Microcomputer control of a three-dimensional stereoflouroscope

A microcomputer controller has been developed to operate a stereofluoroscopic system that is to be built at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. The purpose of the controller is to provide the radiologist with the maximum amount of fluoroscopic information with the minimum amount of radiation exposure.

The enhancement of the fluoroscopic information has been brought about through the implementation of real-time stereoscopic visualization. Stereoscopic visualization has been achieved by using PLZT crystal technology. The computer will control two grid-pulsed x-ray sources, an image intensifier, a solid-state video camera, a video monitor and the PLZT goggles to provide a stereoscopic image.

Dose reduction should be obtained through the use of the computer as the controlling mechanism. Two storage tubes will be synchronized with the fluoroscopic apparatus to allow repeated replay of an instantaneous fluoroscopic image. A wide range of update rates can be selected by the radiologist to yield maximum radiation exposure savings. This stereofluoroscope is expected to provide real-time analysis with radiation exposures less than or equal to those achieved in conventional two-dimensional fluoroscopic analyses.