SYSTEM, EMPLOYING THREE-DIMENSIONAL ULTRASONOGRAPHIC IMAGING, FOR ASSISTING IN GUIDING AND PLACING MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS

摘要

A method and system, employed in combination with a three-dimensional ultrasonographic imaging system, for assisting in guiding and placing at lea st one medical instrument into a prostate during a percutaneous prostate therapeutic procedure comprising: a reference means; a processing means in communication with the three-dimensional ultrasonographic imaging system; an d a mounting means for mounting the reference means in a predetermined relationship to a transrectal ultrasonographic transducer. The reference mea ns includes a plurality of apertures arranged in a predefined manner and sized to permit at least one medical instrument to pass therethrough. The processing means determines the spatial relationship between a three-dimensional ultrasonographic image of the prostate generated via the transrectal ultrasonographic transducer and the reference means. The processing means further merges a representation of the plurality of apertures with the three - dimensional ultrasonographic image to form a positioning image. The positioning image assists in the guiding and placement of the at least one medical instrument into a target location in the prostate by identifying a path via a selected aperture.