Digital subtraction imaging method, apparatus and computer device

Abstract

The application relates to a digital subtraction imaging method, device and computer equipment, which comprises the following steps: collecting an energy spectrum image of a target object; the energy spectrum image comprises images of scanning signals of at least two energy levels; calculating base substance data based on the energy spectrum image; and performing subtraction processing on the energy spectrum image based on the base substance data to obtain an energy subtraction image, so as to solve the problem of poor quality of a subtraction image obtained during digital subtraction imaging, avoid the appearance of motion artifacts, simplify the calculation difficulty of the subtraction image, improve the calculation reliability of the subtraction image, and ensure stable and high-quality output.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of image processing technology, and in particular to digital subtraction imaging methods, apparatus and computer equipment. Background Technology

[0002] Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) is a new medical imaging technique that emerged in the 1980s following CT. It's a novel vascular examination method that combines a conventional X-ray angiography machine with a computer. Its basic principle involves acquiring an X-ray image before and after the injection of a contrast agent. The image without contrast agent is called a mask, and the image containing contrast agent is called a filler image. These two images are then input into a computer for real-time subtraction to eliminate muscle, bone, and soft tissue, leaving only the region of interest containing blood vessels. DSA technology effectively reveals vascular regions within the body through subtraction, displaying the morphology and structure of blood vessels. Currently, DSA equipment widely used in clinical practice captures videos of the contrast agent injection process. The initial period of the video, before the contrast agent is present, can be processed and used as a mask. Subsequent frames containing contrast agent are subtracted from this same mask to obtain the vascular angiography image. This practice means that if the patient moves or shifts during video recording, the subsequent frames of the overlay and overlay will not be spatially registered, and the subtraction of the two may produce motion artifacts.

[0003] To overcome motion artifacts, some existing techniques process high- and low-energy X-ray images to obtain subtraction images. For example, the high-energy and low-energy images are multiplied by independent weighting coefficients, and then the difference is taken to obtain the subtraction image. However, different weighting coefficients need to be accurately adapted for different application scenarios, and determining the weighting coefficients is a difficult problem, resulting in inconsistent quality of the output subtraction image and hindering its widespread application. Another patent proposes training a deep neural network to convert a high-energy film into a low-energy mask, and then subtracting the low-energy film from the mask provided by the neural network to obtain the subtraction image. However, the method of generating the low-energy mask based on the neural network introduces significant uncertainty due to probabilistic issues, making it difficult to guarantee the quality of the subtraction image.

[0004] There is currently no effective solution to the problem of poor image quality in related technologies. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This embodiment provides a digital subtraction imaging method, apparatus, and computer device to solve the problem of poor image quality in related technologies.

[0006] In a first aspect, this embodiment provides a digital subtraction imaging method, the method comprising:

[0007] Acquire an energy spectrum image of the target object; the energy spectrum image includes an image of a scan signal at least two energy levels;

[0008] Calculate the base material data based on the energy spectrum image;

[0009] Based on the base material data, the energy spectrum image is subjected to subtraction processing to obtain an energy subtraction image.

[0010] In some embodiments, the energy spectrum image is subtracted based on the base material data to obtain an energy-subtracted image, including:

[0011] Data corresponding to the preset material to be enhanced is extracted from the base material data to generate a first target material image;

[0012] An energy subtraction image is obtained based on the image of the first target material.

[0013] In some embodiments, an energy subtraction image is obtained based on the first target material image, including:

[0014] Obtain a simulated perspective image of the target object;

[0015] Based on the image of the first target material, the simulated perspective image is enhanced to obtain an energy subtraction image.

[0016] In some embodiments, acquiring a simulated perspective image of the target object includes:

[0017] Data corresponding to the preset substance to be suppressed is extracted from the base material data to generate a second target material image;

[0018] Based on the image of the second target substance, the energy spectrum image is suppressed to obtain a simulated perspective image.

[0019] In some embodiments, based on the image of the second target substance, the energy spectrum image is suppressed to obtain a simulated perspective image, including:

[0020] Based on the second target material image and the first target material image, the substance to be suppressed and the substance to be enhanced in the energy spectrum image are jointly suppressed to obtain a simulated perspective image.

[0021] In some embodiments, the simulated perspective image is enhanced based on the first target material image to obtain an energy subtraction image, including:

[0022] Obtain the enhancement coefficient and inhibition coefficient;

[0023] Based on the enhancement coefficient and the image of the first target material, the simulated perspective image is enhanced to obtain a first-processed image;

[0024] Based on the suppression coefficient and the image of the second target substance, the first-processed image is subjected to suppression processing to obtain a second-processed image, which is then used as an energy subtraction image.

[0025] In some embodiments, the energy spectrum image is subtracted based on the base material data to obtain an energy-subtracted image, including:

[0026] Data corresponding to the preset substance to be suppressed is extracted from the base material data to generate a second target material image;

[0027] The energy subtraction image is obtained by subtracting the image of the second target substance from the energy spectrum image.

[0028] In some embodiments, the target object is an object to which a contrast-enhancing medium has been applied; the substance to be enhanced includes substances in the contrast-enhancing medium; and the substance to be suppressed includes interfering substances in the target object itself.

[0029] Secondly, this embodiment provides a digital subtraction imaging device, the device comprising:

[0030] The acquisition module is used to acquire the energy spectrum image of the target object at the same time; the energy spectrum image includes scan signal images of at least two energy levels;

[0031] A base material decomposition module is used to calculate base material data based on the energy spectrum image;

[0032] The subtraction module is used to perform subtraction processing on the energy spectrum image based on the base material data to obtain an energy subtraction image.

[0033] Thirdly, this application also provides a computer device. The computer device includes a memory and a processor, the memory storing a computer program, and the processor executing the computer program to implement the digital subtraction imaging method described in the first aspect.

[0034] Fourthly, this application also provides a computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program thereon, which, when executed by a processor, implements the digital subtraction imaging method described in the first aspect.

[0035] Compared with related technologies, the digital subtraction imaging method, apparatus, and computer equipment provided in this embodiment acquire an energy spectrum image of the target object; the energy spectrum image includes an image of scanning signals of at least two energy levels; base material data is calculated based on the energy spectrum image; and based on the base material data, subtraction processing is performed on the energy spectrum image to obtain an energy subtraction image. This solves the problem of poor quality of subtraction images obtained in digital subtraction imaging, not only avoiding the occurrence of motion artifacts, but also simplifying the calculation difficulty of subtraction images, improving the reliability of subtraction image calculation, and ensuring stable high-quality output.

[0036] Details of one or more embodiments of this application are set forth in the following drawings and description to make other features, objects and advantages of this application more readily apparent. Attached Figure Description

[0037] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of this application and form part of this application, illustrate exemplary embodiments and are used to explain this application, but do not constitute an undue limitation of this application. In the drawings:

[0038] Figure 1 This is a hardware structure block diagram of a terminal for a digital subtraction imaging method in one embodiment;

[0039] Figure 2 This is a flowchart illustrating a digital subtraction imaging method in one embodiment;

[0040] Figure 3 This refers to a traditional time-subtraction image obtained using existing techniques.

[0041] Figure 4 This is an energy dispersive spectral image from one embodiment;

[0042] Figure 5 A simulated perspective image is provided in one embodiment;

[0043] Figure 6 This is a flowchart illustrating a preferred embodiment of a digital subtraction imaging method.

[0044] Figure 7 This is a structural block diagram of a digital subtraction imaging device in one embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0045] To better understand the purpose, technical solution, and advantages of this application, the application is described and illustrated below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0046] Unless otherwise defined, the technical or scientific terms used in this application shall have the general meaning as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application pertains. Words such as “a,” “an,” “an,” “the,” “the,” and “these,” used in this application, do not indicate quantitative limitation and may be singular or plural. The terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and any variations thereof used in this application are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion; for example, a process, method, system, product, or device that comprises a series of steps or modules (units) is not limited to the listed steps or modules (units) but may include steps or modules (units) not listed, or may include other steps or modules (units) inherent to such processes, methods, products, or devices. The terms “connected,” “linked,” and “coupled,” used in this application, are not limited to physical or mechanical connections but may include electrical connections, whether direct or indirect. The term “multiple” used in this application refers to two or more. The "and / or" operator describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, "A and / or B" can represent three cases: A alone, A and B simultaneously, and B alone. Typically, the character " / " indicates that the objects before and after it are in an "or" relationship. The terms "first," "second," and "third," etc., used in this application are merely for distinguishing similar objects and do not represent a specific ordering of the objects.

[0047] The method embodiments provided in this example can be executed on a terminal, computer, or similar computing device. For example, it can run on a terminal. Figure 1 This is a hardware structure block diagram of the terminal of the digital subtraction imaging method in this embodiment. For example... Figure 1 As shown, a terminal may include one or more ( Figure 1 Only one is shown in the diagram. A processor 102 and a memory 104 for storing data are also included. The processor 102 may be, but is not limited to, a microprocessor (MCU) or a programmable logic device (FPGA). The terminal may also include a transmission device 106 for communication functions and an input / output device 108. Those skilled in the art will understand that… Figure 1 The structure shown is for illustrative purposes only and does not limit the structure of the terminal described above. For example, the terminal may also include components that are larger than... Figure 1 The more or fewer components shown, or having the same Figure 1 The different configurations shown are illustrated.

[0048] The memory 104 can be used to store computer programs, such as application software programs and modules, like the computer program corresponding to the digital subtraction imaging method in this embodiment. The processor 102 executes various functional applications and data processing by running the computer program stored in the memory 104, thereby implementing the above-described method. The memory 104 may include high-speed random access memory, and may also include non-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic storage devices, flash memory, or other non-volatile solid-state memory. In some instances, the memory 104 may further include memory remotely located relative to the processor 102, and these remote memories can be connected to the terminal via a network. Examples of such networks include, but are not limited to, the Internet, corporate intranets, local area networks, mobile communication networks, and combinations thereof.

[0049] The transmission device 106 is used to receive or send data via a network. This network includes a wireless network provided by the terminal's communication provider. In one example, the transmission device 106 includes a Network Interface Controller (NIC), which can connect to other network devices via a base station to communicate with the Internet. In another example, the transmission device 106 can be a Radio Frequency (RF) module used for wireless communication with the Internet.

[0050] This embodiment provides a digital subtraction imaging method, which can be applied in the field of biology. For example, it can be used to analyze the structure and developmental processes of animals and plants by performing digital subtraction imaging on animal or plant samples, or to provide important data support for studying diseases and pathologies within organisms, such as improving the imaging quality of angiography. This method can also be applied in the industrial field. For instance, subtraction images obtained for tested materials can be used to analyze material distribution and properties, or subtraction imaging can be performed on complex components for further non-destructive testing.

[0051] Figure 2 This is a flowchart of the digital subtraction imaging method in this embodiment, as follows: Figure 2 As shown, the process includes the following steps:

[0052] Step S210: Acquire the energy spectrum image of the target object; the energy spectrum image includes an image of the scan signal of at least two energy levels.

[0053] Specifically, depending on the application scenario, the target object is different scanned objects. For example, this method is applied to angiography to acquire energy spectrum images of target areas of the human body. Target areas can be the head, limbs, chest, abdomen, etc. In particular, blood vessels in the chest and abdomen undergo significant positional and morphological changes due to respiration and organ movement. This leads to spatial misalignment of blood vessels in the filler and mask images when using conventional digital angiography methods, as the filler and mask images need to be acquired at different times within a video. This results in severe artifacts in the subtracted image, rendering it unusable. Traditional solutions often rely on image registration techniques to eliminate these potential spatial misalignments, which places high demands on the registration algorithm, making it difficult to guarantee the real-time performance and quality of vascular imaging. In summary, the poor quality of the subtracted images resulting from the above methods stems from the large time interval between the capture of the filler and mask images. Therefore, this embodiment acquires energy spectrum images, typically with scanning signals of different energy levels at the same or adjacent times. For example, images of scanning signals at different energy levels can be acquired at the same or nearly the same time point using dual-layer detectors or photon counting detectors. Alternatively, two high-energy and low-energy images with a very small time difference can be obtained by rapidly switching the kV (voltage value) of the X-ray tube. Other technologies, such as color or multi-level detectors, can be used to fundamentally and thoroughly solve the problem of poor imaging quality caused by motion artifacts.

[0054] The scanning signal includes one of the following: X-ray, ultrasound, magnetic resonance, or radioactive signals.

[0055] Step S220: Calculate the base material data based on the energy spectrum image.

[0056] Specifically, each pixel in an energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) image can be considered to be composed of data from various substances. At the same location in the EDS image, the signal response of the same substance differs between low-energy and high-energy images. Therefore, the contribution values ​​of various preset material components (such as water, calcium, and iodine) within each pixel can be extracted, resulting in images corresponding to each substance. To enhance the subtraction effect, substances to be enhanced and substances to be suppressed are separated. For example, in angiography, calcium, corresponding to bone, affects the judgment of blood vessel morphology, while iodine in the contrast agent is a key substance for displaying blood vessel morphology. Therefore, calcium maps corresponding to calcium and iodine maps corresponding to iodine are specifically extracted to differentiate substances with different functions and effects, thereby improving the subtraction processing effect.

[0057] Step S230: Based on the base material data, perform subtraction processing on the energy spectrum image to obtain an energy subtraction image.

[0058] Specifically, one or more substances are designated as target substances as needed. Based on the base material decomposition technology, the base material data corresponding to each target substance can be extracted from the energy spectrum image, and images of each target substance can be generated based on the base material data. The target substance can be either the substance to be enhanced or the substance to be suppressed. When generating a first target substance image based on the base material data of the substance to be enhanced, the first target substance image can be directly used as an energy subtraction image, or the first target substance image can be used to enhance the image of any energy level in the energy spectrum image to obtain an energy subtraction image, achieving the effect of removing or weakening substances other than the substance to be enhanced in the energy spectrum image. When generating a second target substance image based on the base material data of the substance to be suppressed, the second target substance image can be used to suppress the image of any energy level in the energy spectrum image, for example, by subtracting the second target substance image from the energy spectrum image to obtain an energy subtraction image, weakening the intensity of the substance to be suppressed in the energy spectrum image, thereby highlighting substances other than the substance to be suppressed.

[0059] In one embodiment, energy spectrum images are continuously acquired over a period of time, and the matrix material is decomposed and subtracted in real time to obtain continuous energy subtraction images. The continuous energy subtraction images form video data, thereby dynamically displaying the detection results of the target object.

[0060] In this embodiment, an energy spectrum image of the target object is acquired; the energy spectrum image includes an image of scanning signals of at least two energy levels; base material data is calculated based on the energy spectrum image; based on the base material data, the energy spectrum image is subjected to subtraction processing to obtain an energy subtraction image, which solves the problem of poor quality of subtraction images obtained in digital subtraction imaging. It not only avoids the occurrence of motion artifacts, but also simplifies the calculation difficulty of subtraction images, improves the reliability of subtraction image calculation, and ensures stable high-quality output.

[0061] In one embodiment, based on step S220 above, the energy spectrum image is subjected to base material decomposition processing to obtain base material data, including:

[0062] Step S221: Based on the energy spectrum image, calculate the contribution value of various material components in the target object to each pixel.

[0063] Step S222: Obtain base material data based on contribution values.

[0064] In one embodiment, based on step S230 above, and based on the base material data, the energy spectrum image is subjected to subtraction processing to obtain an energy-subtracted image, including:

[0065] Step S231: Extract data corresponding to the preset material to be enhanced from the base material data to generate a first target material image.

[0066] Specifically, the region where the material to be enhanced is located is the region of interest. The image of the first target material can be directly output as an energy subtraction image to clearly display the region where the material to be enhanced is located. In other embodiments, the image of the first target material is superimposed on an energy spectrum image or other background image to obtain an energy subtraction image, thereby highlighting the region where the material to be enhanced is located.

[0067] Step S232: Based on the first target material image, obtain an energy subtraction image.

[0068] Taking angiography as an example, Figure 3 For traditional time-subtraction images obtained based on existing techniques, Figure 4 The energy dispersive spectral subtraction image obtained in this embodiment shows... Figure 4 This greatly reduces the impact of motion artifacts and improves image quality.

[0069] In one embodiment, step S232 above, obtaining an energy subtraction image based on the first target material image, includes:

[0070] Step S232-a: Obtain a simulated perspective image of the target object.

[0071] Step S232-b: Based on the image of the first target material, enhance the simulated perspective image to obtain an energy subtraction image.

[0072] Specifically, such as Figure 5 As shown, the simulated perspective image is a background image representing the overall perspective structure of the target object. The simulated perspective image can be obtained by reducing the target material region in the target material image based on the energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) image. Alternatively, a uniform template image can be used, which is adaptively modified based on different features such as the scanning position to match the target object; alternatively, the EDS image can be used as input, and a trained neural network model can be used to weaken the target region to output the simulated perspective image.

[0073] The target substance image can be for a single target substance or multiple images for multiple target substances. For example, in an angiography scenario, the target substances are iodine and calcium, and the obtained target substance images include iodine images and calcium images. The region containing iodine is the region of interest, and the region containing calcium is the interference region. Therefore, step S232-b can be performed on the simulated fluoroscopic image, enhancing the iodine image to obtain an energy subtraction image; or enhancing the iodine image and suppressing the calcium image to obtain a simulated fluoroscopic image. The energy subtraction image is the angiography image that clearly displays the region of interest.

[0074] In one embodiment, step S232-a above, obtaining a simulated perspective image of the target object, includes:

[0075] Step S310: Extract data corresponding to the preset target substance from the base material data to generate a second target substance image.

[0076] In one embodiment, the preset substance to be suppressed is a single substance, such as calcium. Distribution data of calcium is extracted from the base substance data, and a second target substance image is obtained based on the calcium distribution data. Multiple second target substance images can be obtained based on multiple substances to be suppressed. In other embodiments, the preset substances to be suppressed are multiple, such as calcium and carbon. A second target substance image containing multiple substances is generated based on the base substance data corresponding to the multiple substances to be suppressed.

[0077] Specifically, the main principle of matrix decomposition technology is that the target object exhibits different attenuation characteristics under the irradiation of a scanning signal source. These attenuation characteristics are not only related to the structure of the target object but also closely related to its chemical composition. Therefore, by analyzing the attenuation of the scanning signal at different energies, the chemical composition of the tissue can be inferred. The degree of attenuation of the photon beam in the scanning signal depends on the energy of the incident beam and the density and atomic number (Z) of the material (absorber) interacting with the scanning signal photons. For example, the atomic numbers of the elements (including hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, and nitrogen) that make up the soft tissues of the human body are lower than those of calcium, trace elements (such as iron, copper, zinc, iodine, and manganese), and exogenous drug-induced substances (such as barium, iodine contrast agents, and gadolinium). Attenuation increases abruptly when the scanning signal energy level of different materials is just above the binding energy (k-edge). The k-edge varies from material to material and generally increases with increasing atomic number. Spectroscopic analysis, based on the unique k-edge characteristics and the differences in attenuation at different energy levels, provides an opportunity to distinguish different substances in the target object. Matrix decomposition processing includes, but is not limited to, the use of dual-substance decomposition and multi-substance decomposition techniques.

[0078] Step S320: Based on the image of the second target material, the energy spectrum image is suppressed to obtain a simulated perspective image.

[0079] Specifically, the energy spectrum image is subtracted from the image of the second target substance to weaken or eliminate the substance to be suppressed in the energy spectrum image, thus obtaining a simulated perspective image; or the energy spectrum image is suppressed by setting a mask or filtering.

[0080] In this embodiment, the energy spectrum image of the target object is suppressed by the second target material image, and a background image that is more closely aligned with the target object is obtained, thereby improving the quality of subtraction imaging.

[0081] In one embodiment, step S320, based on the image of the second target substance, suppresses the energy spectrum image to obtain a simulated perspective image, including:

[0082] Step S321: Based on the second target material image and the first target material image, the material to be suppressed and the material to be enhanced in the energy spectrum image are jointly suppressed to obtain a simulated perspective image.

[0083] Specifically, by successively subtracting the second target material image and the first target material image from the energy spectrum image, the substances to be suppressed and enhanced are weakened or eliminated in the energy spectrum image, resulting in a simulated perspective image. Alternatively, a mask image can be created based on the two target material images and the first target material image, and the simulated perspective image can be obtained by multiplying the mask image with the energy spectrum image.

[0084] In this embodiment, both the material to be enhanced and the material to be suppressed are suppressed to further remove interference signals in the simulated perspective image.

[0085] In one embodiment, based on step S232-b above, the simulated perspective image is enhanced based on the first target material image to obtain an energy subtraction image, including:

[0086] Step S410: Obtain the enhancement coefficient and suppression coefficient.

[0087] Step S420: Based on the enhancement coefficient and the image of the first target material, the simulated perspective image is enhanced to obtain a first-processed image.

[0088] Step S430: Based on the suppression coefficient and the second target material image, the first-processed image is subjected to suppression processing to obtain a second-processed image, which is then used as an energy subtraction image.

[0089] Specifically, the effects of enhancement and suppression can be adjusted by changing the magnitude of the enhancement and suppression coefficients. This allows for enhancement and suppression based on the original intensity of the images of the material to be enhanced and suppressed, and also enables the degree of enhancement and suppression to be strengthened or weakened as needed, making the subtraction process more flexible.

[0090] In other non-limiting embodiments, after obtaining the enhancement coefficient and the suppression coefficient, the simulated perspective image is suppressed based on the suppression coefficient and the second target material image to obtain a first-processed image; the first-processed image is then enhanced based on the enhancement coefficient and the first target material image to obtain a second-processed image; the second-processed image is used as an energy subtraction image. The order of suppression and enhancement processing of the simulated perspective image can be set according to the actual image processing needs.

[0091] In other non-limiting embodiments, the second target material image may not be involved in the processing, for example, the suppression coefficient may be set to zero. In this case, the above step S232-b can be simplified to: based on the enhancement coefficient and the first target material image, the simulated perspective image is enhanced to obtain a first-processed image, and the first-processed image is used as an energy subtraction image.

[0092] In this embodiment, by weakening the intensity of the substance to be suppressed and enhancing the intensity of the substance to be enhanced in the same simulated perspective image, the contrast of the substance to be enhanced is improved, thereby increasing the clarity of the energy subtraction image. The simulated perspective image serves as a background image, showcasing the overall perspective structure of the target object and the positional and contrast relationships of the substance to be enhanced, thus allowing the entire energy subtraction image to contain more analyzable information.

[0093] In one embodiment, step S230 above, which involves subtracting an energy spectrum image based on the base material data to obtain an energy-subtracted image, further includes:

[0094] Data corresponding to the preset target substance to be suppressed is extracted from the base material data to generate a second target substance image; the second target substance image is subtracted from the energy spectrum image to obtain an energy subtraction image.

[0095] Specifically, the substances to be suppressed are those that interfere with image quality or affect the contrast of the region of interest. Therefore, these interfering substances can be suppressed in the energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) image. The suppression method can be achieved by subtracting the EDS image from the image of the target substance, thus improving the processing speed of image subtraction.

[0096] In one embodiment, the target object is an object to which a contrast-enhancing medium has been applied; the substance to be enhanced includes the substance in the contrast-enhancing medium; and the substance to be suppressed includes the interfering substance in the target object itself.

[0097] Specifically, in medical imaging examinations, contrast-enhancing mediators can be exogenous substances injected into the body to enhance inter-tissue contrast, such as barium, iodine contrast agents, and gadolinium. Since the shape of the contrast-enhancing mediators identified in medical imaging reflects the state of specific organs or tissues, it is necessary to highlight the contrast-enhancing mediators in energy subtraction images. However, some structures in the target object may overlap with the contrast-enhancing mediators from a perspective angle. When the substances in these overlapping structures are similar in density and other properties to the contrast-enhancing mediators, interference may occur during imaging. In such cases, these overlapping substances can be used as substances to be suppressed, thereby more effectively enhancing the area where the contrast-enhancing mediators are located. Because this embodiment allows for flexible adjustment of the subtraction degree through the substances to be enhanced and suppressed, the concentration of the contrast-enhancing mediator can be adaptively diluted during application to save materials and reduce the burden on the body for excretion. The substances to be enhanced include, but are not limited to, substances in the contrast-enhancing mediators, and may also include other substances of interest besides the contrast-enhancing mediators.

[0098] In other possible implementations, the contrast enhancement medium itself contains multiple components, and some of the substances in the contrast enhancement medium can be set as the substances to be enhanced, while other substances can be set as the substances to be inhibited.

[0099] In one embodiment, based on the above step S210, the energy spectrum image of the target object is acquired, specifically including the following steps:

[0100] Step S510: The scanning signal passing through the target object is acquired based on the photon counting detector, and the energy of the scanning signal is recorded.

[0101] Step S520: Based on the different energies of the scanning signal, the acquired scanning signal is output as an energy spectrum image of different energy levels.

[0102] Specifically, photon counting detectors can accurately measure the energy and position of each photon, thus providing higher spatial resolution. Within a narrow energy range, although the number of photons is limited, photon counting detectors can reduce the impact of noise on image quality to some extent through accurate counting and energy level measurement.

[0103] In one embodiment, based on the above step S210, the energy spectrum image of the target object is acquired, specifically including the following steps:

[0104] Step S610: Based on the dual-layer detector, a scanning signal passing through the target object is acquired to obtain an energy spectrum image; wherein, the dual-layer detector includes a first detector, a second detector, and a filter located between the first detector and the second detector; the filter is used to block the scanning signal of the first energy level and allow the scanning signal of the second energy level to pass through; the first detector is used to acquire the scanning signal of the first energy level to obtain an energy spectrum image of the first energy level; the second detector is used to acquire the scanning signal of the second energy level to obtain an energy spectrum image of the second energy level.

[0105] Specifically, a copper filter is typically placed between the two detector layers in a dual-layer detector. The first detector receives directly irradiated X-rays, while high-energy X-rays can penetrate the copper filter to irradiate the second detector. Based on the image signals acquired by the two detectors respectively, high-energy and low-energy images are output. This embodiment, through a "sandwich" detector design, efficiently acquires dual-energy level images, enabling more accurate identification of the composition and distribution of different substances.

[0106] The present embodiment will now be described and illustrated through a preferred embodiment. Figure 6 This is a flowchart of a preferred embodiment. Figure 6 As shown, the process includes the following steps:

[0107] S1. Acquiring energy-spectral X-ray images of the human body. Acquisition methods include: 1) Photon counting detectors acquire X-rays and, based on the recorded X-ray energy, divide the X-ray signal into high-energy X-rays and low-energy X-rays, outputting high-energy and low-energy images respectively. 2) Dual-layer detectors, typically with a copper filter between the two detector layers. The first detector receives directly irradiated X-rays, while high-energy X-rays can penetrate the copper filter to irradiate the second detector. High-energy and low-energy images are output based on the image signals acquired by the two detectors respectively. 3) X-ray tubes perform rapid KV (voltage value) switching, emitting high- and low-energy X-rays sequentially within a very short time. The detector acquires images generated by the high-energy and low-energy X-rays sequentially. 4) Dual-energy or multi-level X-ray images acquired by other types of color or multi-level X-ray detectors and other techniques.

[0108] S2. Based on material decomposition technology, the energy spectrum X-ray image is decomposed to obtain iodine map, calcium map and simulated perspective view. The iodine map is used to represent the form of contrast agent; the calcium map is used to represent the form of bone; the simulated perspective view is used to represent the perspective structure of human body. The substances used in the material decomposition include water, calcium and iodine.

[0109] S3. Based on the simulation of a conventional perspective view, the calcium image is suppressed and the iodine image is enhanced to obtain an energy subtraction image.

[0110] In this preferred embodiment, the energy spectrum X-ray image is decomposed using a base material decomposition technique, and calcium is suppressed and iodine is enhanced on a simulated perspective view, thereby obtaining a high-quality energy subtraction image. This not only avoids motion artifacts but also simplifies the calculation of subtraction images, improves the reliability of subtraction image calculation, and ensures stable high-quality output.

[0111] It should be noted that the steps shown in the above process or in the flowchart of the accompanying figures can be executed in a computer system such as a set of computer-executable instructions, and although a logical order is shown in the flowchart, in some cases the steps shown or described may be executed in a different order than that shown here.

[0112] This embodiment also provides a digital subtraction angiography (DSA) imaging device for implementing the above embodiments and preferred embodiments; details already described will not be repeated. The terms "module," "unit," and "subunit," etc., used below refer to combinations of software and / or hardware that perform a predetermined function. Although the device described in the following embodiments is preferably implemented in software, hardware implementation, or a combination of software and hardware, is also possible and contemplated.

[0113] Figure 7 This is a structural block diagram of the digital subtraction imaging device in this embodiment, as shown below. Figure 7 As shown, the device includes: a collection module 61, a base material decomposition module 62, and a subtraction module 63.

[0114] Acquisition module 61 is used to acquire the energy spectrum image of the target object at the same time; the energy spectrum image includes scan signal images of at least two energy levels.

[0115] The base material decomposition module 62 is used to calculate base material data based on energy spectrum images.

[0116] The subtraction module 63 is used to perform subtraction processing on the energy spectrum image based on the base material data to obtain an energy subtraction image.

[0117] In some embodiments, the base material decomposition module 62 is also used to calculate the contribution value of various material components in the target object to each pixel based on the energy spectrum image; and to obtain base material data based on the contribution value.

[0118] In some embodiments, the subtraction module 63 is further configured to extract data corresponding to a preset material to be enhanced from the base material data, generate a first target material image, and obtain an energy subtraction image based on the first target material image.

[0119] In some embodiments, the subtraction module 63 is further configured to extract data corresponding to a preset substance to be suppressed from the base material data to generate a second target material image; and to subtract the second target material image from the energy spectrum image to obtain an energy subtraction image.

[0120] In some embodiments, the subtraction module 63 is also used to acquire a simulated perspective image of the target object; and to enhance the simulated perspective image based on the first target material image to obtain an energy subtraction image.

[0121] In some embodiments, the subtraction module 63 is further configured to extract data corresponding to a preset substance to be suppressed from the base material data, generate a second target material image, and suppress the energy spectrum image based on the second target material image to obtain a simulated perspective image.

[0122] In some embodiments, the subtraction module 63 is further configured to jointly suppress the substance to be suppressed and the substance to be enhanced in the energy spectrum image based on the second target substance image and the first target substance image, to obtain a simulated perspective image.

[0123] In some embodiments, the subtraction module 63 is also used to obtain the enhancement coefficient and the suppression coefficient;

[0124] Based on the enhancement coefficient and the first target material image, the simulated perspective image is enhanced to obtain a first-processed image; based on the suppression coefficient and the second target material image, the first-processed image is suppressed to obtain a second-processed image, and the second-processed image is used as an energy subtraction image.

[0125] In some embodiments, the target object is an object to which a contrast-enhancing medium has been applied; the substance to be enhanced includes substances in the contrast-enhancing medium; and the substance to be suppressed includes interfering substances in the target object itself.

[0126] It should be noted that the above modules can be functional modules or program modules, and can be implemented through software or hardware. For modules implemented through hardware, the above modules can reside in the same processor; or the above modules can be located in different processors in any combination.

[0127] This embodiment also provides a computer device, including a memory and a processor, wherein the memory stores a computer program and the processor is configured to run the computer program to perform the steps in any of the above method embodiments.

[0128] Optionally, the computer device may further include a transmission device and an input / output device, wherein the transmission device is connected to the processor and the input / output device is connected to the processor.

[0129] It should be noted that the specific examples in this embodiment can refer to the examples described in the above embodiments and optional implementations, and will not be repeated in this embodiment.

[0130] Furthermore, in conjunction with the digital subtraction imaging method provided in the above embodiments, this embodiment can also provide a storage medium for implementation. This storage medium stores a computer program; when executed by a processor, the computer program implements any of the digital subtraction imaging methods described in the above embodiments.

[0131] It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the application and not intended to limit it. All other embodiments derived by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments provided in this application without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0132] Obviously, the accompanying drawings are merely some examples or embodiments of this application. Those skilled in the art can apply this application to other similar situations based on these drawings without any creative effort. Furthermore, it is understood that although the work done in this development process may be complex and lengthy, for those skilled in the art, certain design, manufacturing, or production modifications made based on the technical content disclosed in this application are merely conventional technical means and should not be considered as insufficient disclosure of this application.

[0133] The term "embodiment" in this application refers to a specific feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment that may be included in at least one embodiment of this application. The appearance of this phrase in various places in the specification does not necessarily imply the same embodiment, nor does it imply that it is mutually exclusive with or independent of other embodiments. It will be clearly or implicitly understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described in this application may be combined with other embodiments without conflict.

[0134] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementation methods of this application, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of patent protection. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this application, and these all fall within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A digital subtraction imaging method, characterized in that, The method includes: Acquire an energy spectrum image of the target object; the energy spectrum image includes an image of a scan signal at least two energy levels; Calculate the base material data based on the energy spectrum image; Based on the base material data, the energy spectrum image is subjected to subtraction processing to obtain an energy subtraction image, which includes: Data corresponding to the preset material to be enhanced is extracted from the base material data to generate a first target material image; Data corresponding to the preset substance to be suppressed is extracted from the base material data to generate a second target material image; Based on the image of the second target substance, the energy spectrum image is suppressed to obtain a simulated perspective image; Based on the image of the first target material, the simulated perspective image is enhanced to obtain an energy subtraction image.

2. The digital subtraction imaging method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Based on the image of the second target substance, the energy spectrum image is suppressed to obtain a simulated perspective image, including: Based on the second target material image and the first target material image, the substance to be suppressed and the substance to be enhanced in the energy spectrum image are jointly suppressed to obtain a simulated perspective image.

3. The digital subtraction imaging method according to claim 2, characterized in that, Based on the first target material image, the simulated perspective image is enhanced to obtain an energy subtraction image, including: Obtain the enhancement coefficient and inhibition coefficient; Based on the enhancement coefficient and the image of the first target material, the simulated perspective image is enhanced to obtain a first-processed image; Based on the suppression coefficient and the image of the second target substance, the first-processed image is subjected to suppression processing to obtain a second-processed image, which is then used as an energy subtraction image.

4. The digital subtraction imaging method according to claim 3, characterized in that, The target object is an object to which a contrast-enhancing medium has been applied; the substance to be enhanced includes substances in the contrast-enhancing medium; the substance to be suppressed includes interfering substances in the target object itself.

5. The digital subtraction imaging method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Calculating base material data based on the energy spectrum image includes: Based on the energy spectrum image, calculate the contribution value of various material components in the target object to each pixel; Based on the contribution value, we obtain the base material data.

6. The digital subtraction imaging method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Acquire energy spectrum images of the target object, including: The system uses a photon counting detector to collect scanning signals passing through a target object and records the energy of the scanning signals. Based on the different energies of the scanning signal, the acquired scanning signal is output as an energy spectrum image of different energy levels.

7. The digital subtraction imaging method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Acquire energy spectrum images of the target object, including: An energy spectrum image is obtained by acquiring scanning signals passing through a target object using a dual-layer detector; wherein the dual-layer detector includes a first detector, a second detector, and a filter located between the first detector and the second detector; The filter is used to block the scan signal of the first energy level and allow the scan signal of the second energy level to pass through; The first detector is used to collect the scanning signal of the first energy level and obtain the energy spectrum image of the first energy level; The second detector is used to collect the scanning signal of the second energy level and obtain the energy spectrum image of the second energy level.

8. A digital subtraction imaging device, characterized in that, The device includes: The acquisition module is used to acquire the energy spectrum image of the target object at the same time; the energy spectrum image includes scan signal images of at least two energy levels; A base material decomposition module is used to calculate base material data based on the energy spectrum image; The subtraction module is used to perform subtraction processing on the energy spectrum image based on the base material data to obtain an energy subtraction image, which includes: Data corresponding to the preset material to be enhanced is extracted from the base material data to generate a first target material image; Data corresponding to the preset substance to be suppressed is extracted from the base material data to generate a second target material image; Based on the image of the second target substance, the energy spectrum image is suppressed to obtain a simulated perspective image; Based on the image of the first target material, the simulated perspective image is enhanced to obtain an energy subtraction image.

9. A computer device, comprising a memory and a processor, characterized in that, The memory stores a computer program, and the processor is configured to run the computer program to perform the steps of the digital subtraction imaging method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

10. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, It stores a computer program, which is executed by a processor using the steps of the digital subtraction imaging method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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