CT Image Reconstruction via Motion Cycle Overlap Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current CT imaging techniques face challenges in accurately acquiring and reconstructing images of structures subject to physiological motion due to suboptimal gating, leading to artifacts from varying heart rates and other physiological movements, which result in discontinuities and inaccuracies in anatomical structures.
Innovation Solution
The method involves acquiring and reconstructing image data by comparing overlapping volumes from different physiological motion cycles to identify temporal shifts, allowing for optimal gating and combining data based on these shifts to minimize artifacts and improve image accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If ECG-based gating is used to control data acquisition, then cardiac motion can be tracked, but artifacts result from heart rate variation and suboptimal gating
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the gating parameter from ECG-based (electrical signal) to motion-based (actual physical displacement). By tracking the actual motion state of the scanned structure and using motion amplitude as the gating criterion, the system adapts to heart rate variations and achieves more reliable image quality without artifacts from suboptimal gating.
2Ease of operation
If fixed acquisition windows are used based on ECG R-R intervals, then data acquisition is simplified, but artifacts occur due to beat-to-beat heart rate variation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the acquisition window dynamic by adjusting it based on actual motion amplitude rather than using fixed windows based on ECG intervals. The system continuously adapts the acquisition timing to match the actual physiological motion, ensuring anatomical structures are captured at consistent motion phases even when heart rate varies.
3Measurement precision
If motion cycle comparison is performed on overlapping volumes, then temporal alignment can be optimized, but additional data processing is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and compares only the motion amplitude parameter from overlapping volumes of different motion cycles. By focusing on this single key parameter (motion amplitude) rather than processing entire volumes, the system achieves accurate temporal alignment while minimizing additional data processing complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for reconstructing images of structures undergoing physiological motion comprises acquiring a first volume of data over a first motion cycle. The first volume comprises a first overlap volume. A second volume of data is acquired over a second motion cycle and comprises a second overlap volume. The first and second overlap volumes comprise like anatomical regions with respect to each other. A reconstructed volume of data is formed based on temporal data within the first and second overlap volumes.