Motion Estimation in Overlapping CT Scans
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Heart motion during cardiac CT scans introduces motion artifacts in images, particularly at high heart rates, which existing technologies struggle to mitigate effectively, especially in patients who cannot take beta-blockers to slow their heart rate.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a medical imaging data processing apparatus and method that obtain partial reconstructions of CT scan data from overlapping scanning time periods, excluding common data to estimate motion and reconstruct images with reduced artifacts, using a computing apparatus connected to a CT scanner to process data and generate warp fields for motion compensation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If beta-blockers are administered to slow heart rate, then image quality is improved, but patient safety may be compromised due to contraindications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the scanning process into multiple overlapping time periods, with each period capturing a portion of the cardiac cycle. By dividing the data acquisition into segments that overlap in time, the system can reconstruct images at different phases of the cardiac cycle, achieving high-quality imaging without requiring heart rate suppression through beta-blockers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic scanning where the scanner rotates continuously throughout the cardiac cycle, dynamically capturing data from multiple heartbeats. The reconstruction process dynamically selects and combines data from appropriate temporal segments, adapting to the patient's natural heart rate variations without pharmacological intervention.
2Manufacturing precision
If scanning time period is extended to capture complete cardiac cycle, then image quality is improved, but motion artifacts increase due to heart movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the extended scanning time period into multiple overlapping segments, each representing a portion of the cardiac cycle. By segmenting the data acquisition, the system can reconstruct images from specific cardiac phases while excluding data contaminated by excessive motion, thereby reducing motion artifacts while maintaining complete cardiac cycle coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and utilizes only the useful portions of data from each scanning period, specifically selecting data segments that correspond to stable cardiac phases. By taking out and discarding the harmful portions (data with excessive motion), the system achieves high-quality reconstruction without being adversely affected by motion artifacts from the extended scanning duration.
3Productivity
If fast rotation speed is used, then scanning time is reduced, but motion artifacts persist due to incomplete data capture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges data from multiple overlapping scanning periods into a single comprehensive data set. By combining information from several fast rotations that each capture partial cardiac cycles, the system reconstructs complete high-quality images. This merging process compensates for the incomplete data capture in individual fast scans while maintaining the productivity benefits of rapid scanning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous scanning where the scanner rotates without interruption throughout the entire examination, continuously acquiring data from multiple cardiac cycles. This continuous action ensures that no useful information is lost due to gaps between scans, allowing complete cardiac cycle reconstruction from the accumulated continuous data stream.
Data Source
AI summary
A medical imaging data processing apparatus comprises processing circuitry configured to: obtain a first data set representative of at least some measurements of a measurement volume obtained by rotation of a medical scanner relative to the measurement volume during a first scanning time period; obtain a second data set representative of at least some measurements of the measurement volume obtained by rotation of the medical scanner relative to the measurement volume during a second scanning time period that overlaps the first scanning time period; and perform a procedure to obtain an estimate of motion between the first scanning time period and second scanning time period based on the first data set and second data set; wherein the obtaining is such as to exclude from the first data set and from the second data set at least some of the data representative of said measurements obtained during an overlap between the first scanning time period and second scanning time period; and wherein a data set representative of measurements obtained during at least one of the first scanning time period and second scanning time period is suitable for use in reconstructing a medical imaging data set representative of at least part of the measurement volume.