Method and system for eliminating electromagnetic interference in a medical image, in real-time

Abstract

In a medical apparatus including a medical imaging system and a medical position and navigation system (MPS), the medical imaging system including an imaging transmitter, periodically emitting imaging radiation and an imaging detector, the medical position and navigation system including at least one MPS transmitter periodically transmitting MPS radiation and at least one MPS detector, the MPS radiation electromagnetically interfering with at least one mode of operation of the imaging detector, a device for eliminating interference to the imaging detector caused by positioning radiation, the device comprising a synchronizer, coupled with the medical imaging system and with the medical position and navigation system, synchronizing the imaging detector and each the at least one MPS transmitter, so that neither of the at least one MPS transmitter transmits during the at least one mode of operation of the imaging detector.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. In a medical apparatus including a medical imaging system and a medical position and navigation system (MPS), the medical imaging system including an imaging transmitter periodically emitting imaging radiation and a separate imaging detector having at least an imaging radiation acquisition mode of operation and a sampling mode of operation, the MPS including at least one MPS transmitter periodically transmitting MPS radiation and at least one MPS detector, with one of the at least one MPS transmitter and the at least one MPS detector being positionable within a body, said MPS radiation electromagnetically interfering with at least one of said modes of operation of said imaging detector, a device for eliminating interference to the imaging detector caused by positioning said MPS radiation, the device comprising:
 a synchronizer configured to be coupled with said medical imaging system and with said MPS, wherein said synchronizer is configured to synchronize said imaging detector and said at least one MPS transmitter, so that said at least one MPS transmitter does not transmit during said at least one of said modes of operation of said imaging detector, wherein said at least one of said modes of operation of said imaging detector is includes said imaging radiation acquisition mode. 
 
     
     
       2. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one of said modes of operation of said imaging detector is also includes said sampling mode, and wherein said synchronizer is further configured to synchronize said imaging detector and said at least one MPS transmitter, so that said at least one MPS transmitter does not transmit during said sampling mode. 
     
     
       3. A combined imaging and positioning apparatus comprising:
 a medical imaging system, for obtaining a representation of the anatomy of a portion of a body, said medical imaging system including an imaging radiation transmitter for periodically transmitting imaging radiation and a separate imaging detector having at least an imaging radiation acquisition mode of operation and a sampling mode of operation; 
 a medical position and navigation system (MPS), said MPS including at least one MPS transmitter for transmitting MPS radiation, said MPS radiation electromagnetically interfering with at least one of said modes of operation of said imaging detector, and at least one MPS detector for detecting MPS radiation, with one of said at least one MPS transmitter and said at least one MPS detector being positionable within the body; and 
 a synchronizer coupled with said medical imaging system and with said MPS, wherein said synchronizer is configured to synchronize said imaging detector and said at least one MPS transmitter, so that said at least one MPS transmitter does not transmit during said at least one of said modes of operation of said imaging detector, wherein said at least one of said modes of operation of said imaging detector is includes said imaging radiation acquisition mode. 
 
     
     
       4. The system according to  claim 3 , wherein said at least one of said modes of operation of said imaging detector is also includes said sampling mode, and wherein said synchronizer is further configured to synchronize said imaging detector and said at least one MPS transmitter, so that said at least one MPS transmitter does not transmit during said sampling mode. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus according to  claim 3 , further including a display unit coupled with said medical imaging system and said medical positioning system, said display unit for displaying said representation of said anatomy in conjunction with the position of an object. 
     
     
       6. The system according to  claim 5 , wherein said medical imaging system further includes an imaging processor coupled with said imaging radiation transmitter, coupled with said imaging radiation detector, coupled with said display unit, and coupled with said synchronizer, said imaging processor for controlling the operation of said imaging radiation transmitter and said imaging radiation detector. 
     
     
       7. The system according to  claim 5 , wherein said MPS further includes a positioning processor coupled with said at least one MPS transmitter, coupled with said at least one MPS detector, coupled with said display unit, and coupled with said synchronizer, said positioning processor for controlling the operation of said at least one MPS transmitter and said at least one MPS detector. 
     
     
       8. The system according to  claim 3 , wherein said positioning MPS radiation is includes electromagnetic radiation. 
     
     
       9. The system according to  claim 8 , wherein said at least one MPS detector comprises at least one coil. 
     
     
       10. The system according to  claim 8 , wherein said at least one MPS transmitter comprises at least one coil. 
     
     
       11. The system according to  claim 3 , wherein said at least one MPS transmitter is in close proximity with said imaging detector and moves therewith, thereby maintaining registration between an MPS coordinate system associated with said MPS and with an imaging coordinate system associated with said imaging system. 
     
     
       12. The device according to  claim 3 , wherein said imaging detector comprises electromagnetic shielding. 
     
     
       13. The system according to  claim 5 , wherein said object is includes a catheter. 
     
     
       14. The system according to  claim 13 , wherein at least one of said at least one MPS detector is fitted on a distal end of said catheter. 
     
     
       15. In a medical apparatus including a medical imaging system and a medical position and navigation system (MPS), the medical imaging system including an imaging transmitter periodically emitting imaging radiation and a separate imaging detector having at least an imaging radiation acquisition mode of operation and a sampling mode of operation, the MPS including at least one MPS transmitter periodically transmitting MPS radiation and at least one MPS detector, with one of the at least one MPS transmitter and the at least one MPS detector being positionable within a body, said MPS radiation electromagnetically interfering with at least one of said modes of operation of said imaging detector, a device for eliminating interference to the imaging detector caused by MPS radiation, the device comprising:
 a synchronizer configured to synchronize said imaging detector and said at least one MPS transmitter, so that said at least one MPS transmitter does not transmit during said at least one of said modes of operation of said imaging detector, wherein said at least one of said modes of operation of said imaging detector includes said sampling mode.   
     
     
       16. The device of claim 15, further comprising an x-ray detector configured to activate the synchronizer to synchronize said imaging detector and said at least one MPS transmitter. 
     
     
       17. A combined imaging and positioning apparatus comprising:
 a medical imaging system, for obtaining a representation of the anatomy of a portion of a body, said medical imaging system including an imaging radiation transmitter for periodically transmitting imaging radiation and a separate imaging detector having at least an imaging radiation acquisition mode of operation and a sampling mode of operation;   a medical position and navigation system (MPS), said MPS including at least one MPS transmitter for transmitting MPS radiation, said MPS radiation electromagnetically interfering with at least one of said modes of operation of said imaging detector, and at least one MPS detector for detecting MPS radiation, with one of said at least one MPS transmitter and said at least one MPS detector being positionable within the body; and   a synchronizer configured to synchronize said imaging detector and said at least one MPS transmitter, so that said at least one MPS transmitter does not transmit during said at least one of said modes of operation of said imaging detector, wherein said at least one of said modes of operation of said imaging detector includes said sampling mode.   
     
     
       18. The apparatus according to claim 17, further including a display unit coupled with said medical imaging system and said medical positioning system, said display unit for displaying said representation of said anatomy in conjunction with the position of an object. 
     
     
       19. The system according to claim 18, wherein said medical imaging system further includes an imaging processor coupled with said imaging radiation transmitter, coupled with said imaging radiation detector, coupled with said display unit, and coupled with said synchronizer, said imaging processor for controlling the operation of said imaging radiation transmitter and said imaging radiation detector. 
     
     
       20. The system according to claim 18, wherein said MPS further includes a positioning processor coupled with said at least one MPS transmitter, coupled with said at least one MPS detector, coupled with said display unit, and coupled with said synchronizer, said positioning processor for controlling the operation of said at least one MPS transmitter and said at least one MPS detector. 
     
     
       21. The system according to claim 17, wherein said MPS radiation includes electromagnetic radiation. 
     
     
       22. The system according to claim 21, wherein said at least one MPS detector comprises at least one coil. 
     
     
       23. The system according to claim 21, wherein said at least one MPS transmitter comprises at least one coil. 
     
     
       24. The system according to claim 17, wherein said at least one MPS transmitter is in close proximity with said imaging detector and moves therewith, thereby maintaining registration between an MPS coordinate system associated with said MPS and with an imaging coordinate system associated with said imaging system. 
     
     
       25. The device according to claim 17, wherein said imaging detector comprises electromagnetic shielding. 
     
     
       26. The system according to claim 18, wherein said object includes a catheter. 
     
     
       27. The system according to claim 26, wherein at least one of said at least one MPS detector is fitted on a distal end of said catheter.