Imaging systems and methods

Inventors

Ruff, Evan • KOLOVICH, Gregory • Mandavia, Dev • VISHWAKARMA, Dhruv • ZAMLINSKY, Igor • Dolan, Sean

Assignees

OXOS Medical Inc

Abstract

Methods and systems for X-ray and fluoroscopic image capture and, in particular, to a versatile, multimode imaging system incorporating a handheld X-ray emitter operative to capture non-invasive images of a target; a stage operative to capture static X-ray and dynamic fluoroscopic images of the target; a system for the tracking and positioning of the X-ray emission to improve safety of obtaining X-ray images as well as improve the quality of X-ray images. Where the devices can automatically limit the field of the X-ray emission.

Core Innovation

The disclosed invention provides a method of assisting an operator during non-invasive imaging using an imaging sensor located adjacent to an examination area and a plurality of position tracking implements fixedly positioned relative to the imaging sensor. An emitting apparatus is positioned at a distance from the imaging sensor, includes a camera system, a position tracking apparatus, and an aperture opening configured to pass an energy emission, and is oriented such that the aperture opening faces towards the examination area.

The method detects one or more of the plurality of position tracking implements using the position tracking apparatus to produce real-time positioning data of the emitting apparatus relative to the imaging sensor. Using the real-time positioning data, the method generates a first virtual representation of the detecting perimeter and a second virtual representation of the energy emission.

The method displays a real-time image of the examination area using the camera system and superimposes the first virtual representation of the detecting perimeter and the second virtual representation of the energy emission on the display while displaying the real-time image. In the described embodiments, the energy emission includes an X-ray energy emission, and the first camera device can include an infrared camera device to support the position-tracking detection.

Claims Coverage

The partial content includes one independent claim and its dependent claims. The independent claim covers real-time operator assistance by tracking fixed position-tracking implements relative to an adjacent imaging sensor, generating virtual representations of the sensor detecting perimeter and the energy emission, and overlaying these on a real-time camera view to permit location confirmation, with an energy-emission aperture facing the examination area.

Overall, the independent claim centers on real-time position tracking of fixed implements relative to an adjacent imaging sensor, virtual overlay generation for the sensor perimeter and the energy emission based on the positioning data, and overlay display on the real-time camera image to enable operator location confirmation. Dependent claim refinements further specify display and camera details, an X-ray energy emission, infrared camera device use, and conditional modification of the energy-emission virtual representation when the aperture opening is offset from an orthogonal orientation.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications