Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
A process for providing in a simultaneous display of representations showing the positional relationship of a surgical instrument in a computer graphics display of a patient's anatomy, comprising the steps of: scanning the patient's anatomy with an MR or CT scanner to obtain stereotactic image-scanner data representing the patient's anatomy and referenced in scanner-data coordinates, said stereotactic image-scanner data including CT or MR data; storing said stereotactic image-scanner data in scanner-data coordinates; optically sensing plural different fields of view with a plurality of cameras, each of said different fields of view containing said patient's anatomy and said surgical instrument, whereby to provide location data on said surgical instrument related to said patient's anatomy and referenced in camera coordinates; transforming said location data on said surgical instrument referenced in said camera coordinates to transformed surgical-instrument data referenced in said scanner-data coordinates; combining said transformed surgical-instrument data and said stereotactic image-scanner data to form combined display data referenced in said scanner-data coordinates to provide display signals; and driving a computer graphics display with said combined display data to simultaneously display an image currently representative of said surgical instrument related to said patient's anatomy.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
191 words
A process for providing in a simultaneous display of representations showing the positional relationship of a surgical instrument in a computer graphics display of a patient's anatomy, comprising the steps of: scanning the patient's anatomy with an MR or CT scanner to obtain stereotactic image-scanner data representing the patient's anatomy and referenced in scanner-data coordinates, said stereotactic image-scanner data including CT or MR data; storing said stereotactic image-scanner data in scanner-data coordinates; optically sensing plural different fields of view with a plurality of cameras, each of said different fields of view containing said patient's anatomy and said surgical instrument, whereby to provide location data on said surgical instrument related to said patient's anatomy and referenced in camera coordinates; transforming said location data on said surgical instrument referenced in said camera coordinates to transformed surgical-instrument data referenced in said scanner-data coordinates; combining said transformed surgical-instrument data and said stereotactic image-scanner data to form combined display data referenced in said scanner-data coordinates to provide display signals; and driving a computer graphics display with said combined display data to simultaneously display an image currently representative of said surgical instrument related to said patient's anatomy.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A process according to claim 1, further including a step of providing index markers related to said patient's anatomy prior to scanning said patient's anatomy to provide index data in said image-scanner data.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process according to claim 2, wherein said step of transforming includes an operation of relating said coordinates by use of said index markers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A process according to claim 2, further including a step of fixing a mechanical holder to said patient's anatomy, said mechanical holder being connected to said index markers for referencing said patient's anatomy.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process according to claim 4, further including a step of referencing said mechanical holder to said location data on said surgical instrument.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A process according to claim 5, further including a step of repeatedly referencing said mechanical holder to said location data to correct for any positional change in said patient's anatomy.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process according to claim 6, wherein the step of optically sensing includes providing at least two light sources attached to said surgical instrument.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the step of optically sensing includes providing at least two light sources attaches to said surgical instrument.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
59 words
A process according to claim 8, further including a step of providing index markers related to said patient's anatomy prior to scanning said patient's anatomy to provide index data in said image-scanner data and a step of fixing a mechanical holder to said patient's anatomy, said mechanical holder being connected to said index markers for referencing said patient's anatomy.