Frameless stereotactic tomographic scanner for image guided

Abstract

A frameless stereotactic tomographic scanner includes an imaging device defining a coordinate system in scanner space (.PI.). A localizer device 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 position transducer associated with the localizer device generates, in a localizer space (), localizer device tip location information as the localizer device is moved near the patient body. A localizer space to scanner space transform processor converts the localizer tip location information to converted localizer tip location information in an image space (). The imaging device is adapted to generate patient body image information in the image space () regarding the patient body disposed on the device. A display unit is included for displaying the patient body image information together with the localizer tip position information on a human readable display monitor. The base portion of the localizer device is adapted for mounting onto the imaging device at a plurality of fixed positions. The imaging device includes an overhead track assembly defining the set of fixed localizer device positions. A calibration phantom is provided including a set of imagable touch point sites for generating a localizer space to scanner space vector based on a pair of centroids developed in the scanner space (TT) and the localizer space (RR) during a calibration and verification process.