; (2) obtaining a real time lead image of the exterior surface of the object substantially along a user'"'"'s line of sight to the exterior surface; (3) referencing the real time lead image to the follow image library to identify a follow image line to select a follow image corresponding to the scale, rotation and position of the real time lead image; and (4) displaying the selected follow image, the referencing and displaying steps being performed substantially in real time after the step of obtaining the real time lead image.
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31. An imaging apparatus comprising:
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a follow image library; a lead imager comprising a camera mounted on a user'"'"'s head; processing means for interreferencing in real time images from the lead imager with the follow image library; and means for displaying a follow image from the follow image library. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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Specification