US 11,672,609 B2
Methods and systems for providing depth information
Kamyar Abhari, Toronto (CA); Gal Sela, Toronto (CA); Michael Frank Gunter Wood, Toronto (CA); Kai Michael Hynna, Toronto (CA); Kelly Noel Dyer, Toronto (CA); and Tammy Kee-wai Lee, Toronto (CA)
Assigned to Synaptive Medical Inc.
Filed by Synaptive Medical Inc., Toronto (CA)
Filed on Nov. 10, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/94,777.
Application 17/094,777 is a continuation of application No. 16/343,248, granted, now 10,828,114, previously published as PCT/CA2016/051223, filed on Oct. 21, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2021/0228283 A1, Jul. 29, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 34/20 (2016.01); G06T 7/50 (2017.01); G06T 7/70 (2017.01); G06T 5/00 (2006.01); G06T 7/20 (2017.01)
CPC A61B 34/20 (2016.02) [G06T 5/002 (2013.01); G06T 7/20 (2013.01); G06T 7/50 (2017.01); G06T 7/70 (2017.01); A61B 2034/2057 (2016.02)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A medical navigation system for use with a tracking system during a medical procedure on a patient, the tracking system configured to obtain tracking information about position and orientation of an instrument during the medical procedure, the medical navigation system comprising:
a depth detector configured to obtain depth information about variations in depth over a site of interest; and
a controller in communication with the tracking system and the depth detector to receive the tracking information and the depth information, respectively, the controller having a processor coupled to a memory, the controller configured to enable selection of output representing relative depth data, general depth data, or both, and further configured to cause at least one output device to provide output representing relative depth data, general depth data, or both, in accordance with the selection, the at least one output device being a display device, and the controller further configured to cause the display device to display the output overlaid on an image of the site of interest, and to cause display of the output including changing a visual characteristic of contour lines overlaid on the image;
wherein the relative depth data is determined by the controller using the tracking information and the depth information, and represents the depth information relative to the position and orientation of the instrument; and
wherein the general depth data represents the depth information over the site of interest independently of the position and orientation of the instrument;
wherein the image of the site of interest is a 3D rendering of a point cloud;
wherein the controller is further configured to cause display of the output including blurring at least one portion of the image corresponding to at least one portion of the site of interest outside of a predefined depth range relative to the distal end of the instrument.