3D CT Bolus ROI Placement Along Vessel Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bolus tracking in conventional 2D surview images for CT imaging is complex, relies heavily on clinical user skill, and is prone to errors, leading to suboptimal image quality, unnecessary contrast administration, and increased dose exposure.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a 3D surview image volume with a user interface that allows interactive placement of bolus monitoring regions (m-ROIs) along vessel segmentations, providing visual guidance and adjustments, enabling accurate and reliable timing for diagnostic imaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional 2D surview images are used for bolus tracking, then the imaging system is simpler and easier to operate, but the process becomes complex and error-prone, requiring multiple manual interventions and locator scans
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from 2D surview images to 3D volume images for bolus tracking. The 3D volume image provides spatial context and anatomical landmarks that enable more intuitive and accurate ROI placement, reducing the need for multiple locator scans and manual interventions while maintaining system simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a computer-generated presentation of the 3D volume image that highlights the bolus arrival location. This intermediary visualization assists the operator in accurately identifying and placing the ROI without requiring multiple manual adjustments or additional locator scans, thereby simplifying the overall process
2Reliability
If manual ROI placement is performed on 2D locator scans, then the system requires fewer computational resources, but the process is error-prone and subject to intra- and inter-individual variability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs bolus tracking and ROI placement on a 3D volume image acquired before the contrast-enhanced diagnostic scan. This preliminary action allows accurate identification of the bolus arrival location and precise ROI placement in advance, ensuring reliable timing for the subsequent diagnostic scan while avoiding the need for multiple locator scans that would increase radiation dose
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual ROI placement on 2D images with computer-aided identification of bolus arrival location in 3D volume images. The computer generates presentations that highlight the bolus arrival location, reducing intra- and inter-individual variability and improving reliability while minimizing the need for additional radiation-exposing locator scans
3Measurement precision
If multiple locator scans are acquired to find proper ROI location, then the ROI placement accuracy improves, but the acquisition time and radiation dose increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs bolus tracking on a single 3D volume image acquired before the contrast-enhanced diagnostic scan. This preliminary 3D assessment allows precise identification of the bolus arrival location and optimal ROI placement in advance, eliminating the need for multiple locator scans during the procedure and significantly reducing acquisition time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses 3D volume imaging instead of multiple 2D locator scans to achieve precise bolus tracking location. The 3D spatial information provides comprehensive anatomical context in a single acquisition, improving measurement precision while reducing the time required compared to acquiring multiple sequential 2D locator scans
4Reliability
If manual interventions are performed for bolus tracking planning, then the system requires less computational processing, but the process becomes error-prone and less reliable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual ROI placement with computer-generated presentations of 3D volume images that highlight the bolus arrival location. The computer automatically identifies anatomical structures and calculates the optimal ROI position based on the 3D spatial information, significantly improving reliability by eliminating human error while maintaining reasonable automation levels
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a computer-generated visualization as an intermediary between the raw 3D volume data and the final ROI placement. This presentation highlights the bolus arrival location and guides the operator in placing the ROI accurately, combining automated analysis with operator confirmation to achieve high reliability
Data Source
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AI summary
A system (FS) and related method for facilitating contrast-agent based tomographic imaging.. A graphics display generator (GDG) generates a graphics display (GD) of a graphical user interface (GUI) for display on a display device (DD). The graphics display (GD) may include a visualization of a segmentation in a 3D surview image, and of a slider element (SL) indicative of a reference location (m-ROI) along the segmentation. The reference location may be used for monitoring in a contrast agent assisted imaging phase for presence of contrast agent in relation to a target anatomical feature (TAF). An event handler (EH) may instruct graphics display generator (GDG), upon receiving user input, to update the graphics display (GD), so as to cause the slider element (SL) to slide along the segmentation, the slider thereby indicating different such one or more reference locations.