System and method for patient positioning in cone-beam tomography

Abstract

A device for positioning a patient within an image volume of a cone-beam tomography system. The device includes a volume indicator adapted to indicate at least a front boundary of the image volume and having a horizontal indicator for horizontal alignment. The device also includes a head clamp adapted to position at least a portion of the head of the patient within the front boundary of the image volume indicated by the volume indicator.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A method of positioning a patient within an image volume for a cone-beam tomography examination using a visual aid, comprising the steps of:
 restricting lateral movement of a head of the patient;   aligning the head of the patient in a substantially horizontal plane relative to a horizontal indicator of the visual aid;   restricting forward movement of the head of the patient; and   checking that at least a portion of the head of the patient is within a front boundary of the image volume defined by the visual aid.   
     
     
         15 . The method as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein the front boundary of the image volume is spherical. 
     
     
         16 . The method as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein the front boundary of the image volume is cylindrical. 
     
     
         17 . A method of performing a cone-beam tomography examination of a patient, comprising the steps of:
 restricting lateral movement of a head of the patient;   aligning the head of the patient in a substantially horizontal plane relative to a horizontal indicator of a volume indicator;   restricting forward movement of the head of the patient;   checking that at least a portion of the head of the patient is within a front boundary of an image volume defined by the volume indicator;   rotating an x-ray source and a detector around the head of the patient to create a plurality of two-dimensional images; and   creating a three-dimensional image based on the plurality of two-dimensional images.   
     
     
         18 . The method as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the front boundary of the image volume is spherical. 
     
     
         19 . The method as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the front boundary of the image volume is cylindrical. 
     
     
         20 . The method as set forth in  claim 17 , further comprising:
 measuring a position of the head;   calculating a position of the patient based on a result obtained by the measuring; and   re-positioning the patient based on a result obtained by the calculating.   
     
     
         21 . The method as set forth in  claim 17 , further comprising:
 measuring a position of the head;   calculating a position of the patient based on a result obtained by the measuring; and   programming a scanning trajectory associated with the cone-beam tomography examination based on a result obtained by the calculating.   
     
     
         22 . The method as set forth in  claim 17 , further comprising:
 measuring a position of the head;   calculating a position of the patient based on a result obtained by the measuring; and   adjusting x-ray parameters used in the cone-beam tomography examination based on a result obtained by the calculating.