Method and system for providing contrast agent alerts

Abstract

The present disclosure provides methods and systems for providing contrast agent alerts. The invention relates to providing contrast agent alerts in medical imaging procedures. Medical imaging data relating to a medical imaging procedure is received, where a contrast agent is administered to a patient during the medical imaging procedure. A volume of contrast agent administered to the patient is determined based on the medical imaging data. A reference volume of contrast agent is determined based on the medical imaging data. An alert is provided if the volume of contrast agent administered satisfies a condition, where the condition is based on a reference volume of contrast agent.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This patent application relates to a comprehensive contrast agent management solution that aims to significantly enhance patient care in radiology. The present invention solves key technical problems in the field of medical imaging, particularly in the processes involving contrast agent-enhanced computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Background Art

[0002] Contrast agent enhancement is typically administered using an automated injection system commonly referred to as a "power injector". These systems are commonly used for iodinated contrast agents in interventional settings. Although contrast agents are generally safe, adverse events may occur in patients with kidney problems. Additionally, incorrect scanning or technical issues during injection may result in suboptimal images, especially when using fast CT scanners.

[0003] Current methods for managing contrast agent injection data involve manual or semi-automatic processes that are typically error-prone and lack consistency in documentation. These methods include manually entering information such as contrast agent volume, flow rate, and injection timing by radiologic technologists or healthcare professionals into the system of a CT scanner. Electronic health records (EHRs) or radiology information systems (RISs) are commonly used for data entry during or after the procedure. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The invention presented herein aims to automate the collection of contrast agent injection data, thereby improving compliance, safety, and quality assurance in imaging facilities. This is achieved by establishing industry-standard information objects to consistently access contrast agent data for each study. The solution provides actionable insights for continuously evaluating the use of different types of syringes or vendors and all the protocols used. It also has built-in interoperability features based on communication standards (DICOM and HL7), enabling it to interface with systems such as syringes and hospital information systems (PACS, RIS, and EMR). Additionally, the solution provides the function of benchmarking data from multiple tenants.

[0005] In summary, the present invention provides a comprehensive contrast agent management solution that automates the collection of contrast agent injection data, thereby improving the quality of patient care, increasing the diagnostic yield of contrast agent-enhanced imaging procedures, and ensuring compliance with radiology documentation, safety, and quality requirements.

[0006] The problem is solved according to the independent claims. Further advantageous embodiments and additional advantageous features are described in the dependent claims and the description.

[0007] In the following, solutions according to the present invention will be described for the claimed system and for the claimed method. Features, advantages or alternative embodiments herein may be assigned to other corresponding claimed objects, and other corresponding claimed objects may be assigned to features, advantages or alternative embodiments herein. In other words, the system may be improved by features described or claimed in the context of the corresponding method. In this case, the functional features of the method are embodied by the target units of the system.

[0008] In the following, the term "in particular" is used to indicate optional and / or advantageous additional features. Furthermore, the term "applying a neural network to data" or "applying a unit to data" is used to indicate that the corresponding data is used as input data for a model or unit, or that input data including the corresponding data (and potentially other data) is used.

[0009] In a first aspect, the present invention relates to a computer-implemented method for providing a contrast agent alert. The method includes receiving medical imaging data related to a medical imaging procedure, wherein a contrast agent is administered to a patient during the medical imaging procedure. The method further includes determining, based on the medical imaging data, the volume of the contrast agent administered to the patient. The method further includes determining, based on the medical imaging data, a reference volume of the contrast agent. The method further includes providing an alert if the volume of the administered contrast agent meets a condition, wherein the condition is based on the reference volume of the contrast agent.

[0010] As used herein, medical imaging data may refer to any data or information obtained from a medical imaging procedure. This may include, but is not limited to, raw data, processed data, metadata, or any combination thereof. The data may be derived from various types of medical imaging modalities, such as X-ray, ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), or any other imaging modality known in the art. The data may be in various formats, such as DICOM, JPEG, PNG, or any other suitable format. The data may also include patient-specific information, such as patient demographics, medical history, or any other relevant information.

[0011] As used herein, a medical imaging procedure may refer to any process or method for obtaining medical imaging data. This may include, but is not limited to, using various imaging modalities, such as X-ray, ultrasound, CT, MRI, PET, or any other imaging modality known in the art. The procedure may involve using a contrast agent to enhance the visibility of certain structures or fluids within the body. The procedure may also involve obtaining a reference volume of the contrast agent for comparison purposes. The procedure may be performed in various settings, such as a hospital, clinic, or any other suitable location.

[0012] As used herein, a contrast agent can refer to any substance used to enhance the visibility of structures or fluids within the body during a medical imaging procedure. This can include, but is not limited to, iodine-based agents, barium-based agents, gadolinium-based agents, or any other suitable agent known in the art. The contrast agent can be administered in various ways, such as orally, intravenously, or any other suitable method. The contrast agent can also be used in various amounts, which can be determined based on the reference volume of the contrast agent.

[0013] As used herein, the reference volume of a contrast agent can refer to a predetermined amount of the contrast agent that is used as a standard or benchmark during a medical imaging procedure. This can include, but is not limited to, a specific volume, weight, concentration, or any other suitable measure of the contrast agent. The reference volume can be determined based on various factors such as the type of contrast agent, the imaging modality, the patient's weight, or any other relevant factor. The reference volume can be used to ensure optimal visibility of structures or fluids within the body.

[0014] As used herein, an alert can refer to any notification or warning generated in response to a specific event or condition during a medical imaging procedure. This can include, but is not limited to, an alert generated when the volume of the contrast agent used exceeds the reference volume, an alert generated when the medical imaging data indicates a potential medical problem, or any other suitable alert. The alert can be presented in various ways, such as a visual alert, an audible alert, a tactile alert, or any other suitable method. The alert can be designed to prompt a response from a user, such as a healthcare professional.

[0015] As used herein, a condition can refer to a function that produces a binary variable, several categorical variables, or a continuous variable. In particular, the condition may relate to the fact that a variable is above or below a certain threshold.

[0016] By monitoring the volume of the contrast agent administered and comparing it to the reference volume, the method can provide an alert if the administered volume meets a certain condition. This can prevent potential harm to the patient due to overexposure to the contrast agent, thereby enhancing patient safety. This can also improve the efficiency of the medical imaging procedure, and can save time for healthcare professionals and allow more patients to be seen.

[0017] According to another aspect of the present invention, the medical imaging data includes auxiliary capture images, wherein determining the volume of the contrast agent administered includes the steps of performing optical character recognition within the auxiliary capture images, and determining the volume of the contrast agent administered based on the characters recognized within the auxiliary capture images.

[0018] As used herein, an auxiliary capture image may refer to any image that is converted from a non-DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) format to a modality-independent DICOM format. This may include, but is not limited to, images captured from various types of equipment such as video interfaces that convert analog video signals to digital images, medical imaging devices, or any other suitable equipment known in the art. The auxiliary capture image may be a grayscale image, a color image, a multi-frame image, or any other suitable type of image. The auxiliary capture image may be used in various applications such as medical imaging, telemedicine, or any other suitable application.

[0019] As used herein, optical character recognition (OCR) may refer to any process or method for converting different types of documents such as scanned paper documents, PDF files, or images captured by digital imaging devices into editable and searchable data. This may include, but is not limited to, using various OCR techniques such as pattern recognition, feature recognition, or any other suitable OCR technique known in the art. The OCR process may involve various steps such as preprocessing, character segmentation, character recognition, and postprocessing. The OCR process may be used in various applications such as document digitization, data entry automation, or any other suitable application. The OCR process may be performed on various types of data such as text data, image data, or any other suitable type of data.

[0020] By using optical character recognition (OCR) within the auxiliary capture image to determine the volume of the administered contrast agent, the system can accurately identify and interpret relevant data from the image. This can lead to a more precise determination of the volume of the contrast agent, thereby improving the accuracy of the alert system and potentially enhancing patient safety.

[0021] According to another aspect of the present invention, the method further includes: determining a planned volume of the contrast agent based on the characters recognized within the auxiliary capture image, wherein the condition and / or the reference volume of the contrast agent is based on the planned volume of the contrast agent.

[0022] As used herein, the planned volume of the contrast agent may refer to a predetermined amount of the contrast agent intended to be used during a medical imaging procedure. This may include, but is not limited to, a specific volume, weight, concentration, or any other suitable measure of the contrast agent. The planned volume may be determined based on various factors such as the type of the contrast agent, the imaging modality, the patient's body weight, the patient's medical condition, or any other relevant factor. The planned volume may be used to ensure optimal visibility of structures or fluids within the body during the imaging procedure. Based on the actual conditions encountered during the procedure, the planned volume may be adjusted as needed. The planned volume of the contrast agent may also be compared with the reference volume of the contrast agent or the actual volume of the contrast agent used during the procedure, and if the planned volume differs from the reference volume or the actual volume by more than a predetermined amount, an alert may be generated.

[0023] By using the planned volume of the contrast agent, knowledge about the patient that led to the planned volume can be incorporated into the alert process.

[0024] According to another aspect of the present invention, the medical imaging data includes a structured report document, wherein the structured report document includes data elements related to the volume of the administered contrast agent.

[0025] As used herein, a structured report document can refer to a digital or physical document that organizes data or information in a standardized, predictable manner. This can include, but is not limited to, medical reports, research reports, technical reports, or any other suitable type of report. A structured report document can contain various types of data or information, such as text, images, tables, charts, or any other suitable type of data or information. Various types of software or systems (such as reporting systems, document management systems, or any other suitable software or system) can be used to generate a structured report document. A structured report document can be stored in various formats (such as DICOM SR (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine Structured Report), HL7 CDA (Health Level 7 Clinical Document Architecture), PDF, or any other suitable format). A structured report document can be used in various applications such as medical imaging, clinical trials, patient care, or any other suitable application. A structured report document can also include various types of metadata, such as the date and time of creation, author, patient information, or any other suitable metadata.

[0026] As used herein, DICOM SR or Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine Structured Report can refer to a standard for the communication and management of medical imaging information and related data. This can include, but is not limited to, the representation, storage, retrieval, and exchange of medical images, structured reports, and other related information. DICOM SR provides a standardized structure for reporting and communicating information derived from medical images, such as measurements, annotations, and other types of data. A structured report can be associated with various types of medical imaging data, such as data obtained from X-ray, ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), or any other imaging modality known in the art. A structured report can be used in various applications such as medical imaging, patient care, clinical trials, or any other suitable application. A structured report can also include various types of metadata, such as the date and time of creation, author, patient information, or any other suitable metadata.

[0027] By using the structured report document, information about the planned or administered contrast agent volume can be directly accessed, and the determination of the volume can be made with less error.

[0028] According to another aspect of the present invention, the structured report document includes data elements related to the planned volume of the contrast agent, wherein at least one of the condition and the reference volume of the contrast agent is based on the planned volume of the contrast agent.

[0029] According to another aspect of the present invention, the structured report document further includes data elements related to at least one of injection details, injection pump details, flow rate details, and / or pressure data details, wherein at least one of the volume of the contrast agent administered and the reference volume of the contrast agent is determined based on the data elements.

[0030] As used herein, injection details may refer to any information related to the administration of a contrast agent during a medical imaging procedure. This may include, but is not limited to, the type of contrast agent used, the volume of the contrast agent administered, the method of administration (e.g., intravenous injection, oral), the location of administration, the timing of administration, or any other relevant information. Injection details may also include information regarding the use of an injection pump, such as the model of the pump, the settings used, or any other relevant information.

[0031] As used herein, injection pump details may refer to any information related to the use of an injection pump during the administration of a contrast agent in a medical imaging procedure. This may include, but is not limited to, the model of the pump, the settings used (e.g., flow rate, pressure), the type of syringe used, the volume of the contrast agent in the syringe, or any other relevant information.

[0032] As used herein, flow rate details may refer to any information related to the rate of the contrast agent administered during a medical imaging procedure. This may include, but is not limited to, the initial flow rate, the average flow rate, the maximum flow rate, the time of flow rate change, or any other relevant information. The flow rate details may be determined based on various factors such as the type of contrast agent, the imaging modality, the patient's weight, or any other relevant factors.

[0033] As used herein, pressure data details may refer to any information related to the pressure of the contrast agent administered during a medical imaging procedure. This may include, but is not limited to, the initial pressure, the average pressure, the maximum pressure, the time of pressure change, or any other relevant information. The pressure data details may be determined based on various factors such as the type of contrast agent, the imaging modality, the patient's weight, or any other relevant factors.

[0034] According to another aspect of the present invention, the medical imaging data includes axial images. According to this aspect, the method further includes: determining at least one of the volume of the contrast agent administered and the reference volume of the contrast agent based on the axial images.

[0035] As used herein, an axial image can refer to a type of cross-sectional image taken in a horizontal plane through the body during a medical imaging procedure. This can include, but is not limited to, images obtained from various types of medical imaging modalities such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), or any other imaging modality known in the art. Axial images can be used to visualize various structures or fluids within the body, potentially enhanced by the use of a contrast agent. Axial images can be obtained at various levels of the body such as the head, chest, abdomen, or any other suitable level. Axial images can be used in various applications such as diagnosis, treatment planning, monitoring disease progression, or any other suitable application. Axial images can also be combined with other types of images (such as sagittal images or coronal images) to provide a more comprehensive view of the body.

[0036] According to another aspect of the present invention, the medical imaging data includes at least two axial images, and the method further includes: selecting one of the at least two axial images based on the contrast agent bolus time, and determining at least one of the volume of the administered contrast agent and the reference volume of the contrast agent based on the selected one of the at least two axial images.

[0037] According to another aspect of the present invention, determining the reference volume of the contrast agent includes: determining imaging metadata based on the medical imaging data, and querying a database including a plurality of reference volumes of the contrast agent based on the imaging metadata.

[0038] As used herein, imaging metadata can refer to any data or information that provides context or additional details about a medical image. This can include, but is not limited to, the date and time the image was taken, the type of imaging modality used (e.g., X-ray, ultrasound, CT, MRI, PET), the settings used during the imaging procedure, patient information, the use of a contrast agent, or any other relevant information. Imaging metadata can be stored in various formats such as DICOM, XML, JSON, or any other suitable format. Imaging metadata can be used in various applications such as image interpretation, patient care, clinical trials, research, or any other suitable application. Imaging metadata can also be used to search, sort, or filter images in a database.

[0039] As used herein, a database can refer to any system or software for storing, managing, and retrieving data or information. This can include, but is not limited to, relational databases, object-oriented databases, hierarchical databases, network databases, or any other suitable type of database. The database can contain various types of data or information, such as medical images, imaging metadata, patient records, or any other suitable data or information. The database can be used in various applications such as medical imaging, patient care, clinical trials, research, or any other suitable application. The database can also include various features, such as search capabilities, sorting capabilities, filtering capabilities, or any other suitable features. The database can be located on a local server, a remote server, a cloud-based server, or any other suitable location.

[0040] According to another aspect of the present invention, the imaging metadata corresponds to a process description of a medical imaging process.

[0041] As used herein, a process description of a medical imaging process can refer to any detailed description or overview of the steps, methods, or processes involved in a medical imaging process. This can include, but is not limited to, the type of imaging modality used (e.g., X-ray, ultrasound, CT, MRI, PET), patient preparation, patient positioning, settings used during the imaging process, use and administration of contrast agents, acquisition of images, interpretation of images, or any other relevant information. The process description can also include safety precautions, potential risks, expected outcomes, or any other relevant details. Healthcare professionals can use the process description to guide the execution of the imaging process, train new employees, for quality control purposes, or for any other suitable application. The process description can be stored in various formats such as text, video, audio, or any other suitable format, and can be included in a database, patient records, structured report documents, or any other suitable location.

[0042] According to another aspect of the present invention, the method includes: determining that a body region is an object of a medical imaging process, wherein the condition is also based on the body region.

[0043] According to another aspect of the present invention, the condition is based on at least one of the cumulative volume or the maximum volume of the contrast agent administered.

[0044] According to another aspect of the present invention, the method further includes anonymizing or pseudonymizing the medical imaging data.

[0045] As used herein, anonymizing medical imaging data can refer to any process or method for removing any identifying information from medical imaging data or obscuring any identifying information to prevent identification of the individual to whom the data pertains. This may include, but is not limited to, removing personal identifiers such as names, dates of birth, social security numbers, or any other relevant information or obscuring personal identifiers such as names, dates of birth, social security numbers, or any other relevant information. Anonymization processing can be performed using various techniques such as data masking, data scrambling, data encryption, or any other suitable technique. Anonymized medical imaging data can be used in various applications such as research, clinical trials, teaching, or any other suitable application where identification of the individual is not required or desired.

[0046] As used herein, pseudonymizing medical imaging data can refer to any process or method for replacing identifying information in medical imaging data with a pseudonym or code to prevent direct identification of the individual to whom the data pertains. This can include, but is not limited to, replacing personal identifiers such as names, dates of birth, social security numbers with unique identifiers or codes. Pseudonymization processing can be performed using various techniques such as data masking, data encryption, or any other suitable technique. Pseudonymized medical imaging data can be used in various applications such as research, clinical trials, patient care, or any other suitable application where direct identification of the individual is not required or desired, but the ability to link the data back to the individual may be required in certain circumstances.

[0047] The present invention also relates to a system for providing a contrast agent alert, the system comprising at least one processor configured to:

[0048] - receive medical imaging data related to a medical imaging procedure during which a contrast agent is administered to a patient,

[0049] - determine, based on the medical imaging data, the volume of the contrast agent administered to the patient,

[0050] - determine, based on the medical imaging data, a reference volume of the contrast agent,

[0051] - provide an alert if the volume of the administered contrast agent meets a condition, wherein the condition is based on the reference volume of the contrast agent.

[0052] In particular, the system for providing a contrast agent alert can be configured to perform the methods according to the present invention and its aspects.

[0053] The present invention also relates to a computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method according to one of the aspects of the present invention.

[0054] The present invention also relates to a computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the method according to one of the aspects of the present invention.

[0055] Implementing the present invention or one of its aspects by means of a computer program product and / or a computer-readable medium has the following advantages: an existing system can be easily adjusted by means of a software update so as to operate as proposed by the present invention.

[0056] The computer program product can be, for example, a computer program or can comprise other elements in addition to the computer program. These other elements can be hardware such as a memory device on which the computer program is stored, a hardware key for using the computer program, etc., and / or software such as a document or a software key for using the computer program.

[0057] In view of the following description and embodiments which will be described in detail in the context of the drawings, the characteristics, features and advantages of the present invention described above and the ways of implementing them become clearer and easier to understand. The following description does not limit the present invention to the embodiments included. In the different drawings, the same reference numerals can be used to label the same components or parts. In general, the drawings are not drawn to scale.

[0058] The numbering and / or the order of the method steps are for ease of understanding and, unless otherwise explicitly stated or implicitly clearly indicated, the numbering and / or the order of the method steps should not be construed as meaning that the specified steps must be carried out according to the numbering of their reference numerals and / or their order in the drawings. In particular, several or even all of the method steps can be carried out simultaneously, in an overlapping manner or sequentially. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0059] Figure 1 Shows an embodiment of a system integrated into a hospital infrastructure for providing contrast agent alerts;

[0060] Figure 2 Shows a first visualization of the contrast agent received during a medical imaging procedure;

[0061] Figure 3 Shows a second visualization of the contrast agent received during a medical imaging procedure;

[0062] Figure 4 Shows a third visualization of the contrast agent received during a medical imaging procedure;

[0063] Figure 5 Shows a flowchart of an embodiment of a method for providing contrast agent alerts; and

[0064] Figure 6Shows a system for providing a contrast agent alert according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Embodiment

[0065] Figure 1 Shows an embodiment of a system for providing a contrast agent alert integrated into a hospital infrastructure.

[0066] In this embodiment, a medical imaging procedure is performed using a medical imaging device 104 and a contrast agent injector 102. If the contrast agent injector 102 is connected to the medical imaging device 104 and / or PACS, the contrast agent injector 102 can be used independent of its vendor or modality type. In this embodiment, the contrast agent injector 102 and the medical imaging device 104 are communicatively coupled. In particular, the contrast agent injector 102 can provide information about contrast agent injection related to the medical imaging procedure to the medical imaging device 104.

[0067] As a result of the medical imaging procedure, the medical imaging device 104 generates a DICOM study object 106. In particular, the DICOM study object 106 is a collection of all data generated during the medical imaging procedure for acquiring image data, including patient information, descriptions related to the examination, and actual image data (e.g., X-ray, CT, ultrasound), and it contains one or more logically related series of medical images, presentation states, and / or structured report (abbreviation "SR") documents for diagnosing the patient.

[0068] Within the system for providing a contrast agent alert, the DICOM study object 106 is divided into sub-parts by a data separation module 108. Specifically, the data separation module 108 extracts from the DICOM study object 106 an auxiliary capture image 112 (black image) of the examination data, a contrast agent structured report document 114 (abbreviation "SR") of the examination data (including but not limited to the administration of imaging agent performed according to DICOM supplement 164 and / or the planned administration of imaging agent according to DICOM supplement 164), and / or an axial image 110 of the examination data.

[0069] If there is an axial image 110, it will be further analyzed by an axial image parser 120. In particular, if there are multiple axial images, the axial image parser 120 selects the latest axial image by checking the start time of the contrast agent bolus, extracts contrast agent-related information from the axial image, and writes all the information to a JSON file.

[0070] If there is an auxiliary capture image 112, it will be further analyzed using an OCR (acronym for "Optical Character Recognition") module 122. Specifically, the OCR module 122 extracts contrast agent information text from the image by OCR, generates a structured report document 114 (planned and executed) from the auxiliary capture image, reads the contrast agent information from the structured report document 114, and then writes all the information to a JSON file.

[0071] If there are available structured report documents 114 (directly within the DICOM study object 106 and / or parsed from the auxiliary capture image 112), they will be further analyzed using an SR parser module 124. In particular, the SR parser module 124 reads both the planned and executed SRs and extracts contrast agent information, reads injection details, reads injection pump details, reads flow rate details, and / or reads pressure data details. Finally, the SR parser module 124 writes all the information to a JSON file.

[0072] The combined JSON data created by the axial image parser 120, the OCR module 122, and / or the SR parser module 124 is formed into a syringe data object 130 and forwarded to a data importer module 132. The data importer module 132 forwards and saves the data to an examination database 134.

[0073] In this embodiment, there is also a reference value memory 146. Additionally, there is a reference value interface 148 that can be used by a user to visualize and / or edit the reference values stored in the reference value memory 146. To build the reference value memory 146 or to compare different values, a body region or process description is extracted. Then, for each body region or process description, there is a provision for setting a threshold (reference) value. Via the reference value interface 148, new process descriptions can be added so that thresholds can be stored for them. These thresholds are stored in the reference value memory 146, which is a cloud memory different from the examination database 134. The thresholds can come from a single institution and can be region / country specific. The setting of the thresholds is different for unit types (such as contrast agent volume, flow rate, eGFR, etc.).

[0074] In this embodiment, there is also an alert rule engine 140. In particular, the alert rule engine 140 identifies alerts based on thresholds set in the reference value memory 146 for body regions, procedure descriptions, eGFR, etc. It compares the different values (such as contrast agent volume, flow rate) of the incoming studies (DICOM imaging objects 106) processed by the data importer module 132 with the threshold values set for the same parameters in the studies stored in the reference value memory 146. The deviation of the contrast agent volume can also be calculated based on the body region or procedure description. The deviation of the contrast agent volume can be indicated in a later alert visualization. In particular, the alert rule engine 140 should be able to identify alerts based on the cumulative or maximum contrast agent volume. For a study, if contrast agent parameters such as volume, flow rate, eGFR exceed the thresholds stored in the reference value memory 146, an alert notification 144 is generated by the alert processing module 142 and sent to the user via email or any other message. For a specific alert check or a set of checks from the scanner, the alert notification 144 can be announced. The alert processing module 142 can also store information related to a specific alert in the examination database 134.

[0075] All data in the examination database 134 can be transmitted to the user via the examination data visualization module 136. Alternatively, the data can be transmitted to an external database 139, such as HIS (acronym for "Hospital Information System") or RIS (acronym for "Radiology Information System"), via the external system interface module 138. Details regarding visualization will be described with reference to Figure 2 and Figure 3 illustrate the details regarding visualization.

[0076] Within the embodiment, there is also a benchmark calculator 150, which can access the data stored in the examination database 134. In particular, the benchmark calculator 150 can analyze all the data in the examination database 134 to calculate average contrast agent parameters, such as volume, flow rate, eGFR for each institution or each country / region. These averages or benchmarks can then be stored in the benchmark memory 152 and transmitted to the user via the benchmark data visualization module 154.

[0077] Using a system as depicted in Figure 1 has the following advantages:

[0078] Accuracy and precision: The system ensures accurate and consistent recording of contrast agent details, minimizing the risk of manual errors.

[0079] Quality assurance: The automatic capture of contrast agent details supports the quality assurance program by providing a reliable dataset for analyzing and evaluating imaging protocols and results.

[0080] Efficiency: The system simplifies the workflow by automating data extraction, saving time for healthcare professionals in radiology, especially for CT.

[0081] Real-time monitoring: The system can immediately identify and correct deviations from the prescribed contrast agent administration protocol. Comprehensive documentation: The system captures detailed data on contrast agent volume, flow rate, and injection time for more comprehensive documentation of each imaging procedure.

[0082] Patient safety and compliance: The system enhances patient safety through standardized and automated data capture, supports regulatory compliance, and facilitates quality assurance.

[0083] Comparison / benchmarking: Leveraging the system's ability to handle multiple tenants, cross-institutional analysis can be provided to support institutional improvement.

[0084] Figure 2 A first visualization 200 of the contrast agent received within a medical imaging procedure is shown. In particular, the first visualization 200 can be created via the examination data visualization module 136 based on the data within the examination database 134. Specifically, the first visualization is based on the structured report in the examination database 134 and is a graphical visualization of the flow rate and pressure data of the contrast agent 224, 226, saline / water 220, and the interruption / hold duration 222 during the entire injection sequence.

[0085] A line graph format is used to represent the flow rate data of the injection sequence, where the area style is colored based on the sequence actions of the instance. The time period is represented in seconds along the X-axis 202, and the flow rates 220, 224, 226 are represented in ml / s along the Y-axis 204.

[0086] A line graph format is used to represent the pressure data of the injection sequence. The time period is represented in seconds along the X-axis 202, and the pressure 210 is represented along the Y-axis 206. The pressure 212 limit data can also be represented as a constant value until the data can be derived from JSON.

[0087] Flow rates 220, 224, 226 and pressure data 210, 212 are overlapped on the same graph for easier understanding of the sequence. The Y-axis 204 on the left side of the graph represents the range of the flow rate data, while the Y-axis 206 on the right side represents the range of the pressure data. Green shading is used to represent the consumed contrast agents 224, 226. In the sequence, based on factors such as concentration, there can be multiple contrast agent consumptions. The data for each of these consumptions is uniquely represented. For example, in this embodiment, the first contrast agent curve 224 corresponds to a concentration of 100%, and the second contrast agent curve 226 corresponds to a concentration of 13%, as shown in the legend 208. Saline or water 220 is represented using blue shading. The interruption or hold phase 222 is represented using orange shading. The pressure data 210, 212 is visualized as lines using red shading. The legend 208 provided in the graph can be used to switch the display of each of these.

[0088] Figure 3 A second visualization 300 of the contrast agent received within a medical imaging procedure is shown. In particular, the second visualization 300 can be created via the examination data visualization module 136 based on the data within the examination database 134. In particular, the first visualization is based on the structured report in the examination database 134 and is a graphical visualization of the consumed volume of the contrast agent, saline / water, and the injection period, as well as the interruption / hold duration during the entire injection sequence.

[0089] Data representing the executed executions 310, 312, 314 and the planned executions 320, 322, 324 of the sequence are shown. The graph only considers the duration of the sequence and the time periods represented along the X-axis 304. The Y-axis 302 represents the sequence itself, where the executed sequences 310, 312, 314 and the planned sequences 320, 322, 324 are grouped together for easier understanding.

[0090] The executed sequences 310, 312, 314 are labeled as "actual" sequences, and the planned sequences 320, 322, 324 are labeled as "programmed" sequences, with numerical sequence identifiers next to them. The planned sequences 320, 322, 324 are represented in a darker shade compared to the executed sequences 310, 312, 314. The duration and the applied volume of each sequence are represented by all the factors involved in the sequence. A legend 306 is provided to convey the corresponding information to the user of the second visualization 300.

[0091] The consumed contrast agent is represented using green shading. Saline or water is represented using blue shading. The interruption or hold phase is represented using orange shading. There can be a representation for varying contrast agent concentrations, which can be used for further analysis.

[0092] Figure 4Shows a third visualization 400 of the contrast agent received during a medical imaging procedure. In particular, the third visualization 400 can be created by the examination data visualization module 136 based on the data in the examination database 134. The third visualization 400 shows the combination of scanner events 402, 404, 406 (i.e., irradiation events) and the contrast agent injection sequence representation 408. The contrast agent flow is synchronized with the scan, i.e., each event represents an image capture event. The white circles 402, 408 represent the start and end points of the scan. The red circle 406 represents the main scan. The points inside the circles represent the image capture events. The first row of the third visualization indicates the series and image number, and the scan number can be indicated below it. Based on the third visualization 400, optimization of time and contrast agent volume savings can be performed. In particular, volume optimization can be obtained by measuring the contrast agent consumption after the last scan before flushing. The consumed contrast agent can be saved, and thus optimization of the consumed contrast agent volume can be achieved.

[0093] Figure 5 Shows a flowchart of an implementation of a method for providing a contrast agent alert 144. The method includes the step of receiving 510 medical imaging data 106 related to a medical imaging procedure, wherein a contrast agent is administered to a patient during the medical imaging procedure. The method further includes: determining 520 the volume of the contrast agent administered to the patient based on the medical imaging data 106. The method further includes: determining 530 a reference volume of the contrast agent based on the medical imaging data 106. The method further includes: providing 550 an alert 144 if the volume of the administered contrast agent satisfies a condition, wherein the condition is based on the reference volume of the contrast agent.

[0094] In a first variant of this implementation, the step of determining 520 the volume of the contrast agent administered to the patient includes: performing 521 optical character recognition in the auxiliary capture image 112 and determining 522 the volume of the administered contrast agent based on the characters recognized in the auxiliary capture image. In particular, this variant is related to the medical imaging data 106 including the auxiliary capture image 112. Advantageously, determining 520 the volume of the contrast agent administered to the patient further includes: determining 523 the planned volume of the contrast agent based on the characters recognized in the auxiliary capture image 112. Here, the condition determined in step 530 or 550 and / or the reference volume of the contrast agent is based on the planned volume of the contrast agent.

[0095] In a second variant of this embodiment, the step of determining 520 the volume of the contrast agent administered to the patient comprises: determining 525 at least one of the volume of the contrast agent administered and the reference volume of the contrast agent based on the axial images 110. In the case where the medical imaging data 106 comprises at least two axial images 110, the step of determining 520 the volume of the contrast agent administered to the patient comprises: selecting 524 one of the at least two axial images 110 based on the contrast agent bolus time; and determining 525 at least one of the volume of the contrast agent administered and the reference volume of the contrast agent based on one of the selected at least two axial images 110.

[0096] In particular, if there are auxiliary capture images 112 within the medical imaging data 106, additional steps of the first variant are performed, and if there is at least one axial image 110 within the medical imaging data 106, additional steps of the second variant are performed. In the case where the medical imaging data 106 comprises both auxiliary capture images 112 and at least one axial image 110, additional steps of both the first variant and the second variant can be performed.

[0097] Advantageously, the step of determining 530 the reference volume of the contrast agent comprises the steps of determining 531 imaging metadata based on the medical imaging data 106 and querying 532 a database 146 (in particular a reference value memory 146) comprising a plurality of reference volumes of the contrast agent based on the imaging metadata. In particular, if the medical imaging data 106 comprises DICOM images, the image metadata may comprise the meta-tags of the DICOM images.

[0098] Figure 6 A system 600 for providing a contrast agent alert 144 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. The system 600 is configured to perform a method for providing a contrast agent alert 144 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0099] The system 600 may be or include a (personal) computer, a workstation, a virtual machine running on host hardware, a microcontroller or an integrated circuit. As an alternative, the system 600 may be a group of real or virtual computers (the technical term for a group of real computers is "cluster", and the technical term for a group of virtual computers is "cloud").

[0100] System 600 may include interface 602, computing unit 604, and memory unit 606. Interface 602 may be a hardware interface or a software interface (e.g., PCI Bus, USB, or FireWire). Computing unit 604 may include hardware components and software components, such as a microprocessor, CPU (acronym for "Central Processing Unit"), GPU (acronym for "Graphics Processing Unit"), field programmable gate array (acronym "FPGA"), or ASIC (acronym for "Application Specific Integrated Circuit"). Computing unit 604 may be configured for multi-threading, i.e., the computing unit may host different computing processes simultaneously, execute them in parallel, or switch between an active computing process and a passive computing process. In particular, computing unit 604 may be represented as a processor. Memory unit 606 may include one or more databases. Each of interface 602, computing unit 604, and memory unit 606 may include several sub-units configured to perform different tasks and / or spatially separated.

[0101] System 600 may be connected via a network to one or more databases (in particular, inspection database 134, reference value memory 146, and / or reference memory 152). The network may be implemented as a LAN (acronym for "Local Area Network"), in particular a WiFi network or any other local connection. Alternatively, the network may be the Internet. In particular, the network may be implemented as a VPN (acronym for "Virtual Private Network"). Alternatively, the database may also be integrated into system 600. For example, the database may be stored within the memory unit 606 providing system 600. In this case, the database is connected by an internal connection.

[0102] In the absence of an explicit description, the various embodiments or their various aspects and features may be combined or exchanged with each other without restricting or expanding the scope of the described invention, provided that such combination or exchange is meaningful and within the meaning of the present invention. Where applicable, the advantages described for one embodiment of the present invention are also advantageous for other embodiments of the present invention.

[0103] Individuals of male and female genders are included within the terms, independent of the use of grammatical terms.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for providing a contrast agent alert (144), comprising: - receiving (510) medical imaging data (106) related to a medical imaging procedure, wherein a contrast agent is administered to a patient during the medical imaging procedure, - determining (520) a volume of contrast medium to be administered to the patient based on the medical imaging data (106), - determining (530) a reference volume of contrast agent based on the medical imaging data (106), - providing (550) an alert (144) if the volume of contrast medium administered meets a condition, wherein the condition is based on a reference volume of the contrast medium.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The medical imaging data (106) includes an auxiliary captured image (112), wherein determining (520) the volume of contrast agent administered includes: - performing (521) optical character recognition in said auxiliary captured image (112), - Determining (522) the volume of contrast agent administered based on the characters recognized within the auxiliary captured image.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising: - determining (523) a planned volume of contrast agent based on the characters recognized in the auxiliary captured image (112), Therein, the condition and / or the reference volume of the contrast agent are based on a planned volume of the contrast agent.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The medical imaging data (106) includes a structured report document (114), Therein, the structured report document (114) includes data elements related to the volume of contrast agent administered.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein: The structured report document (114) includes a data element related to a planned volume of contrast medium, wherein at least one of the condition and the reference volume of the contrast medium is based on the planned volume of contrast medium.

6. The method according to claim 4 or 5, wherein: The structured report document (114) further includes data elements related to at least one of injection details, injection pump details, flow rate details and / or pressure data details, Therein, at least one of a volume of contrast medium administered and a reference volume of the contrast medium is determined based on the data element.

7. The method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein: The medical imaging data (106) includes an axial image (110), the method further comprising: - determining (525) at least one of a volume of contrast agent administered and a reference volume of the contrast agent based on the axial image (110).

8. The method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein: The medical imaging data (106) includes at least two axial images (110), the method further comprising: - selecting (524) one of the at least two axial images (110) based on a contrast agent bolus time, - determining (525) at least one of a volume of contrast agent administered and a reference volume of the contrast agent based on the selected one of the at least two axial images (110).

9. The method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein: Determining (530) a reference volume of contrast agent includes: - determining (531) imaging metadata based on the medical imaging data (106), - querying (532) a database (146) comprising a plurality of reference volumes of contrast agent based on the imaging metadata.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein: The imaging metadata corresponds to a procedure description of the medical imaging procedure.

11. The method according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising: - determining (540) that a body region is the subject of said medical imaging procedure, Wherein, the condition is further based on the body region.

12. The method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein: The condition is based on at least one of a cumulative volume or a maximum volume of contrast media administered.

13. The method according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising: - Anonymizing or pseudonymizing the medical imaging data.

14. A system (602) for providing a contrast agent alert (144), comprising at least one processor (604), the at least one processor being configured to: - receiving medical imaging data (106) related to a medical imaging procedure, wherein administering a contrast agent to a patient during said medical imaging procedure, - determining a volume of contrast medium to be administered to the patient based on the medical imaging data (106), - determining a reference volume of the contrast agent based on the medical imaging data (106), - providing an alarm (144) if the volume of contrast medium administered meets a condition, wherein the condition is based on a reference volume of the contrast medium.

15. A computer program product comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the method according to one of claims 1 to 13.

16. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the method according to one of claims 1 to 13.

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