CT Scanner Breathing Cycle Parameter Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current computer tomograph imaging examinations for radiation planning, particularly for lung or abdominal carcinomas, face challenges in optimizing image quality due to unchanging measurement parameters selected by users, which can lead to unsuitable settings and image artifacts caused by patient breathing movements.
Innovation Solution
A method that records a patient's breathing movement to determine a breathing-correlated parameter, which is used to automatically calculate measurement parameters for the imaging examination, ensuring projection data is acquired over the entire breathing cycle, thereby adapting the imaging to the patient's respiratory phase and optimizing image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If measurement parameters are selected from a fixed list by the user, then the operation is simple, but the image quality is not optimized and may lead to unsuitable settings
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically calculates and determines the optimal measurement parameters based on the patient's breathing movement data, eliminating the need for manual parameter selection by the user. The computer tomograph performs self-adjustment of measurement parameters according to the recorded respiratory patterns, ensuring optimized image quality without increasing operational complexity for the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The measurement parameters are dynamically adjusted based on the patient's breathing characteristics. The system changes parameters such as measurement time, tube current, and rotation speed according to the recorded breathing cycle, allowing optimization of image quality for each specific patient rather than using fixed parameter sets.
2Measurement precision
If the imaging examination covers the entire breathing cycle, then the image quality is optimized, but the measurement time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement process is made dynamic by adapting the acquisition timing to the patient's breathing cycle. The system records breathing movements and adjusts the measurement parameters in real-time to capture images at optimal phases of the respiratory cycle, rather than using static fixed-time measurements. This dynamic adaptation ensures high image quality while minimizing unnecessary measurement time.
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging examination is synchronized with the periodic nature of the breathing cycle. The system captures projection data at specific phases of the respiratory cycle (inhalation and exhalation phases), utilizing the periodic pattern of breathing to optimize image acquisition timing and reduce overall measurement time while maintaining image quality.
3Reliability
If fixed measurement parameters are used, then the device complexity is low, but image artifacts occur due to breathing movements
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the patient's breathing movements are continuously recorded and monitored. This breathing data serves as feedback to automatically adjust the measurement parameters during the imaging examination, ensuring that images are acquired at optimal respiratory phases and minimizing artifacts caused by breathing movements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary recording of the patient's breathing movements before and during the imaging examination. This preliminary data collection allows the system to pre-calculate optimal measurement parameters and timing based on the patient's specific breathing pattern, thereby preventing image artifacts before they occur rather than correcting them afterward.
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 allows for individually tailored imaging examinations that accurately depict the patient's breathing cycle, reducing artifacts and optimizing radiation exposure by automatically calculating measurement parameters based on the patient's respiratory movement, resulting in improved image quality and reduced unnecessary radiation.
Implementation Method 1
The imaging examination using the computer tomograph usually requires ionizing X-rays
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for performing an imaging examination of a patient using a computed tomography scanner, the associated computed tomography scanner, and an associated computer program. The method according to the invention for performing an imaging examination of a patient using a computed tomography scanner comprises the steps of: - capturing a respiratory movement of the patient, wherein a respiratory-correlated parameter Tcycle is determined from the patient's respiratory movement, which describes the duration of one respiratory cycle; - defining a measurement range for the imaging examination, wherein the measurement range has at least one z-position; - automatically calculating at least one measurement parameter according to the respiratory movement, wherein the respiratory-correlated parameter Tcycle is used as an input parameter for the automatic calculation of the at least one measurement parameter.that when performing the imaging examination according to at least one measurement parameter, projection data can be acquired at at least one z-position over the entire duration of the respiratory cycle, and - performing the imaging examination of the patient according to at least one measurement parameter in the measurement area using the computed tomography scanner, whereby the projection data are acquired which depict the patient's respiratory cycle at at least one z-position over the entire duration of the respiratory cycle.