Adaptive Cardiac CT Reconstruction for Motion Artifacts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current multi-phase cardiac CT imaging techniques require repetitive retrieval and preprocessing of scan data, leading to decreased performance and longer imaging times due to phase location driven reconstruction processes, which reconstruct images one phase at a time.
Innovation Solution
An adaptive reconstruction process that selectively implements either image location driven or phase location driven reconstruction based on hardware parameters, allowing for more efficient image generation and improved quality by reconstructing images for all phases at one location before moving to another.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If phase location driven reconstruction process is used, then images are reconstructed for one phase at a time, but the same scan data must be retrieved and preprocessed multiple times, decreasing performance and lengthening imaging time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional phase location driven reconstruction approach by implementing image location driven reconstruction. Instead of processing all locations for one phase before moving to the next phase, the system processes all phases for one location before moving to the next location. This inversion eliminates the need to repeatedly retrieve and preprocess the same scan data, as each location's data is processed once for all phases, thereby reducing reconstruction time and improving system throughput.
2Measurement precision
If multiple phases are required for cardiac applications, then adequate temporal sampling is achieved, but the number of images to be reconstructed increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the reconstruction process into location-based segments rather than phase-based segments. For each image location, the system independently processes all phase data, allowing parallelization and optimization at the location level. This segmentation reduces the overall processing complexity by breaking down the large task of reconstructing multiple phases across multiple locations into manageable location-specific subtasks.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach significantly reduces image reconstruction time by up to 50% by minimizing data restoration from memory and optimizing processing, enabling faster and higher quality multi-phase cardiac imaging.
Implementation Method 1
an x-ray source and an x-ray detector disposed therein to emit a fan beam of x-rays toward the patient and receive x-rays attenuated by the patient
Implementation Method 2
an array of radiation detectors. The intensity of the attenuated beam of radiation received at the detector array is typically dependent upon the attenuation of the x-ray beam by the subject
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for multi-phase cardiac CT imaging includes an adaptive, selective reconstruction process that, when possible, implements an image or non-phase location driven reconstruction process to reconstruct cardiac CT images. If the hardware parameters support an image location driven reconstruction for the particular imaging session then the image location driven reconstruction is implemented. However, if image location driven reconstruction is not supported, a default phase location driven reconstruction is employed. Image location driven reconstruction improves system throughput and improves image quality as more cardiac phase locations can routinely be generated to better “freeze” the motion of the heart of a patient.