Life Imaging Systems, Inc.

Robarts Research Institute

Other

The University of Western Ontario

London Health Association

The John P. Robarts Research Institute

London Health Assoc.

Victoria Hospital Corporation

London Health Sciences Centre

Donal B Downey

Aaron Fenster

Hanif M Ladak

David A Steinman

Lori Anne Gardi

Shane Dunne

John Miller

Derek Cool

Shi Sherebrin

Chandima Edirisinghe

Mingyue Ding

Thomas K Chan

Shidong Tong

A method of registering the position of an object moving in a target volume in an ultrasound imaging system includes capturing a first ultrasound image of a target volume. A second ultrasound image of the target volume is then captured after the capturing of the first ultrasound image. The position of the object in the target volume is identified using differences detected between the first and second ultrasound images. In another aspect, a region of interest in the target volume is determined. A segment of an operational scan range of a transducer of the ultrasound imaging system encompassing the region of interest is determined. The transducer is focused on the segment of the operational scan range during image capture.

Ultrasound imaging system and methods of imaging using the same

A system and method for performing a biopsy of a target volume and a computing device for planning the same are provided. A three-dimensional ultrasound transducer captures ultrasound volume data from the target volume. A three-dimensional registration module registers the ultrasound volume data with supplementary volume data related to the target volume. A biopsy planning module processes the ultrasound volume data and the supplementary volume data in combination in order to develop a biopsy plan for the target volume. A biopsy needle biopsies the target volume in accordance with the biopsy plan.

System and method for performing a biopsy of a target volume and a computing device for planning the same

Biopsy of the prostate using 2D transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) guidance is the current gold standard for diagnosis of prostate cancer; however, the current procedure is limited by using 2D biopsy tools to target 3D biopsy locations. We have discovered a technique for patient-specific 3D prostate model reconstruction from a sparse collection of non-parallel 2D TRUS biopsy images. Our method can be easily integrated with current TRUS biopsy equipment and could be incorporated into current clinical biopsy procedures for needle guidance without the need for expensive hardware additions. We have demonstrated the model reconstruction technique using simulated biopsy images from 3D TRUS prostate images of 10 biopsy patients. This technique of model reconstruction is not limited to the prostate, but can be applied to the reconstruction of any tissue acquired with non-parallel 2-dimensional ultrasound images.

3D tissue model formation from non-parallel 2D images

An apparatus for determining a distribution of a selected therapy in a target volume is provided. A three-dimensional ultrasound transducer captures volume data from the target volume. A computing device is in communication with the three-dimensional ultrasound transducer for receiving the volume data and determining the distribution of the selected therapy in the target volume along a set of planned needle trajectories using the volume data. At least one of the needle trajectories is oblique to at least one other of the planned needle trajectories.

Apparatus and computing device for performing brachytherapy and methods of imaging using the same

A fast semi-automatic prostate contouring method is provided using model-based initialization and an efficient Discrete Dynamic Contour (DDC) for boundary refinement. The user initiates the process of the preferred embodiment by identifying four (4) points on the prostate boundary, thereby scaling and shaping a prostate model, and then the final prostate contour is refined with a DDC. The method of the present invention has particular application during the pre-implant planning phase of a brachytherapy procedure. However, this method also has uses in any phase of dose planning in the brachytherapy procedure or any other therapy approach.

Prostate boundary segmentation from 2D and 3D ultrasound images

The present invention is directed to a 3D ultrasound-guided intraoperative brachytherapy method for the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer in men. The method comprises the steps of a pre-implant planning phase using 3D TRUS and semi-automated contouring, an implantation phase and a post plan verification phase for monitoring.

3D ultrasound-guided intraoperative prostate brachytherapy

A method and system, employed in combination with a three-dimensional ultrasonographic imaging system, for assisting and placing at least one medical instrument into a prostate during a percutaneous prostrate therapeutic procedure. A process means for determining the spatial relationship between three-dimensional ultrasonographic images of the prostate generated via the transrectal transducer and a reference means. In addition, the method and system assists in guiding and placement of the medical instrument into a target location in the prostate.

System, employing three-dimensional ultrasonographic imaging, for assisting in guiding and placing medical instruments

A system and process are provided for performing percutaneous biopsy within a breast using three-dimension ultrasonography and including a breast positioning device, a breast immobilization device, an ultrasonic imaging device, a biopsy instrument positioning device, the breast immobilization device and the three-dimensional ultrasonographic imaging device being positioned in a known relationship to each other, the breast immobilization device being employed to immobilize the breast and a lesion contained therein for imaging by the three-dimensional ultrasonic imaging device, and the three-dimensional ultrasonic imaging device being employed to assist an operator in positioning the biopsy instrument positioning device relative to the lesion and guiding a biopsy instrument percutaneously to the lesion.

System and process for performing percutaneous biopsy within the breast using three-dimensional ultrasonography

A method and apparatus is disclosed, employed in combination with an ultrasonographic system, for assisting in guiding and placing at least one medical instrument into a target tissue during a minimally invasive medical procedure. The apparatus comprises: a reference means; a processing means in communication with the ultrasonographic system; and a mounting means for mounting the reference means in a predetermined relationship to an ultrasonographic transducer. The reference means includes a plurality of apertures arranged in an predefined manner which are sized to permit at least one medical instrument to pass therethrough. The processing means determines the spatial relationship between the target tissue and the reference means and further merges a representation of the plurality of apertures with the ultrasonographic image to form a positioning image. The positioning image assists in the guiding and placement of the at least one medical instrument into a target location by identifying a path to the target location via a selected aperture. Preferably, each aperture is provided with an internal adjustment means to permit minor adjustment to the selected path.

Apparatus for guiding medical instruments during ultrasonographic imaging

A 3-D ultrasound imaging system for the eye, prostate and other organs, comprising an assembly onto which an ultrasound probe may be mounted, a motor and drive for either rotating or scanning the probe relative to the human organ under investigation, and a computer for executing proprietary software for controlling movement of the assembly to rotate or scan the probe. Ultrasound signals from the probe are processed via a clinical ultrasound machine for generating multiple images of the organ. The proprietary software being executed on the computer collects the 2-D ultrasound images of the clinical ultrasound machine and reconstructs these images to form a 3-D display which can be viewed and manipulated in real time, or stored for later retrieval.

Three dimensional ultrasound imaging system

A three-dimensional ultrasound imaging system includes an ultrasound probe to direct ultrasound waves to and to receive reflected ultrasound waves from a target volume of a subject under examination. The ultrasound probe is swept over the target volume and the reflected ultrasound waves are conveyed to a computer wherein successive two-dimensional images of the target volume are reconstructed to form a three-dimensional image of the target volume. The three-dimensional image is displayed on the monitor of the computer. A user interface allows a user to manipulate the displayed image. Specifically, the entire displayed image may be rotated about an arbitrary axis, a surface of the displayed image may be translated to provide different cross-sectional views of the image and a selected surface of the displayed image may be rotated about an arbitrary axis. All of these manipulations can be achieved via a single graphical input device such as a mouse connected to the computer.

Growing community of inventors

Kamloops, Canada

Donal B Downey