Multi-Energy CT Iron Quantification via Material Decomposition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining iron content in blood require separate blood draws and laboratory analyses, which are time-consuming and inefficient, especially in busy clinical environments, and single energy computed tomography techniques cannot separate iron content from other blood components effectively.
Innovation Solution
A method using multi-energy computed tomography to acquire data at two energy levels, performing three-material decomposition to quantify iron content in blood, allowing for the determination of iron load and other characteristic values like haematocrit without the need for additional blood draws, by distinguishing iron from blood plasma and erythrocytes through spectral CT methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If single energy computed tomography is used, then the examination process is simple and fast, but iron content cannot be separated from other blood components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by utilizing multi-energy computed tomography to acquire data at different energy levels. The attenuation coefficients of blood components vary with energy level, and by analyzing these energy-dependent parameter changes, the method can separate iron content from other blood components through material decomposition, thereby achieving precise iron quantification without increasing physical device complexity.
2Measurement precision
If separate blood draw and laboratory analysis are performed, then accurate blood characteristic values can be obtained, but additional time and effort are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the blood analysis function into the computed tomography examination process itself. By performing material decomposition on the CT data to determine iron content and other blood characteristics, the method combines imaging and laboratory analysis functions into a single integrated procedure, eliminating the need for separate blood draws and laboratory processing while maintaining measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The computed tomography system performs self-service by automatically determining blood characteristic values directly from the acquired imaging data. The material decomposition algorithm processes the multi-energy CT data to extract iron content and other blood parameters without requiring external laboratory analysis, enabling the examination system to provide both imaging and blood analysis functions independently.
3Productivity
If multi-energy computed tomography is used, then iron content can be determined simultaneously with standard CT examination, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universality by designing the computed tomography system to perform multiple functions: standard anatomical imaging and quantitative blood analysis. The multi-energy CT capability enables the same device to provide both structural imaging and functional blood parameter measurement, allowing iron content determination to be integrated into routine examinations without requiring separate dedicated equipment.
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
Enables the automatic and simultaneous determination of iron content and other diagnostically valuable blood characteristics during standard CT examinations, reducing the need for separate blood draws and laboratory analyses, and allowing for monitoring of conditions like anaemia and iron overload.
Implementation Method 1
computed tomography data of the patient for at least two energy levels of radiation is acquired using multi energy computed tomography
Implementation Method 2
attenuation coefficients for at least the region of interest are determined for each energy level
Data Source
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AI summary
Method for determining at least one first characteristic value of blood in a patient, the at least one first characteristic value describing the iron content of the blood, characterised in that - in a computed tomography device (17), computed tomography data of the patient for at least two energy levels of radiation is acquired using multi energy computed tomography, - a region of interest (2) comprising blood is defined in at least one image data set reconstructed from the computed tomography data, - at least in the region of interest (2), attenuation coefficients are determined for each energy level, - material decomposition into at least two materials, one material being iron, is performed using the attenuation coefficients, yielding at least a fraction of iron in the region of interest (2), and - the first characteristic value is determined as and/or from the iron fraction.