Patent ID: 7783090
Filing Date: 2010-08-24
Classification: A61B,G06T

Abstract:
1. A method of estimating the position of the AC or PC landmarks which includes: (a) using a midsagittal radiological image to estimate the position of the AC or PC landmarks in the midsagittal plane; (b) using the estimated position of the AC or PC landmarks to generate a plurality of radiological images relating to different slices, including a first image of a slice including the estimated position of the AC or PC landmark and second images of neighboring slices; and (c) analysing the radiological images to improve the estimate of the position of the AC or PC landmarks; wherein the plurality of generated radiological images are axial images relating to different axial slices including a first axial image of an axial slice containing the estimates of the position of the AC or PC landmark, and second axial images of neighboring axial slices and the method further includes: using the estimated position of the AC or PC landmark obtained from the midsagittal radiological image to generate a plurality of coronal images relating to different coronal slices, including a first coronal image of a coronal slice including the estimated position of the AC or PC landmark and second coronal images of neighboring coronal slices, the neighboring coronal slices in the second coronal images being in the same orientation as the coronal slice in the first coronal image; analysing the coronal images to improve the estimate of the position of the AC or PC landmark obtained from the midsagittal radiological image; and further improving the estimate of the position of the AC or PC landmark using the improved estimates of the position of the AC or PC landmark obtained from analysing the axial images and the coronal images.