1. A method for detecting position changes of a medical implant in a patient, comprising the steps of:
disposing a plurality of x-ray detectable markers in an anatomical environment of an implanted medical implant, said medical implant having x-ray detectable points thereon;
obtaining a first 2D x-ray exposure, from a first projection direction, of a region of the patient containing said implant and said anatomical environment, in which a first distribution of said markers and said points is detectable;
obtaining a second 2D x-ray exposure, from a second 2D x-ray exposure, from a second projection direction different from said first projection direction, of said region at a second point in time, in which a second distribution of said markers and said points is detectable;
electronically detecting said first and second distributions respectively in said first and second 2D x-ray exposures; and
calculating from said first and second distributions, with no 3D reconstruction of spatial positions of said markers and points, a degree of probability that said first and second distribution represent projections of the same three-dimensional distribution of said markers and said points and, from said degree of probability, determining whether a positional change of said implant in the patient has occurred.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of determining whether said positional change of the implant has occurred comprises defining a degree of probability threshold, and automatically electronically generating an indication that a positional change of said implant has occurred if said degree of probability does not exceed said threshold.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising detecting said first and second distributions by digital image processing of the respective first and second 2D x-ray exposures.
4. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising:
at said first point in time, also obtaining a first calibrated 2D x-ray exposure of said region;
from said first 2D x-ray exposure and said first calibrated 2D x-ray exposure, calculating a first 3D distribution of said markers and points for said first point in time;
at said second point in time, obtaining a second calibrated 2D x-ray exposure of said region;
from said second 2D x-ray exposure and said second calibrated 2D x-ray exposure, calculating a second 3D distribution of said markers and said points for said second point in time; and
comparing said first 3D distribution and said second 3D distribution and, from said comparison, calculating a magnitude of said positional change of said implant, if said position change has occurred.
5. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said implant is a prosthesis, and wherein the step of disposing a plurality of x-ray detectable markers in an anatomical environment of said implant comprises disposing a plurality of metal spheres in at least one bone bordering said prosthesis.
6. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising designating said points of said implant by introducing x-ray detectable markers into said implant.
7. An x-ray system for detecting position changes of a medical implant in a patient, comprising:
a plurality of x-ray detectable markers adapted to be disposed in an anatomical environment of an implanted medical implant, said medical implant having x-ray detectable points thereon;
an x-ray image acquisition apparatus for obtaining a first 2D x-ray exposure, from a first projection direction, of a region of the patient containing said implant and said anatomical environment, in which a first distribution of said markers and said points is detectable, and for obtaining a second 2D x-ray exposure, from a second 2D x-ray exposure, from a second projection direction different from said first projection direction, of said region at a second point in time, in which a second distribution of said markers and said points is detectable;
a device for electronically detecting said first and second distributions respectively in said first and second 2D x-ray exposures; and
a computer for calculating from said first and second distributions, with no 3D reconstruction of spatial positions of said markers and points, a degree of probability that said first and second distribution represent projections of the same three-dimensional distribution of said markers and said points and, from said degree of probability, and for determining whether a positional change of said implant in the patient has occurred.
8. An x-ray system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said computer, for determining whether said positional change of the implant has occurred comprises defines a degree of probability threshold, and automatically electronically generates an indication that a positional change of said implant has occurred if said degree of probability does not exceed said threshold.
9. An x-ray system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said detection device is a digital image processor.
10. An x-ray system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said x-ray image acquisition apparatus at said first point in time, also obtains a first calibrated 2D x-ray exposure of said region, and wherein said computer, from said first 2D x-ray exposure and said first calibrated 2D x-ray exposure, calculates a first 3D distribution of said markers and points for said first point in time, and wherein said x-ray image acquisition apparatus, at said second point in time, obtains a second calibrated 2D x-ray exposure of said region, and wherein said computer, from said second 2D x-ray exposure and said second calibrated 2D x-ray exposure, calculates a second 3D distribution of said markers and said points for said second point in time, and compares said first 3D distribution and said second 3D distribution and, from said comparison, calculates a magnitude of said positional change of said implant, if said position change has occurred.
11. An x-ray system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said implant is a prosthesis, and wherein said plurality of x-ray detectable markers comprises a plurality of metal spheres adapted for placement in at least one bone bordering said prosthesis.
12. An x-ray system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said points of said implant comprises x-ray detectable markers introduced into said implant.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An in-cylinder imaging apparatus for an internal combustion engine defining a combustion chamber, said in-cylinder imaging apparatus comprising:
a high-speed imaging device;
a borescope in optical communication with the combustion chamber and operable to communicate images of the combustion chamber to said high-speed imaging device;
a high intensity light source operable to substantially illuminate the combustion chamber; and
wherein said high-speed imaging device and said borescope are mounted with respect to the internal combustion engine.
2. The in-cylinder imaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein said high-speed imaging device and said borescope are axially aligned.
3. The in-cylinder imaging apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a protective window disposed between said borescope and the combustion chamber.
4. The in-cylinder imaging apparatus of claim 3, wherein said protective window is formed from at least one of quartz, spinel, and sapphire.
5. The in-cylinder imaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein said high-speed imaging device is a high-speed digital camera.
6. The in-cylinder imaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein said borescope is cooled with chilled and compressed gas.
7. The in-cylinder imaging apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a bracket operable to mount said high-speed imaging device to said engine.
8. The in-cylinder imaging apparatus of claim 7, wherein said bracket has natural frequency modes greater than an inducing function of the internal combustion engine.
9. The in-cylinder imaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein said high intensity light source is a xenon light source.
10. The in-cylinder imaging apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a prism disposed between said high intensity light source and the combustion chamber, wherein said prism is operable to disperse light from said high intensity light source into the combustion chamber.
11. The in-cylinder imaging apparatus of claim 10, wherein said prism is formed from sapphire.
12. The in-cylinder imaging apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a fiber optic bundle disposed between said high intensity light source and said prism, said fiber optic bundle being operable to communicate said light from said high intensity light source to said prism.
13. A method of imaging a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine during engine operation, the method comprising:
mounting a borescope with respect to the internal combustion engine and in optical communication with the combustion chamber;
mounting a high-speed imaging device with respect to the internal combustion engine and in generally axial alignment with said borescope; such that said borescope is operable to communicate images from within the combustion chamber to said high-speed imaging device;
illuminating the combustion chamber with light from a high intensity light source; and
capturing said images of the combustion chamber with said high-speed imaging device while the internal combustion engine is operating.
14. The method of claim 13, further comprising cooling the borescope with chilled and compressed gas.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein illuminating the combustion chamber includes employing a dispersion prism to disperse said light into the combustion chamber.
16. The method of claim 13, further comprising protecting said borescope by placing a window between said borescope and the combustion chamber.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein said window is selected from the group consisting of quartz, sapphire and spinel.
18. The method of claim 13, wherein mounting said high-speed imaging device with respect to the internal combustion engine includes:
affixing a bracket to the internal combustion engine;
machining said bracket to accept said high-speed imaging device while affixed to the internal combustion engine to ensure alignment between said high-speed imaging device and said borescope; and
mounting said high-speed imaging device to said bracket.
19. The method of claim 13, wherein mounting said high-speed imaging device with respect to the internal combustion engine includes:
affixing a bracket to the internal combustion engine;
mounting said high-speed imaging device to said bracket; and
tuning said bracket such that the natural frequency modes of said bracket are greater than an inducing function of the internal combustion engine.
20. The method of claim 15, further comprising communicating said light from said high intensity light source to said prism through a fiber optic bundle.