Cardiac CT Motion Compensation Using Dual-Phase Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current imaging systems for moving objects, such as cardiac CT systems, face challenges in reconstructing high-quality images due to limited signal-to-noise ratio and motion artifacts, as they primarily use detection values from rest phases, neglecting those from large motion phases.

Innovation Solution

An imaging system and method that utilize detection values from both small and large motion phases for motion compensation, determining motion through similarity transformations and interpolation, allowing the use of all available data to improve image quality by accounting for object movement in both phases.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If only detection values from rest phases are used for reconstruction, then motion artifacts are minimized, but signal-to-noise ratio decreases and image quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage qualityVSAvoidmotion artifacts
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The motion phase is segmented into small motion phases and large motion phases. Detection values are selectively used based on phase segmentation, with different reconstruction strategies applied to each segment to optimize both signal-to-noise ratio and motion artifact reduction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of phase selection from static (only rest phases) to dynamic (all phases with motion compensation). By determining motion parameters and applying motion compensation, the system can utilize detection values from all motion phases while maintaining image quality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If detection values from large motion phases are excluded, then motion artifacts are reduced, but utilization of available data decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata utilizationVSAvoidimage quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the processing of small motion phases and large motion phases into a unified reconstruction framework. Both phase types are incorporated with appropriate motion compensation, maximizing data utilization while maintaining image quality through integrated handling

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If motion compensation is applied using all motion phases, then signal-to-noise ratio improves, but computational complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal-to-noise ratioVSAvoidcomputational complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adapts the motion compensation approach based on phase characteristics. Small motion phases use one compensation method while large motion phases use another, allowing the system to optimize computational complexity for each phase type while maximizing overall signal-to-noise ratio improvement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2126842B1Motion determination system for determining the motion of a periodically moving object.
Publication Date: 2013.12.25 KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV
  • EP2126842B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2126842B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2126842B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to an imaging system for imaging a region of interest comprising a moving object, which moves less in small motion phases than in large motion phases. Detection values are provided and a small motion determination unit (15) determines the motion of the object in the region of interest in the small motion phases from the 5 detection values. A large motion determination unit (16) determines the motion of the object in the large motion phases from the determined motion of the object in the small motion phases. A reconstruction unit (17) reconstructs an image of the region of interest from the detection values, wherein the reconstruction unit (17) is adapted for performing a motion compensation using the determined motions in the small and large motion phases.