Coronary Artery CT Imaging Local Phase Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current CT imaging methods for coronary arteries face challenges in accurately determining the optimal phase of heart motion due to irregular heart rates and varying synchronization of coronary artery trunks with myocardial motion, leading to image artifacts that do not meet diagnostic requirements.
Innovation Solution
A CT imaging method that generates both a global optimal phase image for the entire coronary artery and a local optimal phase image for specific trunks, based on motion indexes obtained from collected image data, allowing for improved image reconstruction and reduced artifacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a single global optimal phase is used for imaging the entire coronary artery, then the imaging process is simple and fast, but image artifacts increase for trunks with different motion synchronization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by determining separate optimal phases for different coronary artery trunks (RCA, LAD, LCX) based on their individual motion characteristics. Each trunk is assigned a specific optimal phase that minimizes artifacts for that particular vessel, rather than using a single global phase for all trunks. This resolves the contradiction by allowing tailored phase selection for each trunk while maintaining overall imaging efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the coronary artery into multiple trunks (RCA, LAD, LCX) and processes each trunk independently with its own optimal phase determination. This segmentation allows the system to handle the complexity of different motion synchronizations for each trunk separately, improving image quality without significantly impacting overall imaging productivity.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple cardiac cycles are observed to determine the optimal phase, then image quality improves, but imaging time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary analysis of motion indexes for each coronary artery trunk to pre-determine the optimal phase for each trunk before actual image acquisition. By calculating motion indexes and identifying optimal phases in advance, the system avoids the need to collect and analyze multiple cardiac cycles during the imaging process, thus improving image quality while minimizing imaging time.
3Device complexity
If the detector width does not cover the whole heart, then device complexity is reduced, but multiple axis scanning and merging are required increasing process complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by implementing adaptive phase determination for each trunk based on their individual motion characteristics. The system dynamically adjusts the optimal phase for each coronary artery trunk (RCA, LAD, LCX) according to their specific motion synchronization with the myocardium, rather than using a fixed global phase. This dynamic adaptation simplifies the overall process by eliminating the need for complex multi-axis scanning and merging operations.
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 enables the generation of high-quality images with reduced artifacts for each coronary artery trunk, facilitating more accurate diagnoses by providing optimal imaging phases tailored to individual trunks.
Implementation Method 1
When X-ray CT (computing tomography) imaging of a patient's heart, especially the coronary artery is performed
Implementation Method 2
a multi-segment image reconstruction method may be used, which reconstructs an X-ray tomographic image of the heart volume by combining the projected data of the segments obtained in periods corresponding to a plurality of consecutive heartbeats
Data Source
AI summary
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a CT imaging method of coronary artery and a computer-readable storage medium, the method comprising: generating and outputting a global optimal phase image of a coronary artery; and generating and outputting a local optimal phase image of a particular trunk of the coronary artery based on a trunk selection command.