Apparatus and methods for use with skeletal procedures

Abstract

Method and apparatus are provided for use with a procedure in which interventions are performed with respect to at least first and second vertebrae of a spine of a subject. Imaging data of the subject's spine is acquired using an imaging device. At least one computer processor is used to generate, upon a display, a spinal roadmap image of at least a portion of the spine that contains the first and second vertebra, automatically label vertebra within the spinal roadmap image, determine that an intervention has been performed with respect to the first vertebra, such that an appearance of the first vertebra has changed, and automatically update the spinal roadmap to reflect the change in the appearance of the first vertebra, such that the updated spinal roadmap is displayed while the intervention is performed with respect to the second vertebra. Other applications are also described.

1 - 107 . (canceled) 
     
     
         108 . A method for use with a procedure in which interventions are performed with respect to at least first and second vertebrae of a spine of a subject, the method comprising:
 acquiring imaging data of the subject's spine, using an imaging device; and   using at least one computer processor:
 generating, upon a display, a spinal roadmap image of at least a portion of the spine that contains the first and second vertebrae; 
 automatically labelling vertebrae within the spinal roadmap image; 
 determining that an intervention has been performed with respect to the first vertebra, such that an appearance of the first vertebra has changed; and 
 automatically updating the spinal roadmap to reflect the change in the appearance of the first vertebra, such that the updated spinal roadmap is displayed while the intervention is performed with respect to the second vertebra. 
   
     
     
         109 . The method according to  claim 108 , wherein acquiring the imaging data comprises acquiring 3D imaging data, and generating the spinal roadmap image comprises generating a 3D spinal roadmap image. 
     
     
         110 . The method according to  claim 108 , wherein acquiring the imaging data comprises acquiring 2D imaging data, and generating the spinal roadmap image comprises generating a 2D spinal roadmap image. 
     
     
         111 . The method according to  claim 108 , wherein determining that an intervention has been performed with respect to the first vertebra, such that an appearance of the first vertebra has changed comprises determining that a tool has been inserted into the first vertebra, and wherein updating the spinal roadmap comprises updating the spinal roadmap to display the tool inside the vertebra. 
     
     
         112 . Apparatus for use with a procedure in which interventions are performed with respect to at least first and second vertebrae of a spine of a subject, a display, and an imaging device configured to acquire imaging data of the subject's spine, the apparatus comprising:
 at least one computer processor configured to:
 receive the imaging data from the imaging device, 
 generate, upon the display, a spinal roadmap image of at least a portion of the spine that contains the first and second vertebrae, 
 automatically label vertebrae within the spinal roadmap image, 
 determine that an intervention has been performed with respect to the first vertebra, such that an appearance of the first vertebra has changed, and 
 automatically update the spinal roadmap to reflect the change in the appearance of the first vertebra, such that the updated spinal roadmap is displayed while the intervention is performed with respect to the second vertebra. 
   
     
     
         113 . The apparatus according to  claim 112 , wherein the imaging device includes an imaging device configured to acquire 3D imaging data, and the at least one computer processor is configured to generate the spinal roadmap image by generating a 3D spinal roadmap image. 
     
     
         114 . The apparatus according to  claim 112 , wherein the imaging device includes an imaging device configured to acquire 2D imaging data, and the at least one computer processor is configured to generate the spinal roadmap image by generating a 2D spinal roadmap image. 
     
     
         115 . The apparatus according to  claim 112 , wherein the at least one computer processor is configured to determine that an intervention has been performed with respect to the first vertebra, such that an appearance of the first vertebra has changed by determining that a tool has been inserted into the first vertebra, and the at least one computer processor is configured to update the spinal roadmap by updating the spinal roadmap to display the tool inside the vertebra. 
     
     
         116 . A computer software product with a procedure in which interventions are performed with respect to at least first and second vertebrae of a spine of a subject, a display, and an imaging device configured to acquire imaging data of the subject's spine, the computer software product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium in which program instructions are stored, which instructions, when read by a computer cause the computer to perform the steps of: receiving the imaging data from the imagine device; generating, upon the display, a spinal roadmap image of at least a portion of the spine that contains the first and second vertebrae; automatically labelling vertebrae within the spinal roadmap image; determining that an intervention has been performed with respect to the first vertebra, such that an appearance of the first vertebra has changed; and automatically updating the spinal roadmap to reflect the change in the appearance of the first vertebra, such that the updated spinal roadmap is displayed while the intervention is performed with respect to the second vertebra. 
     
     
         117 - 140 . (canceled)