Surgery – Diagnostic testing – Detecting nuclear – electromagnetic – or ultrasonic radiation
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-19
2001-10-02
Lateef, Marvin M. (Department: 3737)
Surgery
Diagnostic testing
Detecting nuclear, electromagnetic, or ultrasonic radiation
C600S443000, C128S916000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06296613
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an ultrasound imaging system, a three-dimensional ultrasonographic-image acquisition device as specified in the independent patent claim and a procedure for the acquisition of three-dimensional ultrasound images.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A system for determining the position of a sensor within a given object and for the display of previously recorded images of the object corresponding to the sensor position has been described earlier by BUCHHOLZ in U.S. Pat. No. 5,383,454. With that system it is also possible to guide the tip of a sensor to a particular location within an object, while the position of the sensor can be observed on a monitor screen which also displays a previously recorded image of that particular region within the object. In that earlier concept, the position of the sensor is determined using a commercially available, three-dimensional sound digitizer.
Another example of an earlier method and appropriate system for the acquisition of diagnostically useful, three-dimensional ultrasound image data has been described by POLZ in the European patent EP 0 736 284 A2. That system incorporates a device by means of which it is possible, by freely and manually guiding the ultrasound scanning head, to assemble from a set of three-dimensional data tomographic images of an entire three-dimensional volume object or space to be examined. The position and orientation of the ultrasound scanning head are registered by an additional, electromagnetic sensor system. The ultrasound scanning head, freely guided by hand by the diagnostician, is preferably provided with a holder which also accommodates the receiver of the said electromagnetic sensor system. The sensor system whose receiver coils pick up magnetic fields emitted by a transmitter, produces sensor output data (both positional and rotational data) which precisely define the spatial position and orientation of the ultrasound scanning head. These are translational X, Y and Z axis data as well as rotational data around these axes.
A prerequisite for sufficiently precise positional and orientational determinations using magnetic field measurements is very detailed information on such extraneous parameters as:
interference fields generated for instance by display monitors, computers or electric motors;
interference patterns produced by highly permeable materials in the magnetic field, for instance metal objects moving within the measuring region; or
electromagnetic interference fields emanating from the AC power supply.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Quantifying these effects and/or minimizing them by appropriate hardware or procedures, be it shielding or continuous calibration, is a complex matter. The drawback of the earlier concept referred to thus lies in the fact that it is difficult to obtain positional and orientational determinations with the necessary degree of accuracy.
It is the objective of this invention to solve the problem. Its purpose is to provide a means for acquiring three-dimensional ultrasonographic images using a freely movable, manually guided ultrasound scanning head, an ultrasound acquisition device and a positional-determination i.e. locating device, which locating device permits the determination of the position and orientation of the ultrasound scanning head and thus of the spatial position and orientation of the tomographic ultrasound images.
The advantages offered by this invention consist essentially in the fact that the conceptual design of the device here disclosed simplifies the manipulation conditions in the following manner:
in terms of precise resolution, the system is not affected by external parameters;
the system is easy to handle; even if the positional determination were to be disrupted for instance by an object that strayed in between the acquisition device and the ultrasound scanning head, measurements can continue as soon as a clear view is restored; and
the tracking accuracy is not negatively affected by extraneous electromagnetic fields produced by display monitors and/or electrical equipment.
The present invention relates to an ultrasound imaging system for creating a three-dimensional image of a patient body. The system includes an ultrasound scanning head for acquiring a plurality of ultrasound images, a fixed control plane for determining position and orientation of the ultrasound scanning head relative to a spatial base by linear measurement, transmitters for emitting electromagnetic waves associated with either base points on the spatial base or control points on the control plane, receivers for receiving the electromagnetic waves located on the other of the base points or the control points, and an image processor for processing the ultrasound images to create the three-dimensional image of the body. The electromagnetic waves are used to determine the position and orientation of the ultrasound scanning head to thereby position and orient the plurality of ultrasound images.
In another aspect of the present invention, the ultrasound imaging system includes a freely movable, manually guided ultrasound scanning head for acquiring a plurality of ultrasound images, an ultrasound acquisition device for storing and displaying the plurality of ultrasound images, an image processor for processing the plurality of ultrasound images to create the three-dimensional image of the body, and a positional locating device for determining position and orientation of the ultrasound scanning head to thereby position and orient the plurality of ultrasound images. The locating device has a plurality of electromagnetic wave emitting devices located on the ultrasound scanning head, a plurality of electromagnetic wave sensor arrays for detecting the electromagnetic waves of the emitting devices, and an evaluation unit for computing the position and orientation of the ultrasound scanning head relative to a spatial base by linear measurements based on the electromagnetic waves.
The present invention relates to an ultrasound imaging system for creating a three-dimensional image of a patient body. The system includes an ultrasound scanning head for acquiring a plurality of ultrasound images, a fixed control plane for determining position and orientation of the ultrasound scanning head relative to a spatial base by linear measurement, transmitters for emitting electromagnetic waves associated with either base points on the spatial base or control points on the control plane, receivers for receiving the electromagnetic waves located on the other of the base points or the control points, and an image processor for processing the ultrasound images to create the three-dimensional image of the body. The eletromagnetic waves are used to determine the position and orientation of the ultrasound scanning head to thereby position and orient the plurality of ultrasound images.
In another aspect of the present invention, the ultrasound imaging system includes a freely movable, manually guided ultrasound scanning head for acquiring a plurality of ultrasound images, an ultrasound acquisition device for storing displaying the plurality of ultrasound images, an image processor for processing the plurality of ultrasound images to create the three-dimensional image of the body, and a positional locating device for determining position and orientation of the ultrasound scanning head to thereby position and orient the plurality of ultrasound images. The locating device has a plurality of electromagnetic wave emitting devices located on the ultrasound scanning head, a plurality of electromagnetic wave sensor arrays for detecting the electromagnetic waves of the emitting devices, and an evaluation unit for computing the position and orientation of the ultrasound scanning head relative to a spatial base by linear measurements based on the eletromagnetic waves.
In one implementation of the concept of this invention, the means provided on the ultrasound scanning head to emit electromagnetic waves for positional and orientational determinations are in the form of optical light sources.
Emmenegger Niklaus
Engfer Olaf
Lateef Marvin M.
Patel Maulin
Pennie & Edmonds LLP
Synthes (U.S.A.)
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