Jigs for use in medical imaging and methods for using thereof

1. A method, comprising:

providing a jig including a support structure and a plurality of radiopaque markers attached to the support structure, the support structure configured to be positioned in proximity to at least a portion of a body of a patient during a medical imaging process, the plurality of radiopaque markers being positioned in a pattern such that an image capturing a given portion of the pattern is unique from an image capturing any other given portion of the pattern;

obtaining a first image from a first imaging modality;

extracting at least one element from the first image from the first imaging modality, wherein the at least one element comprises an airway, a blood vessel, a body cavity, or any combination thereof;

obtaining, from a second imaging modality, at least (i) a first image of the jig in a first pose of second imaging modality and (ii) a second image of the jig in a second pose of second imaging modality, wherein the jig is positioned in proximity to a body of a patient;

generating at least two augmented bronchograms, wherein a first augmented bronchogram corresponds to the first image of the second imaging modality in the first pose, and wherein a second augmented bronchogram corresponds to the second image of the second imaging modality in the second pose,

determining mutual geometric constraints between:

(i) the first pose of the of second imaging modality, and

(ii) the second pose of the of second imaging modality,

wherein the mutual geometric constraints are determined by either:

a. estimating a difference between (i) the first pose and (ii) the second pose by comparing the first image of the jig and the second image of the jig,

wherein the estimating is performed using a device comprising a protractor, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or any combination thereof, and wherein the device is attached to the second imaging modality;

b. extracting a plurality of image features to estimate a relative pose change,

wherein the plurality of image features comprise anatomical elements, non-anatomical elements, or any combination thereof,

wherein the image features comprise: patches attached to a patient, radiopaque markers positioned in a field of view of the second imaging modality, or any combination thereof, and

wherein the image features are visible on the first image of the radiopaque instrument and the second image of the radiopaque instrument;

c. estimating a difference between (i) the first pose and (ii) the second pose by using at least one camera,

wherein the camera comprises: a video camera, an infrared camera, a depth camera, or any combination thereof,

wherein the camera is at a fixed location,

wherein the camera is configured to track at least one feature,

wherein the at least one feature comprises: a marker attached the patient, a marker attached to the second imaging modality, or any combination thereof, and

tracking the at least one feature; or

d. or any combination thereof,

estimating the first pose of the of second imaging modality and the second pose of the of second imaging modality,

wherein the estimation is performed using:

(i) the first augmented bronchogram,

(ii) the second augmented bronchogram, and

(iii) the at least one element, and

wherein the estimated first pose of the of second imaging modality and the estimated second pose of the of second imaging modality meets the determined mutual geometric constraints,

generating a third image; wherein the third image is an augmented image derived from the second imaging modality which highlights an area of interest,

wherein the area of interest is determined from projecting data from the estimated first pose and the estimated second pose.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the radiopaque markers include at least one of (a) a radiopaque metal or (b) a radiopaque plastic.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the radiopaque markers have a uniform shape.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the shape is selected from the group consisting sphere-shaped, rod-shaped, and cube-shaped.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pattern includes one of (a) concentric circles or (b) a pattern of points arrayed along lines.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pattern is generated using linear feedback shift registers.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the pattern is generated using XOR cross connection of two one-dimensional linear feedback shift register gold-codes with different principal polynomials of the same order and N×M register stages.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the support structure is substantially planar.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the support structure is three-dimensional.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the support structure is configured to be positioned above a patient's bed.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the support structure is configured to be positioned below a patient's bed.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the support structure is configured to be positioned between a patient's bed and a mattress positioned thereon.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the support structure is configured to be attached to a patient's chest.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the support structure is at least the size of a human chest.

15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

tracking the jig for:

identifying a trajectory, and

using the trajectory as a further geometric constraint.