Patent Document ID: 10068049
Application ID: 13908187
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
1. A computer-implemented method for providing visually enhanced, real-time feedback to assist a physician identify suitable candidate locations for placing markers in the vicinity of a target in a patient prior to performing a medical procedure, the method comprising: receiving image information of a thoracic anatomy of the patient; receiving image information of a target in the vicinity of the thoracic anatomy; identifying a constellation by identifying a plurality of candidate marker locations in at least one of the image information of the thoracic anatomy and the image information of the target; automatically providing feedback, in real time, including providing an enhanced visual representation of the plurality of candidate marker locations defining the constellation; and wherein the step of automatically providing feedback is based on (a) computing a score on a computer system, the computer system including a processor operable to compute the score for each of said candidate marker locations and for the constellation as a whole, and wherein the score is based on at least one constraint, and (b) displaying the at least one constraint in the enhanced visual representation; and wherein the step of identifying is performed prior to performing the medical procedure; and adjusting at least one candidate marker location of the constellation to a suitable location in the image information of the thoracic anatomy and target based on said automatic feedback and enhanced visual representation.