Picker International, Inc.

Philips Medical Systems (cleveland), Inc.

Gammex, Inc.

Kenneth L Freeman

Joseph S Deucher

Pieter Gerhard Roos

Andrew J Ivan

Leonard F Plut

Dennis K Everett

John J Barni

Marc Piscitelli

Stephen P Dechant

Dominic J Heuscher

Jeffrey Harold Yanof

Donald E Negrelli

Cristel Baiu

Darrell M Smith

Gary A Kaufmann

David W Hoffmeyer

Kim S Luckner

Karl Scheibengraber

Barry L Werner

David Schmocker

Jeffrey M Yanof

A computed tomography perfusion phantom includes a scanned plane configured to align with an imaging plane of a CT device. A sample rod extends through the scan plane and includes a plurality of adjacent cells. The plurality of adjacent cells are each constructed of materials having predetermined CT numbers and the plurality of adjacent cells include cell of a plurality of CT numbers. A drive motor is coupled to the sample rod and the drive motor moves the sample rod through the scan plane. A method of calibrating a CT device with the perfusion phantom includes aligning the scan plane of the perfusion phantom with an imaging plane of the CT device. The drive motor moves the sample rod through the scan plane of the perfusion phantom. A plurality of CT number measurements of the sample rod are acquired through the scanned plane of the perfusion phantom.

Computed tomography perfusion phantom and method use thereof

An alignment device includes an incoherent light source, a first convex lens, a mirror rod, and a second convex lens. The incoherent light source emits incoherent light that is received by the first convex lens that produces a low divergence light beam. The low divergence light beam is directed to the mirror rod that reflects the light beam to the second convex lens that focuses the light beam to a convergent light beam.

Variable color incoherent alignment line and cross-hair generator

A frame (A) of a diagnostic imaging device such as a CT scanner or an MRI device has a bore defining a patient examination region ( ). A first x-ray source (B) is mounted to a frame (C) for rotation around the examination region ( ). An arc of first radiation detectors ( ) detects x-rays which have traversed the examination region. A first image reconstruction processor ( ) reconstructs a tomographic image representation from signals generated by the first radiation detectors. A fluoroscopy device (D) is mechanically coupled to the diagnostic scanner for generating and displaying at least substantially real-time fluoroscopic projection image representations on a display monitor ( ). A second x-ray source ( ) transmits x-rays to an amorphous silicon flat panel radiation detector ( ). A second image reconstruction processor ( ) reconstructs the fluoroscopic projection image representations from signals generated by the flat panel radiation detector ( ). A C-arm ( ) supports the second x-ray source ( ) and the flat panel radiation detector ( ) in a plane offset from a plane of the C-arm. A movable mounting structure (E) is mechanically connected with the gantry (A) and the C-arm ( ) to move the C-arm between a stored position and an operating position adjacent the bore.

Fluoro-assist feature for a diagnostic imaging device

A tomographic scanner includes an imaging device for obtaining images of the anatomy of a patient. A localizer device such as an articulated arm includes a base portion mounted in a fixed relationship to the imaging device and a free end adapted for selective movement into varied positions near a patient body disposed on the imaging device. A guide device such as grid lattice is attached to the free end of the arm. A position transducer associated with the localizer device generates information as to the position of the localizer and hence the position of the guide device in scanner coordinates. The guide device contains a plurality of needle guides. The position of the guide device is displayed in relation to images of the anatomy of the patient. This information is used by the operator to guide the insertion of brachytherapy seeds in a desired pattern and location in relation to the anatomy of the patient.

Method and apparatus for planning brachytherapy surgical procedures

A patient supported on a patient support (12) is moved into a bore (22) of a planning imaging device, such as a CT scanner (20). A three-dimensional diagnostic image in three-dimensional diagnostic image space is generated and stored in a memory (130). The patient is repositioned outside of the bore with a region of interest in alignment with a real time imaging device, such as a fluoroscopic imaging device (40). A surgical planning instrument (60), such as a pointer or biopsy needle (62), is mounted on an articulated arm (64). As the instrument is inserted into the region of interest, fluoroscopic images are generated and stored in a memory (140). The coordinate systems of the CT scanner, the fluoroscopic device, and the surgical instrument are correlated (102, 104, 112, 120) such that the instrument is displayed on both the CT images (134) and the fluoroscopic images (50), such that cursors move concurrently along the fluoroscopic and CT images, and the like. In a preferred embodiment in which the cursor on the CT image display is at an intersection of transverse, sagittal, and coronal planes, the displayed planes change as the cursor moves coordinating the displayed CT image planes with the position of the cursor on the fluoroscopic image.

Integrated fluoroscopic projection image data, volumetric image data,

A frame (A) of a diagnostic imaging device such as a CT scanner or an MRI device has a bore defining a patient examination region (12). A first x-ray source (B) is mounted to a frame (C) for rotation around the examination region (12). An arc of first radiation detectors (14) detects x-rays which have traversed the examination region. A first image reconstruction processor (18) reconstructs a tomographic image representation from signals generated by the first radiation detectors. A fluoroscopy device (D) is mechanically coupled to the diagnostic scanner for generating and displaying at least substantially real-time fluoroscopic projection image representations on a display monitor (60). A second x-ray source (32) transmits x-rays to an amorphous silicon flat panel radiation detector (36). A second image reconstruction processor (58) reconstructs the fluoroscopic projection image representations from signals generated by the flat panel radiation detector (36). A C-arm (30) supports the second x-ray source (32) and the flat panel radiation detector (36) in a plane offset from a plane of the C-arm. A movable mounting structure (E) is mechanically connected with the gantry (A) and the C-arm (30) to move the C-arm between a stored position and an operating position adjacent the bore.

A gantry (A) has a bore defining a first patient examination region (12). A first x-ray source (B) is mounted to a frame (C) for rotation around the examination region (12). An arc of first radiation detectors (14) detects x-rays which have traversed the examination region. A first image reconstruction processor (18) reconstructs a tomographic image representation from signals generated by the first radiation detectors. An angiographic device (D) is positioned remote from the gantry along a longitudinal axis (25) for generating and displaying angiographic image representations on a display monitor (46). A second examination region is defined along the longitudinal axis (25) between a second x-ray source (36) and an image intensifier tube (38). A second processor (44) reconstructs the angiographic projection image representations from signals generated by the image intensifier tube (38). A C-arm (30) can be suspended from an overhead track (50) for supporting the second x-ray source (36) and the image intensifier tube (38). A common patient support (24-28) extends along the longitudinal axis between the gantry and the angiographic device for positioning a patient within the first and second examination regions. The patient support includes a slide mechanism (60-64) which permits the patient support to be retracted from the gantry. The processors (18, 44) can be a incorporated into a single controller (E) which fuses or combines an image generated by the angiographic imaging subsystem with an image generated by the tomographic imaging subsystem.

Angiographic system incorporating a computerized tomographic (CT) scanner

A radiation source which generates a radiation cone-beam (14) and a two-dimensional radiation detector are spiralled continuously around and longitudinally relative to an imaging volume. Image data from the two-dimensional display is reconstructed (30.sub.1, 30.sub.2, . . . 30.sub.n) into a volumetric, physiological image stored in a subject memory (32). During an interventional surgical procedure with a surgical instrument (42), the x-ray source is gated to operate intermittently, e.g., at 60.degree. angular intervals, at a reduced radiation intensity by an x-ray tube control (40). The additional data is reconstructed into a three-dimensional image representation of the surgical instrument and stored in an instrument memory (34). An operator image selection processor (60) causes data retrieval circuits (62a, 62b) to retrieve like slices or other image representations from the subject and instrument memories. The retrieved data is combined (64) such that a resultant human-readable display (68) shows the instrument superimposed on the anatomical image. The surgical instrument volumetric image is continuously updated such that the display represents a real time display of the surgical instrument illustrating its advancement through the imaging region.

Growing community of inventors

Stow, OH, United States of America

Kenneth L Freeman