Apparatus and method for producing a virtual road map of a patient's
vascular anatomy comprising a virtual 3D model of the patient's vascular
and bony structure in proper registration with one another, a fluoroscope
for providing real-time images of the bony structure of the patient,
registration apparatus for placing the virtual 3D model in proper
registration with the patient space of the fluoroscope, bone mask
subtraction apparatus for generating a bone mask of the bony structure,
and subtracting the same from the real-time images, whereby to create
modified fluoroscope images omitting bony structure, and image generating
apparatus for generating the virtual road map comprising a composite
image combining (i) images of the virtual 3D structure representing the
vascular structure, and (ii) modified fluoroscope images omitting bony
structure, wherein the images of the virtual 3D structure representing
vascular structure are in proper registration with the modified
fluoroscope images omitting bony structure.