Adaptive Contrast Agent Timing Control for Diagnostic Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current diagnostic imaging protocols for contrast-enhanced scans lack precision in timing the administration of contrast agents, leading to suboptimal image quality and increased complexity due to variations in scan subjects, injection processes, and scan parameters, resulting in inefficiencies and potential inaccuracies.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilize a user interface, scan subject monitor, scan protocol module, and contrast delivery device to coordinate contrast agent delivery with the scan sequence, optimizing contrast enhancement by considering static and dynamic scan subject parameters, injection parameters, and scan parameters, allowing for automated protocol determination and execution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual determination of contrast agent timing is used, then practitioner experience can be applied, but timing precision is insufficient due to guesswork and variability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual practitioner estimation with an automated computer-based system that calculates optimal timing. The system uses a processor to execute algorithms that consider multiple parameters (injection flow rate, contrast agent concentration, patient anatomy, scan protocol) to precisely determine when peak contrast enhancement will occur, eliminating guesswork while maintaining manageable complexity through software automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-calibration and automatic timing determination without requiring practitioner intervention. The processor automatically receives scan protocol parameters, calculates the optimal injection-to-scan timing, and adjusts the sequence accordingly, allowing the system to serve itself in determining the precise timing window for peak contrast enhancement.
2Manufacturing precision
If individualized protocols are created for each patient, then image quality is optimized, but protocol determination complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system optimizes image quality by dynamically adjusting multiple parameters including injection flow rate, contrast agent concentration, injection-to-scan delay time, and scan protocol settings. The processor calculates the optimal combination of these parameters based on patient-specific factors (body habitus, renal function) and scan requirements, allowing individualized optimization without creating overly complex manual protocols.
3Productivity
If scan times are shortened to improve throughput, then productivity increases, but timing precision requirements become more stringent
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calculation of the optimal injection-to-scan timing window before the actual scan. By using the processor to determine the precise timing parameters in advance based on the planned scan protocol and patient parameters, the system prepares the optimal timing window beforehand, allowing for rapid execution of the scan with high timing precision even when scan times are shortened for improved throughput.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method are provided for determining individualized scan and injection protocols for contrast-enhanced diagnostic imaging. Taking into account parameters specific to the scan subject, injection-related parameters, and scan parameters, the system and method can determine an optimal timing for a scan sequence to begin, to ensure that the scan sequence coincides with a desired contrast enhancement. Some embodiments further provide for real-time triggering of the scan commencement based on bolus tracking, and can adapt the scan and injection protocols in real-time based on monitored dynamic scan subject parameters and/or actual enhancement values determined from image data.