Method and system for displaying cross-sectional images of a body

Claim 1

A method of displaying cross-sectional images of a body so as to render the cross-sectional images more interpretable, the method comprising the steps of: (a) using a first intra-body imaging device deployed on a flexible catheter, obtaining at least one cross sectional image of a portion of the body, said at least one cross sectional image being defined by at least one first plane; (b) employing an inductive electromagnetic-field-sensing position-measuring system, including a locating sensor implemented on said first imaging device, to establish a location and orientation of each of said first plane in six degrees of freedom; and (c) projecting each of said at least one cross-sectional image of said portion of the body onto a predefined second plane, so as to obtain at least one projected cross-sectional image of said portion of the body, each of said at least one projected cross-sectional image becoming more interpretable by a user.

Claim 2

A method of displaying cross-sectional images of a body so as to render the cross-sectional images more interpretable, the method comprising the steps of: (a) using a first intra-body imaging device deployed on a flexible catheter, obtaining at least one cross sectional image of a portion of the body, said at least one cross sectional image being defined by at least one first plane; (b) employing an inductive electromagnetic-field-sensing position-measuring system, including a locating sensor implemented on said first imaging device, to establish a location and orientation of each of said first plane in six degrees of freedom; and (c) projecting each of said at least one cross-sectional image of said portion of the body onto a predefined second plane, so as to obtain at least one projected cross-sectional image of said portion of the body, each of said at least one projected cross-sectional image becoming more interpretable by a user.

Claim 14

A method of displaying a three dimensional image rendered from a plurality of consecutive cross-sectional images of a body so as to render the rendered image more interpretable, the method comprising the steps of: (a) using a first intra-body imaging device deployed on a flexible catheter, obtaining a plurality of consecutive cross-sectional images of a portion of the body, each of said plurality of consecutive cross-sectional images being defined by a plane; (b) employing a position-measuring system, including a locating sensor implemented on said first imaging device, to establish a location and orientation of each of said planes in six degrees of freedom; (c) rendering said plurality of consecutive cross-sectional images of said portion of the body into a rendered three dimensional model image of said portion of the body; and (d) projecting said rendered three dimensional model image as if viewed following a line-of-sight of a second imaging device used to image the body.

Claim 15

A method of displaying a three dimensional image rendered from a plurality of consecutive cross-sectional images of a body so as to render the rendered image more interpretable, the method comprising the steps of: (a) using a first intra-body imaging device deployed on a flexible catheter, obtaining a plurality of consecutive cross-sectional images of a portion of the body, each of said plurality of consecutive cross-sectional images being defined by a plane; (b) employing a position-measuring system, including a locating sensor implemented on said first imaging device, to establish a location and orientation of each of said planes in six degrees of freedom; (c) rendering said plurality of consecutive cross-sectional images of said portion of the body into a rendered three dimensional model image of said portion of the body; and (d) projecting said rendered three dimensional model image as if viewed following a line-of-sight of a second imaging device used to image the body.

Claim 17

A system for displaying a three dimensional image rendered from a plurality of consecutive cross-sectional images of a body so as to render the rendered image more interpretable, the system comprising: (a) a first intra-body imaging device deployed on a flexible catheter for obtaining a plurality of consecutive cross-sectional images of a portion of the body, each of said plurality of consecutive cross-sectional images being defined by a plane; (b) a position-measuring system including a locating sensor implemented on said first imaging device, said position-measuring system determining a location and orientation of each of said planes in six degrees of freedom; (c) a rendering device for rendering said plurality of consecutive cross-sectional images of said portion of the body into a rendered three dimensional model image of said portion of the body; and (d) a projecting and displaying device for projecting and displaying said rendered three dimensional model image as if viewed following a line-of-sight of a second imaging device used to image the body.

Claim 18

A system for displaying a three dimensional image rendered from a plurality of consecutive cross-sectional images of a body so as to render the rendered image more interpretable, the system comprising: (a) a first intra-body imaging device deployed on a flexible catheter for obtaining a plurality of consecutive cross-sectional images of a portion of the body, each of said plurality of consecutive cross-sectional images being defined by a plane; (b) a position-measuring system including a locating sensor implemented on said first imaging device, said position-measuring system determining a location and orientation of each of said planes in six degrees of freedom; (c) a rendering device for rendering said plurality of consecutive cross-sectional images of said portion of the body into a rendered three dimensional model image of said portion of the body; and (d) a projecting and displaying device for projecting and displaying said rendered three dimensional model image as if viewed following a line-of-sight of a second imaging device used to image the body.