Image acquisition method and system, imaging system and storage medium

Abstract

The embodiment of the present application discloses an image acquisition method and system, an imaging system and a storage medium. The method comprises the following steps: taking a default organ examination protocol as a current organ examination protocol; acquiring a sample image acquired based on the current organ examination protocol; judging whether the dose received by an X-ray receiver reaches a set dose according to the sample image; when the set dose is not reached and the current acquisition frequency does not reach a lower limit of the acquisition frequency, adjusting the current acquisition frequency to a next level acquisition frequency, optimizing the current organ examination protocol according to the next level acquisition frequency, and returning to the operation of the second step; otherwise, under the condition that the current region of interest or the current projection angle does not change, instructing an X-ray device to acquire an image by using the current organ examination protocol; under the condition that the current region of interest or the current projection angle changes, returning to the operation of the first step. The technical scheme in the embodiment of the present application can improve the image quality.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the medical field, and in particular to an image acquisition method and system, an imaging system, and a computer-readable storage medium. Background Technology

[0002] In X-ray equipment such as medical angiography X-ray machines, the X-ray source and the X-ray receiver (e.g., a flat panel detector) are installed opposite each other, so that the X-rays generated by the X-ray source can pass through the patient placed between them and be incident on the X-ray receiver and detected by it.

[0003] During image acquisition, image quality may vary depending on the patient, the projection angle of the same patient, and the region of interest (ROI). In particular, for cases with exceptionally thick bodies, the default organ examination protocol (OGP) may result in significant X-ray attenuation (i.e., impermeability), causing the X-ray receiver dose to fall short of the set requirements, thus affecting image quality.

[0004] Therefore, those skilled in the art are still working to find suitable image acquisition solutions. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of this, this invention provides an image acquisition method, an image acquisition system, an imaging system, and a computer-readable storage medium to improve image acquisition quality.

[0006] The image acquisition method proposed in this embodiment includes: using a default organ examination protocol as the current organ examination protocol; acquiring sample images acquired based on the current organ examination protocol; determining whether the dose received by the X-ray receiver reaches a set dose based on the sample images; when the dose received by the X-ray receiver does not reach the set dose and the current acquisition frequency does not reach the lower limit of the acquisition frequency, adjusting the current acquisition frequency to the next level acquisition frequency, and optimizing the current organ examination protocol based on the next level acquisition frequency to obtain an optimized current organ examination protocol, and then returning to execute the operation of acquiring sample images acquired based on the current organ examination protocol; when the dose received by the X-ray receiver reaches the set dose or the current acquisition frequency has reached the lower limit of the acquisition frequency, and the current region of interest or the current projection angle has not changed, instructing the X-ray device to perform image acquisition using the current organ examination protocol; otherwise, when the current region of interest or the current projection angle has changed, returning to execute the operation of using the default organ examination protocol as the current organ examination protocol.

[0007] In one embodiment, optimizing the current organ examination protocol based on the next-level acquisition frequency includes: updating the acquisition frequency parameters in the current organ examination protocol using the next-level acquisition frequency; determining the exposure parameters corresponding to the acquisition frequency based on the acquisition frequency and a pre-set correspondence table between acquisition frequency and exposure parameters; and updating the exposure parameters in the current organ examination protocol using the determined exposure parameters.

[0008] The image acquisition system proposed in this embodiment of the invention includes: a first unit, a second unit, a third unit, a fourth unit, a fifth unit, and a sixth unit; wherein, the first unit is used to use a default organ examination protocol as the current organ examination protocol; the second unit is used to acquire sample images acquired based on the current organ examination protocol; the third unit is used to determine whether the dose received by the X-ray receiver reaches a set dose based on the sample image, and if the sample image determines that the dose received by the X-ray receiver does not reach the set dose, then it sends a first instruction to the fourth unit; otherwise, it sends a second instruction to the sixth unit; the fourth unit is used to determine whether the current acquisition frequency has reached the lower limit of the acquisition frequency when receiving the first instruction, and if the current acquisition frequency has reached the lower limit of the acquisition frequency... If the signal is limited, a second instruction is sent to the sixth unit; otherwise, the fifth unit is instructed to adjust the acquisition frequency. The fifth unit adjusts the current acquisition frequency to the next-level acquisition frequency and optimizes the current organ examination protocol according to the next-level acquisition frequency to obtain the optimized current organ examination protocol. Then, it instructs the second unit to perform the operation of acquiring sample images based on the current organ examination protocol. When the sixth unit receives the second instruction, it determines whether the current region of interest or the current projection angle has changed. If the current region of interest or the current projection angle has not changed, it instructs the X-ray device to acquire images using the current organ examination protocol. Otherwise, it instructs the first unit to perform the operation of using the default organ examination protocol as the current organ examination protocol.

[0009] In one implementation, the fifth unit updates the acquisition frequency parameters in the current organ examination protocol using the next-level acquisition frequency, and determines the exposure parameters corresponding to the acquisition frequency according to the acquisition frequency and a pre-set correspondence table between acquisition frequency and exposure parameters, and updates the exposure parameters in the current organ examination protocol using the determined exposure parameters.

[0010] The image acquisition system proposed in this embodiment of the invention includes: at least one memory and at least one processor, wherein: the at least one memory is used to store a computer program; the at least one processor is used to call the computer program stored in the at least one memory to execute the image acquisition method as described in any of the above embodiments.

[0011] An imaging system proposed in this embodiment of the invention includes an X-ray device and an image acquisition system as described in any of the above embodiments.

[0012] In one embodiment, the X-ray device includes a medical angiography X-ray machine.

[0013] The computer-readable storage medium proposed in this embodiment of the invention stores a computer program thereon; the computer program can be executed by a processor to implement the image acquisition method as described in any of the above embodiments.

[0014] As can be seen from the above scheme, in this embodiment of the invention, sample images are acquired each time the region of interest or projection angle changes, and it is determined whether the dose received by the X-ray receiver reaches the set dose based on the acquired sample images. When the dose received by the X-ray receiver does not reach the set dose and the current acquisition frequency does not reach the lower limit of the acquisition frequency, the current acquisition frequency is adjusted to the next level acquisition frequency, and the current organ examination protocol is optimized according to the next level acquisition frequency. When the dose received by the X-ray receiver reaches the set dose or the current acquisition frequency has reached the lower limit of the acquisition frequency, the X-ray device is instructed to use the current organ examination protocol to acquire images, thereby improving the imaging quality. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which will make the above and other features and advantages of the present invention more apparent to those skilled in the art. In the drawings:

[0016] Figure 1 This is an exemplary flowchart of the image acquisition method in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 2A and Figure 2B This is a schematic diagram of a sample image collected in an example of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 3 This is an exemplary structural diagram of an image acquisition system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 4 This is an exemplary structural diagram of another image acquisition system in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] The accompanying figure is labeled as follows:

[0021] 101～107 operate 301 Unit 1 302 Unit 2 303 Unit 3 304 Unit 4 305 Unit 5 306 Unit 6 307 X-ray equipment 41 memory 42 processor 43 bus Detailed Implementation

[0022] In this embodiment of the invention, considering that different acquisition frequencies correspond to different pulse peak energies, generally, the higher the acquisition frequency, the lower the pulse peak energy, and vice versa. Therefore, for situations where the X-ray receiver receives insufficient X-ray dose due to factors such as thick body thickness, the solution is to increase the pulse peak energy, i.e., reduce the acquisition frequency.

[0023] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the present invention clearer, the following embodiments are provided to further illustrate the present invention in detail.

[0024] Figure 1 This is an exemplary flowchart of the image acquisition method in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 As shown, the method may include the following steps:

[0025] Step 101: Set the default organ examination protocol (OGP) as the current organ examination protocol.

[0026] Step 102: Obtain sample images based on the current organ examination protocol.

[0027] In this step, the sample images acquired based on the current organ examination protocol can be one or multiple. For example, during interventional treatment, image acquisition is a continuous process, and multiple sample images can be acquired in this case.

[0028] Figure 2A This diagram illustrates a sample image acquired using a current organ examination protocol. The sample image is from a patient with a body thickness corresponding to a water content of 37.57 cm, acquired at a capture rate of 15 frames per second and with the current exposure parameters. Figure 2A As shown, the image has a coarse grain, the spinal contour is blurry, and the guidewire image has large noise particles. In particular, the guidewire image within the box is discontinuous, which affects the image quality. Figure 2AIn the example, when acquiring images based on the current exposure parameters, the corresponding air kerma rate is 84 mGy / min. mGy / min refers to milligray per minute, a unit of air kerma rate used to limit skin dose rate. It typically refers to the air kerma rate limit at 30 cm in front of the X-ray receiver (e.g., a flat panel detector), for example, usually limited to no more than 88.7 mGy / min. When the image acquisition method exemplified in this embodiment is applied to an imaging system (such as the X-ray imaging system like a medical angiography X-ray machine described later), this parameter can be read from the system (which contains a dose chamber (DAP) within the collimator, which measures the dose-area product and dose rate (air kerma rate) in real time) and displayed on a monitor; it is the real-time dose rate at the current patient input reference point, reflecting the currently used dose intensity.

[0029] Step 103: Determine whether the dose received by the X-ray receiver reaches the set dose based on the sample image. If the sample image indicates that the dose received by the X-ray receiver has not reached the set dose, proceed to step 104; otherwise, proceed to step 106.

[0030] Step 104: Determine whether the current sampling frequency has reached the lower limit of the sampling frequency. If the current sampling frequency has not reached the lower limit of the sampling frequency, proceed to step 105; otherwise, proceed to step 106.

[0031] Step 105: Adjust the current acquisition frequency to the next level acquisition frequency, and optimize the current organ examination protocol according to the next level acquisition frequency to obtain the optimized current organ examination protocol, and then return to execute step 102.

[0032] In this step, the acquisition frequency parameters in the current organ examination protocol can be updated using the next-level acquisition frequency.

[0033] Considering that other exposure parameters in the organ examination protocol also need to be optimized after adjusting the acquisition frequency parameters, such as adapting the current milliampere value of the high-voltage generator to different acquisition frequencies, the current organ examination protocol needs to be optimized while adjusting the acquisition frequency parameters. Specifically, a correspondence table between acquisition frequencies and exposure parameters can be pre-set. Correspondingly, after determining the acquisition frequency, the corresponding exposure parameters can be determined according to the correspondence table, and the determined exposure parameters can be used to update the exposure parameters in the current organ examination protocol.

[0034] Still with Figure 2A Taking the thickness of the sampled object as an example, assume that the next level of sampling frequency is adjusted to 7.5 frames per second.

[0035] Figure 2B A schematic diagram of a sample image acquired based on an optimized organ examination protocol is shown. This sample image was acquired from a patient with a body thickness corresponding to a water content of 37.57 cm, using an acquisition frequency of 7.5 frames / second and optimized exposure parameters. Figure 2B As shown, the image exhibits finer grain, clearer spinal contours, less noise in the guidewire image, and a more complete guidewire image within the box, indicating improved image quality. In this embodiment, the air kerma rate after optimizing the exposure parameters is 76 mGy / min. It is evident that in this embodiment, by downgrading the acquisition frequency, the air kerma rate can be reduced, thereby reducing the patient's radiation dose.

[0036] Step 106: Determine whether the current region of interest or the current projection angle has changed. If the current region of interest or the current projection angle has not changed, proceed to step 107; otherwise, return to step 101.

[0037] In this step, the region of interest or projection angle can be determined by judging whether the gantry has moved, whether the C-arm of the C-arm X-ray machine has moved, whether the position of the patient bed has changed, whether the image source distance (SID) has changed, and whether the image zoom size has changed.

[0038] Step 107: Instruct the X-ray equipment to acquire images using the current organ examination protocol.

[0039] The image acquisition method in the embodiments of the present invention has been described in detail above. The image acquisition system in the embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail. The image acquisition system in the embodiments of the present invention can be used to implement the image acquisition method in the embodiments of the present invention. Details not disclosed in detail in the system embodiments of the present invention can be found in the corresponding descriptions in the method embodiments of the present invention, and will not be repeated here.

[0040] Figure 3 This is an exemplary structural diagram of the image acquisition system in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 As shown, the system may include: a first unit 301, a second unit 302, a third unit 303, a fourth unit 304, a fifth unit 305, and a sixth unit 306.

[0041] The first unit 301 is used to set the default organ examination protocol as the current organ examination protocol.

[0042] The second unit 302 is used to acquire sample images based on the current organ examination protocol.

[0043] The third unit 303 is used to determine whether the dose received by the X-ray receiver has reached the set dose based on the sample image. If the sample image determines that the dose received by the X-ray receiver has not reached the set dose, it sends a first instruction to the fourth unit 304; otherwise, it sends a second instruction to the sixth unit 306.

[0044] The fourth unit 304 is used to determine whether the current acquisition frequency has reached the lower limit of the acquisition frequency when it receives the first instruction. If the current acquisition frequency has reached the lower limit of the acquisition frequency, it sends a second instruction to the sixth unit 306; otherwise, it instructs the fifth unit 305 to adjust the acquisition frequency.

[0045] The fifth unit 305 is used to adjust the current acquisition frequency to the next-level acquisition frequency, and optimize the current organ examination protocol according to the next-level acquisition frequency to obtain the optimized current organ examination protocol. Then, it instructs the second unit 302 to perform the operation of acquiring sample images based on the current organ examination protocol. Specifically, the fifth unit 305 can update the acquisition frequency parameters in the current organ examination protocol using the next-level acquisition frequency, and determine the exposure parameters corresponding to the acquisition frequency according to the acquisition frequency and a pre-set correspondence table between acquisition frequency and exposure parameters. The determined exposure parameters are then used to update the exposure parameters in the current organ examination protocol.

[0046] The sixth unit 306 is used to determine whether the current region of interest or the current projection angle has changed when the second instruction is received, and if the current region of interest or the current projection angle has not changed, instruct the X-ray device 307 to perform image acquisition using the current organ examination protocol; otherwise, instruct the first unit 301 to perform the operation of using the default organ examination protocol as the current organ examination protocol.

[0047] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of another image acquisition system in an embodiment of the present invention, such as... Figure 4 As shown, the system may include at least one memory 41 and at least one processor 42. Additionally, it may include other components, such as communication ports. These components communicate via a bus 43.

[0048] At least one memory 41 is used to store a computer program. In one embodiment, the computer program can be understood to include... Figure 3 The image acquisition system shown includes various modules. In addition, at least one memory 41 can store the operating system, etc. The operating system includes, but is not limited to: Android, Symbian, Windows, Linux, etc.

[0049] At least one processor 42 is used to invoke a computer program stored in at least one memory 41 to execute the image acquisition method described in this embodiment of the invention. The processor 42 can be a CPU, processing unit / module, ASIC, logic module, or programmable gate array, etc. It can receive and transmit data through the communication port.

[0050] This invention also provides an imaging system, which includes an X-ray device such as a medical angiography X-ray machine and an image acquisition system as described in any of the above embodiments. In the embodiments, the image acquisition method exemplarily described in this invention can be applied to the imaging system.

[0051] It should be noted that not all steps and modules in the above processes and structural diagrams are mandatory; some steps or modules can be omitted as needed. The execution order of the steps is not fixed and can be adjusted as required. The division of modules is merely for the convenience of description and functional division. In actual implementation, a module can be implemented by multiple modules, and the functions of multiple modules can also be implemented by the same module. These modules can be located in the same device or in different devices.

[0052] It is understood that the hardware modules in the above embodiments can be implemented mechanically or electronically. For example, a hardware module may include specially designed permanent circuits or logic devices (such as dedicated processors, such as FPGAs or ASICs) to perform specific operations. A hardware module may also include programmable logic devices or circuits (such as general-purpose processors or other programmable processors) temporarily configured by software to perform specific operations. The specific method used to implement the hardware module—whether it is mechanical, a dedicated permanent circuit, or a temporarily configured circuit (such as one configured by software)—can be determined based on cost and time considerations.

[0053] Furthermore, this embodiment of the invention also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program that can be executed by a processor to implement the image acquisition method described in this embodiment. Specifically, a system or apparatus equipped with a storage medium can be provided, on which software program code implementing the functions of any of the above embodiments is stored, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus can read and execute the program code stored in the storage medium. Furthermore, the operating system or other devices operating on the computer can perform some or all of the actual operations through instructions based on the program code. The program code read from the storage medium can also be written to a memory located in an expansion board inserted into the computer or to a memory located in an expansion unit connected to the computer. Subsequently, the CPU or other devices installed on the expansion board or expansion unit can execute some or all of the actual operations based on the instructions of the program code, thereby implementing the functions of any of the above embodiments. Storage medium embodiments for providing program code include floppy disks, hard disks, magneto-optical disks, optical disks (such as CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD+RW), magnetic tapes, non-volatile memory cards, and ROMs. Alternatively, program code can be downloaded from a server computer via a communication network.

[0054] As can be seen from the above scheme, in this embodiment of the invention, sample images are acquired each time the region of interest or projection angle changes, and it is determined whether the dose received by the X-ray receiver reaches the set dose based on the acquired sample images. When the dose received by the X-ray receiver does not reach the set dose and the current acquisition frequency does not reach the lower limit of the acquisition frequency, the current acquisition frequency is adjusted to the next level acquisition frequency, and the current organ examination protocol is optimized according to the next level acquisition frequency. When the dose received by the X-ray receiver reaches the set dose or the current acquisition frequency has reached the lower limit of the acquisition frequency, the X-ray device is instructed to use the current organ examination protocol to acquire images, thereby improving the imaging quality.

[0055] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An image acquisition method, characterized in that, The image acquisition method is used in a medical angiography X-ray machine, including: Set the default organ examination protocol as the current organ examination protocol; Acquire sample images based on the current organ examination protocol; Based on the sample image, determine whether the dose received by the X-ray receiver reaches the set dose; When the dose received by the X-ray receiver does not reach the set dose and the current acquisition frequency does not reach the lower limit of the acquisition frequency, the current acquisition frequency is adjusted to the next level acquisition frequency, and the current organ examination protocol is optimized according to the next level acquisition frequency to obtain the optimized current organ examination protocol. Then, the operation of acquiring sample images based on the current organ examination protocol is returned to be executed. When the dose received by the X-ray receiver reaches the set dose or the current acquisition frequency has reached the lower limit of the acquisition frequency, and the current region of interest or the current projection angle has not changed, the X-ray device is instructed to acquire images using the current organ examination protocol; otherwise, if the current region of interest or the current projection angle has changed, the operation of setting the default organ examination protocol as the current organ examination protocol is returned.

2. The image acquisition method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The optimization of the current organ examination protocol based on the next-level acquisition frequency includes: The acquisition frequency parameters in the current organ examination protocol are updated using the next-level acquisition frequency. Based on the acquisition frequency and the pre-set correspondence table between acquisition frequency and exposure parameters, determine the exposure parameters corresponding to the acquisition frequency; The exposure parameters in the current organ examination protocol are updated using the determined exposure parameters.

3. An image acquisition system, characterized in that, The image acquisition system is used in a medical angiography X-ray machine, comprising: a first unit (301), a second unit (302), a third unit (303), a fourth unit (304), a fifth unit (305), and a sixth unit (306); wherein, The first unit (301) is used to set the default organ examination protocol as the current organ examination protocol; The second unit (302) is used to acquire sample images based on the current organ examination protocol; The third unit (303) is used to determine whether the dose received by the X-ray receiver has reached the set dose based on the sample image. If the sample image determines that the dose received by the X-ray receiver has not reached the set dose, it sends a first instruction to the fourth unit (304); otherwise, it sends a second instruction to the sixth unit (306). The fourth unit (304) is used to determine whether the current sampling frequency has reached the lower limit of the sampling frequency when it receives the first instruction. If the current sampling frequency has reached the lower limit of the sampling frequency, it sends a second instruction to the sixth unit (306); otherwise, it instructs the fifth unit (305) to adjust the sampling frequency. The fifth unit (305) is used to adjust the current acquisition frequency to the next level acquisition frequency, and optimize the current organ examination protocol according to the next level acquisition frequency to obtain the optimized current organ examination protocol. Then, it instructs the second unit (302) to perform the operation of acquiring sample images based on the current organ examination protocol. The sixth unit (306) is used to determine whether the current region of interest or the current projection angle has changed when the second instruction is received, and if the current region of interest or the current projection angle has not changed, instruct the X-ray device to use the current organ examination protocol to acquire images; otherwise, instruct the first unit (301) to perform the operation of using the default organ examination protocol as the current organ examination protocol.

4. The image acquisition system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The fifth unit (305) updates the acquisition frequency parameters in the current organ examination protocol using the next-level acquisition frequency, and determines the exposure parameters corresponding to the acquisition frequency according to the acquisition frequency and the pre-set correspondence table between acquisition frequency and exposure parameters, and updates the exposure parameters in the current organ examination protocol using the determined exposure parameters.

5. An image acquisition system, characterized in that, include: At least one memory (41) and at least one processor (42), wherein: The at least one memory (41) is used to store computer programs; The at least one processor (42) is used to call a computer program stored in the at least one memory (41) to execute the image acquisition method as described in claim 1 or 2.

6. An imaging system, characterized in that, Includes X-ray equipment and the image acquisition system as described in claim 3 or 4.

7. A computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon; characterized in that, The computer program can be executed by a processor to implement the image acquisition method as described in claim 1 or 2.

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