METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ARCHIVING MEDICAL IMAGES

摘要

A method, and an associated system, for acquiring and archiving images of the body of a patient. The system includes an imaging device, such as an ultrasound probe (52), for acquiring the images; a tracker (40a) for measuring the position and orientation of the imaging device relative to a frame of reference; and a display unit (48) for displaying the images along with visual or textual indications of their positions and orientations relative to the body. Optionally, the system includes a stylus for digitizing the surface to provide the map; alternatively, the imaging device itself is used as a stylus. The system also includes a tracker (38) for measuring the position and orientation of the patient, both as the map is digitized and as the images are acquired. As the images are acquired, they are annotated with respective indications of the corresponding positions and orientations of the imaging device relative to the body, to facilitate a subsequent medical procedure with reference to the images.