CT Needle Position Imaging With Merged Tilted Slices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing CT-guided interventional procedures face challenges in accurately and efficiently determining the position of a needle due to incomplete information from individual radiographic imaging slices, requiring time-consuming manual assessment of multiple slices and increasing radiation dose.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method that combines information from multiple radiographic imaging slices to determine the position of a needle by merging data from outside and inside the body, generating a combined needle region, and displaying a digitally tilted image to visualize the entire needle trajectory, entry point, and tip position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple radiographic imaging slices are obtained to ensure accurate needle position identification, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time and radiation dose increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple radiographic imaging slices into a single composite image that displays the complete needle trajectory. The system combines information from multiple slices showing different portions of the needle (inside and outside the body) into one integrated visualization, allowing users to assess the entire needle path without manually reviewing multiple separate slices, thus reducing procedure time while maintaining measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms three-dimensional needle position information distributed across multiple two-dimensional slices into a single two-dimensional composite image that represents the complete trajectory. By projecting and merging data from multiple spatial slices into one synthesized image, the system provides comprehensive needle position information in a single view, eliminating the need to sequentially examine multiple slices
2Measurement precision
If multiple radiographic imaging slices are obtained to ensure accurate needle position identification, then measurement precision is improved, but radiation dose increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system combines data from multiple radiographic imaging slices into a single composite image that contains complete needle trajectory information. By merging the informational content of multiple slices into one integrated display, the system allows accurate needle position assessment without requiring the patient to undergo multiple separate scanning operations, thereby reducing cumulative radiation exposure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a synthesized composite image that copies and integrates the essential information from multiple radiographic slices into a single representation. This composite copy contains all necessary needle position data that would otherwise require examining multiple original slices, reducing the need for additional radiation exposure while maintaining diagnostic accuracy
3Measurement precision
If the imaging apparatus is physically tilted to obtain radiographic imaging slices along the needle trajectory, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and procedure time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical tilting of the imaging apparatus with a computational image processing approach. Instead of physically repositioning the CT scanner to align with the needle trajectory, the system uses software to digitally tilt and merge multiple axial slices into a composite image that displays the needle path in the desired orientation, thereby eliminating complex mechanical operations while achieving the same visualization goal
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a computational processing system as an intermediary between the standard axial CT scanning and the desired tilted needle trajectory visualization. This intermediary software layer takes常规 axial slices as input and produces a digitally tilted composite image as output, eliminating the need for physical apparatus tilting while achieving accurate needle trajectory representation
Data Source
AI summary
In an embodiment, a method (100) is described. The method comprises receiving (102) data corresponding to a plurality of radiographic imaging slices of a body. The method further comprises determining (104) a position of a needle inserted in the body. The determination is based on combining information from at least one of the radiographic imaging slices comprising an indication of a first portion of the needle outside the body and at least one other of the radiographic imaging slices comprising an indication of a second portion of the needle inside the body. A combined needle region is generated by merging data corresponding to a position of the first portion of the needle outside the body with data corresponding to a position of the second portion of the needle inside the body. The method further comprises generating (106) display data for providing a visual representation of the needle in an image of the body in combination with a visual representation of at least the first and second portions of the needle superimposed on the image. The image is in a plane that is digitally tilted with respect to a plane parallel to the plurality of radiographic imaging slices.