Cardiac Phase Detection Using Neural Network Scout CT Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical image diagnostic techniques, such as X-ray CT angiography, face challenges in maintaining image quality due to motion artifacts, particularly in coronary CT angiography, where rapid and non-uniform deformation occurs, and existing methods like echocardiogram-based approaches are inaccurate due to ultrasound transducer interference.
Innovation Solution
An information processing method and system that determines a quiescent cardiac phase by processing electrocardiogram data and scout CT images using a trained neural network, allowing for controlled X-ray irradiation during the identified phase to minimize motion artifacts and enhance image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If echocardiogram-based approaches are used to select quiescent cardiac phase, then phase selection can be achieved without ECG, but image artifacts occur due to ultrasound transducers in CT field-of-view and accuracy varies with ultrasound FOV location
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the ultrasound transducers from the CT field-of-view before acquiring the scout images. This eliminates the source of image artifacts while preserving the capability to perform phase selection based on cardiac motion analysis of the scout images.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary removal of ultrasound transducers and acquisition of artifact-free scout images before the main CT scan. This preliminary action ensures that the phase selection is based on clean images without ultrasound interference, improving accuracy.
2Productivity
If X-ray CT scan is performed during cardiac motion, then imaging can be conducted continuously, but motion artifacts deteriorate image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary analysis of scout images to identify the quiescent cardiac phase before conducting the main diagnostic scan. This preliminary determination allows the subsequent scan to be timed precisely during the quiescent period, minimizing motion artifacts while maintaining imaging efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts the timing of the diagnostic X-ray CT scan based on the identified quiescent cardiac phase from scout images. The imaging timing is optimized to coincide with the quiescent period, adapting to the subject's cardiac cycle to reduce motion artifacts.
3Measurement precision
If scout CT scan is performed to determine quiescent phase, then phase selection accuracy is improved, but radiation exposure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs a partial scout CT scan that covers only the necessary anatomical region (heart region) at reduced radiation dose, rather than a full-body or excessive scan. This provides sufficient information for quiescent phase determination while minimizing unnecessary radiation exposure to other body parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the radiation dose parameter for the scout scan, using a lower dose compared to the diagnostic scan. The scout scan is optimized to provide adequate image quality for phase determination while reducing the harmful radiation effect, allowing the main diagnostic scan to be performed at appropriate timing.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing method controls a CT scanner such that the method includes, but is not limited to, determining an X-ray irradiation period from an electrocardiogram acquired from an electrocardiography device attached to a living object to be imaged, by processing the electrocardiogram at multiple different cardiac phases; performing, by controlling a CT gantry including and rotatably supporting an X-ray source and an X-ray detector, a diagnostic CT scan in the determined X-ray irradiation period, of at least a part of the heart region, to obtain a CT image; and causing a display unit to display the obtained CT image. The method can be performed at least by an information processing apparatus including processing circuitry and/or computer instructions stored in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium for performing the method.