System for determining the position in a scan image corresponding to the position of an imaging probe
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a base fixed in relation to a subject;
an imaging probe configured to scan the subject and provide scan images of the subject;
an array of receivers in communication with the base and the imaging probe;
a first plurality of reference points fixed in relation to the base, the first plurality of reference points in communication with the array;
a second plurality of reference points fixed in relation to the imaging probe, the second plurality of reference points in communication with the array; and
a processor in communication with the imaging probe and the array, wherein (i) the processor is configured to calculate a position of the first reference points relative to the array based on the communication between the first reference points and the array, thereby calculating a position of the base relative to the array, and calculating a position of the subject relative to the array;
(ii) the processor is configured to calculate a position of the second reference points relative to the array based on the communication between the second reference points and the array, thereby calculating a position of the imaging probe relative to the array;
(iii) the processor is configured to calculate a position of the imaging probe relative to the subject based on the calculated positions of the subject relative to the array and the imaging probe relative to the array; and
(iv) the processor is configured to calculate the position in the scan images corresponding to the position of the imaging probe relative to the subject.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for use in imaging a subject and determining a position relative to a body of a patient. A base is fixed in relation to the subject. An imaging probe is configured to scan the subject and provide scan images of the subject. An array of receivers is in communication with the base and the imaging probe. A first plurality of reference points is fixed in relation to the base and in communication with the array. A second plurality of reference points is fixed in relation to the imaging probe and in communication with the array. A processor in communication with the imaging probe and the array calculates the position in the scan images corresponding to the position of the imaging probe relative to the subject.
182 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a base fixed in relation to a subject;
an imaging probe configured to scan the subject and provide scan images of the subject;
an array of receivers in communication with the base and the imaging probe;
a first plurality of reference points fixed in relation to the base, the first plurality of reference points in communication with the array;
a second plurality of reference points fixed in relation to the imaging probe, the second plurality of reference points in communication with the array; and
a processor in communication with the imaging probe and the array, wherein (i) the processor is configured to calculate a position of the first reference points relative to the array based on the communication between the first reference points and the array, thereby calculating a position of the base relative to the array, and calculating a position of the subject relative to the array;
(ii) the processor is configured to calculate a position of the second reference points relative to the array based on the communication between the second reference points and the array, thereby calculating a position of the imaging probe relative to the array;
(iii) the processor is configured to calculate a position of the imaging probe relative to the subject based on the calculated positions of the subject relative to the array and the imaging probe relative to the array; and
(iv) the processor is configured to calculate the position in the scan images corresponding to the position of the imaging probe relative to the subject. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
a light source positionable to direct light at the base and a surface of the subject; and
an array of sensors located remotely from the subject and positioned to receive light reflected from the base and the surface of the subject, the array of sensors in communication with the processor, and wherein the processor is configured to calculate the position of the subject relative to the array based on the light reflected to the array.
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14. The system of claim 13, further comprising a memory storing previously taken scan images of the subject, the surface of the subject correlated to the previously taken scan images, and wherein the processor is configured to correlate the surface of the subject to the location of the surface of the subject in the previously taken scan images.
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15. A system comprising:
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a base fixed in relation to a body part;
a memory storing the first scan images of the body part in a first coordinate system, the location of the body part in the first coordinate system correlated to the first scan images;
an imaging probe configured to scan the body part and provide second scan images of the body part in a second coordinate system;
an array of detectors in communication with the base and the imaging probe;
a first plurality of reference points fixed in relation to the body part, the first plurality of reference points in communication with the array; and
a processor in communication with the array, wherein (i) the processor is configured to determine the position of the first reference points in the second coordinate system, thereby determining the position of the body part in the second coordinate system;
(ii) the processor is configured to determine a corresponding position of the reference points in the second coordinate system, thereby determining the position of the imaging probe in the second coordinate system;
(iii) the processor is configured to determine the position in the second coordinate system corresponding to the position of the imaging probe relative to the body part, thereby determining the position of the imaging probe relative to the body part in the second scan images; and
(iv) the processor is configured to determine a plane in the first coordinate system corresponding to the position of the imaging probe relative to the body part in the second scan images, thereby determining the position of the imaging probe relative to the body part in the first scan images. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A system for determining a position relative to a body of a patient, the system comprising:
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an array separate from the body of the patient;
body reference points fixed in relation to the body, the body reference points in communication with the array to communicate signals indicating the position of the body reference points;
a probe;
probe reference points fixed in relation to the probe, the probe reference points in communication with the array to communicate signals indicating the position of the probe reference points;
a memory having stored images of the body, the images including reference images correlatable to the body reference points; and
a processor in communication with the array and the memory, the processor configured to determine the position of body and the probe based on communications from the body reference points and the probe reference points to the array and to translate the position of the body and the probe to the position of the body and the probe in the images of the body. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
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Specification