Ultra Low Dose CT Fluoroscopy Device Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional CT fluoroscopy techniques require high radiation doses for accurate imaging of interventional devices, posing health risks to both patients and operators, and are inefficient due to the need for repeated adjustments and long procedure times, while ultra-low dose CT fluoroscopy aims to reduce radiation exposure and improve procedural efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The method involves acquiring a plurality of pairs of projections of an interventional device using CT fluoroscopy with a gantry rotation, identifying the device's position in real-time, and superimposing its image onto a 2D or 3D CT image of the target object, allowing for reduced radiation doses by using a fraction of the available projections and incorporating motion correction schemes to account for patient movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional CT fluoroscopy uses high radiation doses, then accurate imaging of interventional devices is achieved, but health risks to patients and operators increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by acquiring only a fraction of the available projections (e.g., one pair of projections per gantry rotation instead of multiple pairs), thereby reducing radiation dose while maintaining sufficient information for device localization through selective sampling of projection data
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of projection acquisition frequency by reducing the number of projection pairs acquired per gantry rotation from multiple pairs to just one pair, fundamentally altering the dosimetry parameters while preserving the ability to track interventional device position through optimized reconstruction algorithms
2Measurement precision
If conventional CT fluoroscopy acquires multiple pairs of projections per gantry rotation, then imaging quality is maintained, but procedure time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses partial action by acquiring only the minimum necessary projection data (one pair per rotation) required for interventional device localization, eliminating redundant acquisitions and thereby reducing procedure time while maintaining sufficient imaging quality for guidance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the essential information needed for device tracking by selecting specific projection pairs that provide sufficient geometric information for localization, discarding the excessive redundant projection data that would otherwise extend acquisition time
3Measurement precision
If conventional CT fluoroscopy uses repeated adjustments for device positioning, then accurate placement is achieved, but operator exposure to radiation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by providing real-time or near-real-time localization information of the interventional device based on the acquired projection pairs, enabling operators to make informed positioning decisions with reduced radiation exposure through optimized image acquisition rather than repeated high-dose adjustments
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 significantly reduces radiation doses by up to 500 times compared to conventional CT fluoroscopy, enabling more accurate and efficient interventional procedures with improved visualization of interventional devices and target objects, reducing operator exposure and procedure duration.
Implementation Method 1
a first x-ray source assembly (120) and a first detector array assembly (122) arranged on opposite sides of a rotation axis (15) of the gantry (118)
Implementation Method 2
acquiring a first set of CT projections (1002) associated with a first gantry rotation (1001)
Implementation Method 3
rotating a gantry of a CT scanner... by rotating an gantry of a CT scanner
Implementation Method 4
a processor (108) associated with the CT or x-ray scanner can generate one or more 2-D or 3-D images of an anatomical region including a target object
Data Source
AI summary
According to at least one aspect, a method for computed tomography (CT) fluoroscopy can include acquiring a plurality of pairs of projections of an interventional device using CT fluoroscopy. Each pair of the projections can be obtained at a predetermined first angular separation greater than a second angular separation used for a full dose CT scan of a target object, by rotating a gantry of a CT scanner. The method can include identifying a position of the interventional device in real time for each pair of the projections, using back-projection of images of the interventional device from the respective pair of projections. The method can include superimposing an image of the interventional device on a 3-D image of an anatomical region at an identified position of the interventional device.