Dual radiation targeting system

Details Dual radiation targeting system Dual radiation targeting system

1996-01-11

1997-07-01

Wong, Don

X-ray or gamma ray systems or devices

Accessory

Alignment

378 65, A61B 608

Patent

active

056446160

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
DESCRIPTION

1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to a system (method and apparatus) for aligning a first radiation source, (especially an X-ray source), with a beam from a second radiation source, (especially a laser), whereby structures internal to an object imaged with the first radiation can be located using the beam of second radiation.
The system is especially suitable for use in surgery for locating specific sub-surface regions of the anatomy and providing a light beam for sighting an incision so that the specific region can be reached and exposed for surgical operations thereon. The invention will also be found useful for precisely locating other internal structures, such as a region of an encased electronic circuit board or integrated circuit computer chip.
Another use for the invention is to allow for the accurate location and positioning on the surface anatomy corresponding to internal radiation emanating from radioactive sites within the patient produced by radionuclides. Examples include tumor marking, by means of injected radioactive substances which preferentially localize in specific areas of the body which indicate pathologic conditions. These areas may require surgical intervention, in which case the advantage, of knowing surface location and true access of approach to the pathologic site, lies in the potential for less surgical trauma in accessing the tumor or other pathologic state.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of lasers in conjunction with imaging systems has, to a limited extent, been heretofore contemplated in Trecha, U.S. Pat. No. 5,031,203, issued Jul. 9, 1991, and in Staats, U.S. Pat. No. 4,117,337, issued Sep. 26, 1978. In Staats, an arrangement is described for placing the area of the patients anatomy to be analyzed in a fixed relation to the scanning heads of the X-ray machinery. Having been thus positioned, the table on which the patient has been placed moves a preset distance in the direction of the scanning heads, at which time the area on the patient to be analyzed has the same geometric relation to the scanning head that it formerly had to the laser system. This imaging system permits the precise visualization of internal structures in the patients anatomy, which may later be the subject of surgical procedures. However, when it comes time to operate on the patient, the only indication the surgeon has as to how to access the internal structure is a radio-graph of the internal structures, which does not provide an accurate means of approach. Therefore the surgeon must, in accessing the internal structure, rely on his knowledge of general anatomical features in the patient population at large, including the variability that exists therein. This means that precise location of points on the surface of the patient which provide the most direct access to internal structures is not possible.
Polizzi et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,356,400, issued Oct. 26, 1982, discloses a method and device for setting up floor or wall mounted cassette holders with respect to an X-ray source. In the procedure disclosed a cylindrical central ray locating device is placed on the X-ray source housing so as to occlude all X-rays except the central ray and those that are slightly angulated thereto. Alignment of the central ray and the bore of the cylindrical device is achieved by observing the behavior of a phosphorized indicator on the end of the device. This central ray locating tool may require the exposure of a technician to X-rays during the first stage of setup and the tool cannot be used during imaging diagnostic procedures because it occludes the broad X-ray beam that is required for imaging. The second stage of setup, involves the removal of the above mentioned cylindrical central ray locating device, and the substitution of a cylinder containing a laser with the attendant possibility of a change in the mounting alignment and therefore an error in the representation of the central ray by the laser. From a surgical perspective, the above mentioned laser can not be used while imag

REFERENCES:
patent: 5031203 (1991-07-01), Trecha
patent: 5212720 (1993-05-01), Landi et al.

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