Stereo X-Ray Image Overlay for 3D Navigation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for displaying overlapping X-ray images of a body region lack defined orientation and scale, making it impossible to accurately connect and display them with the same scale, which limits the effective imaging area for three-dimensional navigation.

Innovation Solution

The method involves using a stereo recording system with a navigation system to precisely orient and scale X-ray images by moving the x-ray detector around a spherical shell, aligning the x-ray source and detector positions, and employing markers for spatial calibration to ensure accurate pixel alignment and adjustment, allowing for coherent and oriented image reproduction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If multiple X-ray images are displayed on separate monitors, then image information is preserved, but defined orientation and scale relationship between images is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage informationVSAvoidorientation and scale precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple X-ray images into a single composite image displayed on one monitor, maintaining defined orientation and scale relationships through geometric transformation and coordinate system alignment, while preserving all image information in the unified display

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of operation

If X-ray images are displayed on two separate monitors, then current and previous images are visible, but the images cannot be connected with defined orientation and scale

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage visibilityVSAvoidspatial alignment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical display approach (separate monitors) with a computational image processing system that uses coordinate transformations, geometric calculations, and software-based image registration to achieve precise spatial alignment and orientation of multiple X-ray images in a composite display

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If multiple overlapping X-ray exposures are taken for navigation, then three-dimensional position information is obtained, but the effective imaging area is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethree-dimensional navigation accuracyVSAvoideffective imaging area
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses multiple X-ray images taken at different angles and combines them through three-dimensional coordinate transformations to create a composite image that provides full three-dimensional navigation information while maintaining a large effective imaging area, effectively utilizing the z-dimension for depth information

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP2082687B1Overlaid presentation of exposures
Publication Date: 2015.04.01 BRAINLAB AG
  • EP2082687B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~2
  • EP2082687B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for the superimposed display of overlapping images of an area to be imaged, in particular of an anatomical structure, which has been recorded in at least two recording steps, on at least one screen, wherein several markers are fixedly provided in the area to be imaged, so that at least two images can be produced with an X-ray device, offset locally from the markers, wherein the images are registered relative to the marker and the image data of correspondingly registered images are oriented to each other and superimposed on the at least one screen by means of a common imaging instruction.