Abstract An alignment apparatus, the apparatus comprising positioning means supporting a linear cannula or guide, and adapted to position the cannula or guide, the cannula or guide, or an optional linear, a probe within the cannula, having an end and having at least one point marked thereon so as to be visible in an X-ray image thereof, an X-ray apparatus adapted to take X-ray images in two orthogonal planes, a display adapted to display said X-ray images, means to identify, on the displayed images, a line with which the probe is to be aligned, the display being associated with a computer, means being provided to store, in the memory of the computer, data concerning specific selected points on the display, which points comprise at least points present on the image of the probe present on the display and points present on a line on the display with which the probe is to be aligned, the computer being adapted to determine the movement to be effected by the positioning means to align the cannula with the desired line.
An alignment apparatus, the apparatus comprising positioning means supporting a linear cannula or guide, and adapted to position the cannula or guide, the cannula or guide, or an optional linear, a probe within the cannula, having an end and having at least one point marked thereon so as to be visible in an X-ray image thereof, an X-ray apparatus adapted to take X-ray images in two orthogonal planes, a display adapted to display said X-ray images, means to identify, on the displayed images, a line with which the probe is to be aligned, the display being associated with a computer, means being provided to store, in the memory of the computer, data concerning specific selected points on the display, which points comprise at least points present on the image of the probe present on the display and points present on a line on the display with which the probe is to be aligned, the computer being adapted to determine the movement to be effected by the positioning means to align the cannula with the desired line.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
51 words
An apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein control means are provided to enable an operator to control the position of a marker on said display, so that the marker can be moved to points in the image, the positions of which are to be stored in the memory of the computer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to Claim 2 wherein the control means can be used to create, and display, the line with which the probe is to be aligned.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
An alignment apparatus according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the positioning means comprise a robot, and said computer controls the robot.
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