Dynamic CT Bolus Tracking CycleTime Adjustment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In bolus tracking CT imaging, the repeated CT scans increase radiation dose to the subject, potentially causing additional harm due to excessive X-ray irradiation, as the scanning process requires multiple scans to achieve the target concentration of a contrast agent in the subject's blood vessels.
Innovation Solution
A method and device for dynamically adjusting the scanning CycleTime based on the interval needed to reach the target concentration of the contrast agent, where the CycleTime is increased when the interval is greater than twice the previous CycleTime, reducing the number of scans required to reach the target threshold and thus minimizing radiation exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple CT scans are performed to track the contrast agent concentration, then the imaging accuracy is improved, but the radiation dose to the subject increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of the scanning cycle time based on the actual contrast agent concentration and its rate of change. The system transitions from fixed-interval scanning to adaptive scanning, where the cycle time is continuously optimized based on real-time measurements of contrast agent accumulation, thereby reducing unnecessary scans while maintaining imaging accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring the contrast agent concentration and its changing rate, then using this information to adjust subsequent scanning parameters. The feedback loop compares the current concentration trend against target thresholds and modifies the scanning cycle accordingly, reducing radiation exposure while ensuring the target concentration is accurately captured.
2Measurement precision
If the scanning CycleTime is reduced to capture contrast agent concentration changes, then the tracking precision is improved, but the number of scans increases leading to higher radiation exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts the scanning cycle time based on the real-time concentration and its rate of change. When the contrast agent is accumulating rapidly, the system uses shorter intervals to capture the变化 accurately; when accumulation slows or the target is approached, the interval is extended, thereby maintaining tracking precision while reducing the total number of scans.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the scanning parameter (cycle time) based on the measured concentration and its derivative. By adjusting this parameter adaptively rather than using a fixed value, the system optimizes the balance between tracking precision and the number of required scans, reducing overall radiation exposure.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the scanning CycleTime is increased to reduce the number of scans, then the radiation dose is reduced, but the ability to capture contrast agent concentration changes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic scanning strategy where the cycle time is continuously adapted based on the contrast agent's accumulation rate. This allows the system to use longer intervals (reducing radiation) when the concentration is stable or changing slowly, while automatically switching to shorter intervals when rapid changes are detected, thus maintaining detection capability while minimizing radiation dose.
Solution Approach 2:
The system modifies the scanning parameter (cycle time) as a function of the measured concentration and its rate of change. This parameter adaptation ensures that the scanning frequency is optimized for each specific phase of contrast agent accumulation, preventing both excessive scanning and missed concentration changes.
Data Source
AI summary
In a CT scanning method of bolus tracking, multiple CT scans are performed on a region of interest (ROI) of a subject while a contrast agent is injected into the subject. In a tracking process of the contrast agent, first and second CT values of the ROI of the subject for first and second CT scans are respectively obtained. If the second CT value is no less than a target threshold, the tracking process is finished. If the second CT value is less than the target threshold, an interval for increasing the second CT value to the target threshold is determined according to the first and second CT values and a first CycleTime representing a duration between starts of the first and second scans. Then a second CycleTime is set based on the interval, and a third scan is performed according to the second CycleTime.