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Claims  |
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I claim:
1. An apparatus for generating a video presentation of images from a
variety of separate scanner imaging sources, the apparatus comprising:
means for acquiring a plurality of images from a variety of separate
scanner imaging sources;
means for converting said acquired images into a selected format;
means for storing said acquired and converted plurality of images;
means for selectively recalling and displaying upon a single monitor at
least two independent images of said stored plurality of images;
means for manipulating each of said selected independent images
independently of each other;
means for comparing said selected independent images; and
means for determining stereotactic coordinates and performing volumetric
determinations from said plurality of images.
2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said manipulating means comprises means
for shaping and sizing at least one of said selected images to conform to
at least one other selected image in shape and size.
3. The invention of claim 2 further comprising means for superimposing at
least one selected image upon at least one other selected image.
4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said means for comparing the selected
images comprises means for contrasting characteristics of at least two
selected images comprises the use of at least one procedure selected from
the group consisting of filtering, smoothing, sharpening, pseudocoloring,
and edge detection.
5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said edge detection procedure comprises
at least one method selected from the group consisting of Laplacian,
Roberts, Sorbel, and Frei procedures.
6. The invention of claim 1 wherein said image acquiring means comprises
means for obtaining at least one image directly from a scanner without the
use of magnetic transport media.
7. The invention of claim 1 further comprising means for recording and
archiving the procedural use of said apparatus.
8. The invention of claim 1 wherein all said means are
software-programmable.
9. For use in stereotactic surgery, an apparatus for generating a video
presentation of brain images from a variety of separate brain scanner
imaging sources to provide a representation of the anatomical and
physiological configuration of the brain of a patient, said apparatus
comprising:
means for acquiring a plurality of brain-related images from a variety of
separate brain scanner imaging sources, at least one such image being of
the actual patient's brain;
means for converting said acquired images into a selected format;
means for storing said acquired and converted plurality of images;
means for selectively recalling and displaying upon a single monitor at
least two independent images of said stored plurality of images;
means for manipulating at least one of said selected independent images
independently of each other;
means for comparing said manipulated independent image to at least one
other of said selected independent images; and
means for determining stereotactic coordinates and performing volumetric
determinations from said plurality of images.
10. The invention of claim 9 wherein said image acquiring means comprises
means for obtaining images from a brain map atlas and said manipulation
means comprises means for fitting at least one map from said atlas to at
least one selected image of the patient's brain.
11. The invention of claim 9 wherein said manipulating means comprises
means for shaping and sizing at least one of said selected images to
conform to at least one other selected image in shape and size.
12. The invention of claim 11 further comprising means for superimposing at
least one selected image upon at least one other selected image.
13. The invention of claim 9 wherein said means for comparing said selected
images comprises means for contrasting characteristics of at least two
selected images comprises the use of at least one procedure selected from
the group consisting of filtering, smoothing, sharpening, pseudocoloring,
and edge detection.
14. The invention of claim 13 wherein said edge detection procedure
comprises at least one method selected from the group consisting of
Laplacian, Roberts, Sorbel, and Frei procedures.
15. The invention of claim 9 further comprising means for simulating brain
probe means and means for simulating manipulation of said probe means
within a video presentation.
16. The invention of claim 9 further comprising means for simulating
electrode means and means for simulating manipulation of said electrode
means within a video presentation.
17. The invention of claim 9 further comprising means for storing
representations of physiological response points and means for selectively
recalling and displaying any of said response points within the video
presentation.
18. The invention of claim 9 further comprising means for providing
stereotactic coordinates for a user selected point on the video
presentation.
19. The invention of claim 9 wherein said image acquiring means comprises
at least one means for acquiring an image from a scanner selected from the
procedures consisting of computerized axial tomography (CT) scanning,
nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) scanning, positron emission tomography
(PET) scanning, isotope scanning, digital subtraction angiography (DSA)
scanning, and X-ray scanning.
20. The invention of claim 9 wherein said image acquisition means acquires
any of a predetermined number of image types.
21. The invention of claim 9 further comprising means providing for a user
to input data within a sterile environment.
22. The invention of claim 21 wherein said user input providing means
comprises an infrared grid disposed across said image displaying means.
23. The invention of claim 22 further comprising means for measuring
distances, volumes, and areas within the actual patient's brain.
24. The invention of claim 9 further comprising means for generating a
simulated three-dimensional image of the actual patient's brain.
25. The invention of claim 24 wherein said simulated three-dimensional
image comprises an image representative of at least one image selected
from the groups consisting of computer axial tomography (CT) images,
nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) images, positron emission tomography
(PET) images, digital subtraction angiography (DSA) images, isotope
images, and X-ray images.
26. The invention of claim 25 wherein said simulated three-dimensional
image comprises a composite of images from more than one source.
27. The invention of claim 9 further comprising means for determining
optimum placement for an isodose implantation.
28. The invention of claim 9 further comprising means for determining
optimum dosage for an isodose implantation.
29. The invention of claim 9 further comprising means for recording and
archiving the procedural use of said apparatus.
30. The invention of claim 9 wherein all said means are
software-programmable.
31. A method of generating a video presentation of images from a variety of
separate scanner imaging sources, the method comprising the steps of:
a) acquiring a plurality of images from a variety of separate scanner
imaging sources;
b) converting the acquired images into a selected format;
c) storing the acquired and converted plurality of images;
d) selectively recalling and displaying upon a single monitor at least two
independent images of the stored plurality of images;
e) manipulating each of the selected independent images and comparing the
selected independent images independently of each other; and
f) determining stereotactic coordinates and performing volumetric
determinations from the plurality of images.
32. The invention of claim 31 wherein the manipulating step in e) comprises
shaping and sizing at least one of the selected images to conform to at
least one other selected image in shape and size.
33. The invention of claim 32 further comprising superimposing at least one
selected image upon at least one other selected image.
34. The invention of claim 31 wherein the step of comparing the selected
images in e) comprises contrasting characteristics of at least two
selected images comprises the use of at least one procedure selected from
the group consisting of filtering, smoothing, sharpening, pseudocoloring,
and edge detection.
35. The invention of claim 34 wherein the edge detection procedure
comprises at least one method selected from the group consisting of
Laplacian, Roberts, Sorbel, and Frei procedures.
36. The invention of claim 31 wherein the image acquiring step in a)
comprises obtaining at least one image directly from a scanner without the
use of magnetic transport media.
37. The invention of claim 31 further comprising the step of recording and
archiving the steps taken in practicing the method.
38. In stereotactic surgery, a method of generating a video presentation of
brain images from a variety of separate brain scanner imaging sources to
provide a representation of the anatomical and physiological configuration
of the brain of a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
a) acquiring a plurality of brain-related images from a variety of separate
brain scanner imaging sources, at least one such image being of the actual
patient's brain;
b) converting the acquired images into a selected format;
c) storing the acquired and converted plurality of images;
d) selectively recalling and displaying upon a single monitor at least two
independent images of the stored plurality of images;
e) manipulating at least one of the selected independent images
independently of each other and comparing the manipulated independent
image to at least one other of the selected independent images; and
f) determining stereotactic coordinates and performing volumetric
determinations from the plurality of images.
39. The invention of claim 38 wherein the acquiring step in a) comprises
obtaining images from a brain map atlas and the manipulation step
comprises fitting at least one map from the atlas to at least one selected
image of the patient's brain.
40. The invention of claim 38 wherein the manipulating step in e) comprises
shaping and sizing at least one of the selected images to conform to at
least one other selected image in shape and size.
41. The invention of claim 40 further comprising superimposing at least one
selected image upon at least one other selected image.
42. The invention of claim 38 wherein the step of comparing the selected
images in e) comprises contrasting characteristics of at least two
selected images comprises the use of at least one procedure selected from
the group consisting of filtering, smoothing, sharpening, pseudocoloring
and edge detection.
43. The invention of claim 42 wherein the edge detection procedure
comprises at least one method selected from the group consisting of
Laplacian, Roberts, Sorbel, and Frei procedures.
44. The invention of claim 38 further comprising the step of obtaining
within the actual patient's brain at least one measurement selected from
the group consisting of the distance between two points within the
patient's brain, the area of a selected portion of the patient's brain,
and the volume of a selected part of the patient's brain.
45. The invention of claim 38 further comprising generating a simulated
three-dimensional image of the actual patient's brain.
46. The invention of claim 45 wherein the three-dimensional simulation
image comprises an image representative of at least one image selected
from the groups consisting of computerized axial tomography (CT) images,
nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) images, positron emission tomography
(PET) images, digital subtraction angiography (DSA) images, isotope
images, and X-ray images.
47. The invention of claim 45 wherein the three-dimensional simulation
image comprises a composite of images from more than one source.
48. The invention of claim 38 further comprising the step of determining
optimum placement for an isodose implantation.
49. The invention of claim 38 further comprising the step of determining
optimum dosage for an isodose implantation.
50. The invention of claim 38 further comprising the step of recording and
archiving the steps taken in practicing the method. |
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Claims |
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Description |
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A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which
is subject to copyright protection. The owner has no objection to the
facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent
disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file
or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
Computer program listings comprising sequences of instructions, routines,
and other contents are provided in the microfiche appendix, which is
incorporated herein by reference. The microfiche appendix consists of 8
sheets of microfiche, each sheet having 65 frames, not all of which have
been used.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to video presentation and more particularly to a
method and apparatus for generating a video presentation from a variety of
scanner imaging sources, in particular for stereotactic surgery.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Stereotactic surgical techniques allow physiological exploration and/or
destruction of deep cerebral or spinal cord structures which are invisible
from the surface, but which location can be determined by a knowledge of
their coordinates in space relative to known anatomical and topographical
landmarks. The use of stereotaxis in neurosurgical techniques seeks to
avoid open operative approaches to these areas with a minimum of
disturbance to surrounding structures. The technique generally involves
the placement of fine electrodes or probes in strategic "target areas"
which may comprise specific functional anatomical sites or morphological
lesions or abnormalities. One of the major difficulties of stereotactic
surgery is graphic conceptualization of the location of surgical probes
inserted into deep brain structures. Not only is the probe out of the
surgeon's sight, but it is tilted, rotated, and extended in many different
directions, which circumstance makes it almost impossible for the surgeon
to maintain a mental picture of the location of the probe in the brain
core. The surgeon must imagine the location of the probe while taking into
account the forward and lateral angles of the probe, the distance of the
probe from the target, the direction that the electrode extends from the
probe, and many other angular variables. Furthermore, the coordinate
system of the stereotactic frame seldom corresponds to the "brain
coordinate system," causing greater margin of error and difficulty in
placement of the probe. Stereotactic surgery, therefore, is essentially a
"blind" surgical procedure with many complex geometric variables. Any
system which will enhance the surgeon's conceptualization of the procedure
will greatly enhance its efficacy.
The introduction of stereotaxis to the armamentarium of human neurosurgical
technique has been an important addition. This is evident by its use in
the treatment of many neurological disorders. This technique has expanded
from its earlier use, primarily in the treatment of dyskinesias and pain
syndromes, to include the treatment of seizure disorders, aneurysms, brain
tumors and many other neuropathological conditions. In recent years there
has been a significant increase in the number and use of stereotactic
surgical techniques. This has been brought about by the development of new
imaging technologies, for example, computerized axial tomography (CT),
nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) scanning, various radioisotope scanning
techniques, and digital subtraction angiography (DSA). These imaging
techniques allow the surgeon to "see" certain brain structures and to use
these imaging technologies to aid in planning stereotactic surgical
procedures.
Computed tomography (CT) is well established as a valuable diagnostic and
investigative imaging device and has revolutionized the evaluation and
treatment of neurological conditions. Applications and use of CT
technology with stereotactic and functional neurosurgery are increasing.
Advancing computer technology has been the basis upon which CT scanning
technology has developed; this same technology is supporting the
development of the newer digital subtraction angiographic (DSA), various
radioisotope scanning, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging
systems.
The increased resolution afforded by such scanning systems allows direct
identification of brain structures that could only be inferred from
conventional roentgenological techniques. Stereotactic surgery, being
primarily a procedure performed without the aid of direct visualization,
is dependent on sophisticated imaging techniques for its accurate
execution. Therefore, it necessarily follows that as computer and imaging
technology improve, so do the possibilities of stereotactic surgery. The
present invention is primarily concerned with the use of computer-graphics
techniques and scanning techniques for generating various composite images
to better aid the stereotactic surgeon in localizing structures, such as
subcortical structures, lesions, or abnormalities.
Non-computer systems have been developed in the art for stereotactic
surgery. These systems use spatial coordinate determinations based upon
the use of special plastic type grids and measurement devices. These
systems are based upon hand plotting and calculation of coordinate
positions. Some disadvantages to such systems are that they are
cumbersome, slow, relatively inaccurate, have very limited use, and are
specific for only one type of scanning device and manufacturer.
Software routines on hand-held calculators, e.g., HP41C, Sharp, and Epson
HX20, have also been developed in the art for use with stereotactic
surgery. Calculations are done by the use of a calculator instead of a
grid and specific measuring instruments. Parameters for coordinate
determination are entered into the calculator's functions by the use of
similar grids. Some disadvantages of these systems are the same as the
non-computer spatial coordinate systems described above.
Some parent scanning devices, e.g., CT scanner, NMR scanner, etc., contain
resident software systems. Rule grids are placed over the image in the
scanner via a software graphics package of limited capabilities. Accuracy
is limited, since measurements are done in "screen coordinates" and
therefore the systems do not take into consideration various rotations of
the patient's head or other body parts in the scanning device. These are
purely systems for calculating coordinates and have no operative
simulating capabilities. CT scanners and NMR scanners also have some image
manipulation routines which consist of various means of ramping image grey
scales for contrasting; however, they contain none of the other features
of the present invention, such as brain anatomical mapping techniques,
electrophysiological mapping, extensive image manipulation, image
comparison, 3-D simulations, etc. By design, each of these systems is
limited to use in a specific scanner and its use must be sanctioned by the
scanner designer, such as shown in "The Role of Computed Tomographic and
Digital Radiographic Techniques in Stereotactic Procedures for Electrode
Implantation and Mapping, and Lesion Localization," by T. M. Peters, et
al., Appl. Neurophysiol., Vol. 46, pp. 200-205 (1983). Image sources from
several different scanners cannot be compared. Too, all functions must be
carried out in each specific scanner device which monopolizes the
scanner's use. Another disadvantage is that improvements or modifications
to these systems cannot be made as scanner manufacturers tend to resist or
disallow the addition of non-proprietary software and/or hardware to their
scanning systems since they are potentially at risk of incurring
additional liability should the software and/or hardware not function as
intended.
Other prior art systems utilize IBM PC type computers, including clones,
and other desktop type personal computer versions. In some of these
versions, either a camera input interface is used to acquire scan images
from an X-ray plate type hard copy into the computer's video display, or
magnetic transport media is utilized, most notably magnetic computer
tapes. One disadvantage of these systems is that these existing interface
designs rely upon the digitized images acquired through a camera input.
The camera is mounted over an X-ray type hard copy image of the scanner
image section to obtain an image. These systems can be inherently
inaccurate because they use various kinds of camera lens designs and
different image aberrations result from different lens designs. These
include warping and distortion of the image due to chromatic aberration,
spherical aberration, coma, astigmatism, and various other aberrations
which result from deviation of refracted or reflected light rays from a
single focus, or their convergence to different foci, due to the spherical
shape of the lens or mirror. It is difficult to adjust or compensate for
these problems. Another disadvantage is that existing interface designs
rely upon the transportation of digital data from the original scanning
source via use of magnetic transport media, most commonly tapes or floppy
disks. Such transport media are not standardized and different scanner
manufacturers use different digital formatting methods and formats in
their systems. Marketing and servicing any system utilizing magnetic
transport media to obtain images is extremely difficult due to tremendous
and variable software overhead and frequently incompatible hardware
designs of magnetic tape and disk drives. Such systems are heavily
dependent upon acquiring proprietary information from the scanning device
manufacturers with regards to how their image is digitally formatted. The
digital format of images varies considerably among scanner types, scanner
manufacturers, and even scanner versions from a single manufacturer.
Transportation and use of such systems has to be custom designed for each
scanner at different institutions and frequently has to be changed,
depending upon the particular image formatting version used at an
institutional scanning site. Software overhead is therefore extensive and
almost impossible to service. Furthermore, these systems are difficult to
use since there is also considerable incompatibility among tape
manufacturers, tape reading methods, and hardware. Such systems can be
quite confusing for the user. Furthermore, such systems have limited use
since they do not have the computer processing power which is currently
available in faster outputting systems, and have no specific means of
comparing images from different scanning sources. Some of these systems,
however, have some rudimentary image manipulation and simulation
capabilities.
Devices utilizing large computer systems which use magnetic transport media
and multiple image displays also exist. There is currently one system
apparently available for use which is resident in a large scanner computer
which uses a tape interface for acquiring images from several sources and
displays the images on a plurality of monitors. One disadvantage of such
device, as previously discussed, concerns the inherent difficulties
associated with magnetic transport media. In addition, difficulties
encountered with resident software systems, also previously discussed, are
present in this large computer using system. This system is additionally
particularly large and costly and requires a computer engineer to
competently operate the system, which is beyond the ability of the average
neurosurgeon to operate by himself. Significantly, separate images from
separate sources cannot be compared one to another or overlayed in the
system. And, because of the system's very large size, it has to be housed
in a separate operative suite which adds to its expense. A prior device
designed by Patrick Kelly, et al., manufactured by Stereotactic Medical
Systems, Inc., is such a system as described above.
The images acquired by these various prior art scanning techniques are not
standardized in a common format and no method for comparing and using
images from various scanners has been developed. The method and apparatus
of the present invention have solved this problem, as well as other
problems discussed above.
Another prior art imaging system, developed by Tyrone L. Hardy, M.D., and
others (Thompson, C. J., Hardy, T. L., and Bertrand, G.; "A System for
Anatomical and Functional Mapping of the Human Thalamus," Comput. Biomed.
Res., Vol. 19, pp. 9-24, 1977) was designed to run on a Digital Equipment
Corporation PDP-12 computer with software written in assembly-level and
Fortran IV languages. This system was very large and could not be taken
into an operating room. The graphics display terminal, which could be
taken separately into the operating room, had to be interfaced with the
computer by long coaxial linkages. Its operation was cumbersome but
necessary, given the hardware constraints inherent in the computer design.
Stereotactic brain maps of the diencephalon were utilized in this system.
These stereotactic brain maps were the architectonics by R. Hassler
("Anatomy of the Thalamus;" Introduction to Stereotaxy with an Atlas of
the Human Brain, Vol 1; G. Schaltenbrand and P. Bailey, eds. Stuttgart:
Thieme, 1959, pp. 230-290) and Van Buren and Borke (Van Buren, J. M., and
Borke, R. C.: "Variations and Connections of the Human Thalamus"
(Springer, N.Y., 1972)), which were digitized for use in the computer.
Software routines for modifying the computer displays of the brain maps
corrected deficiencies in anatomical sectioning (the horizontal sections
vary 8 degrees from the intercommissural plane) and variations in the
sizes of the atlas maps (the frontal maps were considerably smaller than
the horizontal maps). The coordinate system for the digitized atlas map
sections were based, as those of the anatomical atlas maps, on a brain
coordinate system constructed about the third ventricular core; that is,
an intercommissural line bisected by a midcommissural line and a
horizontal line representing the basal plane of the brain. This system was
later extensively modified to operate in a much smaller portable computer
system by Tyrone L. Hardy and Jay Koch (T. L. Hardy and J. Koch, "CASS: A
Program for Computer Assisted Stereotaxic Surgery," Proceedings of the 5th
Annual Symposium on Computer Application in Medical Care; Washington,
D.C., 1981, pp. 1116-1126), which describes a system which ran on a
smaller, more portable DEC PDP-11 MINC computer system with a Tektronix
graphics terminal. This system was designed to work with older X-ray
imaging technology and not with CT scans, NMR scans or PET or DSA. The
system drew map images, simulated probe trajectories and printed
electrophysiological data on the display terminal according to various
parameters which were typed into certain program requests.
Brain stem and cerebellar maps from the newer Schaltenbrand and Wahren
atlas (G. Shaltenbrand and W. Wahren, Atlas for Stereotaxy of the Human
Brain (2d Ed.); Stuttgart: Thieme, 1977) afforded an opportunity to expand
the computer mapping capabilities to include rhombencephalic structures.
Incorporating these maps into this system required the development of a
coordinate system that would allow the simultaneous display of
diencephalic architectonics and the remaining brain stem and cerebellum.
Allowance was also required for variations in the angle of the junction of
the diencephalon with the lower brain stem. See Hardy, T. L., Koch, J.,
"Computer-assisted Stereotactic Surgery," Appl. Neurophysiol. Vol. 45, pp.
396-398, 1982, which describes a software modification to the above-noted
system described in the 1981 paper to allow a similar use of brain stem
maps and describes the development of a brain stem coordinate system. Both
coordinate systems could be moved independently of each other; the size of
the brain maps, including the brain-stem length, could be readily varied
to match the patient's anatomical dimensions as determined from contrast
ventriculograms. This was accomplished by developing a method of
intersecting an upper (diencephalic) coordinate system constructed about
the third ventricular core, with a lower coordinate system constructed
about the fourth ventricle. For example, the angle of intersection will be
closer to 90 degrees in a patient with a brachiocephalic brain in which
brain-stem angulation is perpendicularly oriented. Adjustments for
difference in brain-stem sizes were achieved by a software subroutine that
could be prompted to expand or contract the digitized maps. As with the
above-noted system described in the 1981 paper, this system was not
designed to work with newer imaging technology. After the development of
high-resolution, color-graphics raster display monitors that could
interface with small computer systems it became possible to improve this
system. The computer system was later modified so that it could use such a
monitor to display CT images as well as benefit from the addition of color
graphics. The result was a portable system which could store, manipulate,
and selectively display CT images in the operating room independent of the
CT scanner. The previously digitized atlas maps also could be superimposed
on CT sections of the diencephalon. This method of graphic operative
simulation served as a guide for using CT data in performing functional
neurosurgery. However, this system had to be programmed separately for
each type of scanner. "Computer Graphics with Computerized Tomography for
Functional Neurosurgery, (T. L. Hardy, J. Koch, and A. Lassiter, Appl.
Neurophysiol. Vol. 46, pp. 217-226 (1983)), describes a prototype system
which could be used with CT imaging technology. This system could simulate
probe trajectories but could not determine coordinates. Such parameters
had to be entered by typed entry into the computer's program. The system
was capable of pseudocolor, but no other image manipulation routines were
possible. CT image display was limited to four bits of image capabilities
which gave a gray scale capability of 2.sup.4 (16 levels). This system was
fraught with difficulties and the hardware design was subsequently
abandoned. Some of these difficulties were also due to the CPM based
operating system which was slow, cumbersome and extremely difficult to use
as a developmental platform. Hardy, T. L., Lassiter, A., and Koch, J., "A
Portable Computerized Tomographic Method for Tumor Biopsy", Acta.
Neurochir. [Suppl.], (Wien), p. 444, 1983, describes the above-noted
system as a laboratory model for simulating tumor biopsy.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method and
apparatus for generating a video presentation of images from a variety of
separate scanner imaging sources. The method of the invention comprises
the steps of acquiring a plurality of images from a variety of separate
scanner imaging sources, converting the acquired images into a selected
format, storing the acquired and converted plurality of images,
selectively recalling and displaying at least two of the stored plurality
of images, and independently manipulating each of the selected images and
comparing the selected images. The manipulating step preferably comprises
shaping and sizing at least one of the selected images to conform to at
least one other selected image in shape and size. The method may further
comprise superimposing at least one selected image upon at least one other
selected image. The method may also comprise a step of comparing the
selected images, contrasting characteristics of at least two selected
images using at least one of the procedures of filtering, smoothing,
sharpening, pseudocoloring and edge detection. The edge detection
procedure can be, for example, a Laplacian, a Roberts, a Sorbel, or a Frei
procedure. The image acquiring step can comprise obtaining at least one
image directly from a scanner without the use of magnetic transport media.
The sequence of steps taken by a user can be recorded and archived.
The method of the invention is preferably practiced in stereotactic
surgery, and comprises generating a video presentation of brain images
from a variety of separate brain scanner imaging sources to provide a
representation of the anatomical and physiological configuration of the
brain of a patient. The method comprises the steps of acquiring a
plurality of brain-related images from a variety of separate brain scanner
imaging sources, at least one such image being of the actual patient's
brain, converting the acquired images into a selected format, storing the
acquired and converted plurality of images, selectively recalling and
displaying at least two of the stored plurality of images, and
independently manipulating at least one of the selected images and
comparing the manipulated image to at least one other of the selected
images. The acquiring step can comprise obtaining images from a brain map
atlas and the manipulation step comprises fitting at least one map from
the atlas to at least one selected image of the patient's brain. The
manipulating step can comprise shaping and sizing at least one of the
selected images to conform to at least one other selected image in shape
and size. The method can further comprise superimposing at least one
selected image upon at least one other selected image. The step of
comparing the selected images can comprise contrasting characteristics of
at least two selected images using filtering, smoothing, sharpening,
pseudocoloring, or edge detection. The edge detection procedure can be a
Laplacian, Roberts, Sorbel, or Frei procedure. The method can additionally
comprise the step of measuring the distance between two points within the
actual patient's brain, the area of a selected portion of the brain, and
the volume of a selected part of the brain. The method can comprise
generating a simulated three-dimensional image of the actual patient's
brain, the three-dimensional simulation image preferably being
representative of an image such as a computerized axial tomography (CT)
image, a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) image, a positron emission
tomography (PET) image, a digital subtraction angiography (DSA) image,
isotope image, and an X-ray image. The three-dimensional simulation image
comprises a composite of images from more than one source. The method can
further comprise a step for determining optimum placement or dosage for an
isodose implantation. An archiving step can be used to record and store
the steps taken by a user.
The invention additionally comprises an apparatus for generating a video
presentation of images from a variety of separate scanner imaging sources.
The apparatus comprises structure for acquiring a plurality of images from
a variety of separate scanner imaging sources and for converting the
acquired images into a selected format. Storage is provided for the
acquired and converted plurality of images. Structure for selectively
recalling and displaying at least two of the stored plurality of images,
for independently manipulating each of the selected images and for
comparing the selected images is also provided. The image manipulating
structure preferably comprises structure for shaping and sizing at least
one of the selected images to conform to at least one other selected image
in shape and size. The apparatus can further comprise structure for
superimposing at least one selected image upon at least one other selected
image. The structure for comparing the selected images preferably
comprises structure for contrasting characteristics of at least two
selected images using filtering, smoothing, sharpening, pseudocoloring, or
edge detection. The edge detection procedure can be a Laplacian, a
Roberts, a Sorbel, or a Frei procedure. The image acquiring structure can
comprise structure for obtaining at least one image directly from a
scanner without the use of magnetic transport media. Storage or archiving
means can be provided for storing the user's procedural steps.
The apparatus of the invention is preferably for use in stereotactic
surgery and comprises an apparatus for generating a video presentation of
brain images from a variety of separate brain scanner imaging sources to
provide a representation of the anatomical and physiological configuration
of the brain of a patient. The apparatus comprises structure for acquiring
a plurality of brain-related images from a variety of separate brain
scanner imaging sources, at least one such image being of the actual
patient's brain, structure for converting the acquired images into a
selected format, structure for storing the acquired and converted
plurality of images, for selectively recalling and displaying at least two
of the stored plurality of images, for independently manipulating at least
one of the selected images and for comparing the manipulated image to at
least one other of the selected images. The image acquiring structure
preferably comprises structure for obtaining images from a brain map atlas
and the image manipulation structure preferably comprises structure for
fitting at least one map from the atlas to at least one selected image of
the patient's brain. The manipulating structure preferably comprises
structure for shaping and sizing at least one of the selected images to
conform to at least one other selected image in shape and size. The
apparatus can further comprise structure for superimposing at least one
selected image upon at least one other selected image. The structure for
comparing the selected images can comprise structure for contrasting
characteristics of at least two selected images using filtering,
smoothing, sharpening, pseudocoloring, or edge detection. The edge
detection procedure can be a Laplacian, a Roberts, a Sorbel, or a Frei
procedure. The apparatus can further comprise structure for simulating a
brain probe and structure for simulating manipulation of the probe within
a video presentation. The apparatus can further comprise structure for
simulating one or more electrodes and for simulating manipulation of
electrodes within a video presentation. The apparatus can further comprise
structure for storing representations of physiological response points and
for selectively recalling and displaying any of the response points within
a video presentation. The apparatus can further comprise structure for
providing stereotactic coordinates for a user selected point on a video
presentation. The image acquiring structure prefer | | |
