Automatic c-arm viewing angles for structural heart disease treatment

Abstract

In a method for positioning an X-ray image acquisition device a straight reference plane () intersecting a three-dimensional representation of the object, a center point () within the intersection of the object, a normal vector () to the reference plane and at least one tangential vector () within the reference plane are created. Thereafter, the reference plane, the object's frame of reference and the X-ray image acquisition's frame of reference are registered. At least one viewing direction derived from the normal vector () and/or at least one tangential vector () is defined, wherein the X-ray image acquisition device is adjusted to the geometrical parameters of the X-ray image acquisition device. Thereby, planned and stored optimal viewing directions may be made available by a single push of a button, leading to automatically positioning of the X-ray image acquisition device and a much faster adjustment of the live guidance image, thus resulting in less exposure of radiation as well as a less cumbersome adjustment procedure. Furthermore a more optimal deployment of the interventional devices can be reached, since they can be more accurately positioned.