Method and system for selecting and recording biopsy sites in a body organ

Abstract

A method and system for selecting and recording biopsy sites in a body organ. The method comprises obtaining a three-dimensional image of the organ; and a first two-dimensional sub-image of the organ. The position of the first two-dimensional sub-image in the three-dimensional image is determined. Sites in the first two-dimensional sub-image where a biopsy is to be obtained are selected, and sites at which biopsies were obtained are indicated in the three-dimensional image. Additional two-dimensional sub-images of the organ are sequentially obtained, and for each sub-image, the position of the sub-image in the three-dimensional image is determined, and any sites in the sub-image where biopsies have previously been obtained are indicated. One or more sites in the sub-image where biopsies are to be obtained are selected and any sites where biopsies were obtained are indicated in the three-dimensional image.

1 . A method for selecting and recording biopsy sites in a body organ comprising: 
 a) obtaining a three-dimensional image of a three dimensional region of the organ;    b) obtaining a first two-dimensional sub-image of a first two-dimensional sub-region of the three-dimensional region;    c) determining the position of the first two-dimensional sub-image in the three-dimensional image;    d) optionally selecting one or more sites in the first two-dimensional sub-image where a biopsy is to be obtained;    e) indicating in the three-dimensional image any sites at which biopsies were obtained;    f) obtaining an additional two-dimensional sub-image of an additional two-dimensional sub-region of the organ, the additional two-dimensional sub-region being included in the three-dimensional region;    g) determining the position of the additional two-dimensional sub-image in the three-dimensional image;    h) indicating in the additional two-dimensional sub-image any sites where biopsies have previously been obtained;    i) optionally selecting one or more sites in the additional two-dimensional sub-image where biopsies are to be obtained;    j) indicating in the three-dimensional image any sites where biopsies were previously obtained; and    k) repeating steps f) to j) as required.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 2  wherein the organ is a prostate or breast.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to any one of the previous claims wherein the three-dimensional image is obtained by three-dimensional ultrasound.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to any one of the previous claims wherein one or more two-dimensional sub-images are obtained by two-dimensional ultasound.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to any one of the previous claims wherein the three-dimensional image is displayed as a grid representation.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to any one of the previous claims further comprising obtaining a biopsy at a selected site.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to any one of the previous claims further comprising determining in the three-dimensional image locations suspected of having a predetermined condition and indicating suspected locations in the displayed representation of the three-dimensional image.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7  wherein the predetermined condition is a malignancy.  
     
     
         9 . A system for selecting and recording biopsy sites in a body organ comprising: 
 (a) A three-dimensional imaging device providing a three-dimensional image of a three dimensional region of the organ;    (b) A two-dimensional imaging device providing two-dimensional sub-images of two-dimensional sub-regions of the three-dimensional region;    (c) One or more display screens for displaying a representation of the three dimensional image and for displaying one or more two-dimensional images;    (d) Means for selecting one or more sites in a two-dimensional sub-image where a biopsy is to be obtained;    (e) A processor configured to: 
 (i) determine the position of a two-dimensional sub-image in the three-dimensional image;  
 (ii) display on a display screen a representation of a three-dimensional image with an indication of the position of a two-dimensional sub-image in the three-dimensional image;  
 (iii) display on a display screen one or more two-dimensional sub-images;  
 (iv) determine in a three-dimensional image any sites at which biopsies were obtained and indicate in a displayed representation of the three-dimensional image any sites at which biopsies were obtained;  
   
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 9 , further comprising a device for obtaining a biopsy at a selected site.  
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 9  or  10  wherein the three-dimensional imaging device is a three-dimensional ultrasound imaging device.  
     
     
         12 . The system according to any one of  claims 9  to  11  wherein the two-dimensional imaging device is a two-dimensional ultrasound imaging device.  
     
     
         13 . The system according to any one of  claims 9  to  12  wherein representation of a three-dimensional image is a grid representation.  
     
     
         14 . The system according to any one of  claims 9  to  13  wherein the processor is further configured to determine in a three-dimensional image locations suspected of having a predetermined condition and indicating suspected locations in a displayed representation of the three-dimensional image.