13426results about "Medical images" patented technology

Improved robotic surgical systems, devices, and methods often include a first assembly with a surgical end effector supported and manipulated relative to a first base by a first robotic linkage, while a second surgical end effector manipulated and supported relative to a second, independent base by a second robotic linkage. One or more of these robotic assemblies may be moved relative to the other. To coordinate the end effector movements with those of input devices being manipulated by a surgeon relative to a display of a surgical worksite, the processor deriving the commands for movement of the robotic linkages may make use of a signal indicating a relative orientation of the bases of the robotic arm assemblies. Surprisingly, the robotic arm assemblies may not transmit signals to the processor indicating a relative translational position of the bases.

PCT No. PCT / IL96 / 00036 Sec. 371 Date Jan. 20, 1998 Sec. 102(e) Date Jan. 20, 1998 PCT Filed Jul. 4, 1996 PCT Pub. No. WO97 / 03622 PCT Pub. Date Feb. 6, 1997A method of obtaining a dental image, such as a three-dimensional image of teeth, providing a three-dimensional physical teeth model. The three-dimensional physical teeth model can be either: a negative teeth model that includes a matrix with a plurality of cavities or recesses, each corresponding to a tooth; or a positive teeth model, that includes a matrix with a plurality of projections or bulges, each corresponding to a tooth. The method also includes removing a portion of the model in a controlled, step-wise manner, and in each step acquiring an optical image of the model or of its removed portion, digitizing each of the optical images in order to obtain a plurality of digital images, and compiling the plurality of digital images to obtain a three-dimensional digital dental image.

A method for preoperatively characterizing an individual patient's biomechanic function in preparation of implanting a prosthesis is provided. The method includes subjecting a patient to various activities, recording relative positions of anatomy during said various activities, measuring force environments responsive to said patient's anatomy and affected area during said various activities, characterizing the patient's biomechanic function from said relative positions and corresponding force environments, inputting the measured force environments, relative positions of knee anatomy, and patient's biomechanic function characterization into one or more computer simulation models, inputting a computer model of the prosthesis into said one or more computer simulation models, and manipulating the placement of the prosthesis in the computer simulation using said patient's biomechanic function characterization and said computer model of the prosthesis to approximate a preferred biomechanical fit of the prosthesis.

A system and method for building and / or manipulating a centralized medical image quantitative information database aid in diagnosing diseases, identifying prevalence of diseases, and analyzing market penetration data and efficacy of different drugs. In one embodiment, the diseases are bone-related, such as osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. Subjects' medical images, personal and treatment information are obtained at information collection terminals, for example, at medical and / or dental facilities, and are transferred to a central database, either directly or through a system server. Quantitative information is derived from the medical images, and stored in a central database, associated with subjects' personal and treatment information. Authorized users, such as medical officials and / or pharmaceutical companies, can access the database, either directly or through the central server, to diagnose diseases and perform statistical analysis on the stored data. Decisions can be made regarding marketing of drugs for treating the diseases in question, based on analysis of efficacy, market penetration, and performance of competitive drugs.

In one embodiment of the invention, a method for a minimally invasive surgical system is disclosed. The method includes capturing and displaying camera images of a surgical site on at least one display device at a surgeon console; switching out of a following mode and into a masters-as-mice (MaM) mode; overlaying a graphical user interface (GUI) including an interactive graphical object onto the camera images; and rendering a pointer within the camera images for user interactive control. In the following mode, the input devices of the surgeon console may couple motion into surgical instruments. In the MaM mode, the input devices interact with the GUI and interactive graphical objects. The pointer is manipulated in three dimensions by input devices having at least three degrees of freedom. Interactive graphical objects are related to physical objects in the surgical site or a function thereof and are manipulatable by the input devices.

Disclosed herein is a method of generating a computerized bone model representative of at least a portion of a patient bone in a pre-degenerated state. The method includes: generating at least one image of the patient bone in a degenerated state; identifying a reference portion associated with a generally non-degenerated portion of the patient bone; identifying a degenerated portion associated with a generally degenerated portion of the patient bone; and using information from at least one image associated with the reference portion to modify at least one aspect associated with at least one image associated the generally degenerated portion. The method may further include employing the computerized bone model representative of the at least a portion of the patient bone in the pre-degenerated state in defining manufacturing instructions for the manufacture of a customized arthroplasty jig. Also disclosed herein is a customized arthroplasty jig manufactured according to the above-described method. The customized arthroplasty jig is configured to facilitate a prosthetic implant restoring a patient joint to a natural alignment. The prosthetic implant may be for a total joint replacement or partial joint replacement. The patient joint may be a variety of joints, including, but not limited to, a knee joint.

Augmented reality apparatus (10) for use during intervention procedures on a trackable intervention site (32) are disclosed herein. The apparatus (10) comprises a data processor (28), a trackable projector (14) and a medium (30) including machine-readable instructions executable by the processor (28). The projector (14) is configured to project an image overlaying the intervention site (32) based on instructions from the data processor (28). The machine readable instructions are configured to cause the processor (28) to determine a spatial relationship between the projector (14) and the intervention site (32) based on a tracked position and orientation of the projector (14) and on a tracked position and orientation of the intervention site (32). The machine readable instructions are also configured to cause the processor to generate data representative of the image projected by the projector based on the determined spatial relationship between the projector and the intervention site.

Interactive, computer based orthodontist treatment planning, appliance design and appliance manufacturing is described. A scanner is described which acquires images of the dentition which are converted to three-dimensional frames of data. The data from the several frames are registered to each other to provide a complete three-dimensional virtual model of the dentition. Individual tooth objects are obtained from the virtual model. A computer-interactive software program provides for treatment planning, diagnosis and appliance from the virtual tooth models. A desired occlusion for the patient is obtained from the treatment planning software. The virtual model of the desired occlusion and the virtual model of the original dentition provide a base of information for custom manufacture of an orthodontic appliance. A variety of possible appliance and appliance manufacturing systems are contemplated, including customized archwires and customized devices for placement of off-the shelf brackets on the archwires, and removable orthodontic appliances.

Method and system for measuring physiological parameters. The method includes capturing a sequence of images of a human face and identifying the location of the face in a frame of the video and establishing a region of interest including the face. Pixels are separated in the region of interest in a frame into at least two channel values forming raw traces over time. The raw traces are decomposed into at least two independent source signals. At least one of the source signals is processed to obtain a physiological parameter.

In one embodiment of the invention, a method for a minimally invasive surgical system is disclosed. The method includes capturing and displaying camera images of a surgical site on at least one display device at a surgeon console; switching out of a following mode and into a masters-as-mice (MaM) mode; overlaying a graphical user interface (GUI) including an interactive graphical object onto the camera images; and rendering a pointer within the camera images for user interactive control. In the following mode, the input devices of the surgeon console may couple motion into surgical instruments. In the MaM mode, the input devices interact with the GUI and interactive graphical objects. The pointer is manipulated in three dimensions by input devices having at least three degrees of freedom. Interactive graphical objects are related to physical objects in the surgical site or a function thereof and are manipulatable by the input devices.

A system and method for enabling a developer to introduce informational attributes suitable for selective inclusion within image headers is disclosed herein. The image headers, along with their selectively included informational attributes, are displayable on a monitor screen together with associated digital images produced by an imaging apparatus. The image headers are also selectively storable in a database together with the pixel data of the associated digital images. The system includes an interactive workstation computer system having memory-stored software applications for operating the imaging apparatus, a memory-stored updatable table of defined informational attributes suited for selective inclusion within image headers, an interactive computer for generating software files of image header definitions from the table of defined informational attributes, and a means to transport the software files of image header definitions to the interactive workstation computer system.

A method of creating 3D models to be used for cardiac interventional procedure planning. Acquisition data is obtained from a medical imaging system and cardiac image data is created in response to the acquisition data. A 3D model is created in response to the cardiac image data and three anatomical landmarks are identified on the 3D model. The 3D model is sent to an interventional system where the 3D model is in a format that can be imported and registered with the interventional system.

A technique is provided for enhancing performance of computer-assisted data operating algorithms in a medical context. Datasets are compiled and accessed, which may include data from a wide range of resources, including controllable and prescribable resources, such as imaging systems. The datasets are analyzed by a human expert or medical professional, and the algorithms are modified based upon feedback from the human expert or professional. Modifications may be made to a wide range of algorithms and based upon a wide range of data, such as available from an integrated knowledge base. Modifications may be made in sub-modules of the algorithms providing enhanced functionality. Modifications may also be made on various bases, including patient-specific changes, population-specific changes, feature-specific changes, and so forth.

One embodiment discloses a computerized method of facilitating cardiac intervention. The method may include inputting patient data and creating a computerized interactive model of a heart based on the patient data. The model may include features. The model may simulate at least one proposed cardiac intervention by adding or deleting features to the model, and determining the effects of the proposed cardiac simulation upon the entire model. Simulations may be repeated to allow the user to determine an optimal cardiac intervention. A template and / or patient specific instrument may be created from the model to use as a guide during the cardiac intervention.

The invention provides a system and method for computer-aided detection (“CAD”). The invention relates to computer-aided automatic detection of abnormalities in and analysis of medical images. Medical images are analyzed, to extract and identify a set of features in the image relevant to a diagnosis. The system computes an initial diagnosis based on the set of identified features and a diagnosis model, which are provided to a user for review and modification. A computed diagnosis is dynamically re-computed upon user modification of the set of identified features. Upon a user selecting a diagnosis based on system recommendation, a diagnosis report is generated reflecting features present in the medical image as validated by the user and the user selected diagnosis.

A method and system for non-invasive patient-specific assessment of coronary artery disease is disclosed. An anatomical model of a coronary artery is generated from medical image data. A velocity of blood in the coronary artery is estimated based on a spatio-temporal representation of contrast agent propagation in the medical image data. Blood flow is simulated in the anatomical model of the coronary artery using a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation using the estimated velocity of the blood in the coronary artery as a boundary condition.

The invention is directed to methods and systems of hyperspectral and multispectral imaging of medical tissues. In particular, the invention is directed to new devices, tools and processes for the detection and evaluation of diseases and disorders such as, but not limited to diabetes and peripheral vascular disease, that incorporate hyperspectral or multispectral imaging.

An arrangement of equipment for the remote monitoring of bodily functions of a mammal under medical care, comprises: a function-measurement device to measure a physiological quantity relevant to bodily function; a first display unit disposed remotely from the function-measurement device and monitored by a responsible medical person, to display the measured values of the measured physiological quantity and a function characterization derived therefrom; an input unit disposed remotely from the function-measurement device, for the input of control commands for the function-measurement device, and to input warning signals; and a bi-directional public telecommunication-network connection with an outward channel between the function-measurement device and the first display unit and a return channel between the input unit and the function-measurement device, where, for each connected device, there is provided an interface adapted to a transmission protocol of the telecommunication network.

A body scanning system includes a CT transmitter and a PET configured to radiate along a significant portion of the body and a plurality of sensors (202, 204) configured to detect photons along the same portion of the body. In order to facilitate the efficient collection of photons and to process the data on a real time basis, the body scanning system includes a new data processing pipeline that includes a sequentially implemented parallel processor (212) that is operable to create images in real time not withstanding the significant amounts of data generated by the CT and PET radiating devices.

The present invention provides video and audio assisted surgical techniques and methods. Novel features of the techniques and methods provided by the present invention include presenting a surgeon with a video compilation that displays an endoscopic-camera derived image, a reconstructed view of the surgical field (including fiducial markers indicative of anatomical locations on or in the patient), and / or a real-time video image of the patient. The real-time image can be obtained either with the video camera that is part of the image localized endoscope or with an image localized video camera without an endoscope, or both. In certain other embodiments, the methods of the present invention include the use of anatomical atlases related to pre-operative generated images derived from three-dimensional reconstructed CT, MRI, x-ray, or fluoroscopy. Images can furthermore be obtained from pre-operative imaging and spacial shifting of anatomical structures may be identified by intraoperative imaging and appropriate correction performed.

Digitized image data are input into a processor where a detection component identifies the areas (objects) of particular interest in the image and, by segmentation, separates those objects from the background. A feature extraction component formulates numerical values relevant to the classification task from the segmented objects. Results of the preceding analysis steps are input into a trained learning machine classifier which produces an output which may consist of an index discriminating between two possible diagnoses, or some other output in the desired output format. In one embodiment, digitized image data are input into a plurality of subsystems, each subsystem having one or more support vector machines. Pre-processing may include the use of known transformations which facilitate extraction of the useful data. Each subsystem analyzes the data relevant to a different feature or characteristic found within the image. Once each subsystem completes its analysis and classification, the output for all subsystems is input into an overall support vector machine analyzer which combines the data to make a diagnosis, decision or other action which utilizes the knowledge obtained from the image.

Interactive, computer based orthodontist treatment planning, appliance design and appliance manufacturing is described. A scanner is described which acquires images of the dentition which are converted to three-dimensional frames of data. The data from the several frames are registered to each other to provide a complete three-dimensional virtual model of the dentition. Individual tooth objects are obtained from the virtual model. A computer-interactive software program provides for treatment planning, diagnosis and appliance from the virtual tooth models. A desired occlusion for the patient is obtained from the treatment planning software. The virtual model of the desired occlusion and the virtual model of the original dentition provide a base of information for custom manufacture of an orthodontic appliance. A variety of possible appliance and appliance manufacturing systems are contemplated, including customized archwires and customized devices for placement of off-the shelf brackets on the archwires, and removable orthodontic appliances.

A method and system for visually annotating an image. Annotations and notes to images, such as digital medical and healthcare images, may be stored in a structured vector representation alongside image information in a single, non-volatile and portable file or in a separate file from the image. The annotations may be composed of point, line and polygon drawings and text symbols, labels or definitions and captions or descriptions. The annotations may be structured in a manner that facilitates grouping and manipulation as user defined groups. The annotations may be related to an image but not inextricably bound such that the original image is completely preserved. Annotations may further be selectively displayed on the image for context appropriate viewing. The annotations may be retrieved for purposes such as editing, printing, display, indexing and reporting for example, and may be displayed on an image for interactive use with an embedded self-contained user interface.

Creating a report from a radiological image using an electronic report template, the radiological image being an image of an anatomic region and the report template initially having empty fields includes displaying the radiological image on a screen of a workstation; providing a structural template, the structural template being a map of a reference region that corresponds to the anatomical region, t structural template identifying a plurality of anatomical landmarks each associated with corresponding landmark data; fitting the structural template with the radiological image such that the anatomical landmarks match corresponding anatomical landmarks of the radiological image; using the fitting to generate pathological data indicative of a pathology in one or more of the anatomical landmark and using the landmark data and pathological data to populate the empty field of the report template to thereby create the report.

An imaging system for use in medical intervention procedure planning includes a medical scanner system for generating a volume of cardiac image data, a data acquisition system for acquiring the volume of cardiac image data, an image generation system for generating a viewable image from the volume of cardiac image data, a database for storing information from the data acquisition and image generation systems, an operator interface system for managing the medical scanner system, the data acquisition system, the image generation system, and the database, and a post-processing system for analyzing the volume of cardiac image data, displaying the viewable image and being responsive to the operator interface system. The operator interface system includes instructions for using the volume of cardiac image data and the viewable image for bi-ventricular pacing planning, atrial fibrillation procedure planning, or atrial flutter procedure planning.

A cloud-based, federated collaborative medical records system and methods, in the preferred embodiments, features a variety of mechanisms to enable end users to store, access, edit, and share health information, on demand. A key aspect of said embodiments involves the circumvention of barriers preventing the transfer of health information placed upon other electronic medical records systems and related systems preventing users who are not part of a specific business entity from accessing the records. The preferred embodiments of the present invention delegate control over medical information to those individuals who need access to such medical information at the appropriate time.