Patent · US Active

Method and apparatus for visualizing anatomical structures

US7725165B2 · kind B2 · utility

117Cited by
7References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 7, 2005
Grant dateMay 25, 2010
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 14, 2028

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B2090/376
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Apparatus and method for producing a virtual road map of a patient's vascular anatomy comprising a virtual 3D model of the patient's vascular and bony structure in proper registration with one another, a fluoroscope for providing real-time images of the bony structure of the patient, registration apparatus for placing the virtual 3D model in proper registration with the patient space of the fluoroscope, bone mask subtraction apparatus for generating a bone mask of the bony structure, and subtracting the same from the real-time images, whereby to create modified fluoroscope images omitting bony structure, and image generating apparatus for generating the virtual road map comprising a composite image combining (i) images of the virtual 3D structure representing the vascular structure, and (ii) modified fluoroscope images omitting bony structure, wherein the images of the virtual 3D structure representing vascular structure are in proper registration with the modified fluoroscope images omitting bony structure.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.