Patent ID: 6106464
Filing Date: 2000-08-22
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
Apparatus for bone surface-based registration of physical space with a tomographic image, comprising:an ultrasound transducer generating ultrasound signals representative of a distance from said transducer to said bone surface as said transducer is scanned over but spaced from said bone surface;tracking means generating transducer position/orientation signals tracking transducer position and orientation as said transducer is scanned over said bone surface;means synchronizing generation of said ultrasound signals with generation of said position signals;physical model generating means generating from said ultrasound signals and transducer position/orientation signals a three-dimensional physical space model of said bone surface;means generating a three-dimensional image space model of said bone surface from said tomographic image;means generating an alignment of said physical space model and said image space model; andoutput means generating an output utilizing said alignment.