Patent ID: 6370417
Filing Date: 2002-04-09
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A method for in vivo positioning of a catheter relative to a vessel, comprising the steps of:(a) injecting a contrast agent into a vessel and generating a three-dimensional image of the vessel with the contrast agent by irradiating an examination region containing said vessel from a plurality of different exposure directions and obtaining a plurality of first individual images of the vessel respectively from the exposure directions without stereotactic instrument, and combining said first individual images to form said three-dimensional image; (b) obtaining a second individual image of said examination region containing said vessel, with a catheter inserted in said vessel, by irradiating said examination region from a selected exposure direction initially uncorrelated with any of said first images; (c) selecting one of said first individual images in said plurality of first individual images forming said three-dimensional image, obtained at an exposure direction which corresponds most closely to said exposure direction of said second individual image; and (d) combining said one of said first individual images selected in step (c) with said second individual image obtained in step (b) to form a combination image of said vessel with said catheter inserted therein, said combination image showing a position of the catheter in the vessel, and displaying said combination image.