Patent ID: 6334067
Filing Date: 2001-12-25
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A method for assisting percutaneous computed tomography-guided surgical activity inside a human or animal body, said method for determining insertion depth, transverse insertion angle and craniocaudal insertion angle for a needle-type surgical instrument to be inserted into the human or animal body from an insertion entry point on a skin surface of said body to a target inside said body, comprising:determining from a first tomography image first coordinate values for said entry point related to a first tomography slice position along craniocaudal direction, and horizontal and vertical directions transversely of said craniocaudal direction at said first position,determining from a second tomography image second coordinate values for said target point related to a second tomography slice position along craniocaudal direction, and horizontal and vertical directions transversely of said craniocaudal direction at said second position,calculating from said first and second coordinate values through principle of trigonometry values of said insertion depth, transverse insertion angle and craniocaudal insertion angle, andsaid transverse insertion angle value, said craniocaudal insertion angle value, said first coordinate values, and said second coordinate values defining a direction of insertion and insertion depth from said entry point.