IP Library Granted Patent US 12,251,246
Granted Patent B2
US 12,251,246 · App. 17/505,619 · Granted Mar 18, 2025

Radiological imaging device with improved functionality

Inventors: Damiano Fortuna (Rignano sull'Arno, IT); Leonardo Manetti (Montevarchi, IT); Massimiliano Leonori (Lucca, IT)
Assignee: EPICA INTERNATIONAL, INC.
A61B6/032A61B6/035A61B6/08A61B6/4007A61B6/4405A61B6/4476A61B6/5247A61B6/56A61B34/10A61B90/13A61B90/361A61B6/4435A61B2034/107A61B2560/0437
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,251,246
App. No.
17/505,619
Granted
Mar 18, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A radiological imaging device comprises a source defining an acquisition axis, a detector, a power supply, a control unit to control at least the source and the detector, and a connector for an additional source to the power supply and the control unit.

Claims (35)

1. A radiological imaging device configured to acquire a radiological image comprising a sector of interest representative of said portion to be analyzed of the patient and a perimeter sector of said sector of interest, said radiological imaging device comprising:

a gantry configured to perform the radiological acquisition of at least a portion of the patient to be analyzed, the gantry comprising:

a source configured to define an acquisition beam and an acquisition axis;

a detector configured to obtain at least one radiological acquisition when said acquisition beam is incident thereupon after said acquisition beam has passed through said portion to be analyzed;

a rotor supporting at least said source and said detector; and

a stator supporting said rotor and configured to rotate said rotor to define a rotation axis; and

a control unit for the operation of said radiological imaging device, the control unit configured to define said at least one radiological image as a function of said at least one radiological acquisition,

wherein said gantry further comprises:

an optical pointer integral with said rotor and configured to project an optical reference along a pointing axis; and

an acquirer integral with said rotor and configured to perform an optical acquisition of at least said optical reference and of a medical instrument placed in correspondence with said optical reference; and

wherein an intervention target and an intervention trajectory are identified in said radiological image, and said command unit:

defines for said medical instrument an ideal inclination according to at least said intervention trajectory and, on said perimeter sector, an ideal target according to at least said intervention objective, said ideal inclination and said ideal target, defining an ideal position of this medical instrument,

commands said optical pointer, by rotating said rotor around said rotation axis, to place said optical reference in correspondence with said ideal target and to said acquirer to perform an acquisition of said medical instrument placed in correspondence with said optical reference defining a real position of said medical instrument; and

compares said real position of said medical instrument in said optical acquisition with respect to said ideal position.

2. An acquisition method using a radiological imaging device configured to acquire a radiological image comprising a sector of interest representative of a portion to be analyzed of the patient and a perimeter sector of said sector of interest,; said radiological imaging device comprising:

a gantry configured to perform the radiological acquisition of at least a portion of the patient to be analyzed, the gantry comprising:

a source configured to define an acquisition beam and an acquisition axis; and

a detector configured to have said acquisition beam incident

thereupon after said acquisition beam has passed through said portion to be analyzed, wherein said gantry further comprises:

an optical pointer integral with said rotor configured to project an optical reference along a pointing axis inclined with respect to said acquisition axis by a spreading angle; and

an acquirer configured to perform an optical acquisition of at least said optical reference and of a medical instrument placed in correspondence with said optical reference; and

wherein said acquisition method includes:

an acquisition phase of at least a radiological image of said portion to be analyzed;

a selection sub-phase wherein:

in said radiological image an intervention target and an intervention trajectory are identified and said command unit; and

an ideal inclination according to at least said intervention trajectory and, on said perimeter sector, an ideal target according to at least said intervention objective are defined for said medical instrument, said ideal inclination and said ideal target defining an ideal position of said medical instrument;

a pointing sub-phase wherein by rotating said rotor around said rotation axis said optical pointer is moved by arranging said pointing axis incident said ideal target and said reference optical in correspondence with said ideal target;

a shooting sub-phase wherein an optical acquisition is performed of said medical instrument placed in correspondence with said optical reference; and

a verification sub-phase wherein a real position of said medical instrument is defined as a function of said optical acquisition and said real position of said medical instrument is compared with said ideal position of said medical instrument.

3. The acquisition method according to claim 2 , comprising an instrument database associating with each of said medical instrument a profile of said medical instrument,

wherein, in said shooting sub-phase, said real position of said medical instrument is defined as a function of said profile of said medical instrument.

4. The acquisition method according to claim 3 , wherein said medical instrument comprises at least one additional optical reference that can be acquired from said acquirer,

wherein:

said optical acquisition of said additional optical reference is performed in said shooting sub-phase; and

in said verification sub-phase said real position of said medical instrument is defined as a function of said additional optical reference.

Assignments (3)
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY INTEREST AGENT AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 13, 2026
From: AVENUE VENTURE OPPORTUNITIES FUND, L.P.
To: QUANTUM SCAN HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 075093/0287 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 5, 2024
From: EPICA INTERNATIONAL, INC.; EPICA MEDICAL INNOVATIONS LLC
To: AVENUE VENTURE OPPORTUNITIES FUND, L.P., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 068503/0757 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: FORTUNA, DAMIANO; MANETTI, LEONARDO; LEONORI, MASSIMILIANO
To: EPICA INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 059740/0206 →
Priority Claims (7)
IT 102020000024583 · Oct 19, 2020 · national
IT 102020000024592 · Oct 19, 2020 · national
IT 102020000024598 · Oct 19, 2020 · national
IT 102020000024601 · Oct 19, 2020 · national
IT 102020000024607 · Oct 19, 2020 · national
IT 102020000024613 · Oct 19, 2020 · national
WO PCT/IB2021/059550 · Oct 18, 2021 · international
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220117568A1 · Apr 21, 2022
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