System and Method for Placing and Determining an Appropriately Sized Surgical Implant

Abstract

Digital x-ray images taken before a surgical procedure by a fluoroscopic C-arm imager are displayed by a computer and overlaid with graphical representations of instruments being used in the operating room. The graphical representations are updated in real-time to correspond to movement of the instruments in the operating room. A number of different techniques are described that aid the physician in planning and carrying out the surgical procedure.

1 . An x-ray imaging device comprising:
 a rotatable C-arm support having first and second ends;   an x-ray source positioned at the first end for initiating an imaging cycle by generating x-ray radiation;   an x-ray receiving section positioned at the second end so that x-rays emanating from the x-ray source enter the x-ray receiving section, the x-ray receiving section generating an image representing the intensities of the x-rays entering the x-ray receiving section;   a calibration and tracking target;   a tracking sensor for detecting the position, in three-dimensional space, of the calibration and tracking target; and   a computer communicating with the x-ray receiving section and the tracking sensor, the computer detecting motion of the C-arm based on changes in the position detected by the tracking sensor.   
     
     
         2 . The imaging device of  claim 1 , further comprising
 a dynamic reference frame marker attached to anatomy of a patient, the tracking sensor detecting the position, in three-dimensional space, of the dynamic reference frame marker.   
     
     
         3 . The imaging device of  claim 1 , further comprising
 means for detecting the beginning and end of an imaging cycle and transmitting indications of the detected beginning and end of the radiation cycle to the computer.   
     
     
         4 . The imaging device of  claim 3  wherein the computer determines that an image acquisition cycle is erroneous when the position of the tracking target moves with respect to the patient during the imaging cycle. 
     
     
         5 . An x-ray imaging device comprising:
 a rotatable C-arm support having first and second ends;   an x-ray source positioned at the first end for initiating an imaging cycle by generating x-ray radiation;   an x-ray receiving section positioned at the second end so that x-rays emanating from the x-ray source enter the x-ray receiving section, the x-ray receiving section generating an image representing the intensities of the x-rays entering the x-ray receiving section;   a tracking target associated with the C-arm;   a tracking sensor for detecting the position, in three-dimensional space, of the tracking target; and   a computer communicating with the x-ray receiving section and the tracking sensor, the computer detecting motion of the C-arm based on changes in the position detected by the tracking sensor.   
     
     
         6 . The imaging device of  claim 5  wherein the receiving section is operable to convert x-rays directly to digital images, thereby reducing distortion, which may be introduced by first converting to visible light. 
     
     
         7 . The imaging device of  claim 5 , further comprising
 a dynamic reference frame marker attached to anatomy of a patient, the tracking sensor detecting the position, in three-dimensional space, of the dynamic reference frame marker.   
     
     
         8 . The imaging device of  claim 5 , further comprising
 means for detecting the beginning and end of an imaging cycle and transmitting indications of the detected beginning and end of the radiation cycle to the computer.   
     
     
         9 . The imaging device of  claim 5  wherein the computer determines that an image acquisition cycle is erroneous when the position of the tracking target moves with respect to the patient during the imaging cycle.