Multi-Plane Image Registration for Medical Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional medical imaging systems face challenges in precise image registration due to manual plane matching errors and the inability to display multiple planes, leading to imprecise needle placement and procedures.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing an electronic 3D probe to generate live images in multiple planes, allowing for concurrent image fusion and registration between real-time and static imaging modalities, enabling user alignment and improved visualization for precise procedure guidance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If conventional plane registration is used with manual plane matching, then registration speed is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to probe angle errors in the sagittal plane
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from single-plane (2D) registration to multi-plane (3D) registration by acquiring and displaying images in multiple planes simultaneously. This dimensional expansion allows operators to verify alignment in both axial and sagittal planes, eliminating the probe angle errors that plague single-plane manual registration while maintaining registration speed through automated multi-planar acquisition.
2Device complexity
If conventional single-plane imaging is used, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to inability to verify centering in multiple planes
Solution Approach 1:
The system acquires and displays images in multiple planes (axial, sagittal, and coronal) simultaneously, transitioning from 2D to 3D visualization. This multi-planar approach allows operators to verify lesion centering and needle placement accuracy in all three anatomical planes, eliminating the partial volume effects and centering errors inherent in single-plane imaging.
3Ease of operation
If manual plane matching is employed for image fusion, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to susceptibility to operator error and probe angle variations
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides real-time visual feedback by displaying multiple planes simultaneously with overlay graphics indicating alignment status. This feedback mechanism guides operators through the registration process, allowing them to visually confirm proper alignment in all planes before finalizing registration, thereby eliminating the reliability issues associated with manual single-plane matching while maintaining operational simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for image alignment includes an alignment mechanism (132) configured to permit user alignment of images. A first imaging modality (110) is configured to concurrently provide images in two imaging planes using an imaging mechanism (134) associated with the alignment mechanism (132). An image processing module (126) is configured to display first images collected with the first imaging modality and second images collected with a second imaging modality (130) to permit user alignment using the alignment mechanism between the first images and the second images in multiple planes. A registration module (115) is stored in memory and configured to register the first images with corresponding second images in the multiple planes when alignment in the multiple planes has been achieved.