Method and system for displaying cross-sectional images of a body

• US 6,996,430 B1
• Filed: 12/12/1999
• Issued: 02/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Super Dimension Ltd.
• Inventors: Gilboa, Pinhas, Tolkowsky, David
• Primary Examiner(s): SHAW, SHAWNA JEANNINE
• Application Number:
  US09/959,837
• Time in Patent Office: 2,249 Days
• Field of Search: 600/407, 600/410, 600/424, 600/425, 600/427, 600/437, 600/462, 600/466, 600/436, 600/411, 600/467, 600/117, 128/899, 128/916, 324/207.15
• US Class Current: 600/407
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/00 Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis; Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis combined with radiation therapy equipment instruments measuring radiation intensity for application in the field of nuclear medicine, e.g. in vivo counting, G01T1/161; apparatus for taking X-ray photographs G03B42/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/12 Arrangements for detecting or locating foreign bodies
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/5247 combining images from an ionising-radiation diagnostic technique and a non-ionising radiation diagnostic technique, e.g. X-ray and ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/583 using calibration phantoms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0833 involving detecting or locating foreign bodies or organic structures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4416 related to combined acquisition of different diagnostic modalities, e.g. combination of ultrasound and X-ray acquisitions
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/022 Means for monitoring or calibrating
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0247 Determining attitude

Abstract

This invention is a method of displaying cross-sectional images of a body so as to render the cross-sectional images more interpretable. The method is effected by using a first imaging device (110, 120), obtaining at least one cross-sectional image of a portion of the body, at least one cross-sectional image being defined by at least one first plane; and projecting each of at least one cross-sectional image of the portion of the body onto a predefined second plane, so as to obtain at least one projected cross-sectional image of the portion of the body, each of the at least one projected cross-sectional image becoming more interpretable by a user.

Claims

1. A method of displaying cross-sectional images of a body so as to render the cross-sectional images more interpretable, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) using a first intra-body imaging device deployed on a flexible catheter, obtaining at least one cross sectional image of a portion of the body, said at least one cross sectional image being defined by at least one first plane;

(b) employing an inductive electromagnetic-field-sensing position-measuring system, including a locating sensor implemented on said first imaging device, to establish a location and orientation of each of said first plane in six degrees of freedom; and

(c) projecting each of said at least one cross-sectional image of said portion of the body onto a predefined second plane, so as to obtain at least one projected cross-sectional image of said portion of the body, each of said at least one projected cross-sectional image becoming more interpretable by a user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first imaging device is a single plane imaging device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said single plane imaging device is a single plane ultrasound device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said single plane ultrasound device is an intrabody single plane ultrasound device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said first imaging device is a multiple plane imaging device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said predefined second plane is at a preselected angle to a line-of-sight of a second imaging device used to image the body.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said second imaging device is selected from the group consisting of a fluoroscope, a positron emission tomography device, a computerized tomography device, a magnetic resonance imaging device and a three dimensional-ultrasound device.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said predefined second plane coincides with said line-of-sight.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein said predefined second plane is perpendicular to said line-of-sight.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein projecting each of said at least one cross-sectional image of said portion of the body onto said predefined second plane is effected by:

(i) establishing a location and orientation of said predefined second plane in six degrees of freedom; and

(ii) projecting each of said first plane onto said second predefined plane, thereby projecting each of said cross sectional image of said portion of the body onto said predefined second plane.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said predefined second plane is at a pre selected angle to a line-of-sight of a second imaging device used to image the body.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein establishing said location and orientation of said predefined second plane in six degrees of freedom is effected by a locating sensor implemented on said second imaging device.

13. A method of displaying a three dimensional image rendered from a plurality of consecutive cross-sectional images of a body so as to render the rendered image more interpretable, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) using a first intra-body imaging device deployed on a flexible catheter, obtaining a plurality of consecutive cross-sectional images of a portion of the body, each of said plurality of consecutive cross-sectional images being defined by a plane;

(b) employing a position-measuring system, including a locating sensor implemented on said first imaging device, to establish a location and orientation of each of said planes in six degrees of freedom;

(c) rendering said plurality of consecutive cross-sectional images of said portion of the body into a rendered three dimensional model image of said portion of the body; and

(d) projecting said rendered three dimensional model image as if viewed following a line-of-sight of a second imaging device used to image the body.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said position-measuring system is an inductive electromagnetic-field-sensing position-measuring system.

15. A system for displaying a three dimensional image rendered from a plurality of consecutive cross-sectional images of a body so as to render the rendered image more interpretable, the system comprising:

(a) a first intra-body imaging device deployed on a flexible catheter for obtaining a plurality of consecutive cross-sectional images of a portion of the body, each of said plurality of consecutive cross-sectional images being defined by a plane;

(b) a position-measuring system including a locating sensor implemented on said first imaging device, said position-measuring system determining a location and orientation of each of said planes in six degrees of freedom;

(c) a rendering device for rendering said plurality of consecutive cross-sectional images of said portion of the body into a rendered three dimensional model image of said portion of the body; and

(d) a projecting and displaying device for projecting and displaying said rendered three dimensional model image as if viewed following a line-of-sight of a second imaging device used to image the body.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said position-measuring system is an inductive electromagnetic-field-sensing position-measuring system.