Patent ID: 6947582
Filing Date: 2005-09-20
Classification: G01B

Abstract:
1. A method of detecting the three-dimensional shape of a patient body part to be treated, said method comprising the following steps: a) producing a camera image of the patient body part; b) mapping an outline of the patient body part, said outline appearing sharp in the camera image, in a first plane by means of an analyzer connected to the camera; c) altering the focusing distance of the camera; d) mapping a sharp outline of the patient body part in a second plane by means of the analyzer; and e) repeating steps b) to d) until a sufficient number of outlines has been mapped so that the three-dimensional shape of the patient body part can be established; and wherein the detected three-dimensional shape of the patient body part to be treated is used together with a navigation system for location referencing in radiotherapy methods or surgical operations.