Surgery – Diagnostic testing – Detecting nuclear – electromagnetic – or ultrasonic radiation
Reexamination Certificate
1996-03-22
2001-05-29
Shay, David M. (Department: 3739)
Surgery
Diagnostic testing
Detecting nuclear, electromagnetic, or ultrasonic radiation
C600S424000, C600S425000, C345S420000, C345S440000, C345S440000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06240308
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention (Technical Field)
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for displaying maps of anatomical brain structures, physiological and chemical topography, and other such data in combination with scanned images of individual human brains. The invention produces two-dimensional and three-dimensional displays, with maps proportioned properly according to landmarks in and around the scanned brain. The invention also permits display of a combination of two or more types of brain maps simultaneously and the archiving and cross- referencing of anatomico-physiological data in a normalized whole-brain mapping and imaging environment. This normalized mapping technique further permits the plotting, transposing and interrogation of data from various mapping sources or treatment modalities in the same imaging environment. Such examples also include but are not limited to:
1) Plotting known or scan determined metabolic and/or chemically specific regions or structures of the brain.
2) Plotting known or scan determined psycho-physical regions of the brain and other such data.
3) Plotting and determining the radiation dose to each area or structure of the brain during radiation treatment.
4) Plotting known or scan determined electromagnetic somatotopography of the brain.
2. Background Art
The prior art discloses three primary systems for mapping the human brain, all involving reference to books and charts in order to pinpoint anatomical structures and functions or responses within individual brain scan or other images, such as, but not limited to, computerized axial tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), radioisotope imaging, and other similar digital imaging systems.
The first primary brain mapping system of the prior art is disclosed by J. Talairach & P. Tournoux, “Co-Planar Stereotaxic Atlas of the Human Brain,” (New York; Theieme Medical Publishers; 1988). That book places 133 anatomical structures within a three-dimensional proportional grid subdividing the human brain.
The second system of the prior art is disclosed by G. Schaltenbrand & P. Bailey,
Introduction to Stereotaxis with an Atlas of the Human Brain
(New York, Thieme, 1959), J. M. Van Buren & R. C. Borke,
Variations and Connections of the Human Thalamus
(vols. 1 & 2, New York, Springer, 1972), and G. Schaltenbrand & W. Wahren,
Atlas for Stereotaxy of the Human Brain
(2d ed., Stuttgart, Thieme, 1977). These references consist of magnified photographs of human brainstem slices (including thalamus and lower brainstem regions) wherein subregional or subdivisions of larger structures are indicated by line drawings which represent the microscopic boundaries between such subregions or subdivisions. These mapping systems generally have transparent plastic sheet overlays which contain the line drawings and can be superimposed over the photographs so that such subdivisions can be discerned.
The third system of the prior art is disclosed by T. Hardy, “Stereotactic CT Atlases,” ch. 34 of L. D. Lunsford, ed.,
Modern Stereotactic Surgery
(Boston, Martinus Nijhoff, 1988). This reference reports subdivisions of the brain by physiological responses according to electrical stimulation or recordings in and about the brain.
With the prior art, a brain surgeon would be required, in planning an operation (regardless whether stereotactic or otherwise), to compare scans of the patient's brain with information from the above references, and would be required to construe certain anatomical structures within the scans based upon visual interrogation of the scans and the references. Such practitioners would also be required to infer or surmise the position of various physiological brain regions. For very precise work, this might involve calculations by hand to correlate the reference brain sizes and shapes with the size and shape of the patient's brain.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
(DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION)
The present invention presents a method and an apparatus for providing brain map data to a user comprising: digitally archiving brain map data; displaying on a display device one or more brain maps; and manipulating the brain maps on the display device.
In the preferred embodiment, manipulating comprises varying the size, shape, and location of the brain maps on the display device. The preferred embodiment additionally comprises displaying images of an individual patient's brain on the display device, wherein the brain maps are combined with the displayed images of the individual patient's brain to create a composite image on the display device including a two-dimensional overlayed composite image, a three-dimensional transparency composite image, and a three-dimensional image comprising three images of the patient's brain, one in the sagittal plane, one in the horizontal plane, and one in the verticofrontal plane. The brain maps are manipulatable to correspond in location, size, and shape to the images of the individual patient's brain on the display device.
The brain map data may comprise at least one member selected from the group consisting of Talairach-Tournoux anatomical data, Schaltenbrand and Bailey anatomical maps, Van Buren and Borke anatomical maps, Schaltenbrand and Wahren anatomical maps, electrophysiological response data, electromagnetic encephalography (EMEG) data, somatosensory evoked potentials data, electroencephalagram (EEG) data, metabolic brain scanning data, and blood vessel territorial supply data. The brain maps are independently manipulatable to correspond in size, shape, and location to one another on the display device and may be combined with one another to create a composite image on the display device (including two-dimensional overlayed composite image and three-dimensional transparency composite image).
Manipulating may comprise manipulating the brain maps with reference to specified landmarks, including anatomical structures and reference points on a stereotactic frame. The anatomical structures tacked may comprise anterior commissure, posterior commissure, highest surface of parietal cortex, most posterior surface of occipital cortex, most anterior surface of frontal cortex, lowest surface of temporal cortex, left-most lateral surface, right-most lateral surface, thalamic height, fourth ventricle caudal floor fourth ventricle rostral floor, anterior pons wall, intercommissural plane, third ventricle width, lateral ventricle margin, thalamic width, lateral thalamic border, anterior brainstem margin, posterior brainstem margin, brainstem width, lateral brainstem margin. Manipulating may comprise tacking anatomical structures on the display device.
The preferred embodiment further comprises displaying and manipulating one or more simulated brain structures on the display device. The simulated brain structures may be combined with the brain maps to create a composite image on the display device, including a two-dimensional overlayed composite image and a three-dimensional transparency composite image. The simulated brain structures are manipulatable to correspond in location, size, and shape to the brain maps on the display device.
Structures within one of the brain maps on the display device may be selected, whereupon textual information concerning the structure is displayed on the display device, for instance nomenclature for the structure, nomenclature for substructures of the structure, nomenclature for structures containing the structure, medical information concerning the structure, and warnings and advice concerning the structure. Brain maps may be manipulated by enlarging the selected structure on the display device, showing greater detail of the selected structure.
A primary object of the present invention is to permit computer-controlled display of brain scans in combination with appropriately proportioned maps of anatomical brain structures, physiological and chemical topography, and other such data in combination with scanned images of individual human brains.
Another object of the present inventio
Brynildson Laura D.
Hardy Tyrone L.
Duggan Donovan F.
Hardy Tyrone L.
Myers Jeffrey D.
Peacock Deborah A.
Shay David M.
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