Patent ID: 6490473
Filing Date: 2002-12-03
Classification: A61B,G01R,G06T

Abstract:
An MRI positioning system for determining the relation between a coordinate set of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus and a coordinate set of a tracking system so as to allow determining the position of a selected target on an image of a patient acquired by the MRI apparatus in the coordinate set of the tracking apparatus and vice versa, the system comprising:reference points means for positioning in predetermined location relative to the coordinate set of the MRI apparatus; tracking means for detecting and determining the position of said reference points means, relative to the coordinate set of the tracking means; and processing means communicating with said tracking means and determining the relation between the coordinate set of the MRI apparatus and the coordinate set of the tracking means, and translating the coordinates of the target on the image acquired by the MRI apparatus to corresponding coordinates on the coordinate set of the tracking means; wherein said reference points means are not positioned on the patient.