Patient Breathing Modeling

Abstract

A method of accounting for the movement of the lungs during an endoscopic procedure such that a previously acquired image may be dynamically registered with a display showing the position of a locatable guide. After an initial image set is acquired, an area of interest is identified and the movement thereof due to breathing is mathematically modeled. Patient movement sensors are then used to provide information on the patient's breathing patterns. This information is entered into the mathematical model in order to update the registration between the image set and a display showing the position of the locatable guide.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A method of registering at least one previously-acquired image to a real-time representation of a probe location, comprising:
 attaching at least one patient sensor to the patient;
 monitoring locations of said at least one patient sensor as the patient inhales and exhales; 
 determining a point in time said patient is in a breathing cycle based on said locations of said at least one patient sensor; 
 selecting one of said at least one previously-acquired images taken closest to said point in time said patient is in said breathing cycle; 
 superimposing said selected one of said at least one previously-acquired images over said real-time representation of said probe location. 
   
     
     
         11 - 21 . (canceled)