Patent ID: 8526691
Filing Date: 2013-09-03
Classification: A61B,G01R

Abstract:
1. A method for tracking a needle along a path under real-time magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) guidance, comprising the steps of: extracting a candidate needle artifact region from a plurality of incoming MR images of a needle inside biological tissue; determining an initial needle direction vector from the candidate needle artifact region in each of the plurality of incoming needle images; determining an initial needle base point from an intersection of the needle direction vector with a first incoming needle image, and an initial needle tip point from an intersection of the needle direction vector with a last incoming needle image; and tracking said needle by minimizing a cost function of the initial base point and initial direction vector to calculate an updated base point and updated direction vector, wherein the updated base point and direction vector are used to visualize the advance of the needle along the path through the biological tissue.