Multi-band tracking and calibration system

• US 7,728,280 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2007
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brainlab AG
• Original Assignee: Brainlab AG
• Inventors: Feilkas, Thomas, Weiser, Manfred
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps; Georgia Y
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ko; Tony
• Application Number:
  US11/954,125
• Publication Number:
  US 20080135733A1
• Time in Patent Office: 903 Days
• Field of Search: 250/226, 250/208.1, 348/262, 348/263, 348/265
• US Class Current: 250/216
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00725 Calibration or performance testing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2055 Optical tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2057 Details of tracking cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2068 using pointers, e.g. pointers having reference marks for determining coordinates of body points
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2072 Reference field transducer attached to an instrument or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3616 Magnifying glass
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3618 with a mirror
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/371 with simultaneous use of two cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/373 using light, e.g. by using optical scanners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/397 electromagnetic other than visible, e.g. microwave
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3983 Reference marker arrangements for use with image guided surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3995 Multi-modality markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/10 Computer-aided planning, simulation or modelling of surgical operations
• 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 90/36 Image-producing devices or illumination devices not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/361 Image-producing devices, e.g. surgical cameras

Abstract

A camera system includes at least two camera units, wherein each camera unit comprises at least one detection element for detecting an optical signal. At least one of the at least two camera units includes at least one element operative to enable detection of light in at least two different spectral ranges.

Claims

1. A tracking camera system configured to determine a location of an object in three dimensional space, the tracking camera system comprising:

at least two camera units, each camera unit including at least one detection element for detecting an optical signal;

wherein

at least one camera unit of the at least two camera units includes at least one element operative to enable the at least one camera unit'"'"'s detection element to detect optical signals in at least two different spectral ranges wherein the at least one element comprises at least one optical filter having a settable filter characteristic, wherein based on the settable filter characteristic, optical signal entering the at least one camera unit is subjected to different filter characteristics.

2. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one element comprises at least one optical filter arranged in front of the at least one detection element.

3. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein at least one camera unit includes at least two detection elements.

4. The camera system according to claim 3, wherein the at least one element comprises a deflection element for deflecting optical signals entering the at least one camera unit onto the at least two detection units.

5. The camera system according to claim 4, wherein the deflection element deflects at least a partial spectrum of optical signals or optical signals of a particular wavelength onto at least one of the at least two detection elements.

6. The camera system according to claim 4, wherein the deflection element is a semi-transparent mirror or a prism.

7. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one detection element is an electronic detection element, a CCD chip, CMOS sensor, a line sensor or a sensor array.

8. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one element is a movable mirror.

9. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one element comprises at least one optical filter having a settable filter characteristic, wherein based on the settable filter characteristic, optical signals entering the at least one camera unit is subjected to different filter characteristics.

10. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein each camera unit comprises an optical system through which optical signals enter the respective camera unit.

11. The camera system according to claim 10, wherein the optical system comprises a lens.

12. The camera system according to claim 11, wherein the optical system is a settable or variable optical system.

13. A navigation system comprising a camera system according to claim 1.

14. The camera system according to claim 1, further comprising a processing device configured to determine the location of the object in three-dimensional space based on data collected by the respective detection elements.

15. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein the at least two different spectral ranges comprise at least one of a) visible light and infrared light, b) visible light and ultraviolet light, or c) infrared light and ultraviolet light.