Patent ID: 6671538
Filing Date: 2003-12-30
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A method of planning a surgical procedure for inserting an object into a patient along a surgical planning trajectory from an entry point on the patient to a target point within the patient, the method comprising the steps of:using an imaging device, performing a first scan of the patient to generate a first image volume data set of a first area of the patient; using a human readable display device associated with, the imaging device, displaying a first sectional image of the patient based on said first image volume data set; using an operator interface device associated with the imaging device, planning the surgical procedure on the patient by placing a plurality of graphical point symbols in said first sectional image of the patient displayed on the display device, the plurality of graphical point symbols defining a boundary of a second area of the patient for display on said human readable display device; and, displaying a second sectional image of the patient on said display device, the second sectional image being contained substantially entirely within the second area of the patient.