Patent classifications
A61B6/584
DEFORMABLE IMAGE REGISTRATION PHANTOM
A deformable image registration phantom, having a housing, an outer cylinder with a first diameter, a parallel eccentric inner cylinder with a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, a ball and socket mount, and a target. The target is mounted to the housing by way of the inner and outer cylinders and the ball and socket mount. The inner cylinder is rotatably mounted within the outer cylinder and the target is rotatably mounted, directly or indirectly, within the inner cylinder. The outer cylinder may be rotatably mounted within the housing and the ball and socket mount rotatably mounted within the inner cylinder. Alternatively, the outer cylinder may be rotatably mounted within the ball and socket mount and the ball and socket mount rotatably mounted within the housing.
METHOD OF CALIBRATION OF A STEREOSCOPIC CAMERA SYSTEM FOR USE WITH A RADIO THERAPY TREATMENT APPARATUS
The disclosed calibration method includes a calibration phantom positioned on an adjustable table on the surface of a mechanical couch, with the phantom's centre at an estimated location for the iso-centre of a radio therapy treatment apparatus. The calibration phantom is then irradiated using the apparatus, and the relative location of the center of the calibration phantom and the iso-centre of the apparatus is determined by analyzing images of the irradiation of the calibration phantom. The calibration phantom is then repositioned by the mechanical couch applying an offset corresponding to the determined relative location of the centre of the calibration phantom and the iso-centre of the apparatus to the calibration phantom. Images of the relocated calibration phantom are obtained, to which the offset has been applied, and the obtained images are processed to set the co-ordinate system of a stereoscopic camera system relative to the iso-centre of the apparatus.
Positron emission tomography (PET) system design optimization using deep imaging
An imaging method (100) includes: acquiring first training images of one or more imaging subjects using a first image acquisition device (12); acquiring second training images of the same one or more imaging subjects as the first training images using a second image acquisition device (14) of the same imaging modality as the first imaging device; and training a neural network (NN) (16) to transform the first training images into transformed first training images having a minimized value of a difference metric comparing the transformed first training images and the second training images.
Radiography aid for an external fixator
A radiography aid and method of using the same comprising: attaching a radiographic reference device to the external fixation device, the radiographic reference device comprises at least two surfaces; positioning the first surface of the radiographic reference device on an imager surface to capture a first radiographic image of the external fixation device and the one or more objects; repositioning the external fixation device to position the second surface of the radiographic reference device on the imager surface to capture a second radiographic image of the external fixation device and the one or more objects that differs in position from the first radiographic image by the first angle; and calculating the position of the one or more objects in three dimensions.
Medical imaging systems and associated devices and methods
Systems, methods, and devices for medical imaging are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a method for imaging an anatomic region includes receiving, from a detector carried by an imaging arm of an x-ray imaging apparatus, a plurality of images of the anatomic region. The images can be obtained during manual rotation of the imaging arm. The imaging arm can be stabilized by a shim structure during the manual rotation. The method can also include receiving, from at least one sensor coupled to the imaging arm, pose data of the imaging arm during the manual rotation. The method can further include generating, based on the images and the pose data, a 3D representation of the anatomic region.
APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR USE WITH SKELETAL PROCEDURES
Method and apparatus are provided for use with a procedure in which interventions are performed with respect to at least first and second vertebrae of a spine of a subject. Imaging data of the subject's spine is acquired using an imaging device. At least one computer processor is used to generate, upon a display, a spinal roadmap image of at least a portion of the spine that contains the first and second vertebra, automatically label vertebra within the spinal roadmap image, determine that an intervention has been performed with respect to the first vertebra, such that an appearance of the first vertebra has changed, and automatically update the spinal roadmap to reflect the change in the appearance of the first vertebra, such that the updated spinal roadmap is displayed while the intervention is performed with respect to the second vertebra. Other applications are also described.
System and Method for Calibrating a Camera Feature Detection System of an X-Ray System
Various methods and systems are provided for calibrating a camera-based feature detection system for an x-ray system having a support surface, and a gantry operably connected to the support surface and a light source disposed on the gantry, where the gantry defines a system referential. The x-ray system includes a camera spaced from the gantry and operably connected to a calibration system, the camera defining a camera referential within which the support surface and gantry are positioned. The calibration system registers the camera referential to the system referential by operating the light source to position an indication on the support surface and by obtaining a number of camera images of the indication on the support surface and corresponding indication location in the system referential.
X-Ray Detection Structure and System
A system for detecting a scanning beam of x-rays includes one or more scintillator volumes oriented along an x-ray scan axis. The scintillator volume(s) receive x-rays transmitted through a target and produce scintillation photons responsively. Two or more ribbons of wavelength-shifting fibers (WSFs) are optically coupled to the scintillator volume(s) along the axis via a spatial periodic adjacency of the ribbons to the axis. The ribbons receive scintillation photons from the scintillator volume(s) via the spatial periodic adjacency as the x-ray beam scans over the scan axis. At least one respective photodetector coupled to an end of each respective ribbon detects the scintillation photons carried by the respective ribbon produces a respective signal. A signal combiner selectively combines signals from one or more ribbons, for beam positions along the scan axis, to create a combined signal representing a scan of the target. The scan can have enhanced spatial resolution.
APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR USE WITH SKELETAL PROCEDURES
Apparatus and methods are described including acquiring 3D image data of a skeletal portion. While a tool that is coupled to a robot is disposed at a first location along an insertion path, two 2D x-ray images are acquired from respective views. A computer processor (i) determines the first location with respect to the 3D image data based upon identifying the first location within the 2D x-ray images and registering the 2D x-ray images to the 3D image data, and (ii) derives a relationship between the first location and a given location within the 3D image data. Subsequently, the robot moves the tool to a second location responsively to the derived relationship. The processor tracks the motion of the robot relative to the first location, derives the second location, and drives a display to display the second location. Other applications are also described.
MEDICAL IMAGING SYSTEMS AND ASSOCIATED DEVICES AND METHODS
Systems, methods, and devices for medical imaging are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a method for imaging an anatomic region includes receiving, from a detector carried by an imaging arm of an x-ray imaging apparatus, a plurality of images of the anatomic region. The images can be obtained during manual rotation of the imaging arm. The imaging arm can be stabilized by a shim structure during the manual rotation. The method can also include receiving, from at least one sensor coupled to the imaging arm, pose data of the imaging arm during the manual rotation. The method can further include generating, based on the images and the pose data, a 3D representation of the anatomic region.