Abstract: A system for surgical navigation, including an instrument for a medical procedure attached to a camera and having a spatial position relative to the camera, an x-ray system to acquire x-ray images, and multiple fiducial markers detectable by both the camera and x-ray system, having a radio-opaque material arranged as at least one of a line and a point. A computer receives an optical image from the camera and an x-ray image from the x-ray system, identifies fiducial markers visible in both the optical image and x-ray image, determines for each fiducial marker a spatial position relative to the camera based on the optical image and relative to the x-ray system based on the x-ray image, and determines a spatial position for the instrument relative to the x-ray system based on at least the spatial positions relative to the camera and x-ray system.

Abstract: An embodiment in accordance with the present invention provides a technique for localizing structures of interest in projection images (e.g., x-ray projection radiographs or fluoroscopy) based on structures defined in a preoperative 3D image (e.g., MR or CT). Applications include, but are not limited to, spinal interventions. The present invention achieves 3D-2D image registration (and particularly allowing use with a preoperative MR image) by segmenting the structures of interest in the preoperative 3D image and generating a simulated projection of the segmented structures to be aligned with the 2D projection image. Other applications include various clinical scenarios involving 3D-2D image registration, such as image-guided cranial neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery, biopsy, and radiation therapy.

Abstract: An embodiment in accordance with the present invention provides a technique for localizing structures of interest in projection images (e.g., x-ray projection radiographs or fluoroscopy) based on structures defined in a preoperative 3D image (e.g., MR or CT). Applications include, but are not limited to, spinal interventions. The present invention achieves 3D-2D image registration (and particularly allowing use with a preoperative MR image) by segmenting the structures of interest in the preoperative 3D image and generating a simulated projection of the segmented structures to be aligned with the 2D projection image. Other applications include various clinical scenarios involving 3D-2D image registration, such as image-guided cranial neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery, biopsy, and radiation therapy.