Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for mapping and displaying three dimensional surgical pathways within imaging of cranial structures derived from voxels of a cranial scan. Entry voxel and target voxel are selected as pathway endpoints. A series of respective neighbor voxels are mapped between the entry voxel and the target voxel to define a pathway. For each voxel Vxi,yi,zi in the series, an immediately succeeding voxel of voxel Vxi,yi,zi is selected from among the group of neighbor voxel of voxel Vxi,yi,zi which excludes neighbor voxels of the immediately preceding voxel of voxel Vxi,yi,zi. The selection is made by comparing selection weights determined based on relative distances with respect to the endpoint voxels and relative distance from voxels within a predetermined distance that represent at least a threshold density. The voxels of the pathway are then selectively highlighted in a displayed view to provide a visualization of the 3D surgical pathway.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a medical instrument, a position tracking system to track coordinates of the instrument within a passage in a body, a processor to register the system and a 3D CT image of at least a part of the body, find a path of the instrument through the passage, compute segments of the path, compute respective locations along the path of respective virtual cameras responsively to the computed segments, select the respective virtual cameras for rendering respective virtual endoscopic images responsively to the tracked coordinates, compute respective orientations of the respective virtual cameras, and render and display the respective virtual endoscopic images, based on the 3D CT image, of the passage in the body viewed from the respective locations and orientations of the respective virtual cameras including an animated representation of the instrument positioned in the respective virtual endoscopic images in accordance with the tracked coordinates.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a medical instrument, a position tracking system to track coordinates of the instrument within a passage in a body, a processor to register the system and a 3D CT image of at least a part of the body, find a path of the instrument through the passage, compute segments of the path, compute respective locations along the path of respective virtual cameras responsively to the computed segments, select the respective virtual cameras for rendering respective virtual endoscopic images responsively to the tracked coordinates, compute respective orientations of the respective virtual cameras, and render and display the respective virtual endoscopic images, based on the 3D CT image, of the passage in the body viewed from the respective locations and orientations of the respective virtual cameras including an animated representation of the instrument positioned in the respective virtual endoscopic images in accordance with the tracked coordinates.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a medical apparatus, includes a medical instrument configured to move within a passage in a body of a patient, a position tracking system to track coordinates of the medical instrument within the body, a display screen, and a processor to register the position tracking system and a 3D computerized tomography (CT) image of at least a part of the body within a common frame of reference, find a 3D path of the medical instrument through the passage from a start point to a termination point within the common frame of reference, compute a direction to the 3D path from the medical instrument responsively to the tracked coordinates, and render and simultaneously display on the display screen respective 2D CT slices, based on the 3D CT image, including respective 2D indications of the direction to the 3D path from the instrument projected onto the respective 2D CT slices.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a medical apparatus, includes a medical instrument configured to move within a passage in a body of a patient, a position tracking system to track coordinates of the medical instrument within the body, a display screen, and a processor to register the position tracking system and a 3D computerized tomography (CT) image of at least a part of the body within a common frame of reference, find a 3D path of the medical instrument through the passage from a start point to a termination point within the common frame of reference, compute a direction to the 3D path from the medical instrument responsively to the tracked coordinates, and render and simultaneously display on the display screen respective 2D CT slices, based on the 3D CT image, including respective 2D indications of the direction to the 3D path from the instrument projected onto the respective 2D CT slices.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for mapping and displaying a three dimensional (3D) surgical pathway. Entry and target voxels are selected along with a semi-target voxel therebetween. Where voxels representing bone are between the entry and target voxels, the semi-target voxel is selected such that voxels representing bone are not within a shortest line between it and the entry voxel. A series of voxels through the semi-target voxel define the pathway. For each voxel V in the series between the semi-target voxel and one of the endpoint voxels, the immediately succeeding voxel of voxel V is selected from among the group of neighbor voxels of voxel V by comparing selection weights of each voxel determined a selected basis including relative distances with respect to the endpoint voxel and the semi-target voxel. The pathway voxels are selectively highlighted in a displayed view to provide a visualization of the 3D surgical pathway.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems for medical procedures are disclosed herein and include receiving a first set of biometric data for a first portion of a body part and determining a first range of values in the first set of biometric data, determining first visual characteristics based on the first range of values and rendering a global view of the first portion of the body part rendered with the first visual characteristics. A second range of values in a second set of biometric data for a second portion of the body part may be determined and the second portion of the body part may be a subset of the first portion of the body part. Second visual characteristics may be determined based on the second range of values and a local view including the second portion of the body part rendered with the second visual characteristics may be rendered.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for mapping and displaying three dimensional surgical pathways within imaging of cranial structures derived from voxels of a cranial scan. Entry voxel and target voxel are selected as pathway endpoints. A series of respective neighbor voxels are mapped between the entry voxel and the target voxel to define a pathway. For each voxel Vxi,yi,zi in the series, an immediately succeeding voxel of voxel Vxi,yi,zi is selected from among the group of neighbor voxel of voxel Vxi,yi,zi which excludes neighbor voxels of the immediately preceding voxel of voxel Vxi,yi,zi . The selection is made by comparing selection weights determined based on relative distances with respect to the endpoint voxels and relative distance from voxels within a predetermined distance that represent at least a threshold density. The voxels of the pathway are then selectively highlighted in a displayed view to provide a visualization of the 3D surgical pathway.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for mapping and displaying a three dimensional (3D) surgical pathway. Entry and target voxels are selected along with a semi-target voxel therebetween. Where voxels representing bone are between the entry and target voxels, the semi-target voxel is selected such that voxels representing bone are not within a shortest line between it and the entry voxel. A series of voxels through the semi-target voxel define the pathway. For each voxel V in the series between the semi-target voxel and one of the endpoint voxels, the immediately succeeding voxel of voxel V is selected from among the group of neighbor voxels of voxel V by comparing selection weights of each voxel determined a selected basis including relative distances with respect to the endpoint voxel and the semi-target voxel. The pathway voxels are selectively highlighted in a displayed view to provide a visualization of the 3D surgical pathway.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a medical apparatus, includes a medical instrument configured to move within a passage in a body of a patient, a position tracking system to track coordinates of the medical instrument within the body, a display screen, and a processor to register the position tracking system and a 3D computerized tomography (CT) image of at least a part of the body within a common frame of reference, find a 3D path of the medical instrument through the passage from a start point to a termination point within the common frame of reference, compute a direction to the 3D path from the medical instrument responsively to the tracked coordinates, and render and simultaneously display on the display screen respective 2D CT slices, based on the 3D CT image, including respective 2D indications of the direction to the 3D path from the instrument projected onto the respective 2D CT slices.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a medical instrument, a position tracking system to track coordinates of the instrument within a passage in a body, a processor to register the system and a 3D CT image of at least a part of the body, find a path of the instrument through the passage, compute segments of the path, compute respective locations along the path of respective virtual cameras responsively to the computed segments, select the respective virtual cameras for rendering respective virtual endoscopic images responsively to the tracked coordinates, compute respective orientations of the respective virtual cameras, and render and display the respective virtual endoscopic images, based on the 3D CT image, of the passage in the body viewed from the respective locations and orientations of the respective virtual cameras including an animated representation of the instrument positioned in the respective virtual endoscopic images in accordance with the tracked coordinates.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems for medical procedures are disclosed herein and include receiving a first set of biometric data for a first portion of a body part and determining a first range of values in the first set of biometric data, determining first visual characteristics based on the first range of values and rendering a global view of the first portion of the body part rendered with the first visual characteristics. A second range of values in a second set of biometric data for a second portion of the body part may be determined and the second portion of the body part may be a subset of the first portion of the body part. Second visual characteristics may be determined based on the second range of values and a local view including the second portion of the body part rendered with the second visual characteristics may be rendered.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems for medical procedures are disclosed herein and include receiving a first set of biometric data of a first modality for a first portion of a body part, determining first visual characteristics based on the first set of biometric data, receiving a second set of biometric data of a second modality for a second portion of the body part, the second portion of the body part being a subset of the first portion of the body part, and determining second visual characteristics based on the second set of biometric data. A first view including the first portion of the body part rendered with the first visual characteristics may be provided and second view comprising the second portion of the body part rendered with the second visual characteristics may be provided, the second view superimposed on the first view at a location on the first view corresponding to the second portion of the body part.