System and method for passively reconstructing anatomical structure

Abstract

The present invention is a system and method for graphically displaying a three-dimensional model of a region located within a living body. A three-dimensional model of a region of interest is displayed on a graphical display. The location in three-dimensional space of a physical characteristic (e.g. a structure, wall or space) in the region of interest is determined using at least one probe positioned within the living body. The graphical display of the model is deformed to approximately reflect the determined three-dimensional location of the physical characteristic. Preferably, the probe or probes are moved throughout the region of interest so as to gather multiple data points that can be used to increase the conformity between the graphical display and the actual region of interest within the patient.

1 - 58 . (canceled)  
   
   
       59 . A method of graphically reconstructing a region of interest of a hollow anatomical structure having an interior surface and a space therein, comprising: 
 acquiring a plurality of anatomical points within the anatomical space, each of the anatomical points being automatically acquired at a specified time within a respective periodic cycle; and    generating a three-dimensional graphical representation of the region of interest based on the acquired anatomical points.    
   
   
       60 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the anatomical points comprise interior points.  
   
   
       61 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the anatomical points comprise surface points.  
   
   
       62 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the periodic cycle is a natural biological cycle of the anatomical structure.  
   
   
       63 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein generation of the graphical representation comprises conforming the graphical representation to the acquired anatomical points.  
   
   
       64 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein conforming the graphical representation comprises deforming a graphical model to incorporate at least one of the anatomical points.  
   
   
       65 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the displayed graphical representation is stationary.  
   
   
       66 . The method of  claim 59 , further comprising moving a roving probe within the anatomical space, wherein the anatomical points are acquired by the roving probe as it is being moved within the anatomical space.  
   
   
       67 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the anatomical structure is an organ.  
   
   
       68 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the anatomical structure is a heart, anatomical cavity is a chamber, the interior surface is an endocardial surface, and the periodic cycle is a cardiac cycle.  
   
   
       69 . A system for graphically reconstructing a region of interest on a hollow anatomical structure having an interior surface and a space therein, comprising: 
 a roving probe configured for being moved around within the anatomical space;    at least one localization processor configured for automatically acquiring three-dimensional locations of at least a portion of the roving probe and deriving anatomical points from the three-dimensional locations as the roving probe is moved around within the anatomical space; and    at least one graphical processor configured for generating a three-dimensional graphical representation of the region of interest based on the acquired anatomical points.    
   
   
       70 . The system of  claim 69 , wherein the anatomical points comprise interior points.  
   
   
       71 . The system of  claim 69 , wherein the at least one localization processor is configured for acquiring each anatomical point at a specified time within a respective periodic cycle.  
   
   
       72 . The system of  claim 71 , wherein the periodic cycle is a natural biological cycle of the anatomical structure.  
   
   
       73 . The system of  claim 71 , wherein the at least one graphical processor is configured for generated conforming the graphical representation to the acquired anatomical points.  
   
   
       74 . The system of  claim 73 , wherein the at least one graphical processor is configured for conforming the graphical representation by deforming a graphical model to incorporate at least one of the anatomical points.  
   
   
       75 . The system of  claim 73 , wherein the graphical representation is stationary.  
   
   
       76 . A method of graphically reconstructing a region of interest of a hollow anatomical structure having an interior surface and a space therein, comprising: 
 acquiring a plurality of interior points within the anatomical space; and    conforming a three-dimensional graphical representation of the region of interest to the acquired interior points.    
   
   
       77 . The method of  claim 76 , wherein conforming the graphical representation comprises deforming a graphical model to incorporate at least one of the interior points.  
   
   
       78 . The method of  claim 76 , wherein the graphical representation is only conformed to an outermost set of the interior points.  
   
   
       79 . The method of  claim 76 , further comprising moving a roving probe within the anatomical space, wherein the interior points are acquired by the roving probe as it is being moved within the anatomical space.  
   
   
       80 . The method of  claim 76 , further comprising acquiring at least one surface point coincident with the interior anatomical surface, and conforming the graphical representation to the at least one surface point.  
   
   
       81 . The method of  claim 76 , wherein the anatomical structure is an organ.  
   
   
       82 . The method of  claim 76 , wherein the anatomical structure is a heart, the anatomical cavity is a chamber, and the interior surface is an endocardial surface.