This invention relates to anatomical imaging systems in general, and more particularly to Computerized Tomography (CT) imaging systems.
Computerized Tomography (CT) has emerged as a key imaging modality in the visualization of anatomy. CT scanners generally operate by directing X-rays into the body from a variety of positions, detecting the X-rays passing through the body, and then processing the detected X-rays so as to build a three-dimensional (3D) computer model of the patient's anatomy. This 3D computer model can then be visualized (e.g., as a 3D visualization or as individual “slice” visualizations) so as to provide images of the patient's anatomy. See, for example,
Ideally, it would be desirable to continuously image the patient's anatomy during a medical procedure so as to provide substantially continuous imaging information to the physician during the procedure. Such substantially continuous imaging could comprise a series of images taken in rapid succession or this continuous imaging could comprise live video imaging. Such substantially continuous imaging would allow the physician to observe changes in the patient's anatomy during the procedure, as well as to observe the position of instruments, prostheses, etc. vis-à-vis the patient's anatomy.
Such an approach is frequently used with conventional two-dimensional (2D) X-ray machines, and is sometimes referred to as “fluoroscopy”.
Unfortunately, CT machines, since they must direct X-rays into the body from a variety of positions, emit significantly higher quantities of radiation during imaging than conventional 2D X-ray machines. Therefore, it is generally impractical to operate a conventional CT machine substantially continuously during a medical procedure, whereby to provide 3D fluoroscopy during the medical procedure, since the quantity of radiation which would be emitted during the medical procedure is generally deemed unacceptable.
Furthermore, operating a conventional CT machine at significantly reduced X-ray intensities so as to provide 3D fluoroscopy is generally not a viable option, since scanning anatomy with significantly reduced X-ray intensities generally results in an inferior image, particularly where low-contrast (e.g., soft tissue) anatomy is involved. See, for example,
Thus, there is a need for a new and improved CT system which would provide 3D fluoroscopy of an internal procedure site during a medical procedure so as to visualize patient anatomy, medical instruments, prosthesis, etc. during the medical procedure without subjecting the patient to unacceptable quantities of X-ray radiation.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a novel CT system capable of providing 3D fluoroscopy of an internal procedure site during a medical procedure so as to visualize patient anatomy, medical instruments, prosthesis, etc. during the medical procedure without subjecting the patient to unacceptable quantities of X-ray radiation. This new CT system provides 3D fluoroscopy of the internal procedure site using a standard intensity CT scan with reduced intensity CT scan overlays.
In one preferred form of the invention, there is provided a method for providing CT fluoroscopy of an internal procedure site during a medical procedure so as to visualize patient anatomy and a high-contrast medical element during the medical procedure without subjecting the patient to unacceptable quantities of X-ray radiation, the method comprising:
(1) taking a standard intensity CT scan of the internal procedure site;
(2) taking a reduced intensity CT scan of the internal procedure site while the high-contrast medical element is inserted into the internal procedure site;
(3) extracting the high-contrast medical element portion of the reduced intensity CT scan from the reduced intensity CT scan taken in Step 2;
(4) merging the high-contrast medical element portion of the reduced intensity CT scan extracted in Step 3 with the standard intensity CT scan of the internal procedure site taken in Step 1 so as to provide a composite CT scan;
(5) displaying the composite CT scan generated in Step 4; and
(6) returning to either Step 1 or Step 2.
In another preferred form of the invention, there is provided apparatus for providing CT fluoroscopy of an internal procedure site during a medical procedure so as to visualize patient anatomy and a high-contrast medical element during the medical procedure without subjecting the patient to unacceptable quantities of X-ray radiation, the apparatus comprising:
These and other objects and features of the present invention will be more fully disclosed or rendered obvious by the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, which is to be considered together with the accompanying drawings wherein like numbers refer to like parts, and further wherein:
The present invention provides a novel CT system capable of providing 3D fluoroscopy of an internal procedure site during a medical procedure so as to visualize patient anatomy, medical instruments, prostheses, etc. during the medical procedure without subjecting the patient to unacceptable quantities of X-ray radiation. This new CT system provides 3D fluoroscopy of the internal procedure site using a standard intensity CT scan with reduced intensity CT scan overlays.
More particularly, it has been noted that certain medical elements (e.g., surgical instruments, prostheses, catheters, needles, injectable substances such as iodine, etc.) are relatively high-contrast elements which are capable of being accurately visualized using lower X-ray intensities than is generally necessary in order to accurately visualize low-contrast (e.g., soft tissue) anatomy. Thus, for example,
In accordance with the present invention, the CT fluoroscopy system of the present invention first takes a standard intensity CT scan of the internal procedure site before the high-contrast medical element (e.g., surgical instrument, prosthesis, catheter, needle, injectable substances such as iodine, etc.) is inserted into the surgical field. See
Thereafter, the CT fluoroscopy system takes a reduced intensity CT scan of the internal procedure site while the high-contrast medical element is inserted into the internal procedure site. See
Next, the CT fluoroscopy system extracts the high-contrast medical element portion of the reduced intensity CT scan of
Then the CT fluoroscopy system merges (with appropriate element registration) (i) the extracted high-contrast medical element portion of the reduced intensity CT scan (
Significantly, inasmuch as the high-contrast medical element is imaged with a reduced intensity CT scan, the high-contrast medical element may be scanned on a substantially continuous basis (e.g., as a series of scans taken in rapid succession or as a live video scan), even though the anatomy is imaged on a less regular basis, whereby to effectively provide 3D fluoroscopy of an internal procedure site during a medical procedure so as to visualize patient anatomy, medical instruments, prosthesis, etc. during the medical procedure without subjecting the patient to unacceptable quantities of X-ray radiation. Thus it is anticipated that multiple reduced intensity CT scans will be made of the internal procedure site for each standard intensity CT scan of the internal procedure site when a high-contrast medical element is moving about the internal procedure site. By way of example but not limitation, the high-contrast medical element may be scanned with a reduced intensity CT scan ten (10) times as often as the internal procedure site is scanned with a standard intensity CT scan. Thus it will be appreciated that the CT scan of the medical element is effectively “refreshed” 10 times as often as the CT scan of the internal procedure site.
See
It will be appreciated that still further embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the present disclosure. It is to be understood that the present invention is by no means limited to the particular constructions herein disclosed and/or shown in the drawings, but also comprises any modifications or equivalents within the scope of the invention.
This patent application claims benefit of pending prior U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/716,341, filed Oct. 19, 2012 by Eric Bailey for COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHY (CT) FLUOROSCOPY IMAGING SYSTEM USING HIGH DOSE SCAN WITH LOW DOSE OVERLAY (Attorney's Docket No. NEUROLOGICA-10 PROV), which patent application is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61716341 | Oct 2012 | US |