Multi-stage cone beam CT scanning method and device, electronic equipment and readable medium

Abstract

The invention relates to a multi-stage cone beam CT scanning method and device, electronic equipment and a readable medium, and the method comprises the steps: obtaining a preset scanning stage number of a target part, and determining a triggering blood vessel corresponding to each stage of scanning; dynamic characteristic parameters of a contrast agent in the first trigger blood vessel are obtained to determine whether the first trigger blood vessel triggers a scanning condition or not, and the scanning condition is that the contrast agent reaches a preset filling state in the first trigger blood vessel; when it is detected that the first trigger blood vessel triggers the scanning condition, first-stage scanning is conducted according to a target scanning protocol matched with the average blood flow speed; when the first-stage scanning is completed, continuing to detect whether the second trigger blood vessel triggers the scanning condition, and when the second trigger blood vessel triggers the scanning condition, performing second-stage scanning according to the target scanning protocol; and so on, until the target part is scanned for a preset scanning period. The problem that multi-stage cone beam CT scanning cannot be smoothly connected is solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of medical imaging technology, and in particular to a multi-phase cone-beam CT scanning method, apparatus, electronic device, and readable medium. Background Technology

[0002] In medical imaging, CT (Computed Tomography) technology is frequently used for the diagnosis of liver diseases, especially the early detection and assessment of liver tumors. However, traditional scanning protocols often cannot be adjusted according to the blood flow characteristics of different parts of the patient, leading to a trade-off between image quality and acquisition efficiency. If the scanning protocol for each part of a single patient is fixed, it may result in situations where, during multi-phase cone-beam CT scans of certain parts, the first phase scan ends before the contrast agent has entered the second phase acquisition area, or the contrast agent prematurely enters the second phase at the end of the first phase scan, affecting image clarity and accuracy.

[0003] Therefore, the inability to seamlessly connect multiple phases of cone-beam CT scans has become a pressing technical challenge.

[0004] There is currently no effective solution to the above problems. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a multi-phase cone-beam CT scanning method, apparatus, electronic device, and readable medium to solve the aforementioned technical problem of "inability to smoothly connect multi-phase cone-beam CT scans".

[0006] According to one aspect of the embodiments of this application, this application provides a multi-phase cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scanning method, comprising: acquiring a preset number of scanning phases for a target site and determining trigger vessels corresponding to each phase of scanning; acquiring dynamic characteristic parameters of contrast agent in a first trigger vessel to determine whether the first trigger vessel triggers scanning conditions, wherein the triggering scanning condition is that the contrast agent reaches a preset filling state in the first trigger vessel; when the first trigger vessel triggers scanning conditions, performing a first-phase scan according to a target scanning protocol matched with the average blood flow velocity, wherein the average blood flow velocity is proportional to the scanning speed of the target scanning protocol; upon completion of the first-phase scan, continuing to detect whether a second trigger vessel triggers scanning conditions, and performing a second-phase scan according to the target scanning protocol when the second trigger vessel triggers scanning conditions; and so on, until the preset number of scanning phases for the target site are completed.

[0007] Optionally, before determining whether the first triggering vessel triggers the scanning condition, the method further includes: if the concentration of contrast agent in the first triggering vessel reaches a target threshold, recording the current time; obtaining the injection time when the contrast agent is injected into the injection point, and obtaining the path length from the injection point to the first triggering vessel; calculating the contrast agent imaging time based on the injection time and the current time; and dividing the path length by the imaging time to obtain the average blood flow velocity.

[0008] Optionally, the dynamic characteristic parameters of the contrast agent in the first triggering vessel are obtained to determine whether the first triggering vessel triggers the scanning condition, including: starting a timer and acquiring vascular images of the first triggering vessel at preset intervals; extracting dynamic characteristic parameters of the contrast agent after it flows into the first triggering vessel based on the vascular images; obtaining a preset characteristic parameter lookup table and determining the contrast agent state corresponding to the dynamic characteristic parameters in the preset characteristic parameter lookup table; and determining that the first triggering vessel triggers the scanning condition when the contrast agent is in a preset filling state.

[0009] Optionally, after starting the timer, the method further includes: monitoring the duration of the timer and comparing the duration with the target duration; if the contrast agent has not reached the preset filling state when the duration reaches the target duration, the scan is terminated.

[0010] Optionally, before performing the first phase of scanning, the method further includes: obtaining the average blood flow velocity and comparing the average blood flow velocity with the target blood flow velocity; if the average blood flow velocity is greater than or equal to the target blood flow velocity, then selecting a first scanning protocol as the target scanning protocol; if the average blood flow velocity is less than the target blood flow velocity, then selecting a second scanning protocol as the target scanning protocol, wherein the scanning speed of the first scanning protocol is greater than the scanning speed of the second scanning protocol.

[0011] Optionally, the first phase of scanning is performed according to a target scanning protocol that matches the average blood flow velocity, including: if the target scanning protocol is a second scanning protocol, obtaining the reference frame number and reference frame rate corresponding to the second scanning protocol; acquiring projection images from different angles according to the reference frame number and reference frame rate, and performing three-dimensional reconstruction based on each projection image to obtain the first phase of three-dimensional images.

[0012] Optionally, performing the first phase of scanning according to a target scanning protocol that matches the average blood flow velocity further includes: if the target scanning protocol is a second scanning protocol, obtaining the reference frame number and reference frame rate corresponding to the second scanning protocol; acquiring projection images from different angles according to the reference frame number and target frame rate, and performing three-dimensional reconstruction based on each projection image to obtain the first phase of three-dimensional images, wherein the target frame rate is lower than the reference frame rate.

[0013] According to another aspect of the embodiments of this application, this application provides a multi-phase cone-beam CT scanning device, comprising: a first acquisition module, configured to acquire a preset number of scanning phases for a target site and determine trigger vessels corresponding to each phase of scanning; a second acquisition module, configured to acquire dynamic characteristic parameters of contrast agent in a first trigger vessel to detect whether the first trigger vessel triggers a scanning condition, wherein the triggering scanning condition is that the contrast agent reaches a preset filling state in the first trigger vessel; a first detection module, configured to perform a first phase scan according to a target scanning protocol matching the average blood flow velocity when the first trigger vessel triggers a scanning condition, wherein the average blood flow velocity is proportional to the scanning speed of the target scanning protocol; a second detection module, configured to continue detecting whether a second trigger vessel triggers a scanning condition after the first phase scan is completed, and perform a second phase scan according to the target scanning protocol when the second trigger vessel triggers a scanning condition; and a scanning module, configured to continue in this manner until the preset number of scanning phases for the target site is completed.

[0014] According to another aspect of the embodiments of this application, this application provides an electronic device, including a memory, a processor, a communication interface and a communication bus. The memory stores a computer program that can run on the processor. The memory and the processor communicate with each other through the communication bus and the communication interface. When the processor executes the computer program, it implements the steps of the above method.

[0015] According to another aspect of the embodiments of this application, this application also provides a computer-readable medium having processor-executable non-volatile program code that causes the processor to perform the above-described method.

[0016] Compared with related technologies, the technical solutions provided in this application have the following advantages:

[0017] This application provides a multi-phase cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scanning method, comprising: acquiring a preset number of scanning phases for a target site and determining the trigger vessels corresponding to each phase; acquiring dynamic characteristic parameters of the contrast agent in a first trigger vessel to determine whether the first trigger vessel triggers scanning conditions, wherein the trigger scanning condition is that the contrast agent reaches a preset filling state in the first trigger vessel; when the first trigger vessel triggers scanning conditions, performing a first-phase scan according to a target scanning protocol matched with the average blood flow velocity, wherein the average blood flow velocity is proportional to the scanning speed of the target scanning protocol; upon completion of the first-phase scan, continuing to detect whether a second trigger vessel triggers scanning conditions, and performing a second-phase scan according to the target scanning protocol when the second trigger vessel triggers scanning conditions; and so on, until the preset number of scanning phases for the target site are completed. By monitoring the dynamic characteristics of the contrast agent in the vessel, each phase of scanning is intelligently triggered, and an appropriate scanning protocol is adaptively selected for different blood flow velocities. Furthermore, after the first-phase scan is completed, the state of the second trigger vessel continues to be monitored to ensure that the second-phase scan begins immediately after the first-phase scan, avoiding time overlap or lag between the two scanning phases. This solved the problem of inconsistent transitions between multiple cone-beam CT scans. Attached Figure Description

[0018] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this application.

[0019] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or related technologies, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments or related technologies will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, those skilled in the art can obtain other drawings based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the hardware environment for an optional multi-phase cone-beam CT scanning method provided according to an embodiment of this application;

[0021] Figure 2 This is a flowchart of an optional multi-phase cone-beam CT scanning method provided according to an embodiment of this application;

[0022] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of an optional cone-beam CT acquisition device according to an embodiment of this application;

[0023] Figure 4 This is a flowchart of an optional multi-phase cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) acquisition method provided according to an embodiment of this application;

[0024] Figure 5This is a schematic diagram of data flow during optional monitoring of characteristic parameters of a contrast agent according to an embodiment of this application;

[0025] Figure 6 This is a block diagram of an optional multi-phase cone-beam CT scanning device according to an embodiment of this application;

[0026] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of an optional electronic device structure provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0027] Reference numerals: Scanner 1; Support frame 2; Target object 3; X-ray source 11; Detector 12. Detailed Implementation

[0028] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0029] In the following description, the use of suffixes such as "module," "part," or "unit" to denote elements is solely for the purpose of illustration and has no specific meaning in itself. Therefore, "module" and "part" may be used interchangeably.

[0030] In medical imaging, CT (Computed Tomography) technology is commonly used for the diagnosis of liver diseases, especially the early detection and assessment of liver tumors. However, traditional scanning protocols often cannot be adjusted according to the blood flow characteristics of different parts of the patient, leading to a trade-off between image quality and acquisition efficiency. If the scanning protocol for each part of a single patient is fixed, it may result in situations where, during multi-phase cone-beam CT scans of certain parts, the first phase scan ends before the contrast agent has entered the second phase acquisition area, or the contrast agent prematurely enters the second phase at the end of the first phase scan, affecting image clarity and accuracy. Therefore, the inability to smoothly connect multi-phase cone-beam CT scans has become a pressing technical challenge that needs to be addressed.

[0031] To address the problems mentioned in the background art, according to one aspect of the embodiments of this application, an embodiment of a multi-phase cone-beam CT scanning method is provided.

[0032] Optionally, in the embodiments of this application, the above-described multi-phase cone-beam CT scanning method can be applied to, for example... Figure 1 The hardware environment shown consists of terminal 101 and server 103. Figure 1 As shown, server 103 is connected to terminal 101 via a network and can be used to provide services (such as data monitoring services) to the terminal or clients installed on the terminal. Database 105 can be set up on the server or independently of the server to provide data storage services for server 103. The network mentioned above includes, but is not limited to, wide area network, metropolitan area network or local area network. Terminal 101 includes, but is not limited to, PC, mobile phone, tablet computer, etc.

[0033] The multi-phase cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scanning method in this embodiment can be executed by server 103, or it can be jointly executed by server 103 and terminal 101, such as... Figure 2 As shown, it includes:

[0034] Step 201: Obtain the preset scanning period of the target area and determine the triggering blood vessel corresponding to each scanning period;

[0035] Step 202: Obtain dynamic characteristic parameters of the contrast agent in the first triggering vessel to determine whether the first triggering vessel triggers the scanning condition, wherein the triggering scanning condition is that the contrast agent reaches a preset filling state in the first triggering vessel.

[0036] Step 203: When the first triggered blood vessel trigger scan condition is detected, the first phase scan is performed according to the target scan protocol that matches the average blood flow velocity, wherein the average blood flow velocity is proportional to the scan velocity of the target scan protocol;

[0037] Step 204: Upon completion of the first phase of scanning, continue to detect whether the second triggering vessel triggers the scanning conditions, and if the second triggering vessel triggers the scanning conditions, perform the second phase of scanning according to the target scanning protocol;

[0038] Step 205, and so on, until the target area has been scanned for the preset number of scan periods.

[0039] This application provides an embodiment of multi-phase cone-beam CT scanning, aiming to optimize the connection between different scanning phases during multi-phase cone-beam CT scanning, especially for high-quality imaging of target areas such as the liver. By intelligently analyzing the dynamic characteristics of contrast agent in blood vessels, the appropriate target scanning protocol is automatically selected based on blood flow velocity and its distribution, thereby improving image quality and ensuring smooth transitions between different scanning phases.

[0040] The embodiments provided in this application can be applied to cone-beam CT acquisition equipment. Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the cone-beam CT acquisition device provided in this application. Figure 3As shown, the cone-beam CT acquisition device includes a rotatable scanning gantry 1 and a support frame 2 that carries the scanning target object 3. The scanning gantry 1 includes a radiation source 11 and a detector 12. The radiation source 11 is an X-ray emitting device, and the detector 12 is an X-ray receiving device that can convert radiation energy into electrical signals.

[0041] During scanning, rays are emitted from a radiation source, pass through the human body, and reach the detector. The radiation received by the detector is distributed in different doses according to the density variations of different tissues and organs in the human body. The detector converts the radiation signal at that angle into an electrical signal. The scanning gantry begins to rotate around the center of a pre-set acquisition area, acquiring images at each corresponding angle during the rotation, until enough angles and enough frames are acquired to reconstruct a three-dimensional image.

[0042] This application also provides a flowchart of a multi-phase cone-beam CT acquisition method, such as... Figure 4 As shown, the method includes: the user sets the expected number of acquisition phases before acquisition, such as 2 phases (artery and vein); the user can set a delay for the high-pressure injector before acquisition, which is used to rapidly inject contrast agent into the blood vessels of the target object. Because the density of the contrast agent is different from that of the physiological structures around the blood vessels, the attenuation rate of X-rays is also different. Therefore, acquiring images after injecting the contrast agent can improve the contrast between blood vessels and other structures in the scanned image. After setting, image acquisition can begin. After the user issues an acquisition command to the device, the high-pressure injector begins to inject contrast agent into the target object. A low-dose continuous imaging mode is used to monitor the flow of the contrast agent in the corresponding phase of the target object, monitoring the morphology, size, brightness, and other characteristic parameters of the contrast agent after it flows into the blood vessels. Specifically, the image is input from the data acquisition module to the data processing module. The data processing module, based on the characteristic parameters obtained from the data acquisition and a preset characteristic parameter lookup table, determines whether the contrast agent has flowed into the blood vessels of the first phase. If the determination result is negative, the data processing module outputs a negative result to the control module, and the control module continues to wait. If the determination result is positive, the data processing module outputs a positive result to the control module. In response to the contrast agent flowing into the corresponding site and reaching a preset filling state, the control device begins cone-beam CT scanning to acquire a 3D image of the current period. Monitoring of the vascular region corresponding to the next period continues, and when the contrast agent flows into the corresponding site and reaches a preset filling state, the control device begins cone-beam CT scanning. If the expected number of acquisition periods is not completed, the above steps are repeated until the expected number of acquisition periods of cone-beam CT scanning is completed.

[0043] Before scanning, set the preset number of scan phases for the target area according to actual needs. For example, a liver examination may require multiple scans, each focusing on a different time window, such as the arterial phase or the portal venous phase.

[0044] For the selection of trigger vessels, key trigger vessels corresponding to each phase of the scan can be chosen based on the blood supply characteristics of the target site. For the liver, vessels such as the hepatic artery and portal vein are usually selected as trigger vessels, as the dynamic changes in contrast agent in these vessels can reflect the blood flow at different stages.

[0045] Dynamic characteristic parameters include, but are not limited to, parameters such as the concentration, morphology, size, and brightness of the contrast agent after it flows into the blood vessel. The system determines whether the contrast agent has reached a preset filling state based on these dynamic characteristic parameters. If so, a scan is triggered; otherwise, the dynamic characteristic parameters are continuously monitored and assessed.

[0046] The appropriate target scanning protocol is selected based on the average blood flow velocity, which is directly proportional to the scanning speed of the target scanning protocol. Simply put, when the average blood flow velocity is slow, a slower scanning protocol is selected, allowing more time for image acquisition and thus improving image resolution; conversely, when the average blood flow velocity is fast, a faster scanning protocol is selected to ensure that the first phase of scanning is completed promptly when the second phase begins.

[0047] After completing the first phase of scanning, continue monitoring the contrast agent dynamics in the second trigger vessel to ensure that the contrast agent in the second trigger vessel has reached the preset filling state before the second phase of scanning begins. Repeat similar steps until all phases of scanning of the target site are completed.

[0048] It should be noted that multi-phase scans of the same area use the same scanning protocol, but the average blood flow velocity varies for different areas, so the scanning protocols for different areas are different. If a multi-phase scan of the target area is completed, and then a multi-phase scan of other areas is performed, the average blood flow velocity of that area needs to be recalculated and the scanning protocol needs to be re-adapted.

[0049] This application significantly improves image quality and scanning efficiency in multi-phase scanning through intelligent blood flow monitoring, scanning protocol adaptation, and efficient data processing, while ensuring smooth transitions between different phases of scanning.

[0050] As an optional embodiment, before determining whether the first triggering vessel triggers the scanning condition, the method further includes: if the concentration of contrast agent in the first triggering vessel reaches a target threshold, recording the current time; obtaining the injection time when the contrast agent is injected into the injection point, and obtaining the path length from the injection point to the first triggering vessel; calculating the contrast agent imaging time based on the injection time and the current time; and dividing the path length by the imaging time to obtain the average blood flow velocity.

[0051] The concentration of contrast agent in the first triggered blood vessel is monitored in real time by sensors. When the concentration reaches the preset target threshold, it means that the contrast agent has reached the key position of the blood vessel and the current timestamp, i.e. the current moment, is automatically recorded.

[0052] Obtain the precise injection time of the contrast agent at the injection point. The time interval between the injection time and the current time is the contrast agent's imaging duration.

[0053] The path length from the injection point to the first triggering vessel can be determined using imaging equipment and vessel tracking algorithms.

[0054] By calculating the path length and imaging time, the average blood flow velocity of the target area can be accurately estimated, providing a precise basis for the selection of subsequent scanning protocols.

[0055] As an optional embodiment, obtaining dynamic characteristic parameters of the contrast agent in the first triggering vessel to determine whether the first triggering vessel triggers the scanning condition includes: starting a timer and acquiring vascular images of the first triggering vessel at preset intervals; extracting dynamic characteristic parameters of the contrast agent after it flows into the first triggering vessel based on the vascular images; obtaining a preset characteristic parameter lookup table and determining the contrast agent state corresponding to the dynamic characteristic parameters in the preset characteristic parameter lookup table; and determining that the first triggering vessel triggers the scanning condition when the contrast agent is in a preset filling state.

[0056] After the contrast agent is injected, a timer is started, and images of the first triggered vessel are periodically acquired according to preset time intervals (such as 1 second, 2 seconds, etc.).

[0057] Image processing algorithms (such as edge detection and region growing) are used to extract key dynamic feature parameters from the acquired vascular images in order to dynamically analyze the flow of contrast agent in blood vessels.

[0058] The preset feature parameter comparison table is based on a large amount of clinical data and contrast agent flow patterns in different blood vessels, and includes feature parameters corresponding to different filling states.

[0059] The real-time extracted dynamic feature parameters are compared with parameters in a preset feature parameter lookup table, and the current state of the contrast agent is determined through algorithm matching. For example, when the concentration and distribution range of the contrast agent reach the standard of "complete filling", it is determined that the first trigger vessel has met the scanning conditions, and the first phase of the scanning process is started.

[0060] By precisely analyzing the dynamic characteristic parameters of the contrast agent in the first trigger vessel and matching them with a preset filling state checklist, it is possible to determine in real time and accurately whether the contrast agent has reached the preset filling state, thereby precisely triggering the scanning conditions. This process greatly improves the accuracy of scanning timing, ensuring that the scanning process always starts at the optimal time and avoiding early scanning or missing the optimal acquisition window.

[0061] As an optional embodiment, after starting the timer, the method further includes: monitoring the duration of the timer and comparing the duration with a target duration; if the contrast agent has not reached a preset filling state when the duration reaches the target duration, the scan is terminated.

[0062] This application does not limit the duration of the timer; it can be set according to actual needs.

[0063] To further improve the accuracy and efficiency of the scanning process, this application adds a dynamic timer management function to the existing blood flow velocity monitoring and scan triggering mechanism. This ensures that the scan is only triggered when the contrast agent has completely filled the blood vessel and reached the preset conditions. If the contrast agent does not reach the preset filling state within the set time, the scan will be automatically terminated to avoid invalid scans or low image quality.

[0064] Figure 5 The data flow diagram for monitoring the characteristic parameters of the contrast agent provided in this application is shown in the figure. The signal converted by the detector is transmitted to the data acquisition module, which generates an image and transmits it to the data processing module. The data processing module determines whether the state can trigger a scan based on information such as the morphology, size, and brightness of the contrast agent flowing into the blood vessel in the image. If not, it returns N; if yes, it returns Y. The control module receives the judgment result from the data processing module. If it receives N, it continues to wait until the preset timeout condition is met, at which point it terminates. If it receives Y, it executes the acquisition step.

[0065] As an optional embodiment, before performing the first phase scan, the method further includes: obtaining the average blood flow velocity and comparing the average blood flow velocity with the target blood flow velocity; if the average blood flow velocity is greater than or equal to the target blood flow velocity, then selecting a first scanning protocol as the target scanning protocol; if the average blood flow velocity is less than the target blood flow velocity, then selecting a second scanning protocol as the target scanning protocol, wherein the scanning speed of the first scanning protocol is greater than the scanning speed of the second scanning protocol.

[0066] A target blood flow velocity can be preset based on the target site and the patient's physiological characteristics. This target velocity is usually based on clinical experience or standard reference values, such as the average flow velocity of a certain type of blood vessel (e.g., hepatic artery, coronary artery, etc.).

[0067] If the calculated average blood flow velocity is greater than or equal to the target blood flow velocity, it indicates that the blood flow is relatively fast. In this case, the first scanning protocol is selected as the target scanning protocol. The first scanning protocol has a higher scanning speed and is suitable for situations with faster blood flow, ensuring that image acquisition is completed in a shorter time and reducing scanning time.

[0068] If the calculated average blood flow velocity is lower than the target blood flow velocity, it indicates that the blood flow is slow. In this case, the second scanning protocol is selected as the target scanning protocol. The second scanning protocol has a slower scanning speed, but it can provide more time to acquire higher quality images, especially when the blood flow is slow. This helps to improve image resolution and detail.

[0069] For example, the scan duration can be dynamically adjusted based on blood flow velocity to ensure that appropriate image data is acquired in each scan cycle. For fast blood flow, the scan time is reduced to improve efficiency; for slow blood flow, the acquisition time is increased to ensure image detail and quality.

[0070] By adjusting the scanning protocol according to blood flow velocity, unnecessary scanning delays are avoided. When blood flow is fast, selecting a high-speed scanning protocol can effectively reduce scanning time and improve scanning efficiency.

[0071] As an optional embodiment, the first phase of scanning is performed according to a target scanning protocol that matches the average blood flow velocity, including: if the target scanning protocol is a second scanning protocol, then obtaining the reference frame number and reference frame rate corresponding to the second scanning protocol; acquiring projection images from different angles according to the reference frame number and reference frame rate, and performing three-dimensional reconstruction based on each projection image to obtain the first phase of three-dimensional image.

[0072] Select the target scanning protocol based on the patient's average blood flow velocity. If the average blood flow velocity is slow, select the second scanning protocol as the target scanning protocol.

[0073] For the second scanning protocol, the reference frame number and reference frame rate corresponding to the protocol are obtained from the preset scanning protocol database. The reference frame number and reference frame rate are preset based on factors such as blood flow velocity, image resolution requirements, and scanning time.

[0074] After confirming the reference frame count and reference frame rate, set the operating mode of the CT acquisition equipment according to these parameters to ensure that the image quality of each acquisition meets the requirements. The reference frame count determines the total number of images acquired during the scan, while the reference frame rate determines the number of images acquired per second.

[0075] To ensure the quality of 3D reconstruction, projected images of the target area are acquired from different angles. These images scan the target area from multiple perspectives to ensure sufficient information is captured for high-precision 3D reconstruction. Projected images from different angles help reduce image distortion and optimize the final 3D image quality.

[0076] Based on the projected images acquired from different angles, three-dimensional reconstruction algorithms (such as filtered backprojection, maximum likelihood estimation, etc.) are used to fuse these two-dimensional projected images into a three-dimensional image.

[0077] Through reconstruction, multiple three-dimensional images corresponding to multiple acquisitions can be obtained, which respectively show the state of the contrast agent in the human body and its positional relationship with human tissues at the corresponding time.

[0078] By selecting the second scanning protocol, more detailed information can be captured using a low frame rate and high frame count acquisition method under slower blood flow conditions. More image frames enable higher spatial resolution in 3D reconstruction, ensuring complete display of details.

[0079] As an optional embodiment, the first phase of scanning is performed according to a target scanning protocol that matches the average blood flow velocity, and further includes: if the target scanning protocol is a second scanning protocol, then obtaining the reference frame number and reference frame rate corresponding to the second scanning protocol; acquiring projection images from different angles according to the reference frame number and target frame rate, and performing three-dimensional reconstruction based on each projection image to obtain the first phase of three-dimensional image, wherein the target frame rate is lower than the reference frame rate.

[0080] The operating mode of the CT acquisition device is set according to the reference frame rate and the target frame rate. The reference frame rate determines the total number of frames in the entire scan process, while the target frame rate is lower than the reference frame rate. This means that the acquisition time for each image is longer, which helps to improve the quality of each projected image. Especially in cases of slow blood flow, the lower frame rate can acquire more details over a longer period of time.

[0081] Because the target frame rate is lower than the reference frame rate, the image acquisition time is relatively longer. This reduces motion artifacts and noise, improving image detail and resolution. Therefore, the reconstructed 3D image can more accurately reflect the structure of the target area, making it particularly suitable for areas with slow blood flow or requiring high resolution.

[0082] Choosing the second scanning protocol and reducing the frame rate when blood flow is slow allows for the acquisition of more image details at a lower frame rate.

[0083] This application provides a multi-phase cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scanning method, comprising: acquiring a preset number of scanning phases for a target site and determining the trigger vessels corresponding to each phase; acquiring dynamic characteristic parameters of the contrast agent in a first trigger vessel to determine whether the first trigger vessel triggers scanning conditions, wherein the trigger scanning condition is that the contrast agent reaches a preset filling state in the first trigger vessel; when the first trigger vessel triggers scanning conditions, performing a first-phase scan according to a target scanning protocol matched with the average blood flow velocity, wherein the average blood flow velocity is proportional to the scanning speed of the target scanning protocol; upon completion of the first-phase scan, continuing to detect whether a second trigger vessel triggers scanning conditions, and performing a second-phase scan according to the target scanning protocol when the second trigger vessel triggers scanning conditions; and so on, until the preset number of scanning phases for the target site are completed. By monitoring the dynamic characteristics of the contrast agent in the vessel, each phase of scanning is intelligently triggered, and an appropriate scanning protocol is adaptively selected for different blood flow velocities. Furthermore, after the first-phase scan is completed, the state of the second trigger vessel continues to be monitored to ensure that the second-phase scan begins immediately after the first-phase scan, avoiding time overlap or lag between the two scanning phases. This solved the problem of inconsistent transitions between multiple cone-beam CT scans.

[0084] According to another aspect of the embodiments of this application, this application provides a multi-phase cone-beam CT scanning device, such as... Figure 6 As shown, it includes:

[0085] The first acquisition module 601 is used to acquire the preset scanning period of the target site and determine the triggering blood vessel corresponding to each scanning period;

[0086] The second acquisition module 602 is used to acquire dynamic characteristic parameters of the contrast agent in the first triggering blood vessel to detect whether the first triggering blood vessel triggers the scanning condition, wherein the triggering scanning condition is that the contrast agent reaches a preset filling state in the first triggering blood vessel.

[0087] The first detection module 603 is used to perform a first-phase scan according to a target scan protocol that matches the average blood flow velocity when a first triggered blood vessel trigger scan condition is detected, wherein the average blood flow velocity is proportional to the scan velocity of the target scan protocol.

[0088] The second detection module 604 is used to continue detecting whether the second triggering vessel has triggered the scanning conditions after the first phase of scanning is completed, and to perform the second phase of scanning according to the target scanning protocol when the second triggering vessel triggers the scanning conditions.

[0089] The scanning module 605 is used to continue scanning in this manner until the target area has been scanned for a preset number of periods.

[0090] It should be noted that the first acquisition module 601 in this embodiment can be used to execute step 201 in this application embodiment, the second acquisition module 602 in this embodiment can be used to execute step 202 in this application embodiment, the first detection module 603 in this embodiment can be used to execute step 203 in this application embodiment, the second detection module 604 in this embodiment can be used to execute step 204 in this application embodiment, and the scanning module 605 in this embodiment can be used to execute step 205 in this application embodiment.

[0091] Optionally, the device further includes a first processing module, configured to: before determining whether the first triggering vessel has triggered the scanning condition, if the concentration of contrast agent in the first triggering vessel reaches a target threshold, record the current time; obtain the injection time when the contrast agent is injected into the injection point, and obtain the path length from the injection point to the first triggering vessel; calculate the contrast agent imaging time based on the injection time and the current time; and divide the path length by the imaging time to obtain the average blood flow velocity.

[0092] Optionally, the second acquisition module 602 is specifically used to start a timer, acquire vascular images of the first triggering vessel at preset intervals; extract dynamic feature parameters after the contrast agent flows into the first triggering vessel based on the vascular images; acquire a preset feature parameter lookup table, and determine the contrast agent state corresponding to the dynamic feature parameters in the preset feature parameter lookup table; and determine the first triggering vessel trigger scanning conditions when the contrast agent is in a preset filling state.

[0093] Optionally, the second acquisition module 602 is further configured to monitor the duration of the timer after the timer is started, and compare the duration with the target duration; if the contrast agent has not reached the preset filling state when the duration reaches the target duration, the scan is terminated.

[0094] Optionally, the device further includes a second processing module, for which, before performing the first phase scan, the method further includes: acquiring an average blood flow velocity and comparing the average blood flow velocity with a target blood flow velocity; if the average blood flow velocity is greater than or equal to the target blood flow velocity, then selecting a first scanning protocol as the target scanning protocol; if the average blood flow velocity is less than the target blood flow velocity, then selecting a second scanning protocol as the target scanning protocol, wherein the scanning speed of the first scanning protocol is greater than the scanning speed of the second scanning protocol.

[0095] Optionally, the first detection module 603 is specifically used to obtain the reference frame number and reference frame rate corresponding to the second scanning protocol if the target scanning protocol is the second scanning protocol; to acquire projection images from different angles according to the reference frame number and reference frame rate, and to perform three-dimensional reconstruction based on each projection image to obtain the first three-dimensional image.

[0096] Optionally, the first detection module 603 is further configured to, if the target scanning protocol is the second scanning protocol, obtain the reference frame number and reference frame rate corresponding to the second scanning protocol; acquire projection images from different angles according to the reference frame number and target frame rate, and perform three-dimensional reconstruction based on each projection image to obtain the first phase three-dimensional image, wherein the target frame rate is lower than the reference frame rate.

[0097] It should be noted that the examples and application scenarios implemented by the above modules and corresponding steps are the same, but are not limited to the content disclosed in the above embodiments. It should also be noted that the above modules, as part of a device, can operate in environments such as... Figure 1 The hardware environment shown.

[0098] According to another aspect of the embodiments of this application, this application provides an electronic device, such as... Figure 7 As shown, the device includes a memory 701, a processor 703, a communication interface 705, and a communication bus 707. The memory 701 stores a computer program that can run on the processor 703. The memory 701 and the processor 703 communicate through the communication interface 705 and the communication bus 707. When the processor 703 executes the computer program, it implements the steps of the above method.

[0099] The memory and processor in the aforementioned electronic devices communicate with each other via a communication bus and a communication interface. The communication bus can be a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus or an Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) bus, etc. This communication bus can be divided into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, etc.

[0100] The memory may include random access memory (RAM) or non-volatile memory, such as at least one disk storage device. Optionally, the memory may also be at least one storage device located remotely from the aforementioned processor.

[0101] The processors mentioned above can be general-purpose processors, including central processing units (CPUs), network processors (NPs), etc.; they can also be digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, or discrete hardware components.

[0102] According to another aspect of the embodiments of this application, a computer-readable medium having processor-executable non-volatile program code is also provided.

[0103] Optionally, specific examples in this embodiment can refer to the examples described in the above embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0104] In specific implementation, the embodiments of this application can be referred to the above embodiments and have corresponding technical effects.

[0105] It is understood that the embodiments described herein can be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, middleware, microcode, or a combination thereof. For hardware implementation, the processing unit can be implemented in one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), general-purpose processors, controllers, microcontrollers, microprocessors, other electronic units for performing the functions described herein, or combinations thereof.

[0106] For software implementation, the techniques described herein can be implemented by units that perform the functions described herein. The software code can be stored in memory and executed by a processor. The memory can be implemented in the processor or external to the processor.

[0107] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the units and algorithm steps of the various examples described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are implemented in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0108] Those skilled in the art will understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, the specific working processes of the systems, devices, and units described above can be referred to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0109] In the embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed apparatus and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For instance, the division of modules is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple modules or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be an indirect coupling or communication connection through some interfaces, devices, or units, and may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0110] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0111] In addition, the functional units in the various embodiments of this application can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit.

[0112] If the aforementioned function is implemented as a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the embodiments of this application, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or a part of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of this application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, ROM, RAM, magnetic disks, or optical disks. It should be noted that in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another entity or operation, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further restrictions, an element defined by the phrase "comprising a..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.

[0113] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, enabling those skilled in the art to understand or implement this application. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of this application. Therefore, this application is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features claimed herein.

Claims

1. A multi-phase cone-beam CT scanning method, characterized in that, include: Obtain the preset number of scan phases for the target area and determine the trigger vessels corresponding to each scan phase; The dynamic characteristic parameters of the contrast agent in the first triggering vessel are obtained to determine whether the first triggering vessel triggers the scanning condition, wherein the scanning condition is triggered when the contrast agent reaches a preset filling state in the first triggering vessel. When the first triggering vessel is detected to trigger the scanning condition, a first-phase CT scan is performed according to a target scanning protocol that matches the average blood flow velocity, wherein the average blood flow velocity is proportional to the scanning velocity of the target scanning protocol; Upon completion of the first phase CT scan, the system continues to detect whether the second triggering vessel triggers the scanning conditions. If the second triggering vessel triggers the scanning conditions, the second phase CT scan is performed according to the target scanning protocol. This process continues until the target area has undergone the preset number of CT scans.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Before determining whether the first triggering blood vessel triggers the scanning condition, the method further includes: If the concentration of the contrast agent in the first triggering vessel is detected to reach the target threshold, the current time is recorded; Obtain the injection time when the contrast agent is injected into the injection point, and obtain the path length from the injection point to the first triggering blood vessel; The contrast agent's imaging duration is calculated based on the injection time and the current time. The average blood flow velocity is obtained by dividing the path length by the imaging duration.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of obtaining dynamic characteristic parameters of the contrast agent in the first triggering vessel to determine whether the first triggering vessel has triggered the scanning conditions includes: Start a timer and collect vascular images of the first triggered blood vessel at preset intervals; The dynamic feature parameters after the contrast agent flows into the first triggering blood vessel are extracted from the vascular image; Obtain a preset feature parameter lookup table, and determine the contrast agent state corresponding to the dynamic feature parameter in the preset feature parameter lookup table; When the contrast agent is in the preset filling state, it is determined that the first triggering vessel triggers the scanning condition.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that, After starting the timer, the method further includes: Monitor the duration of the timer and compare it with the target duration; If the contrast agent has not reached the preset filling state when the timer reaches the target time, the CT scan is terminated.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Prior to performing the first-stage CT scan, the method further includes: The average blood flow velocity is obtained and compared with the target blood flow velocity; If the average blood flow velocity is greater than or equal to the target blood flow velocity, then a first scanning protocol is selected as the target scanning protocol; if the average blood flow velocity is less than the target blood flow velocity, then a second scanning protocol is selected as the target scanning protocol, wherein the scanning speed of the first scanning protocol is greater than the scanning speed of the second scanning protocol.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The first-phase CT scan, performed according to a target scanning protocol matched to the average blood flow velocity, includes: If the target scanning protocol is the second scanning protocol, then obtain the reference frame number and reference frame rate corresponding to the second scanning protocol; Projected images are acquired from different angles according to the reference frame number and the reference frame rate, and three-dimensional reconstruction is performed based on each of the projected images to obtain the first phase of three-dimensional images.

7. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The first-phase CT scan, performed according to a target scanning protocol matched to the average blood flow velocity, also includes: If the target scanning protocol is the second scanning protocol, then obtain the reference frame number and reference frame rate corresponding to the second scanning protocol; Projected images are acquired from different angles according to the reference frame rate and the target frame rate, and three-dimensional reconstruction is performed based on each of the projected images to obtain the first phase of three-dimensional images, wherein the target frame rate is lower than the reference frame rate.

8. A multi-phase cone-beam CT scanning device, characterized in that, include: The first acquisition module is used to acquire the preset number of scanning phases of the target site and determine the triggering blood vessels corresponding to each scanning phase. The second acquisition module is used to acquire dynamic characteristic parameters of the contrast agent in the first triggering blood vessel to detect whether the first triggering blood vessel triggers the scanning condition, wherein the scanning condition is triggered when the contrast agent reaches a preset filling state in the first triggering blood vessel. The first detection module is used to perform a first-phase CT scan according to a target scanning protocol that matches the average blood flow velocity when the first triggering blood vessel is detected to trigger the scanning condition, wherein the average blood flow velocity is proportional to the scanning speed of the target scanning protocol; The second detection module is used to continue detecting whether the second triggering vessel triggers the scanning conditions after the first phase CT scan is completed, and to perform the second phase CT scan according to the target scanning protocol when the second triggering vessel triggers the scanning conditions. The scanning module is used to perform CT scans on the target area for the preset number of scan periods, and so on.

9. An electronic device comprising a memory, a processor, a communication interface, and a communication bus, wherein the memory stores a computer program executable on the processor, and the memory and the processor communicate via the communication bus and the communication interface, characterized in that... When the processor executes the computer program, it implements the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

10. A computer-readable medium having processor-executable non-volatile program code, characterized in that, The program code causes the processor to execute the method of any one of claims 1 to 7.

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