SYSTEM FOR POSITIONING A MEDICAL OBJECT AT A DESIRED DEPTH AND METHOD FOR EMITTING A LIGHT DISTRIBUTION

Abstract

A system for positioning a medical object at a desired depth includes a light guiding facility and a processing unit. The processing unit is configured to receive planning information that specifies a desired depth for an arrangement of a predefined section of a medical object in an examination object with respect to an entry point of the medical object in the examination object. The medical object has a mark that has a predefined relative positioning with respect to the predefined section. The processing unit is configured to control the light guiding facility for emitting a light distribution as a function of the planning information and the predefined relative positioning such that the light distribution illuminates the mark if the predefined section is arranged at the desired depth.

Claims

1. A system for positioning a medical object at a desired depth, the system comprising: a light guiding facility; and a processing unit configured to receive planning information that specifies a desired depth for an arrangement of a predefined section of a medical object in an examination object with respect to an entry point of the medical object into the examination object, wherein the medical object has a mark that has a predefined relative positioning with respect to the predefined section, and wherein the processing unit is further configured to control the light guiding facility for emitting a light distribution as a function of the planning information and the predefined relative positioning such that the light distribution illuminates the mark when the predefined section is arranged at the desired depth.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a capturing unit that is configured to capture a positioning of the predefined section, wherein the processing unit is further configured to control the light guiding facility for emitting the light distribution additionally as a function of the positioning.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the capturing unit comprises a medical imaging device, wherein the medical imaging device is configured to acquire medical image data having a mapping of the medical object and of the examination object, and supply the acquired medical image data to the processing unit, and wherein the processing unit is further configured to capture the positioning of the predefined section of the medical object using the acquired medical image data.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the light guiding facility is arranged on the capturing unit, is integrated at least partially in the capturing unit, or a combination thereof.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the capturing unit is further configured to capture a positioning of the examination object, and wherein the processing unit is further configured to register the planning information with the positioning of the examination object.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a capturing unit that is configured to: identify the medical object; and supply information relating to the identification of the medical object to the processing unit, wherein the processing unit is further configured to determine the predefined relative positioning of the mark with respect to the predefined section using the identification of the medical object.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the planning information also specifies a desired path for arrangement of the medical object, and wherein the light guiding facility is configured to emit a further light distribution that illuminates the medical object with a predefined light pattern when the medical object is arranged on the desired path.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the light guiding facility is mounted to move with respect to the examination object, wherein the light guiding facility for emitting the light distribution is arrangeable in a first positioning, and wherein the light guiding facility for emitting the further light distribution is arrangeable in a second positioning, the second positioning being different than the first positioning.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the mark is configured as a structural element, a graphical element, a light-reflecting element, a light-absorbing element, or any combination thereof on a surface of the medical object.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the medical object has a plurality of marks, each mark of the plurality of marks having a predefined relative positioning with respect to the predefined section, wherein the plurality of marks, at least on illumination with the predefined light distribution, has an optically distinguishable property, and wherein the processing unit is further configured to: identify one mark of the plurality of marks using the planning information as the mark to be illuminated; and control the light guiding facility for emitting the light distribution such that the light distribution (illuminates the identified mark when the predefined section is arranged at the desired depth.

11. A method for emitting a light distribution, the method comprising: receiving planning information that specifies a desired depth for an arrangement of a predefined section of a medical object in an examination object with respect to an entry point of the medical object in the examination object, wherein the medical object has a mark that has a predefined relative positioning with respect to the predefined section; and emitting, by a light guiding facility, a light distribution as a function of the planning information and the predefined relative positioning such that the mark is illuminated by the light distribution when the predefined section is arranged at the desired depth.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein a positioning of the predefined section is captured, and wherein the light distribution is also emitted as a function of the positioning.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the medical object is identified, and the predefined relative positioning of the mark is determined with respect to the predefined section using the identification of the medical object.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the planning information also specifies a desired path for the arrangement of the medical object, wherein a further light distribution is emitted by the light guiding facility such that the medical object is illuminated with a predefined light pattern by the further light distribution when the medical object is arranged on the desired path.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the medical object has a plurality of marks, each mark of the plurality of marks having a predefined relative positioning with respect to the predefined section, wherein the plurality of marks has, at least on illumination with the predefined light distribution, an optically distinguishable property, wherein one mark of the plurality of marks is identified as the mark to be illuminated using the planning information, and wherein the light distribution is emitted such that the light distribution illuminates the identified mark when the predefined section is arranged at the desired depth.

16. A computer program product comprising: a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores a computer program having instruction executable by the processing unit for emitting a light distribution, the instructions comprising: receiving planning information that specifies a desired depth for an arrangement of a predefined section of a medical object in an examination object with respect to an entry point of the medical object in the examination object, wherein the medical object has a mark that has a predefined relative positioning with respect to the predefined section; and emitting, by a light guiding facility, a light distribution as a function of the planning information and the predefined relative positioning such that the mark is illuminated by the light distribution when the predefined section is arranged at the desired depth.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0068] Embodiments of the invention are represented in the drawings and will be described in more detail below. Same reference numerals will be used in different figures for same features.

[0069] In the drawings:

[0070] FIGS. 1 and 2 show schematic representations of different operating states of one embodiment of a system;

[0071] FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a further embodiment of a system;

[0072] FIGS. 4 and 5 show schematic representations of different operating states of a further embodiment of a system; and

[0073] FIGS. 6 to 8 show schematic representations of different embodiments of a method for emitting a light distribution.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0074] FIGS. 1 and 2 show schematic representations of different operating states of one embodiment of a system for positioning a medical object MO at a desired depth D. The system may include a light guiding facility LFE and a processing unit PU. The processing unit PU may be configured to receive REC-PLI planning information PLI that specifies a desired depth D for an arrangement of a predefined section VD of the medical object MO in an examination object 31 with respect to an entry point IP of the medical object MO into the examination object 31. Further, the medical object MO may have a mark MK that has a predefined relative positioning with respect to the predefined section VD. The mark MK may be configured as a structural element and/or graphical element and/or light-reflecting element and/or light-absorbing element on a surface of the medical object MO. The processing unit PU may also be configured to control the light guiding facility LFE for emitting a light distribution LV as a function of the planning information PLI and the predefined relative positioning such that the light distribution LV illuminates the mark MK when the predefined section VD is arranged at the desired depth D (e.g., by a signal CS).

[0075] In one embodiment, the system may also include a capturing unit EU that is configured to capture CAP-POS a positioning of the predefined section. The processing unit PU may be configured to control the light guiding facility LFE for emitting the light distribution LV additionally as a function of the captured positioning POS. In one embodiment, the capturing unit EU may also be configured to capture a positioning of the examination object 31. The processing unit PU may be configured to register the planning information PLI with the positioning of the examination object 31. Further, the processing unit PU may be configured to control the light guiding facility LFE for emitting the light distribution LV as a function of the registered planning information.

[0076] Further, the capturing unit EU may be configured to identify the medical object MO and supply information relating to the identification of the medical object MO to the processing unit PU. The processing unit PU may also be configured to determine the predefined relative positioning of mark MK with respect to the predefined section VD using the identification of the medical object MO.

[0077] In the operating state of the system represented in FIG. 1, the medical object MO may be partially introduced into the examination object 31 via the entry point IP. A depth of the predefined section VD (e.g., with respect to the entry point IP) may be less than the specified desired depth D, so that the light distribution LV does not illuminate the mark MK. For example, in this operating state, the predefined section is not arranged in the examination object 31 at a specified target positioning TP. FIG. 2 shows a further operating state of the system, with the predefined section VD being arranged at the desired depth D (e.g., at the target positioning TP). The light distribution LV illuminates the mark MK.

[0078] FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a further embodiment of the system. The medical object MO may have a plurality of marks MK1, MK2, MK3 and MK4 that each have a predefined relative positioning with respect to the predefined section VD. Further, the plurality of marks MK1, MK2, MK3 and MK4, at least with illumination by the predefined light distribution LV, may have an optically distinguishable property. The processing unit PU may also be configured to identify one mark of the plurality of marks MK1, MK2, MK3 and MK4 (e.g., the mark MK3) as the mark to be illuminated MK using the planning information PLI. In addition, the processing unit PU may be configured to control the light guiding facility LFE for emitting the light distribution LV such that the light distribution LV illuminates the identified mark MK if the predefined section VD is arranged at the desired depth D.

[0079] FIGS. 4 and 5 schematically represent different operating states of a further embodiment of the system. The capturing unit EU may include a medical imaging device (e.g., a medical C-arm X-ray device 37). The medical C-arm X-ray device 37 may be configured to acquire medical image data having a mapping of the medical object MO and of the examination object 31, and supply the medical image data to the processing unit PU. In an operating state of the system, the examination object 31 may be arranged on a patient support apparatus 32. The medical C-arm X-ray device 37 may have a detector 34 (e.g., an X-ray detector) and a source 33 (e.g., an X-ray source). For acquiring the medical image data of the examination object 31 and the medical object MO, the processing unit PU may send a signal 24 to the X-ray source 33. The X-ray source 33 may then emit an X-ray beam. On impingement of the X-ray beam, after interaction with the examination object 31 and the medical object MO, on a surface of the detector 34, the detector 34 may send a signal 21 to the processing unit PU. The processing unit PU may receive the medical image data with the aid of the signal 21. Further, the processing unit PU may be configured to capture the positioning POS of the predefined section VD of the medical object MO using the image data.

[0080] In one embodiment, the light guiding facility LFE may be arranged on the medical C-arm X-ray device 37 and/or be at least partially integrated in the medical C-arm X-ray device 37. The light guiding facility LFE may be mounted in a movable manner with respect to the examination object 31 (e.g., via a rotation of the C-arm 38). The C-arm 38 of the C-arm X-ray device 37 may be mounted in a movable manner around one or more axes. Further, the X-ray source 33 and the detector 34 may each be arranged at one end of the C-arm 38. In one embodiment, the light guiding facility LFE, as schematically represented in FIG. 4, may be arranged in a first positioning for emitting the light distribution LV. Further, the planning information PLI may specify a desired path for the arrangement of the medical object MO. The light guiding facility LFE may be configured to emit a further light distribution LVF, which illuminates the medical object MO with a predefined light pattern when the further light distribution LVF is arranged on the desired path. As schematically represented in FIG. 5, the light guiding facility LFE may be arranged in a further positioning (e.g., a second positioning) for emitting the further light distribution LVF. The second positioning differs from the first positioning.

[0081] The system may also have an input unit 42 (e.g., a keyboard) and a presentation unit 41 (e.g., a monitor and/or a display and/or a projector). The input unit 42 may be integrated in the presentation unit 41 (e.g., in the case of a capacitive and/or resistive input display). The input unit 42 may be configured for capturing a user input. For this, the input unit 42 may, for example, send a signal 26 to the processing unit PU. The processing unit PU may be configured to control the medical C-arm X-ray device 37 and/or the light guiding facility LFE as a function of the user input (e.g., as a function of the signal 26). The presentation unit 41 may be configured to display a graphical representation of the medical image data. For this, the processing unit PU may send a signal 25 to the presentation unit 41.

[0082] FIG. 6 schematically represents an embodiment of a method for emitting EM-LV a light distribution LV. The planning information PLI, which specifies the desired depth D for the arrangement of the predefined section VD in the examination object 31 with respect to the entry point IP of the medical object MO in the examination object 31, may be received REC-PLI. In addition, the light distribution LV may be emitted EM-LV by the light guiding facility LFE as a function of the planning information PLI and the predefined relative positioning such that the mark MK is illuminated if the predefined section VD is arranged at the desired depth D. In one embodiment, information relating to the relative positioning REL of the mark MK with respect to the predefined section VD may be received REC-REL (e.g., captured or determined).

[0083] FIG. 7 schematically represents a further embodiment of the method for emitting EM-LV a light distribution LV. Medical image data BD having a mapping of the medical object MO and of the examination object 31 may be acquired ACQ-BD by a medical imaging device (e.g., by the medical C-arm X-ray device 37). Further, the positioning POS of the predefined section VD of the medical object MO may be captured CAP-POS using the image data BD. The medical object MO may be identified ID-MO in the process. Further, the predefined relative positioning of the mark MK with respect to the predefined section VD may be determined using the identification of the medical object MO.

[0084] FIG. 8 shows a schematic representation of a further embodiment of the method for emitting EM-LV a light distribution LV. In one embodiment, the planning information PLI may also specify the desired path SP for the arrangement of the medical object MO. The further light distribution LVF may be emitted by the light guiding facility LFE such that the medical object MO is illuminated by the predefined light pattern when the medical object MO is arranged on the desired path SP.

[0085] Further, the medical object MO may have a plurality of marks MK1, MK2, MK3 and MK4 that each have a predefined relative positioning with respect to the predefined section VD. The plurality of marks MK1, MK2, MK3 and MK4, at least with illumination by the predefined light distribution, may have an optically distinguishable property. Further, one of the marks MK1, MK2, MK3 and MK4 (e.g., the mark MK3) may be identified ID-MK as the mark to be illuminated MK. The light distribution LV may be emitted EM-LV such that the light distribution illuminates the identified mark MK if the predefined section VD is arranged at the desired depth D.

[0086] The schematic representations contained in the described figures do not represent any kind of scale or size ratios.

[0087] The preceding methods and apparatuses described in detail are merely embodiments that a person skilled in the art may modify in a wide variety of ways without departing from the scope of the invention. Further, use of the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not preclude the relevant features from also being present multiple times. Similarly, the terms “units” and “element” do not preclude the relevant components from being composed of a plurality of cooperating sub-components that may optionally also be spatially distributed.

[0088] The elements and features recited in the appended claims may be combined in different ways to produce new claims that likewise fall within the scope of the present invention. Thus, whereas the dependent claims appended below depend from only a single independent or dependent claim, it is to be understood that these dependent claims may, alternatively, be made to depend in the alternative from any preceding or following claim, whether independent or dependent. Such new combinations are to be understood as forming a part of the present specification.

[0089] While the present invention has been described above by reference to various embodiments, it should be understood that many changes and modifications can be made to the described embodiments. It is therefore intended that the foregoing description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting, and that it be understood that all equivalents and/or combinations of embodiments are intended to be included in this description.