PROBE-CORRELATED VIEWING OF ANATOMICAL IMAGE DATA

摘要

A computerized system for viewing of internal anatomical regions of a patient based on previously acquired image data of the patient. The anatomical regions are viewed in direct relationship to amoving probe which can be hand-held. The location of the probe relative to the patient is reported to computer. The computer then uses the previously acquired image data to generate a desired view of the patient's anatomy in relationship to the position or orientation of the probe. An operator is able to visualize normally invisible anatomical features before commencing, and during, procedure. The correspondence between positions of the patient's anatomy to locations on the stored data images is determined through an initialization procedure which can be repeated or refined between viewing operations. The system may be employed during diagnostic, therapeutic, or surgical procedures.