1. A system for determining three dimensional positions of points in radiographic images, comprising:
a radiographic imager for acquiring two-dimensional images of a first anatomical element of a subject from at least two different angles;
a reference object including reference markings visible in a radiographic image, which reference markings are distinguishable from each other based on a visual characteristic and have known or ascertainable geometric characteristics and spatial relationships between them, said object being configured to be placed in the vicinity of the first anatomical element such that at least one reference marking of said object will appear in a field of view of each of the two-dimensional images taken from two or more angles; and
image processing circuitry for extrapolating a three dimensional position, in relation to said reference object, of a first point on the anatomical element, which first point is visible in at least two images acquired by said imager from different angles, wherein said extrapolating factors a geometric characteristic of projections of the reference marking appearing in a field of view of the at least two images.
2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said image processing circuitry further extrapolates a three dimensional position, in relation to said reference object, of a second point on the first anatomical element, which second point is visible in the at least two images acquired by said imager from different angles, wherein said extrapolating of the position of the second point factors a geometric characteristic of projections of the reference marking appearing in a field of view of the at least two images; and
wherein said image processing circuitry further extrapolates a three dimensional position and orientation, in relation to the reference object, of the first anatomical element, based on the extrapolated positions of the first and second points.
3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said image processing circuitry further extrapolates a three dimensional position, in relation to said reference object, of a second point on a second anatomical element, which second point is visible in at least two other images acquired by said imager from different angles, wherein said extrapolating of the position of the second point factors a geometric characteristic of projections of the reference marking appearing in a field of view of the at least two other images; and
wherein said image processing circuitry further extrapolates a distance between the first and second points, based on the extrapolated positions of the first and second points.
4. The system according to claim 3, wherein said image processing circuitry further determines an alignment of the first and second anatomical elements in relation to said reference object, based on the extrapolated positions of the first and second points.
5. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a display and a rendering module for displaying upon said display a graphic rendering of the extrapolated position.
6. The system according to claim 1, further comprising an interactive display adapted to receive a user selection of the first point.
7. A system for determining spatial relations between two or more anatomical elements, comprising:
a radiographic imager for acquiring two-dimensional images of two or more anatomical elements of a subject, each from at least two different angles;
a reference object including reference markings, which reference markings are distinguishable from each other based on a visual characteristic and have known or ascertainable geometric characteristics and spatial relationships between them, said object being configured to be placed in the vicinity of the two or more anatomical elements such that for each of the two or more elements at least one reference marking of said object will appear in a field of view of at least two of the two-dimensional images of the element, taken from different angles; and
image processing circuitry for extrapolating a three dimensional spatial relationship between the two or more anatomical elements, based on at least two images of each of the elements, acquired by said imager from different angles, wherein said extrapolating factors geometric characteristics of projections of the reference markings appearing in a field of view of the at least two images of each element.
8. The system according to claim 7, further comprising a display and a rendering module for displaying upon said display a graphic rendering of the extrapolated relationship.
9. The system according to claim 8, wherein said display is an interactive display.
10. The system according to claim 7, wherein the two or more anatomical elements are portions of the same bone.
11. A method for determining three dimensional positions of points in radiographic images comprising:
capturing a first set of two or more radiographic images of a first anatomical element and at least a portion of a reference object including reference markings, which reference markings are distinguishable from each other based on a visual characteristic and have known or ascertainable geometric characteristics and spatial relationships between them, wherein the first set of images are captured from at least two different angles and the anatomical element and the reference object remain stationary while the two or more images are captured; and
extrapolating a three dimensional position, in relation to said reference object, of a first point on the first anatomical element, which first point is visible in the two or more images, wherein said extrapolating factors a geometric characteristic of projections of a reference marking appearing in a field of view of the two or more images.
12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising extrapolating a three dimensional position, in relation to said reference object, of a second point on the first anatomical element, which second point is visible in the two or more images, wherein said extrapolating factors a geometric characteristic of projections of a reference marking appearing in a field of view of the two or more images; and
extrapolating a three dimensional position and orientation, in relation to the reference object, of the first anatomical element, based on the extrapolated positions of the first and second points.
13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:
capturing a second set of two or more radiographic images of a second anatomical element and at least a portion of the reference object, wherein the images of the second set of images are captured from at least two different angles and the first and second anatomical elements and the reference object remain stationary while the two sets of images are captured;
extrapolating a three dimensional position, in relation to said reference object, of a second point on the second anatomical element, which second point is visible in the two images of the second set, wherein said extrapolating of the second point position factors a geometric characteristic of projections of a reference marking appearing in a field of view of the two or more images of the second set; and
extrapolating a distance between the first and second points, based on the extrapolated positions of the first and second points.
14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising determining an alignment of the first and second points in relation to said reference object, based on the extrapolated positions of the first and second points.
15. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:
capturing a second set of two or more radiographic images of a second anatomical element and at least a portion of the reference object, wherein the images of the second set of images are captured from at least two different angles and the first and second anatomical elements and the reference object remain stationary while the two sets of images are captured;
extrapolating a three dimensional position, in relation to said reference object, of a third and fourth point on the second anatomical element, which third and fourth points are visible in the two images of the second set, wherein said extrapolating of third and fourth point positions factors a geometric characteristic of projections of a reference marking appearing in a common field of view of the two or more images of the second set;
extrapolating a three dimensional position and orientation, in relation to the reference object, of the second anatomical element, based on the extrapolated positions of the third and fourth points; and
determining a three dimensional spatial relationship between the first and second anatomical elements, based on the extrapolated three dimensional positions and orientations of the first and second anatomical elements in relation to the reference object.
16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the first and second anatomical elements are portions of the same bone.
17. The method according to claim 11, further comprising displaying a graphic rendering of the extrapolated position.
18. The method according to claim 15, further comprising displaying a graphic rendering of the extrapolated positions and orientations.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
I claim:
1. A coin handling apparatus for a gaming machine adapted to receive coins from player comprising:
a first coin hopper;
a first coin delivery mechanism for delivering player deposited coins to said first coin hopper;
a second coin delivery mechanism for delivering coins from said first coin hopper for dispensing to a player;
a second coin hopper;
a third coin delivery mechanism for delivering coins from said first coin hopper to said second coin hopper;
a fourth coin delivery mechanism for delivering coins from said second coin hopper to said first coin hopper; and
a fifth coin delivery mechanism for delivering coins from said first coin hopper to a coin drop.
2. The coin handling apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said second coin hopper is located above said first coin hopper.
3. The coin handling apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said coin drop is located below said first coin hopper.
4. The coin handling apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said coin drop comprises at least one coin bag.
5. The coin handling apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said third coin delivery mechanism comprises a coin chute.
6. The coin handling apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said fourth coin delivery mechanism comprises at least one door member moveable between an open and a closed position, said at least one door in said open position permitting coins to drop from said second coin hopper to said first coin hopper.
7. The coin handling apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said coin drop is located in a separate compartment from said first hopper.
8. A gaming machine including a coin-handling mechanism comprising:
a first generally enclosed area and a second generally enclosed area, said first and second areas substantially divided from one another, said first area located below a display of said gaming machine adapted to display game information to a player and said second area located below said first area;
a first coin hopper located in said first area;
a second coin hopper located in said first area;
at least one coin delivery mechanism for delivering coins from said first hopper to said second coin hopper and from said second coin hopper to said first coin hopper; and
a coin drop adapted to deliver coins from said first or second coin hopper to said second area.
9. The gaming machine is accordance with claim 8 wherein said second area comprises a supporting portion of said gaming machine.
10. The gaming machine is accordance with claim 8 wherein said second coin hopper is positioned above said first coin hopper.
11. The gaming machine is accordance with claim 8 wherein said coin drop comprises a chute extending from said first coin hopper to said second area.
12. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 8 wherein said at least one coin delivery mechanism includes a first coin delivery mechanism for delivering coins from said first coin hopper to said second coin hopper and a second coin delivery mechanism for delivering coins from said second coin hopper to said first coin hopper.