CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the United States national phase of International Application No. PCT/NL2018/000021 filed Nov. 27, 2018, and claims priority to The Netherlands Patent Application No. 2019635 filed Sep. 27, 2017, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method for applying a marker element in a process of determining positions of a set of ECG electrodes as placed on a human body relative to a 3D model of a body, preferably a torso model of the human body, more preferably a heart of heart-torso model of the body.

It is an important goal of the present invention to use a marker element in obtaining a match between a 3-D image recording and a model of the thorax that is preferably patient specific and further preferably pre-recorded and available from a database. Furthermore, the localization of ECG electrodes as present on the thorax relative to the 3-D thorax model of the thorax is obtainable. Also the location of the marker element and the ECG electrodes relative to the thorax on the 3-D image recording is preferably obtained. Further preferably, a matching between the 3-D recording of the thorax and the pre-created model allows for localizing the ECG electrodes in the thorax model.

The marker element is preferably located in the 3-D image recording and matched to the corresponding location of the 3-D thorax model. The marker element is purposefully a key locator for accurately relating the positions of ECG electrodes to, both in the 3-D imaging records and the 3-D thorax model.

Description of Related Art

ECG is an in itself well-known imaging technology relating to the heart. However, the ECG technology has its limitations as to the interpretation of obtained data, both within a single imaging session, such as used during a procedure, and between successive imaging sessions over time due to for instance differences in location placement of ECG electrodes leading to variations that will impact imaging results. Such variations lead to inconsistencies in interpretation of the ECG results, and even to inconsistencies in diagnosis based on such ECG results.

It is therefore a goal of the present invention to provide novel means to improve both the use of ECG technology within a single imaging sessions and between successive imaging sessions over time.

To this end, the present invention provides a method for applying a marker element in a process of determining positions of a set of ECG electrodes as placed on a human body relative to a 3D model of a body, preferably a torso model of the human body, more preferably a heart of heart-torso model of the body, the method comprising steps of:receiving the model of the body from a storage, and/or directly from an body scanning imaging device, BSID, such as an MRI, CT, PET-CT, ultrasound device, or a database of preferably standardized models,receiving imaging information relating to the human body from an optical imaging device, preferably a 3D imaging device, the optical imaging information comprising:imaging information of the exterior of the body, at least comprising imaging information of the exterior of the torso,imaging information of the marker element, the marker element being arranged in an area comprising an actual position on the body, preferably on the sternum, from a marker element optical imaging device, OID, the ECG electrodes imaging device and the marker element imaging device preferably being the same imaging device,performing an image recognition on the imaging information for obtaining a presence determination, preferably a positive or negative determination, of the marker element in the imaging information.

It is a main advantage of the present invention that the presence of a marker element are determinable at any point of performing the ECG measurements the marker element is within optical range of the optical imaging device, such as immediately upon start or throughout performing the ECG measurements. Such presence determination of the marker element provides the basis of use of the marker element in several ways, as embodied in several preferred embodiments, during and after performing a single ECG session or a series of ECG sessions over time. The present invention therefore provides a new tool and the use thereof in a method for, amongst others, improvement of ECG measurements, the use of ECG measurements and during a single ECG session or for the purpose of a series of ECG sessions over time. Such preferred embodiments and advantages of each thereof are described below.

Of importance is that the use of the marker element improves convergence of algorithms to a result in a fast way by pre-elimination of disturbances and parts of the 3-D photo that are not related to the subject.

A further aspect of the invention provides a marker element for use in a method and/or with a system according to any of the preceding claims, the marker element being for placement on an exterior of a body, the marker element comprising:a member for taking image recordings thereof placement on the body,a recognition pattern for recognition thereof during an ECG session.

The marker element preferably comprises means for emitting a sound or light, further preferably an RFID chip.

A further aspect of the invention provides a computer readable storage medium comprising computer executable instructions for controlling of a computer device in which the computer executable instructions comprise instructions for performing a method according to the invention.

A further aspect of the invention provides a computing device comprising a processor, coupling means for coupling with an ECG device, coupling means for coupling with a 3-D camera and a memory in which the memory comprises computer executable instructions for causing that the processor controls the computing device, in which the computer executable instructions comprise instructions for performing the method according to the invention.

