System, employing three-dimensional ultrasonographic imaging, for assisting in guiding and placing medical instruments
First Claim
1. A method employing a three-dimensional ultrasonographic imaging system for assisting and guiding the placement of at least one medical instrument in a prostate during a prostate therapeutic procedure, comprising the steps of:
- i) positioning a reference means relative to a ultrasonographic transducer in a region proximal a site on a patient which facilitates access to the prostate;
ii) minimizing relative movement between the reference means and the site;
iii) referencing the reference means to the three-dimensional ultrasonographic imaging system to determine the spatial relationship therebetween;
iv) obtaining a three-dimensional image of the prostate;
v) via a processing means, generating a positioning image by superimposing an image of the reference means over the three-dimensional image;
vi) from the positioning image, selecting a target location within the prostate where the at least one medical instrument is to be placed;
vii) from the positioning image, determining an insertion path to the target location and determining placement coordinates from the image; and
, viii) placing the at least one medical instrument into the prostate along the insertion path via the placement coordinates determined from the positioning image.
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Abstract
A method and system, employed in combination with a three-dimensional ultrasonographic imaging system, for assisting and placing at least one medical instrument into a prostate during a percutaneous prostrate therapeutic procedure. A process means for determining the spatial relationship between three-dimensional ultrasonographic images of the prostate generated via the transrectal transducer and a reference means. In addition, the method and system assists in guiding and placement of the medical instrument into a target location in the prostate.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method employing a three-dimensional ultrasonographic imaging system for assisting and guiding the placement of at least one medical instrument in a prostate during a prostate therapeutic procedure, comprising the steps of:
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i) positioning a reference means relative to a ultrasonographic transducer in a region proximal a site on a patient which facilitates access to the prostate;
ii) minimizing relative movement between the reference means and the site;
iii) referencing the reference means to the three-dimensional ultrasonographic imaging system to determine the spatial relationship therebetween;
iv) obtaining a three-dimensional image of the prostate;
v) via a processing means, generating a positioning image by superimposing an image of the reference means over the three-dimensional image;
vi) from the positioning image, selecting a target location within the prostate where the at least one medical instrument is to be placed;
vii) from the positioning image, determining an insertion path to the target location and determining placement coordinates from the image; and
,viii) placing the at least one medical instrument into the prostate along the insertion path via the placement coordinates determined from the positioning image. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of assisting placement of at least one surgical instrument in a prostate during a cryosurgical prostate therapeutic procedure, comprising the steps of:
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i) positioning a reference plate relative to a transrectal ultrasonographic transducer in a region proximal a site on a patient which facilitates access to the prostate;
ii) securing the reference plate to minimize relative movement between the plate and the site;
iii) referencing the reference plate with a processing means in communication with a three-dimensional ultrasonographic imaging system to determine the spatial relationship between the transrectal ultrasonographic transducer and the plate;
iv) obtaining a three-dimensional image of the prostate;
v) generating a positioning image by superimposing an image of the reference plate over the three-dimensional image;
vi) from the positioning image, selecting a target location within the prostate where the at least one medical instrument is to be placed;
vii) from the positioning image, determining a path to the target location via the image of the reference plate and determining placement coordinates from the positioning image; and
,viii) placing the at least one surgical instrument into the prostate via the reference plate at the placement coordinates determined from the positioning image. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A system, employed in combination with a three-dimensional ultrasonographic imaging system, for assisting in the placement of at least one medical instrument into a prostate comprising:
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a reference means;
a mounting means for mounting the reference means in a predetermined relationship to a transrectal ultrasonographic transducer;
the reference means including a plurality of apertures arranged in an predefined manner and sized to permit a medical instrument to pass therethrough;
a processing means for determining the spatial relationship between a three dimensional ultrasonographic image of the prostate generated via the transrectal ultrasonographic transducer and the reference means;
wherein the processing means merges a representation of the plurality of apertures with the three dimensional ultrasonographic image to assist in the placement of the at least one medical instrument in the prostate via an appropriate aperture. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification