System for displaying a 2-D ultrasound image within a 3-D viewing environment

• US 5,817,022 A
• Filed: 03/11/1997
• Issued: 10/06/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sonometrics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Sonometrics Corporation
• Inventors: Vesely, Ivan
• Primary Examiner(s): MANUEL, GEORGE C
• Application Number:
  US08/815,386
• Time in Patent Office: 574 Days
• Field of Search: 600/441, 600/443, 600/444, 600/445, 600/446, 600/447, 600/461, 600/462, 600/459, 128/916, 73/621, 73/624, 73/626
• US Class Current: 600/443
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3403 Needle locating or guiding means guides for suture needles A61B17/0482; guiding or tracking by nuclear magnetic resonance G01R33/285
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2051 Electromagnetic tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2063 Acoustic tracking systems, e.g. using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2072 Reference field transducer attached to an instrument or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/363 Use of fiducial points
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3908 Soft tissue, e.g. breast tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3929 Active markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3958 emitting a signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/045 with a separable interface unit, e.g. for communication
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/043 in a linear array
• 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 5/06 Devices, other than using radiation, for detecting or locating foreign bodies for removing same A61B17/50 ; determining position of probes within or on the body of the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/062 using magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/287 Holders for multiple electrodes, e.g. electrode catheters for electrophysiological study [EPS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4519 Muscles A61B5/389, A61B5/224 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4528 Joints A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0833 involving detecting or locating foreign bodies or organic structures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0841 for locating instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 : in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4245 : involving determining the position of the probe, e.g. with respect to an external reference frame or to the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/461 : Displaying means of special interest
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/466 : adapted to display 3D data 3D imaging and stereoscopic displays in devices for short-range imaging with acoustic waves G01S15/8993 and G01S7/52068, respectively; 3D image rendering G06T15/00; manipulating 3D models for computer graphics G06T19/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/483 : involving the acquisition of a 3D volume of data
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/10 : for stereotaxic surgery, e.g. frame-based stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/11 : with guides for needles or instruments, e.g. arcuate slides or ball joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/17 : for soft tissue, e.g. breast-holding devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/36 : Image-producing devices or illumination devices not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 : Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0166 : Sensors, electrodes or the like for guiding the catheter to a target zone, e.g. image guided or magnetically guided
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0105 : Steering means as part of the catheter or advancing means; Markers for positioning systems for detection of markers A61B
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 3/00 : Measuring characteristics of vibrations by using a detector in a fluid G01H7/00, G01H9/00, G01H11/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 5/00 : Measuring propagation velocity of ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves , e.g. of pressure waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/14 : using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/101 : Particularities of the measurement of distance G01S15/12, G01S15/14, and G01S15/18 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/66 : Sonar tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/86 : Combinations of sonar systems with lidar systems; Combinations of sonar systems with systems not using wave reflection
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/87 : Combinations of sonar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/876 : Combination of several spaced transmitters or receivers of known location for determining the position of a transponder or a reflector G01S15/872 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/88 : Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications seismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting G01V1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/899 : Combination of imaging systems with ancillary equipment
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8993 : Three dimensional imaging systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/18 : using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52003 : Techniques for enhancing spatial resolution of targets G01S7/52046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/5206 : Two-dimensional coordinated display of distance and direction; B-scan display
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52074 : Composite displays, e.g. split-screen displays; Combination of multiple images or of images and alphanumeric tabular information
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52079 : Constructional features constructional features of transducers B06B; mounting transducers G10K11/00; constructional features of ultrasonic medical diagnostic devices A61B8/44
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/6245 : Stereoscopic displays; Three-dimensional displays; Pseudo-three dimensional displays
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/916 : Ultrasound 3-D imaging

Abstract

A system for displaying a 2-D ultrasound image in a 3-D viewing environment. Within the same 3-D viewing environment, various surgical instruments can be tracked and displayed, thus correlating 3-D virtual surgery with ultrasound imaging for verification. A detachable housing (220) containing position transducers (222) is attached to a conventional 2-D ultrasound imaging head (200) to provide position data of an imaging plane generated by an image transducer (204).

Claims

1. A method for generating a 2-dimensional ultrasound image in a 3-dimensional viewing environment, the method comprising:

mounting a plurality of mobile transducer means to an ultrasound image transducer means adapted for generating a 2-dimensional echo image plane;

mounting a first reference transducer means to a first fixed location;

mounting a second reference transducer means to a second fixed location;

generating three-dimensional coordinates of the mobile transducer means relative to a reference frame established by the first and second reference transducer means;

registering the 2-dimensional echo image plane with the three-dimensional coordinates; and

,

displaying the 2-dimensional echo image plane at the three-dimensional coordinates, in relation to the reference frame established by the first and second reference transducer means.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said first fixed location is a patient'"'"'s back, and said second fixed location is a patient'"'"'s abdomen.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said method further comprises the steps of:

mounting a plurality of mobile transducers means to a surgical instrument means;

generating 3-dimensional coordinates of the mobile transducer means mounted to the surgical instrument means, relative to the reference frame established by said first and second reference transducer means;

generating an outline image of the surgical instrument means from the 3-dimensional coordinates of the mobile transducer means mounted to the surgical instrument means; and

displaying the outline image of the instrument means.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the step of displaying the outline image of the instrument means displays the outline image of said surgical instrument means piercing the 2-dimensional echo image plane.

5. A system for generating a 2-dimensional ultrasound image in a 3-dimensional viewing environment comprising:

image transducer means for generating a 2-D echo image plane;

mobile transducer means mounted to the image transducer means;

first reference transducer means located at a first fixed location;

second reference transducer means located at a second fixed location, wherein the first and second reference transducer means establish a reference frame;

coordinate generation means for generating 3-dimensional coordinates of the mobile transducer means relative to the reference frame;

registration means for registering the 2-dimensional echo image plane with the 3-dimensional coordinates; and

display means for displaying the 2-dimensional echo image plane at the 3-dimensional coordinates, in relation to the reference frame.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein said first fixed location is a patient'"'"'s back, and said second fixed location is a patient'"'"'s abdomen.

7. A system according to claim 5, wherein said mobile transducer means are arranged on a detachable housing means mounted to said instrument.

8. A system according to claim 5, wherein said mobile transducer means is comprised of at least three transducers to generate the 3-dimensional coordinates of a plane perpendicular to an imaging beam generated by said image transducer means.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein image transducer means includes:

an imaging head that is articulatable relative to said mobile transducer means; and

potentiometer means for relating the angle of the imaging head relative to the 3-dimensional coordinates of the plane generated by the mobile transducer means.

10. A system according to claim 5, wherein said first reference transducer means is comprised of at least four ultrasonic transducers.

11. A system according to claim 5, wherein said second reference transducer means is comprised of at least four ultrasonic transducers.

12. A system according to claim 5, wherein said system further comprises:

a plurality of mobile transducers adapted to be secured to an associated surgical instrument means;

coordinate generation means for generating 3-dimensional coordinates of at least one the plurality of mobile transducer means mounted to the surgical instrument means, relative to the reference frame established by said first and second reference transducer means;

outline generation means for generating an outline image of the surgical instrument means from the 3-dimensional coordinates of the mobile transducer means mounted to the surgical instrument means, and for displaying the outline image of the surgical instrument means on said display means.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein the outline generation means displays on said display means said outline image piercing said 2-dimensional echo image plane.