Patent ID: 8744211
Filing Date: 2014-06-03
Classification: A61B,G01R,G06T

Abstract:
1. A multi-modality image correlation method, comprising: during a surgical operation in which an instrument is inserted into a patient at a first location: generating a volumetric ultrasound image using the ultrasound information and the tracking information, the volumetric ultrasound image comprising a representation of the instrument within the patient at the first location; spatially correlating, based at least in part upon a transformation matrix, a volumetric image with the volumetric ultrasound image, wherein the volumetric image is yielded from an examination of the patient using a first image modality other than the ultrasound probe and wherein the instrument is not inserted into the patient at the first location during the examination of the patient using the first image modality and wherein the volumetric image does not comprise a representation of the instrument; and imposing the instrument on the volumetric image responsive to the correlating such that the instrument appears to be present within the patient at the first location during the examination of the patient using the first image modality.