IMAGING APPARATUS FOR BRACHYTHERAPY OR BIOPSY

摘要

The invention relates to an imaging apparatus (24) for imaging an introduction element (17) like a needle or a catheter for performing a brachytherapy or a biopsy. A tracking unit (3, 4) tracks the location of the introduction element within a living being (2), an imaging unit (6) like an ultrasound imaging unit generates an image showing an inner part of the living being, which includes the tracked location of the introduction element, based on the tracked location, and a display (7) displays the image. During the brachytherapy or biopsy the display can always show the introduction element, without requiring a manual control. For instance, it is not necessary that a physician manually controls the position and image plane of the imaging unit. This allows for an accurate and fast insertion of the introduction element into the living being such that a target region is reliably reached.

主权项

1. An imaging apparatus for imaging an introduction element within a living being, the introduction element being an elongated element having a tip and an elongated body adapted to be inserted into the living being through an opening within a holding element for holding the introduction element for performing a biopsy or for introducing a radiation source into the living being for performing a brachytherapy, wherein the imaging apparatus comprises:
a tracking unit comprising a linear encoder for determining a linear location of the tip of the introduction element relative to the opening, wherein the tracking unit is adapted to track the location of the introduction element within the living being by determining the location of the tip and/or of the elongated body of the introduction element, within the living being based on the determined linear location and a known location of the opening, an imaging unit for generating an image showing an inner part of the living being, which includes the tracked location of the introduction element, based on the tracked location, and a display for displaying the image.