Coordinate Space Co-Registration for Multi-Modality Medical Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical imaging techniques, such as MRI and ultrasound, have limitations in providing comprehensive visualization of tissues, particularly in combining real-time feedback and detailed soft-tissue contrast, and there is a need to integrate multiple imaging modalities to enhance diagnostic accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for co-registering different coordinate spaces to dynamically transform and display three-dimensional medical images, allowing simultaneous visualization of tissue images from multiple modalities like MRI and ultrasound by tracking the movement of an ultrasound probe and adjusting the MRI image accordingly, using a 4 × 4 transformation matrix to align the images based on rotational and translational components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple imaging modalities (MRI and ultrasound) are integrated to provide comprehensive visualization, then diagnostic accuracy and real-time feedback are improved, but device complexity and coordinate alignment difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces transmitters as intermediary elements attached to the ultrasound probe, which serve as mediators between the ultrasound coordinate system and the MRI coordinate system. These transmitters enable precise tracking and transformation of coordinates between the two imaging modalities, allowing accurate alignment without direct complex integration of the MRI and ultrasound systems themselves.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical alignment systems with a transmitter-based tracking system that uses electromagnetic or optical fields to determine probe position and orientation. This substitution simplifies the mechanical complexity while maintaining or improving alignment precision between different imaging modalities.
2Loss of information
If coordinate spaces from different imaging modalities are co-registered to enable simultaneous display, then real-time feedback and comprehensive tissue visualization are improved, but transformation and alignment difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The transmitters attached to the ultrasound probe act as intermediaries that bridge the coordinate systems of ultrasound and MRI. By tracking the position and orientation of these transmitters, the system can automatically calculate transformation matrices that co-register the two coordinate spaces, eliminating the need for manual alignment and reducing the difficulty of coordinate transformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary calibration by establishing the relationship between transmitter positions and probe orientation before actual imaging. This preliminary action creates a stored transformation model that can be applied automatically during imaging, simplifying the coordinate alignment process and enabling real-time co-registration without complex measurements during the imaging procedure.
3Productivity
If ultrasound probe movement is tracked to dynamically adjust MRI image display, then real-time feedback is improved, but tracking system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transmitters serve as simple intermediary elements that attach to the ultrasound probe and are tracked by an external tracking system. This approach separates the tracking function from the ultrasound probe itself, allowing the probe to remain relatively simple while the tracking system handles the complexity of real-time position and orientation measurement.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables simultaneous display of MRI and ultrasound images, leveraging the strengths of both modalities to provide enhanced visualization and real-time feedback, improving diagnostic accuracy and procedural guidance during treatments like biopsies.
Implementation Method 1
a tracking system capable of tracking the positions of a plurality of transmitters removably connected to the imaging probe
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for transforming a displayed three-dimensional image corresponding to a position and orientation of a field of view of an imaging probe. A three dimensional image of a tissue in a first co-ordinate space can be displayed. A field of view of an imaging probe in a second co-ordinate space can be configured, where the imaging probe has a plurality of transmitters removably connected to it, the transmitters operable to determine the position and orientation of the field of view relative to the positions of the transmitters in the second co-ordinate space. The first and second co-ordinate spaces can be co-registered, and the position and orientation of the field of view in the second co-ordinate space can be transformed to the first co-ordinate space. The three-dimensional image can be displayed to correspond to the transformed position and orientation of the field of view.