Motion tracking system for real time adaptive imaging and spectroscopy

Abstract

This invention relates to a system that adaptively compensates for subject motion in real-time in an imaging system. An object orientation marker (), preferably a retro-grate reflector (RGR), is placed on the head or other body organ of interest of a patient (P) during a scan, such as an MRI scan. The marker () makes it possible to measure the six degrees of freedom (x, y, and z-translations, and pitch, yaw, and roll), or 'pose', required to track motion of the organ of interest. A detector, preferably a camera (), observes the marker () and continuously extracts its pose. The pose from the camera () is sent to the scanner () via an RGR processing computer () and a scanner control and processing computer (), allowing for continuous correction of scan planes and position (in real-time) for motion of the patient (P). This invention also provides for internal calibration and for co-registration over time of the scanner's and tracking system's reference frames to compensate for drift and other inaccuracies that may arise over time.