Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A method for representing the interior of bodies, the method comprising: providing an optical imaging system comprising a camera and a monitor, wherein an endoscope is connected in series with the camera to create an optical image; attaching a position sensor to a body to compensate for changes in position of the body; allocating a spatial data field to the body disposed in a certain position; identifying points on the body and identifying characteristic points, corresponding thereto, in the data field; calibrating the optical imaging system by registering the characteristic points with the points on the body; detecting continuously the spatial position of the camera; calculating a representation of the data field corresponding to a current angle of view of the camera; and selectively representing the optical image, the data field, and both the optical image and the data field superimposed, on the monitor.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
144 words
A method for representing the interior of bodies, the method comprising: providing an optical imaging system comprising a camera and a monitor, wherein an endoscope is connected in series with the camera to create an optical image; attaching a position sensor to a body to compensate for changes in position of the body; allocating a spatial data field to the body disposed in a certain position; identifying points on the body and identifying characteristic points, corresponding thereto, in the data field; calibrating the optical imaging system by registering the characteristic points with the points on the body; detecting continuously the spatial position of the camera; calculating a representation of the data field corresponding to a current angle of view of the camera; and selectively representing the optical image, the data field, and both the optical image and the data field superimposed, on the monitor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data field is provided by using an imaging method selected from X-Ray tomography, NMR tomography, and ultrasonic imaging.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising obtaining a video recording of the image and providing a three-dimensional reconstruction thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method of claim 3, wherein the three-dimensional reconstruction is gained from a single video recording to which a distance measurement is allocated.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method of claim 3, wherein the three-dimensional reconstruction is gained from several video recordings by stereometric analysis.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
47 words
A method of claims 1 to 5, further comprising an entry process comprising freezing the optical image superimposed on the data field at a time determined by a user, and wherein individual points of the data field are displaceable on the monitor in said frozen optical image.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the displacement of the points is made by means of a computer mouse.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method of claim 1, comprising the step of correcting a distortion of the optical imaging system by aiming the endoscope towards a test image comprising regularly arranged symbols, evaluating the symbols using a pattern recognition method, and calculating a correction function for the optical system.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
160 words
An apparatus for imaging the interior of bodies; the apparatus comprising: a camera having an endoscope operably attached thereto; a first position sensor attached to the camera or the endoscope to provide a frame of reference with respect to the camera; a second position sensor adapted to be attached to a body to compensate for changes in position of the body; a monitor for displaying an optical image recorded by the camera together with a data field representing a model to be superimposed on the optical image; a computer comprising a memory device for storing the data field representing the model; means for detecting the position of the first position sensor; and means for registering selected points of the data field representing points of the model with respective points of the optical image by displacement of a second image corresponding to at least one point of the data field displayed on the monitor to be superimposed on the optical image.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
160 words
An apparatus for imaging the interior of bodies; the apparatus comprising: a camera having an endoscope operably attached thereto; a first position sensor attached to the camera or the endoscope to provide a frame of reference with respect to the camera; a second position sensor adapted to be attached to a body to compensate for changes in position of the body; a monitor for displaying an optical image recorded by the camera together with a data field representing a model to be superimposed on the optical image; a computer comprising a memory device for storing the data field representing the model; means for detecting the position of the first position sensor; and means for registering selected points of the data field representing points of the model with respective points of the optical image by displacement of a second image corresponding to at least one point of the data field displayed on the monitor to be superimposed on the optical image.